A thread of dear high school friends started a group text tonight because one of our former teachers (a favorite) has been indicted of having sex with one of his female students in the '90s.

Beyond the disturbing allegations themselves, I am troubled by my friends' immediate reaction to concoct hope that it's not true rather than deal with the far far likelier case that it's true. How do I handle such an uncomfortable group thread? Chastise everyone?