If you've been connected to the outside world in any way, shape or form as of late, there is no way that you've missed the onslaught of sexual assault accusations that are rising against a lot of A-List celebrities.

While sexual misconduct in Hollywood is unfortunately something that seems to happen frequently, the sheer number of allegations that we've been seeing in the past few weeks is a mixture of disheartening because there shouldn't be this kind of behavior amongst any group of people, but also reassuring for those who were too afraid to speak out before now because they now can feel like they have a support system behind them.

It's hard to speak up when you feel like you're out-manned and overpowered.

The event that seemed to set off the slew of cases being brought up was the outing of Harvey Weinstein as a sexual predator. As of mid-October, there have been more than 40 women who have accused Weinstein of sexual assault and misconduct. Since then, there have been cases brought against actors Kevin Spacey, Ben Affleck (not to mention Casey Affleck has already been in trouble because of sexual assault allegations before this current eruption) and comedian Louis C.K.

These are just a few of the most notable names--some of the more popular cases. CNN published a list of powerful men, that they admit is still incomplete not only because of the sheer number of men who are being accused, but because there is no doubt that some men in Hollywood and other prominent spheres still possess enough power over their victims to keep them silent.

Everyone has had some kind of response to the allegations being brought against these men in power. There has been a lot of solidarity with the victims, and many of the people being accused are losing their jobs, their contracts, and the respect from their fans; as it should be.

However, there is also a lingering sentiment that I've heard coming out of the mouths of people that I know. I've seen it rear its ugly head on social media as well:

"It's a scary time to be a man."

There are so many problems with this. First, if you're a man who isn't a sexual predator, then you have nothing to be scared of. If you treat your coworkers with respect, if you don't abuse your power by trying to extract sexual favors from your employees and if you show basic human decency to the women and men that work with you and for you, there is no need to be concerned.

Basically, if you've been doing what you're supposed to do in your life up until this point, you can carry on and your life won't change.

Second, if you're a man who is has committed sexual harassment or assault, you don't get to have the luxury of fear. You don't get to be afraid of the backlash because you were the one with the power in that unfair exchange. You knew that what you were doing was wrong. You were the one who assumed that your victim(s) would be so intimidated that they would keep their mouth(s) shut about it.

Sexual harassment is the sole fault of the predator. They are the cause and they are the only ones who can stop it from happening. It's not the responsibility of the victims to try and make sure that predators behave.

Third, if your takeaway from all of this is that you feel afraid for men--that you are afraid that one of your favorite celebrities is going to be outed as a predator, their careers are going to be ruined and you might have to rethink investing your money into their movies/music/comedy tours, then you need to reevaluate your priorities.

It's not the public's job to try and defend people who have committed sexual assault and in the allegations that have been brought against them.

The way I've seen people talk about the rise in accusations as if it's trendy to do now is sickening. Want to know why there seem to be new allegations every day?

Because people are sexually harassed and assaulted every day and that is the scary part.

It's terrifying and disgusting, but it's true. If victims are finally feeling safe and supported enough to come out and state what happened to them and tell their stories, then we should be encouraging that so justice can be served.

I'm not sorry that the work of these previously-prominent and worshipped men has been dirtied and has had its luster taken away because people are finding out that they are sexual predators.

Predators don't deserve that kind of success and admiration, to begin with. They shouldn't have made it as far as they did, and they wouldn't have if they hadn't been so threatening towards their victims.

It isn't a dangerous or scary time to be a man. It's a retributive time for victims. It's their time to speak out and see their abusers brought to justice. If you haven't sexually abused anyone, there is no reason to be scared.

I don't want to hear that it's a scary time for men, famous or otherwise, because of the rise in allegations.

It has been a scary time for victims, for women, for children up until this point and still continues to be scary. It is a scary time to be someone who doesn't have fame, power, race, gender and class on your side. Getting harassed or assaulted is terrible; the fear surrounding coming forward and telling your story is also terrible.

In the midst of predators being called out for what they are and rightfully suffering because of that, make sure you're sympathizing with the parties that have truly been hurt: the victims.

Fear has been instilled in them for a very long time and it's time for it to stop.