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Original poster

Rape and coercion

106 replies

VampyreQueen · 08/08/2015 21:41

I'm trying to think something through and I'd greatly appreciate some help!

My DP and I were discussing a well known game franchise that he plays. I haven't played it myself so only know the story second hand, if you see what I mean.

Essentially, Character A and Character B are kidnapped by the Bad Guys. The Bad Guy tells A that he has a choice; either A can rape B or he (Bad Guy) will. This is basically a means of torture, in that A must decide wether to take the 'kinder' option of doing it or allowing the Bad Guy to do it (probably with added violence)

To me, A is still a rapist and - though in a shit position - is still morally wrong (if you see what I mean)

DP disagrees. I would be interested in your thoughts, Should you care to share them Smile

OP posts:
JustTheRightBullets · 09/08/2015 08:30

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JustTheRightBullets · 09/08/2015 08:28

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Original poster
VampyreQueen · 08/08/2015 23:56

And yes, I meant A became less likeable. Sorry.

OP posts:
Original poster
VampyreQueen · 08/08/2015 23:55

Well, we have discussed it further.

DP says he would feel exactly the same if B were a man.

He also Saud that the choice was given to A in front of B and B accepted A's choice and 'helped' him to get through it. I think that's suppose to make it better but somehow it just really doesn't. Confused

OP posts:
achieve6 · 08/08/2015 23:52

my thoughts are - unprintable.

what does your DP think if they're all men?

Lurkedforever1 · 08/08/2015 23:48

Surely the answer is entirely dependent on what B says is the lesser of two evils. The physical side of rape is by far the lesser part, however I suppose I can see the point that A could be less physically violent about it than bad guy. But as the mental aspect of rape is far worse, I'd say being raped by someone who's meant to be on your side and presumably trustworthy is going to have a bigger emotional price than the bad guy.
If B chose A to rape over bad guy, then it would still be rape and A a rapist but with mitigating factors/ bad guy as named accomplice.
If it was just a question of physical violence, like punching or hitting, then I could see the logic of A being the lesser of two evils and not responsible.

minkGrundy · 08/08/2015 23:26

Typo? Is it A who becomes less likeable?

WhirlpoolGalaxyM51 · 08/08/2015 23:21

Why is b not likeable any more if she has to be raped?

minkGrundy · 08/08/2015 23:15

I will be interested then to see if your dp's view changes in that case if B were male.

Original poster
VampyreQueen · 08/08/2015 23:13

Sorry not sure that I'm explaining it well.

It definitely changed my feelings towards character B who was 'likeable' up until then

OP posts:
Original poster
VampyreQueen · 08/08/2015 23:10

B is in several of the games, iirc and is a main but non playable character.

A is also a long term non playable character. The player doesn't get to choose what happens -it's part of the plot-and I don't think you see the rape.

OP posts:
minkGrundy · 08/08/2015 23:10

whirlpool exactly.a 'guilt-free' rape scenario. In fact it's rape as a favour. Boak.

But it really does change it all up if B is male.

WhirlpoolGalaxyM51 · 08/08/2015 23:05

I assumed that b would be male. Not sure why.

It sounds like a pretty dubious story line to me Confused

So the person playing the game is invited to rape a woman and given an excuse for doing so, or watch another man violently rape a woman.

Super.

minkGrundy · 08/08/2015 23:04

And does character B exist in this game just for this scenario? Or are they played by another rl person? Or do they have a lt role in the game.

I'd almost bet they are a token female character shoe horned into the game just so that they can be the victim of this 'friendly' rape. Hmm

minkGrundy · 08/08/2015 22:59

Otherwise in this context it is 2 men effectively making a decision for a woman about what is less awful for her instead of, god forbid, A asks B.

Original poster
VampyreQueen · 08/08/2015 22:54

Interesting point Mink. Perhaps he would feel differently if he were looking at it from B's point of view. I will bring that up.

OP posts:
Original poster
VampyreQueen · 08/08/2015 22:52

The series is Metal Gear Solid if anyone is familiar with it. I have only seen parts of it -it spans a lot of games and is pretty complex in terms of story but centers around war. It's usually got strong storylines with realistic characters and quite a lot of depth so I sort of thought of this 'plot' as another ethical/moral dilemma (if that makes sense). I was just surprised that DP and I felt so differently about it. Perhaps because he is emotionally invested in Character A?

OP posts:
minkGrundy · 08/08/2015 22:48

That is, if B could be him rather than a n other woman. Or if he were in As position would he still think it was the kinder thing to do?

Because otherwise he is in the position of being a man inagining what it is liked to be a woman being raped (by her fruend instead of bad guy) but what he really needs to be imaging is if he was being raped by a man would he really care who was doing the raping. The point is rape is rape not nice rape and nasty rape. Or he is thinking well I might rape a woman if I really had to, to help her out....ah but would he / could he do it to a man?

LassUnparalleled · 08/08/2015 22:44

Well depressingly I assumed B would be female. And no I don't think it is a defence.

Sorry but I can't even begin to imagine a scenario where I wouldn't hit the roof if my son or husband brought this up in the context of a game.

minkGrundy · 08/08/2015 22:43

I had assumed that but ask your dh if B were male would that change his opinion?

Original poster
VampyreQueen · 08/08/2015 22:42

Also, I don't think A's life is threatened. I think they have a 'choice' to do it or not so would that be duress or not?

OP posts:
Original poster
VampyreQueen · 08/08/2015 22:39

Bad Guy and A are male while B is female.

To be fair, none of these are the main player and I don't think you see it happen. it is a side story. (Arguably an unnecessary one)

OP posts:
LassUnparalleled · 08/08/2015 22:37

Personally the more pressing question for me is why would my partner want to play "this well known game franchise" at all?

Legally he has the complete defence of duress but to raise it you have to fear for your life and the threat has to be immediate.

I only did criminal law at first year of university and have never practised it. Oddly this was an essay subject and the answer was thought to be no- it would not stand as a defence.

PuntasticUsername · 08/08/2015 22:35

Sounds like a fucking awful "game", to me Confused

minkGrundy · 08/08/2015 22:30

Apologies for typos. Hope it makes some sense.

I wonder if this game is just an excuse for them to enact a rape fantasy in which they are not responsible for their characters actions? (Hence why I ask if they would still want to play the game if A and B were male )