The Katie Johnson Case: A Case Study in "Schrödinger's Pedophilia"

The 2016 'Katie Johnson' lawsuit against Donald Trump is a prime example of "Schrödinger's Pedophilia," a social condition where an accusation of child sexual abuse is considered both true and false at the same time. While a court has not legally decided the truth of the allegation, public opinion remains in a state of uncertainty. In the absence of a legal verdict, the court of public opinion reaches a conclusion based not on concrete evidence, but primarily on the political allegiances of the observer. The Johnson case epitomizes this split reality, as its very timing is used as proof of both a victim's courageous testimony and a political hit job, perfectly illustrating the concept's core duality.

Incentive to Come Forward:

From one perspective, a genuine victim would have a powerful, non-political incentive to come forward precisely when her alleged abuser is seeking the highest public office. The desire to prevent a person she knows to be a predator from attaining immense power and immunity could outweigh her fear of going public. The death threats she received, while a horrific reality for any public figure in a high-profile case, could be seen as a grim validation of the personal risk she was taking.

Incentive for a Frame-Job:

From the opposing perspective, a presidential campaign provides the perfect motive and timing for a politically motivated fabrication. The immense pressure, media frenzy, and potential for financial gain or political damage create a powerful incentive for a false accusation. In this view, the death threats could be dismissed as unverifiable, potentially even staged to garner sympathy and credibility for a weak case that was ultimately dropped.

The Fundamental Problem:

This is the central quagmire. It's difficult to use the existence of the accusation, its timing, or the reaction to it (like death threats) as proof of its truth or falsity. As with any public figure, the mere act of being in the spotlight attracts both genuine whistleblowers and malicious actors, as well as the inevitable and unhinged death threats from unstable individuals. The external noise does not adjudicate the core truth.

Ultimately, the Johnson case illustrates how political combat can obscure serious allegations, leaving the public with no reliable means to separate fact from strategy.

In Defense of Unpopular Figures: Why the Todd Akin Meme Fails the Charity Test

The Todd Akin quote reflects a non-expert's misunderstanding of stress's role in ovulation. It is irresponsible to generalize this effect to rape and scientifically baseless to characterize it as a purposeful, evolved "defense mechanism." This reflects a pollyannaish and unrealistic hope that the body could prevent a pregnancy resulting from rape. However, despite my disagreement with him, the Snopes article and this meme do not offer a charitable interpretation of his words. Their approach seems designed simply to score easy points.

While one could argue for a charitable reading of Akin's statement, his use of the phrase "legitimate rape" demonstrates why such charity may be misplaced. This phrasing inherently (& charitably likely inadvertently) proposes a category of "illegitimate rape," carrying the dangerous and widespread implication that women frequently lie about assault or that some sexual violations are not "real" rape. One might counter that, in literal terms, false accusations occur, situational ambiguities exist, and sexual violations exist on a spectrum. However, to emphasize these rare edge cases and complexities in order to undermine the vast majority of genuine reports is a profound failure of epistemic responsibility.

Despite my disagreement with the politician, I find it irresponsible to impose a partisan interpretation on Todd Akin's words that adds a malicious connotation, specifically that his 'legitimate rape' comment was designed to undermine all genuine reports of rape.  This imposed meaning is directly challenged by his own clarification. As seen in the Snopes article, if you take Todd Akin at his word, his stated intention was far from what the meme suggests. He issued a statement saying:

"As a member of Congress, I believe that working to protect the most vulnerable in our society is one of my most important responsibilities, and that includes protecting both the unborn and victims of sexual assault. In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it's clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year... I also recognize that there are those who, like my opponent, support abortion and I understand I may not have their support in this election."

'Republicans on rape' meme shows real quotes from politicians


Note: This analysis focuses mostly on the language of Akin's statement. His subsequent response to the backlash is not really examined here. 

How Culture, Family, and Community Keep Crime Rates Low in Asian Populations

YouTube Description - Whether it's in Asia or Asian immigrants throughout the world ... Asians rarely commit crime. They even defy the "poverty = crime" notion. What's going on?

AI Summary: The video investigates why Asian communities worldwide—such as in Japan, South Korea, and Asian Americans—consistently show exceptionally low crime rates despite sometimes facing similar or higher poverty levels compared to other groups. It challenges the common notion that poverty directly causes crime, instead highlighting that strong cultural, familial, and social factors play a crucial role.

Key factors include robust two-parent family structures providing supervision and stability, deeply ingrained cultural values like shame, honor, and respect for authority that create strong social deterrents, and tight-knit community networks that enforce informal social surveillance. An emphasis on education and future success further discourages risky or criminal behavior.

