In the future, we will not publish Letters in which authors argue that an individual accused or found guilty of harassment is likely innocent because others have interacted with that person without incident; this argument is logically flawed. In addition, although some information about a person’s scientific achievements is at times necessary to establish context, we will not publish Letters in which authors argue that professional achievements have any bearing at all on the likelihood that the individual engaged in harassment.

Source: Editor’s note: Harassment policy | Science

Via: After Facing Criticism, a Top Scientific Journal Says: No More ‘But Look What Good He’s Done’ – Pacific Standard

The look what good they’ve done argument, on the other hand, is “bad logic” and too common, says Robin Leeds, who specializes in crisis communication and founded a political consulting firm, Winning Strategies LLC. “It’s really a distraction strategy,” she says, “that essentially demonstrates non-belief in the victim.”

Source: After Facing Criticism, a Top Scientific Journal Says: No More ‘But Look What Good He’s Done’ – Pacific Standard