My previous post on Ryan Karben prompted an interesting conversation with someone who knew him from the YU days. According to this person, Karben’s affinities were an “open secret” at YU and he personally knew people who had been propositioned by Karben.
We then discussed the question of if and when someone’s tendencies should be “outed.” If we are aware that someone is potentially dangerous, to what extent do we pursue this person or expose the risks of being involved with such a person.
On one hand, we do have the obligation of lo ta’amod ‘al dam rei’echa and cannot sit idly by while people are being harmed. If we know that there is a risk in the community, can we risk doing nothing?
On the other hand, pursuing such people needs evidence and as the Gafni and Lanner cases have shown us, they might not do much good. Furthermore, there is always the risk of slander, which is prevalent enough as it is let alone being motivated by religious or political agendas.
I’m open to suggestions.
Update: In an IM, The Town Crier points to other recent examples of whistleblowing both good and bad, including Un-Orthodox Jew and the Kolko issue as well as Jewschool apologizing (and perhaps retracting the apology) for reporting that Gafni was accused of rape. In the Internet Age and instant anonymous blogging, the whistleblowing reporting can be used for good or evil faster with more immediate consequences.
(כִּי לֹא מַחְשְׁבוֹתַי מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵיכֶם וְלֹא דַרְכֵיכֶם דְּרָכָי (ישעיהו נה:ח
Open Thread: Halakhic Whistleblowing Responsiblity
May 19, 2006 Jewish Law / Halakha, Jewish Thought, Theology, and Machshava
I was aware of the rumors surrounding Karben when I was at YU around the same time as him. I assumed the rumors were wrong when I heard about him getting married and having kids.
I feel sorry for him and his wife since from my knowledge of him he was a decent guy. I was not going to post this as a comment originally (don’t like to kick someone when they’re down), but since others have already confirmed this to you it’s no secret anymore.
josh,
though i’m sure this isn’t what you meant, from the words “affinities” and “tendencices” as well as “outed” you sound like you’re refering to the mere fact that karben is apparently gay. ie, that b/c ppl knew he was gay they should have said something (“outed” his gayness) to protect his future male co-workers.
in fact, just to “out” a married politician for not being as straight as he wants people to think would be hard to justify if you had no reason to suspect he would violate other people’s rights.
the “propositioning” you seem to be talking about* doesn’t count – propositioning peers at YU might cause a scandal among the frum folk but it’s not against the ethical expectations of holding office (or being a good person, for that matter)the way propositioning coworkers, especially subbordinartes, is.
*(you don’t give any details, so it seems like its the regular run of the mill sort…)
so perhaps just be more careful with your language…
ciao,
the thought police ;)