The video also explores a darker aspect: the same cultural traits that suppress crime can be exploited during wartime or under authoritarian regimes to justify atrocities, as seen historically in Imperial Japan and Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge. Nonetheless, these societies demonstrate notable resilience, able to transition rapidly from periods of violence back to peaceful, low-crime conditions.

Ultimately, the video argues for a more nuanced understanding of crime that goes beyond socioeconomic explanations to include cultural and social dynamics, emphasizing the complexity and dual nature of these cultural influences.

The Truth Behind the 'Slave-Breeding' Myth and Black Athletic Success

YouTube Description: Were slaves in America really bred for strength? And is that a reason why Black athletes often dominate today?

Video Summary: The video debunks the persistent myth that enslaved Africans in America were systematically bred for physical strength to explain modern Black athletic dominance. While some slaveholders encouraged reproduction after the 1808 ban on slave imports, historical evidence shows this was economically motivated—not aimed at producing superior athletes. The idea gained notoriety through CBS commentator Jimmy the Greek in 1988 but lacks support from historical or genetic research.

The video emphasizes that athletic traits seen in African American athletes today were already present in West and Central African populations. Survival through the brutal Middle Passage was more about disease resistance and luck than strength. Furthermore, no systematic or eugenic-style breeding programs were implemented by slaveholders.

The belief in a “slave-bred gene” is a reductionist myth that overlooks the real drivers of Black athletic success: talent, opportunity, cultural factors, and individual perseverance. The video concludes that attributing Black excellence in sports to slavery-era breeding not only distorts history but also undermines personal achievement and reinforces harmful stereotypes.

When Words Collide: The Story Behind ‘Chink’ as Coin and Slur

Chink (noun)

1. Criminal Cant / Archaic Slang
Meaning: Money; coin; hard cash.
Origin: 17th–18th century British underworld slang, likely from the clinking sound of coins.
Usage: “Got me some chink last night off a sleepy merchant—easy pickings!”
Note: Common among rogues, pickpockets, and street thieves in early modern England.

2. Modern Offensive Slur – Ethnic
Meaning: A derogatory term for a person of Chinese or East Asian descent.
Origin: Racial slur dating back to the late 19th century, now considered deeply offensive.
Usage: Avoid entirely.
Note: Use of this term is highly inappropriate in all modern contexts and can cause offense.

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Example in Dialogue – “Time Rogue in the Park”

Scene: A busy urban park in present-day America. The 18th-century criminal, dressed in worn, old-fashioned clothes, looks around bewildered. A modern young man with a rainbow pin and a T-shirt saying “Love is Love” notices him and approaches.

Woke Man: Hey there! You look a bit lost. Need some help, hon?

18th-Century Criminal: (squinting) By the heavens, good sir, I find myself most perplexed. Pray, what land is this where the streets are paved and men wear such strange garments?

Woke Man: (smiling) This is America, sweetie. Land of the free and home of the brave. So, where you from?

18th-Century Criminal: I hail from London, anno 1775. Pray tell, what year is this?

Woke Man: (laughs) Babe, it’s 2025. You’re a long way from home! What brings you here?

18th-Century Criminal: (eyes narrowing) ’Tis a tale most queer — I was pursued by the constables, escaped through some devilish contraption, and now I’m here. Pray, what manner of folk dost thou count among thy acquaintances?

Woke Man: (flashes his phone) Oh, I mostly hang with the queer community — lots of gay guys, trans folks, all kinds of beautiful people. Personally, I’m really into Chinese guys. Asian men have my heart, you know? Love me some chink.

18th-Century Criminal: (perking up) Chink, you say? Now that’s a delight to hear! I was afeared the world had gone mad, but at least some pleasures remain constant. (grinning) Chink! A fine word! Music to a rogue’s ear. At last, a tongue I understand — coin, blunt, brass, lucre! You moderns aren’t so foreign after all!

Woke Man: (tilting his head) Uh… wait, what exactly do you mean by "chink"?

18th-Century Criminal: (proudly) Coin, sir! The sweet clatter of silver! You did say it, did you not?

Woke Man: (eyes widen, horrified) Oh no… oh no no. I didn’t mean money, I meant… oh God, you can’t just say that word out loud anymore. It’s a slur now!

18th-Century Criminal: (confused) A slur? For coin?

Woke Man: (sighs) Not for coin, for people. Specifically East Asians. Like Chinese guys.

18th-Century Criminal: (baffled) You name men after money? Are they so valuable?