I actually actually been the victim of a violent crime. Do I make excuses for my attacker? Hell to the NO! However, there were things that I had been taught to avoid and I did not. I put myself in an uncompromising position, and knew better. Something I never did again. I was a victim, but I didn't have to be a victim. And I think that is what many people are saying, but you are refusing to hear. We can't control other people's actions (rapists, child molesters, robbers, buglers, etc). However, we can control our own actions and make it more difficult to become a victim of those who would do is evil. |
Am aware person would have switched cars upon noticing they were on a train alone with one other person, regardless of the hour. |
I posted above as well - having been drunk at a party at college, abandoned by friends, and "found" by the wrong person. I blame him for what happened when I clearly said NO. But I also blame myself for being drunk. I blame my friends who just left without me because they were so drunk they just forgot or lost me. I knew the guy and trusted him. BIG mistake. |
Not to mention that the PP has her/his head up their ass if they think we aren't also a domestic-violence-victim-blaming society. It's a joke. Yes, PP, we as a society do in fact blame victims of domestic violence. To take your analogy to its conclusion, just so you GET IT, if a victim is "advised" to uproot their life and go live in secret with a bunch of strangers, thereby elevating her risk of future violence, yes, we blame the shit out of her if she doesn't actually do it. But go read the newspaper and see how many murder-suicides there are of women and kids by men AFTER they left and tell me how that safety talk goes. It's more complicated than that and your oversimplification is just as dangerous as all the others on here. |
I'm sorry that happened to you. Emily Doe is not blaming her sister who left without her (although maybe she should). She also doesn't say she said No. She is saying that, because she had four shots at college party, any man who had sex (whatever she did or did not say) with her would be guilty of rape under the new Yes means Yes laws. This would have included her boyfriend. |
+1 I was walking in an area at night that I *knew* I shouldn't have but wasn't thinking. I got mugged at knife point. Thank god that's all that happened. I was stupid, but I didn't deserve to be mugged. No woman deserves to be raped. Plain and simple. In college, I remember being told to not walk around at night by myself on campus, or at least, stay in brightly lit areas. If something were to have happened to me, I wouldn't say that I deserved it. But, there are things that we can avoid doing to reduce our chances of being victims of crimes. Yes, I know, sometimes, you can take all the precautions in the world and still end up being a victim. It sucks. |
I was never really clear where her sister went. I do know that I do blame my friends. Maybe that's not fair of me to do and I should only blame the guy. But in my head - its not that simple |
No, more likely the jury didn't think non-PIV sex could constitute rape. But it can. |
Actually, she said BECAUSE SHE WAS UNCONCIOUS. Yes, had her boyfriend had sex with her when she was passed out, THAT WOULD BE RAPE |
Victim here and I don't blame my friends. In a different situation I might, but we had all split up so no one knew I was alone. Also, my rapist was someone we knew so they wouldn't have had reason to believe he was going to be a psycho. Nor did I. |
|
This case is disgusting to me, in pretty much every way.
The survivor has shared her perspective. Read the entire impact statement if you are interested in her insight. It is not "regret" speaking but sexual trauma. But he didn't do that. This is a situation where the victim was not able to give consent. The assault was broken up by TWO witnesses unknown to either the victim or the perpetrator. A rape kit was done. This isn't a case of he said/she said, and the jury agreed with that assessment. This man was found guilty of three felony charges, which he still denies. If he had been found guilty of those charges and, at his sentencing hearing, he had spoken about his remorse and admitted responsibility for his actions, I would be a lot more sympathetic to the impact on his life. As for the people saying that we should teach our children about safety, I completely agree. I think that what we should be focusing on in this situation, if we are teaching our children about safety, is that two strangers stopped to investigate something that seemed off to them. We should be teaching our children that, in addition to paying attention to their own safety, if they are concerned that someone is being hurt, they should stop and investigate, or call 911, or both, rather than just walking by. If you see something, say something, right? |
my friends just left without telling me - who knows we were all so drunk. maybe they thought I had already left. I think I had gone to the restroom and when I came out they were gone. Yes I knew the guy too - which is why I approached him upon finding myself alone at the party. Sigh |
good post. yes we should teach them to pay attention if someone else is being hurt or appears to be. good thing those 2 guys came along. or she might just have woken up alone behind the dumpster with no idea what happened |
I don't really remember very well (being drugged will do that to you) but I'm pretty sure that's what happened to me. Split up, later couldn't find my friends again, saw someone I knew and the rest is history. |
Guys have been known to run off when caught having consensual Yes means Yes sex with strangers on the lawn at 2am. It's pretty embarrassing and unromantic in the best of circumstances. |