To think that West Mercia Police need to take this poster off their website

[DuelingFanjo]

here

they have already apologised for another poster story but the poster on their site is, in my opinion, also pretty offensive.

"Alcohol features in two thirds of all rapes, we want people to enjoy the party season and let their hair down without letting their guard down"

where are their campaigns aimed at men or aimed at taking women seriously?

What does it matter if your judgement is impared? How does this = rape?

Imo i would have thought (especially with regard to date rapes) that being impaired would make you seem an easier target to the rapist. Not that its the womans fault, she has as much right to be as drunk as the next person.

Because, WMW, we're on a thread about attitudes to rape, and you're mentioning that alcohol impairs judgement.

Is it really that hard to see how I read a comment about alcohol impairing judgement, on a thread about rape, as a comment implying that being raped was down to an error of judgement?

Thanks Mildew, it was a long time ago, he was found guilty and put in prison. He only got 3 years though.

I am fine although I still get very angry about things like this. Like it or not, the campaigns that put the onus on the woman to protect her own honour plant those seeds of doubt and guilt in my brain that I did something wrong. I know I didn't, but on some visceral level I cannot let go of that guilt.

Plus, I probably wouldn't have namechanged if I didn't on some level think I would be judged about it!

"unless you disagree that alcohol impairs judgement?"

yes it does. But what does that have to do with rape?

"Imo i would have thought (especially with regard to date rapes) that being impaired would make you seem an easier target to the rapist. Not that its the womans fault, she has as much right to be as drunk as the next person."

and so...?

should all women not drink then? Shall we ban women from drinking alcohol for their own good?

Why not ban men from having sex for their own good then?

so women drinking is the problem - not men raping - oh glad we cleared that up then

and so...? You sound like a sulky teenager. There is no so to it, as my mother would say. Woman are entitled to get drunk, blind drunk if we so wish (like i already said). But there is a small risk that by getting drunk you could end up in a situation where a man rapes assaults/you because he thinks you are a softer target because of alcohol impairment. Not the womans fault, nobody is blaming the woman, all blame lies with the rapist But that doesn't change the fact that being drunk can make a woman more at risk.

There'd be an outcry if the goverment knew that action a could lead to action b, but didn't bother to warn anyone.

I agree that the criminal is responsible for his crimes and it's wrong to imply potential victims should do anything that might stop them becoming prey.

On a related note, I find a strong on-line bank password difficult to remember, I have mine set to "password". It's not my job to prevent people stealing from me, it's their responsibility to know it's wrong and not do it.

so women drinking is the problem - sorry i must have missed that, where was that said?

it's no different from blaming women for wearing short skirts ffs - rape is nothing to do with the actions of the person being raped - it's the actions of the rapist that are the issue

Are we really comparing a woman's right to not be raped to passwords, now? Fuck a duck, this is getting ridiculous.

Please, would someone tell me how to effectively hide the fact I own a vagina? Less chance of being raped, then.

I've just had feedback from West Mercia Police. sigh They've changed the image, kept the victim blamey text

Of course, men raping is an error of judgement... Not about power and control at all, right/

I think what all women should do, is never take pride in their appearance, never go out alone, never drink alcohol or have anything to do with anything that might alter their perceptions, because the alternative is that MEN HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS!

Am I right?

Mildew is there a way of linking this thread to their FB page? Or is that not a good idea?

Wombat you missed out; never have a boyfriend, husband, male friends, male co workers, sons, land lords, male neighbours, never be old or young ,never wear shorts skirts or long ones or go out in gangs or alone, or in broad day light or at night , never walk or take taxis or buses ... I am sure there are more

I'm not sure. The thread can be linked, but I'm not sure how comfortable everyone else would be with that.

You're right gordy!

Elimination of all women will not even stop rape happening will it?

Reminds me of this gordy.

here is how to prevent rape

I was looking for a feminist poster from the 80's with a similar message

remember during the Ripper hunt they had a curfew on women - surely keeping men of the street would have made more sense!

this one!

I'm going to sign off this thread now, this is the first time in nearly ten years I have got really upset and had a cry at what happened to me.

Wombat, have messaged you. Hope you're OK sending support and solidarity

hope you are ok Wombat and really sorry to have stirred those memories