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Original poster

Why are people so defensive towards alleged rapists?

706 replies

PinkyofPie · 28/07/2016 15:40

If you're charged with a crime that goes to court, unless there's a reason to retain anonymity (such as it involves your child therefore naming you effectively names them) the press can name you if they wish to do so. Be it burglary, assault, theft or rape.

So why, every time a rapist is on trial, do people hop about saying "innocent until proven guilty" "they shouldn't be named they're tarred for life now" etc. But literally NO other crime.

A few days ago my local paper posted a picture on their FB newsfeed of 2 men on trial accused of raping a 18yo in the park. The above comments were there and even calls to "name and shame" the victim Shock and also "will she get sentenced if they're found not guilty". Perhaps because "not guilty" does not mean innocent and if the law worked that way even fewer women would report rape than there is now

One of the men accused also posted mocking both the trial and people who actually had sensible comments. I looked at his profile, which is public, and there's lots of people saying "good luck mate" for today (verdict) and memes about liars getting their comeuppance.

Today both men were unanimously found guilty by the jury in just 7 hours.

No comments so far on the post about their guilt.

Can anyone offer an explanation as to why people take this attitude with rape, and only rape? The poor survivor has had to read all that sympathy for them Sad

OP posts:
JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:38

Trying Wine

tryingtomakesenseoflife · 31/07/2016 22:37

It kind of helps me Felas because it's the shit that's been in my life or head for years. But at least here I see the answers and challenges from posters. And it's reassuring. I'm not suggesting you should stay on the thread, everyone has their point where they need to step back. But no one's energy has been wasted although I understand the frustration I am grateful for MNers who post with clarity and conviction - and compassion. So thank you. Flowers

Toads you should not feel guilty at all. If any other women were raped that's on him, not you. I very much doubt you'd hold me responsible for not reporting. Nor I you.

JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:36

Ah, CPS guidance suggests that a charge for perverting the course of justice rather than wasting police time would be more apt for a case that had got to the court stage.

Also, Hannah, why do you say "these liars give genuine rape sufferers a bad name"? Does Chris Huhne give middle aged white men a bad name because of his perjury, would you say?

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 31/07/2016 22:36

So someone is being accused of rape?

ZOMG, EVERYONE IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY!!!!!!!

On the other hand someone else is being accused of making a false accusation of rape.

ZOMG, THAT'S DISGUSTING! I HOPE THEY THROW THE BOOK AT HER, EVIL LYING BITCH!

Hmm
ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 31/07/2016 22:33

Innocent until PROVEN guilty.

Right.

However you can't just pick and choose who is deserving enough to be allowed to be innocent until proven guilty.

Last time I checked falsely accusing someone of a crime is a crime in itself therefore innocent until proven guilty applies equally to someone you suspect is making a false accusation.

Why does it seem that people who cry "INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY!!!" the loudest cherry pick who and what crime that gets applied to?

Original poster
PinkyofPie · 31/07/2016 22:33

OP, your last post is a case study in bigotry. Men who have not committed rape are entitled to justice and freedom from negative consequences as much as any woman.

When did I say they shouldn't? Please stop putting words in my mouth

But it seems that nowhere are gender lines so entrenched as in feminism.
Your life has been ruined by something you didn't do. Are you female? If so, that's awful. Are you male? If so, get to the back of the queue and how dare you suggest you are a victim too.

I'm not sure what kind of feminism you're familiar with probably ones MRAs make up in their heads but feminist cause does not look to disadvantage men in any way

Both rape and the accusation of an innocent person having raped are an invasion of privacy in a manner that is unlike any other crime except possibly child abuse. There's no question about that. The courts do recognise it because they grant anonymity to the victim. Until the guilty verdict is passed, the accused is also potentially a victim.

Comparing being accused of rape to child abuse? And saying accused rapists are potential victims? Fuck me this thread is drowned in irony. And you really wonder why we want to keep having these conversations. It really is the championship title in "what about the menz".

Do you also think people accused of child abuse and burglary are potential victims??

To prevent potentially innocent people getting caught up in the crossfire, I believe there are grounds to refrain from publicly labelling a face and a name.

I've asked this countless times - just for rape or for all crimes?

You don't have to stop feeling concern for women - just extend your concern

No. You can't force people to feel concern for things they don't feel concerned about. I don't have to care about everything

Otherwise, how can you, in all seriousness, expect the man on the street to give a flying fuck about you?

Why do you believe concern for women has to be earned rather than automatically given? It's not a reward for hard work you know

OP posts:
RufusTheReindeer · 31/07/2016 22:32

Oh for pitys sake

Is there an alarm that goes out or something

A weird bat signal

228agreenend · 31/07/2016 22:29

Hannah - how awful for your brother and your family. IT shows how a false allegation can cause so much damage.

Felascloak · 31/07/2016 22:28

toads I've been trying to think what to say, firstly I 100% agree with Jaquetta. Secondly it's never too late to report these things, but only if you want to and I'm definitely not saying you should.
Thanks for posting on here, fighting the good fight for all of us, hope you are ok xx

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 31/07/2016 22:28

These girls should be prosecuted for false allegations!

And they are.

Just Google "woman jailed for making false rape claim" or similar and you will get plenty of pages full of stories about women being prosecuted for making false rape accusations.

However here's the thing Hannah; in order to prosecute a woman for making a false rape accusation you have to prove that the accusation was a false one.

You can't just start throwing women in jail just because the accused was your brother and you just "know" he would never do that or because he wasn't convicted or because you think she might have made it up.

You have to prove it.

JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:26

...to MN, how are you liking it?

Felascloak · 31/07/2016 22:26

Thanks Jaquetta Smile
Might be getting towards thread hiding time for me. It's such wasted emotion posting on these threads yet I do worry about the rape/sexual assault victims reading all the rape apologist crap.

JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:26

If she admitted to lying in court, it is surprising that she wasn't charged. Do you know why not?

I notice that you are quite new

JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:22

Felas Flowers

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 31/07/2016 22:22

Right.

Hmm
Hannah4banana · 31/07/2016 22:22

I know this is feminism chat and you really want him to be guilty but he wasn't! There are some innocent people out there. Innocent until PROVEN guilty. These girls should be prosecuted for false allegations!

JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:22

Was she charged with wasting police time or attempting to pervert the course of justice?

Felascloak · 31/07/2016 22:21

I'm still really struggling with all the women posting their experiences on here then some total trombones coming on to say how awful for falsely accused men. Fuck off the lot of you.

Hannah4banana · 31/07/2016 22:19

She admitted it wasn't true. Total waste of time for everyone!

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 31/07/2016 22:18

There was no evidence and it got thrown out if court but the damage was done.

That doesn't prove the accusation was false.

JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:17

There was no evidence and it got as far as court? That's unusual. What caused it to be thrown out? Did the judge direct the jury to find not guilty?

Hannah4banana · 31/07/2016 22:16

There was no evidence and it got thrown out if court but the damage was done.

Hannah4banana · 31/07/2016 22:15

Really! Accused of rape and it hasn't made any difference to their lives.

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 31/07/2016 22:11

And how do you know that she lied about your brother raping her Hannah?

Do you have any evidence that she is guilty of committing a crime? Falsely accusing someone else of a crime is a crime in itself remember...

JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:09

So a girl told her boyfriend that? Did she go to the police? Or was it solely on Facebook?