Ladies, I hope you carry protection at night

[Clintonista2]

So a couple of weeks ago, there was a rape inside the science building on campus late at night. Lately it's been making me think more and more about just how vulnerable women are during nighttime. Tonight I got off the bus, as did a female. We were both walking in the same direction, there was NO lighting of any sort around, the area was deserted, and it really scared me to think that if I were a rapist, she wouldn't stand a chance. I know it's sad that we have to encourage women to carry weapons to defend themselves these days, but that pepper spray might just save your life.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Lirwin2, a good message everyone can benefit from...

men are actually more likely to be assaulted by a stranger.

But, I have always felt uncomfortable in buildings at off hours, so I see what you're saying.

ps. The term 'female' as a noun, is not exclusive to humans. We prefer to be called 'women'.

Best of luck to Ottawa this season. They're a great team.

[Clintonista2]

3. Well, the reason I used "female" was

I wasn't sure if she was young (in which case I would have used girl), or an adult (in which case I would have used woman).

And I'm a leafs fan, by the way :P

[LostinVA]

2. I always carry pepper spray when I go trail running solo

[undergroundpanther]

4. I think anti rape devices

and guns are one way to get arrogant males on power trips to keep it in their goddamn pants.They aren't slaves to hormones, they rape because they get off on power, rape has NOTHING to do with sex.

I swear I wish every rapist that was convicted got his dick and balls removed Snip!The next time they try to force sex , just kill them.

We tolerate intolerable people doing intolerable shit way too much.

Rape will cease when it costs the rapist too much personally to even think of trying it.When rape is not tolerated to the point rape is the equivalent to a rapist committing suicide the rapists will stop it.Make rape hurt the rapist. BAD.
That is justice.

[China_cat]

6. SC used to have the death penalty for rape.

As a result, about the only convictions ever handed down occurred when the accused rapist was black and the victim was white, or if the victim hadn't yet started having periods.

Rapists walked because juries didn't want to hand down that kind of punishment. We started getting convictions when the law changed...when we got degrees of sexual misconduct and more appropriate penalties.

As hard as it is to hear, harsher penalties will do more harm than good for every woman living. Re-instate a death penalty and the rapist has nothing to lose by killing his victim. Castrate him and you're very likely to get a rage that will have him raping with objects other than a penis.

[undergroundpanther]

8. Then

empower women to KILL abusers and rapists,and when they kill a rapist or pedophile do not blame the victims .If rapists are not going to be restrained or incapacitated to be unable to rape again when they rape why have a court at all? If the courts fail and everything short of killing the rapist fails to stop rapists than why not let the victims kill rapists. If the courts and justice system will not defend victims of rape, if the"just world hypothosis has polluted the societies concept of justice that bad, the courts police and jails can't stop rapists who is left to stand up for the victims?

Recently there was on DU a post about a report about a rape in an apartment building the other residents saw it happening but did nothing,didn't even call 911..So if people are going to be that selfish let the victim be taught how to kill her attackers and do not punish her for defending herself.
Rapists must stop and if other men do not get that reality,women need to make sure they cannot hurt people again.A grave is a permanent restraint.Every rapist should be dead in one as far as I am concerned.

[Orrex]

18. That's a powerful question with several problematic answers

empower women to KILL abusers and rapists,and when they kill a rapist or pedophile do not blame the victims .If rapists are not going to be restrained or incapacitated to be unable to rape again when they rape why have a court at all? If the courts fail and everything short of killing the rapist fails to stop rapists than why not let the victims kill rapists. If the courts and justice system will not defend victims of rape, if the"just world hypothosis has polluted the societies concept of justice that bad, the courts police and jails can't stop rapists who is left to stand up for the victims?

It is an undeniable and horrible failure of the justice system that women can be abused in this fashion while having the benefit of only very limited legal recourse. Chronic abuse seems to me the most insidious, because it's so hard to prove the longterm consequences to the victim, so any sharp defense lawyer can turn decades of behavior into a few instances.

But the answer, it seems to me, is not to open the door to vigilante justice, becuase such a move would almost certainly result in widespread abuse. How could such a system be monitored? It's already nightmarishly difficult for a women to prove that a date-rape occurred; how much more difficult for her to prove that she was justified in killing her assailant?

Recently there was on DU a post about a report about a rape in an apartment building the other residents saw it happening but did nothing,didn't even call 911..So if people are going to be that selfish let the victim be taught how to kill her attackers and do not punish her for defending herself.

