Philip Schofield: the lies finally revealed

@ghost-of-a-duke said
It's illogical and poorly thought through.

I disagree. The ethical position is that the person in power rejects the advance otherwise they will be entering into a relationship in which they have some degree of control over the subordinate. And that is predatory by its very nature. It is a case of preying on the desire of a subordinate despite the power imbalance.

@fmf said
"Aliens"?

Humour alert!

@ghost-of-a-duke said
What if the relationship is mutually wanted and results in marriage

Then the person in power should

[1] reject the relationship, or

[2] move him or herself to a different office if necessary where the power relationship no longer exists, or

[3] resign and then have a relationship.

@fmf said
I disagree. The ethical position is that the person in power rejects the advance otherwise they will be entering into a relationship in which they have some degree of control over the subordinate. And that is predatory by its very nature. It is a case of preying on the desire of a subordinate despite the power imbalance.

I think you are misappropriating/misunderstanding the term 'predatory,'

@fmf said
Then the person in power should

[1] reject the relationship, or

[2] move him or herself to a different office if necessary where the power relationship no longer exists, or

[3] resign and then have a relationship.

More often than not (in the real world) it will be:

4: Keep the relationship secret.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
I think you are misappropriating/misunderstanding the term 'predatory,'

I don't think so. Subordinates are ethically off-limits. If, despite this, one opts to have sex with someone one has power or control over, it is at its very core, consciously or unconsciously, a predatory act, even if the subordinate is willing.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
More often than not (in the real world) it will be:

4: Keep the relationship secret.

Keeping it secret not only doesn't make it ethically sound, it actually increases the unethical nature of the impropriety. Would any favours the boss did for the subordinate be kept secret from colleagues in the workplace too?

@ghost-of-a-duke said
More often than not (in the real world) it will be:

4: Keep the relationship secret.

If you mean, in the real world, people act in unethical ways, then of course: no disagreement.

@fmf said
I don't think so. Subordinates are ethically off-limits. If, despite this, one opts to have sex with someone one has power or control over, it is at its very core, consciously or unconsciously, a predatory act, even if the subordinate is willing.

Philip Schofield's brother was a predator. On that, we can agree.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
Philip Schofield's brother was a predator. On that, we can agree.

That has never been in dispute.

@fmf said
If you mean, in the real world, people act in unethical ways, then of course: no disagreement.

Enter Philip Schofield. Like many before him, he foolishly entered a relationship with a younger colleague and lied to keep it secret. It cost him his job and probably some of his family/friends and certainly his reputation. It was an improper relationship, both for being a betrayal of his own wife and due to the relationship taking place at work.

What he isn't however is his brother. He hasn't committed a crime and the link in the OP between the 2 is an unfair one, and probably one that will push him over the edge.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
Enter Philip Schofield. Like many before him, he foolishly entered a relationship with a younger colleague and lied to keep it secret. It cost him his job and probably some of his family/friends and certainly his reputation. It was an improper relationship, both for being a betrayal of his own wife and due to the relationship taking place at work.

What he isn't how ...[text shortened]... he link in the OP between the 2 is an unfair one, and probably one that will push him over the edge.

I haven't claimed that P. Schofield "is his brother".

@ghost-of-a-duke said
What he isn't however is his brother. He hasn't committed a crime and the link in the OP between the 2 is an unfair one, and probably one that will push him over the edge.

What "edge"? Who?

@fmf said
I haven't claimed that P. Schofield "is his brother".

You have linked the two with comparative language and Dive has waved the family genetics flag.

@fmf said
What "edge"? Who?

Social media is rife with posts tarring Philip with the same brush as his brother. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if (in a week or so's time) I wake up to some horrible headline about Philip Schofield.