David Letterman's confession tonight..

[Keli]

Yes, THAT is the big issue for me. A boss having sex with employees is just not acceptable, no matter if they married or not. And I too, am surprised that people are apparently OK with this . . .

I so agree with these lines of your post!

I've always liked David Letterman and have casually watched him for years (but I will admit to thinking he came across as mean spirited from time to time) but this behavior is reprehensible IMHO.

Maybe the employee(s) was completely ok with having a sexual relationship with the boss, maybe not, but I don't think we'll hear the truth either way. Especially if the individual(s) in question is still an employee.

 

[denisem]

I guess it's a matter of opinion. For me sex between a authority figure and a subordinate is inappropriate, period.

Forgive me, but I love playing Devil's Advocate.

According to all the RULES, you're correct. However, what if a single authority figure is mutually attracted to a single subordinate. They spend time together, they chastely date. They want to take it further.

Must she/he fire the subordinate before they have sex? Or have a true virgin wedding night?

See, it's not so simple. I'm older than dirt and know more than a few of bosses/subordinates that went on to get married. Also know of many that mutually broke up without sexual harassment lawsuits or any embarassing fallout.

 

[beattyfamily]

Well, if that were the case, three of my friends would not be happily married.

It's great it worked out for them but IMHO, it was still an inappropriate relationship at the time they met. Doesn't mean it can't work out though.

Again, it's a matter of opinion. Can't help how I feel.

 

[beattyfamily]

Forgive me, but I love playing Devil's Advocate.

According to all the RULES, you're correct. However, what if a single authority figure is mutually attracted to a single subordinate. They spend time together, they chastely date. They want to take it further.

Must she/he fire the subordinate before they have sex? Or have a true virgin wedding night?

See, it's not so simple. I'm older than dirt and know more than a few of bosses/subordinates that went on to get married. Also know of many that mutually broke up without sexual harassment lawsuits or any embarassing fallout.

Yeah, they happen alot. Sometimes nothing bad happens (harrassment, embarrasement, fired, promoted when not qualified etc...) and sometimes something good happens (marriage) BUT it's still inappropriate and something that can cause many problems in the workplace. That's all I'm saying. It's not something most people advertise. Most keep a secret because they know it's inappropriate.

 

[Disney Doll]

It's great it worked out for them but IMHO, it was still an inappropriate relationship at the time they met. Doesn't mean it can't work out though.

Again, it's a matter of opinion. Can't help how I feel.

No, apparently you can't.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Didn't read the entire thread but him coming clean, putting it all out there IMHO is a good thing. Secrets have no power when they are confessed.
We've all made mistakes & the individual trying to gain $$$$ illegally needs to pack for the big house.

The man is in his 60's did we really think he hasn't slept with women?
Where do most people find their "dates", spouses, friends? Work, where most people spend much of their adult life.

Still love Dave

 

[beattyfamily]

No, apparently you can't.

I hope you aren't somehow offended. Normally, I agree with you on most issues and as fellow Catholics I feel a certain connection with you but we can't always agree I guess. But I still have much respect for you.

 

[Imzadi]

I guess it's a matter of opinion. For me sex between a authority figure and a subordinate is inappropriate, period.

The show was not a normal job in the sense that women who were fans and possibly enamoured with him probably purposely went to work for him, hoping to meet him. It wasn't the same as having to go to work at the neighborhood mini-mart. They didn't have to work there. He probably entered into sexual encounters with women who were quite happy & willing to be with him.


I'm surprised no one has said this already:
Stephanie Birkitt has horrible judgement in choosing men.
Both Letterman and then the extortionist.

ETA: I'm not saying that every woman who works on his show wants to sleep with him. Or, that it wouldn't be wrong if he hit on, pressured or harrassed women who weren't interested. Just that there is a likelihood that he didn't have to search for employees who were interested.

 

[perla75]

No respect lost for Dave.

We have no info on the status of his relationship with his son's mother at the time of the affairs, no info on the status of these women's marital status, no info on if the affairs were instigated by him, these women, or mutual....and really, big deal!?!

The think the extortion guy is the scumbucket here

 

[Disney Doll]

I hope you aren't somehow offended. Normally, I agree with you on most issues and as fellow Catholics I feel a certain connection with you but we can't always agree I guess. But I still have much respect for you.

Not offended at all. The beauty of living here is we can all have opinons.

 

[aprilgail2]

Sometimes, and sometimes not. I know a couple of people who ahve married the boss. They met while one was boss and one was subordinate employee and it was just a relationship. Not every boss/employee relationship is sexual harrassment.

