“Strange days indeed”, to quote John Lennon, who, under all other circumstances, I avoid quoting.

Whether or not what is happening is positive is highly debatable, and ironically, difficult to debate. 

With so many instant sources of news available, things are often being reported before they actually happen, and the response is immediate. 

And, so often, it is lacking in any thought or rationality. 

There is the scramble to jump on the bandwagon, and, in many cases, to either want to attain the highest moral ground by public character assassination, or perhaps keeping quiet to avoid being branded insensitive.

The category of interesting events I'm referring to here is the reports of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behaviour by various media personalities.

By the time this is published, the situation may have shifted, as each day brings new revelations and more and more claims are made. 

As things stand now, all is quiet in the news after a flurry of accusations and something of a media circus. 

I am not going to jump on the bandwagon here and make any decisions as to whether or not someone is guilty.

As far as my knowledge of media personalities and pop culture goes, my timeline ends in roughly 1990. 

I tend to avoid television, and was most unlucky in catching a recent interview where one of Craig McLachlan’s accusers told her story.

I use the word “unlucky” here intentionally, as I feel unfortunate to have been exposed to the details of these encounters in a most salacious way.

According to friends, family, and the occasional random stranger, I am in no way a prude.

And still, I found the recounting in intricate details quite unsettling. 

I would never be so callous as to suggest that the lady had ulterior motives, or that she was making anything up. 

However, this entire chapter in the history of celebrity sexual harassment should never have been played out in the media.

It is solely a police matter, and should not hit the news until a verdict had been reached, or at the very earliest, charges had been laid. 

It has slid ever so softly, but ever so damagingly, into the realm of public entertainment.

When an action is unwanted, then it does become a case of misconduct. 

However, rather than simply focusing on campaigns to empower people to report such incidents, we should also be teaching children of both genders how to negotiate what is acceptable and what is not, and how to read body language.

I appreciate that to many, this may sound very naive.

However, the recent spate of very public outings of different celebrities does little to address the matter of what is and what isn't acceptable behaviour, despite claims otherwise.

Of course, unwanted behaviour needs to be dealt with, be it directly or through a third party.

However, I  have problems with how these recent cases – which involve not only the accusers and the accused, but also their friends, colleagues, and families – have been turned into sensational entertainment.  

Trial by media is never acceptable.

And, unfortunately, it can lead to suspicion and cynicism.

When public allegations against a media personality start to follow a formula, they can be damaging to the cause of working against sexual harassment.

They can do more harm than good. Strange days indeed.