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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be disgusted and angry? RAGE RAGE RAGE (Rape related, may trigger)

207 replies

LoopsInHoops · 08/01/2013 14:23

You may have heard about the Steubenville rape cover-up in Ohio that was uncovered by hacking group, Anonymous?

I read a few things about it, but hadn't read the hacking group's own account. here it is

I am absolutely disgusted at the level of deceit and evil in one small town.

The poor girl was drugged by a group (having had their coache's permission) then raped by loads of them. And now there are videos floating around the internet, not only of these horrible creatures (most of whom haven't been charged, the police having deleted the incriminating evidence), but also of one admitting to raping her and all his friends finding it absolutely fucking hilarious. here, grim watching, not for the sensitive (like me)

AIBU to have had no idea that the system in a western country can be so utterly fucked up as to allow this behaviour on account of school/sporting popularity? It is so fucking wrong. Angry

OP posts:
oldraver · 09/01/2013 14:23

Yes her being drunk or not isnt the issue.... but it has been reported she was drunk when there doesnt seem to be any evidence of this so why is the DM stating she was drunk .....and maybe I'm being overly critical but its the implication ....oh she was drunk, which is so often wheeled out IYSWIM ?

LRDtheFeministDragon · 09/01/2013 14:23

Yes, I see you're right loops. Which makes me furious about the media and aboutb stupid assumptions, poor girl.

It is horrific that there is any attempt to shift blame here.

oldraver · 09/01/2013 14:24

Yes Loops explained it in the way I was thinking

LRDtheFeministDragon · 09/01/2013 14:24

old - that's exactly my suspicion. They are feeling the need to say this to excuse her rapists. Rape myths 101.

This is why it is so awful when people say 'but maybe she was drunk' - she clearly was not in a state to consent, no matter why.

Flatbread · 09/01/2013 14:25

Anon claims that she was given a 'roofie'. I guess that is the colloquial for a date rape drug?

The claim they know who gave it and where the drugs are sourced.

This whole thing is so sickening on so many levels The awful monsters, the adults covering up for them. And the racial element of the black guy getting arrested while the white guys who filmed it, probably raped her too and had it happen in their house/ car getting away with impunity!

Booyhoo · 09/01/2013 14:37

wasn't she drugged soon after she got into the car after being picked up from some volleyball thing? i cant imagine she had much to drink in that space of time. well even if she had it wouldn't matter. she didn't consent.

loopylou6 · 09/01/2013 14:40

Sad Oh god, first I'd heard of this. I'm absolutely disgusted, words fail me.

Do you think we can all do something about this? Get wider coverage in the hope that the right people are forced to take notice?

Power of mumsnet?

Flatbread · 09/01/2013 14:41

Booyhoo that is what I read too.

I agree that it shouldn't matter, but it is a bit Hmm that DM states that she was drunk without mentioning the allegation that she was drugged.

Nancy66 · 09/01/2013 14:44

Loops - to answer your question: because it's a foreign story and nobody died.

However, as the story gathers pace and develops, I think the UK media will pick up on it more - it's one that (I think) the Sunday papers may go for as it's a story that in its current state merits a lengthy reportage style feature which daily papers don't have the space or manpower for.

Backtobedlam · 09/01/2013 14:46

Just absolutely sickening. How on earth can things like this go on and then to cover it up?! It's shocking, and that poor poor girl, its heartbreaking.

Booyhoo · 09/01/2013 14:48

i was thinking about this last night and i cant work out whether it's better for her that she cant remember any of it or not. for lots of reasons. Sad cant imagine what she is going through.

5madthings · 09/01/2013 15:00

I can't get my head around it, that it happened and seemingly was so public, filmed etc and the cover up of it is just so horrific.

boot also agree I don't know if its better she can't remember either, but presumably she has read of and seen some of the videos.

As the mum if four boys I am horrified by the boys behaviour and as the mum of a girl its frankly terrifying.

The whole thing is appalling and depressing :(

Booyhoo · 09/01/2013 15:06

yes she will have read and heard so much but wont know (even with flashbacks- are they real or are they what her brain has pieced together from what she's heard?) whether it happened or not. none of the attackers are ever going to admit to everything. witnesses most likely wont have seen everything that happened. the only real evidence has been tampered with by the police. all she knows is that she got into a car and woke up the next morning on her front lawn. she's not even a witness to the rapes in the sense that she cant say who did what or who said what etc. as much as i'm glad she wasn't conscious and aware of the pain and abuse, i think if i was in her shoes, i would find it extremely difficult not knowing what had been done to me.