We have many many married bosses and workers where I work! They all met at work and ended up married. I dated one of the single bosses for a while--I don't see any problem with it as long as you are not making out at work or getting extra job perks for it---and we are union so its a seniority based system so not like they can give y9ou the sweet job just because you are dating/sleeping with them!

 

[luvsJack]

I don't have much of an opinion of David Letterman one way or the other (never liked him before, probably not going to start now) but just wanted to chime in on the appropriateness of bosses having relationships with employees.

Where I work it is considered so inappropriate that our boss's wife had to resign when he became the boss (there were already married). And when a secretary from one department started dating a supervisor from another department, they had to have a big conference with the boss to determine the appropriateness of the relationship. It is a big no-no.

Actually, just because it happens all the time doesn't really make it appropriate. If that supervisor, boss, whatever has any say so in the persons pay, hours or evaluations then a relationship is inappropriate.

We all know people that have married their bosses, but that doesn't change anything. I know 2 high school teachers that married their students, and they are both happily married men. That doesn't change the fact that a high school teacher dating a student is inappropriate.

 

[diznygirl]

Ya know, this is the whole reason Mickey and Minnie aren't married. It's such a taboo! I think those crazy kids should be able to finally tie the knot without worrying whether Mickey is going to lose his job or not!

 

[MissFitt]

Do you all realize that Dave's wife use to be a writer for the show -- and his girlfriend before that use to be a writer for the show. Seems to be where he meets his women. I don't have a problem with this -- his life, not mine. I'm sure he isn't on some message board discussing what I've done with my life!

 

[luvsJack]

Do you all realize that Dave's wife use to be a writer for the show -- and his girlfriend before that use to be a writer for the show. Seems to be where he meets his women. I don't have a problem with this -- his life, not mine. I'm sure he isn't on some message board discussing what I've done with my life!

Probably not, but then I don't think you made a big confession on national television either.

 

[Disney Doll]

Well, he didn't make an announcement until someone forced his hand. As a PP said, secrets lose their power once they are spoken.

As far as the relationship between him and this woman...neither one of them seemed to have a problem with it. If I understand the story correctly, the woman's now ex-BF is the one who did the extortion...I haven't seen anything stating that the woman was involved in the extortion part.

Sounds to me like a P.O.'d ex who thought he'd get revenge on his ex-GF and make a little $$$ off Letterman at the same time.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I don't have much of an opinion of David Letterman one way or the other (never liked him before, probably not going to start now) but just wanted to chime in on the appropriateness of bosses having relationships with employees.

Where I work it is considered so inappropriate that our boss's wife had to resign when he became the boss (there were already married). And when a secretary from one department started dating a supervisor from another department, they had to have a big conference with the boss to determine the appropriateness of the relationship. It is a big no-no.

Actually, just because it happens all the time doesn't really make it appropriate. If that supervisor, boss, whatever has any say so in the persons pay, hours or evaluations then a relationship is inappropriate.

We all know people that have married their bosses, but that doesn't change anything. I know 2 high school teachers that married their students, and they are both happily married men. That doesn't change the fact that a high school teacher dating a student is inappropriate.

That's entirely different, especially if the student is under 18.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Probably not, but then I don't think you made a big confession on national television either.

If your a celebrity why not? You diffuse all the reports & media snopping around to make their own profit.
I think it was just brilliant.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Well, he didn't make an announcement until someone forced his hand. As a PP said, secrets lose their power once they are spoken.

As far as the relationship between him and this woman...neither one of them seemed to have a problem with it. If I understand the story correctly, the woman's now ex-BF is the one who did the extortion...I haven't seen anything stating that the woman was involved in the extortion part.

Sounds to me like a P.O.'d ex who thought he'd get revenge on his ex-GF and make a little $$$ off Letterman at the same time.

exactly!

from what I have read: she is not involved or happy about what this guy did. He stole her personal diaries, correspondence, and photos in order to do this.

 

[luvsJack]

That's entirely different, especially if the student is under 18.

Their age is not necessarily what makes it inappropriate. Lots of 17-18 year olds date guys in their 20's. Its the fact that a teacher has a certain amount of power over their students, just as a boss has a power over their employees. A teacher has the power to see the student pass or fail and a supervisor has the power to see an employee succeed or fail at their job. (These teachers--who were first year coaches, so very young; dated students and kept it secret until the girls graduated and were married shortly thereafter.)