The tragic case to which you refer, I believe, is that of Kitty Genovese, multiply stabbed and dying over an extended period in front of witnesses who didn't intervene. I've heard that tendency--a crowd failing to act--described as diffusion of responsibility. Apparently it's pretty deeply rooted in our societal interaction, and it's hardly the most commendable aspect of humanity.

Rapists must stop and if other men do not get that reality,women need to make sure they cannot hurt people again.A grave is a permanent restraint.Every rapist should be dead in one as far as I am concerned.

Of course, if the victim is in a position to fight back against her attacker as the attack is occurring, and if she kills him in the course of defending herself, I say more power to her. I am very strongly opposed to the death penalty, but killing in self-defense is another matter.

[Nobody]

22. Seconded on the kill part

Rapists are the most likely to be recidivists. Child molesters are rapists as far as I'm concerned, and that particular subgroup of rapist is the number one subgroup of rapists to reoffend.

Offend is a good word. The idea of rapists living to rape again offends me. I know too many people who suffered at the hands of these scum and the scum served not one second in prison.

[Triana]

19. BINGO again, undergroundpanther!

Rapists (and men in general) get off FAR TOO EASILY with their "oh it's my hormones" defense. WOMEN can't get away with that excuse - men deplore it when they use it. Why should MEN get away with using the same excuse. Besides, as you say, rape is a VIOLENT crime whose objective is POWER and CONTROL over someone else - NOT sexual satisfaction -- so it doesn't wash for that reason, as well.

"We tolerate intolerable people doing intolerable shit way too much." <---- I LOVE that! Keeping it with my list of quotes (I collect 'em), IF you don't mind, that is?

And YES, rape WILL STOP when it costs the rapist too much to even THINK of trying it. And ONLY then. When society and the legal system simply REFUSES to accept any excuse for it and when it HURTS the rapist REALLY BAD when they do it.

[1000evorlrak]

20. Guns

God made man, Sam Wesson made all men (and women) equal. I'd rather have to explain to police the body of the criminal in the alleyway, rather than them find my body in the alleyway.

Anything else is basically worthless. Knives, pepper or mace sprays, and such? You might as well kiss the snake since you had to get that close.

[Katherine Brengle]

5. Not just at night unfortunately. How does that saying go? "You can't rape a .38?"

[undergroundpanther]

10. Wish children and women

came with claws that could disable aggressive attackers,and women and children and men could close up the vagina/anus.And if that closed orifice was attempted to be raped a wall of razor sharp fangs would give the rapist a final warning than the rapist would pay dearly for his power trips..No means No. If a rapist does not understand no there has to be a way to make the point in such a way the rapist shit head gets the point. Guns are one way. Every rapist should be dead. really.

[Captain Hilts]

12. Women are most likely to be physically assaulted by someone they know, so...

they are less likely to use a weapon if they have one.

Driving cross country, yeah, pack a .38.

[raccoon]

13. A guy you date is more likely to rape you, or attempt to, than a stranger who just jumped

out of the bushes.

That's my belief from my, and others' anecdotal experience.

[Katherine Brengle]

15. Of course.

But it doesn't hurt to be vigilant in public as well.

[Rageneau]

7. Rape is only acceptable in prison.

I assume it MUST be acceptable in prison, because I never see anybody complaining about it or doing anything to stop it, even though male-on-male prison rape is supposedly ubiquitous.

In fact, the only time I hear a reference to prison rape is when someone jokes about it.

[undergroundpanther]

9. rape is not acceptable anywhere

All rapists should be dead for the thing they do.Every single one dead.A rapist is worthless..A rapist is a power tripping trauma inflicting scumbag that does not deserve to live.

[Captain Hilts]

11. I find such 'humor' appalling. And, yes, something should be done to enforce laws IN prison. nt

[gaspee]

14. A little research on your part

Would dispel that notion. There are plenty of people out there trying to stop it.

And why do you have to make this about men, anyway?

I bet you won't hear one prison rape joke in the feminist forum. Funny how feminists supposedly hate men, yet are active in the stop prison rape community, in'it?

Must just be us humorless feminists who don't think prison rape jokes are funny.

And kindly stop turning this into a what about the menz thread. Thank you.

[Katherine Brengle]

17. Seconded.

[Katherine Brengle]

16. You won't find anyone making such jokes here.

Or if someone does, they will be shut down.

Rape in prison is still rape and it is unacceptable.

And not at all humorous.

[lostwilderness]

21. luckily

i don'tgo out toomuch at night