Booyhoo · 09/01/2013 15:07

sorry, i t reads like i'm disagreeing with you. i'm not, more really just elaborating on my own thought process.

PiccadillyCervix · 09/01/2013 15:09

Agree that it doesn't matter a bti f she WAS drunk but also think it highly unliekly that she could have gotten that drunk straight away that she would be fully passed out and be able to be dragged to different parties and raped on multiple occasions with out waking.. Without the boys actually beliving she was dead. IN which case presumably they would stop draggng her around.

Sounds like they drugged her and it all happened as they planned.

There would have been other girls at the party including the friend. How could they see it and not call the police?

I hope all the boys who raped her get charged as adults because there is no hope for them, There really isn't they won't ever be "human" as far as I am concerned and locking them away for as long as possible is the only thing they can do for the women of that town. But I also hope all the fuckin adults who were there get charged as accessories and that all the piece of shit teenagers there watching and videoing go down too

And I hope the adults who let her down after the fact get charged for corruption and that they end up with out their homes and livelihoods. It's their money and their power that has kept them off the firing line so I hope they are stripped of it.

5madthings · 09/01/2013 15:16

Yes I agree Piccadilly but I read something about how they don't have any laws/statute to cover charging many who witnessed it/filmed it and as such their hands are tied.

I think it needs to be taken over by an out of state body, a group that are not involved, have no prejudice etc. How is there ever going to be a proper case and trial otherwise? Its a bloody shambles.

5madthings · 09/01/2013 15:18

And I don't read it as you disagreeing bio more elaborating and articulating the situation.

How you would ever begin to start to put your life back together and move forward after this I don't know :(

PiccadillyCervix · 09/01/2013 15:19

Yeah, I don't know how it will work but it should be taken over by someone who is not involved. I don't know if the FBI would be able to take over? I'm American but I can't think of anything similar enough like this to know what they would do?

I imagine if the revolting piece of shit rapists do go to trial though it will be out of area.. you know so they get a "fair" trial.

KhallDrogo · 09/01/2013 15:24

loopy

i agree...this needs to be more widely reported. I dont know anything about media/lobbying/campaigns....does anyone here know how we can put pressure on to publicise this more??

5madthings · 09/01/2013 15:25

Piccadilly out of state trial may help in that those judging won't be friends/acquantainces of the boys. I suspect many in the area are somehow known to the accused? And as such may follow the thinking of 'they can't have done it' or that it was 'tern pranks gone wrong' I would hope that people not involved or living in the area would be able to have a more objective vue rather than closing ranks and protecting their Owen and also they won't be wanting to protect the reputation of the area, the school, etc?

God knows, it def needs to be taken over by an organization not so closely linked. The prosecuted is the MOTHER of a boy who was involved? I mean how the fuck can that be allowed?!!

5madthings · 09/01/2013 15:27

khall I don't know but was thinking of something like the 'I believe you campaign' that got a lot of publicity so something like that but aimed at the media to get them to cover the story?

Flatbread · 09/01/2013 15:30

read something about how they don't have any laws/statute to cover charging many who witnessed it/filmed it and as such their hands are tied

I would suspect it is more a case of they don't want to, rather than they can't. They could charge them with aiding and abetting a crime.

It is interesting that you can be apprehended for just talking about potentially committing a terrorist act.

But actively filming, laughing, watching a rape is apparently ok.

I think it is a case of having contempt for women and not valuing us and our bodies.

OlivetheotherReindeer · 09/01/2013 15:32

Surely to god, the collective power of mumsnet can at least shine a light on this, great idea 5 mad things, I just don't know how to start it off.

Booyhoo · 09/01/2013 15:35

one thing i know for sure with this case, the number of people charged/sentenced will in no way reflect the number of people who are guilty of some part in this. she wont have justice. Sad

5madthings · 09/01/2013 15:37

flat bread it was in a link earlier in this thread, but yes I think there must be some laws they could use.

A campaign would be good but not sure how much difference it would maker. There are links on this thread to petitions that we can all sign, publicising those would be a start.