I was falsely accused once. It was for a social infraction. An old woman accused me of laughing at her husband’s infirmity. A relatively minor thing, but I’ve never forgotten how it made me feel.

I was reminded of it this morning while listening to a judge sentence Eleanor Williams for false accusations she brought against several men in her community.

In May 2020, Eleanor posted lies on social media about these men raping her and trafficking her with other girls as sex slaves.

The community responded against these men, two of whom tried to commit suicide. One was held in remand for 73 days.

The extent to which her lies spread and the damage they caused, astonish.

The Guardian reported that they sparked a global 100K member “Justice for Ellie” campaign, with merchandise featuring a purple elephant.

Eleanor’s case is important for two reasons:

  1. It’s a reminder of how critical reputational trust is to live a good life, and
  2. How easy it is for someone to destroy that trust. Thanks to social media, the mere allegation is enough to damage or ruin your reputation.

I was lucky.

Back then there was no social media, and the old woman, who didn’t accept my explanation that my laughter had nothing to do with her husband, could not spread her accusation any further than those within earshot.

I could simply move on.

My day was ruined, but not my life.

Today, anyone, for fun or a grudge, can be a reputation arsonist. And there is little you can do about it.

What’s even more frightening, is that deep fake technology, powered by AI, can now manufacture evidence against you.

Your voice, your face, your body can all be presented in a swift social media trial against you, and in hours “friend” networks, thousands, or millions strong, will fuel the fire under your social standing.

Your livelihood will die as well.

Sorry to be such a downer, but I hope this helps you restrain your lizard brain the next time you hear an accusation.

Not everyone who makes an accusation, be they male, female, or something in between, should be believed.

Eleanor was sentenced to 8 1/2 years, only half will be served in prison.

And for the record, my laugh is very loud, and when it’s directed at anyone suffering it’s in a Monty Python type skit.