To wonder if this is for real, and if so, what moron came up with it?! **Trigger warning**

[StoneTheFlamingCrows]

One in three reported rapes happen when the victim has been drinking

If this link is true I am ashamed to work for the nhs.

it really does sadden me that so many women still excuse some rapists behaviour because a woman was drunk, wearing tight/short clothing, said no too late

Sallyingforth you talk total crap.

woman out having a few drinks after dinner with friends enjoying herself thinks I shall have another one - wrong no

man makes a choice to rape a woman - wrong yes

it is that simple

People are saying that rape is the same as being burgled, or your car being broken into, is that right? Being raped is, to these people the same as having your handbag snatched?

Well in a way it should be exactly like those. I've never heard of any victims of any of those crimes being blamed for flaunting their expensive designer bag or rolex watch or not having security locks or car alarms or being drunk.

I would rather avoid the dark alley to avoid a potential rape or mugging, rather than get into that situation and know that it was 100% the rapist's or mugger's fault

If you didn't believe in victim blaming then this wouldn't bother you.

HaroldsBishop

"Playing devil's advocate for a minute - perhaps because there is a pre-existing victim blaming culture that is unique to the crime of rape, these posters should be more sensitive in broaching their advice?'

Sallyingforth you talk total crap.
OK. If you think so.

The fact is, while there are potential criminals about I will always do my best to avoid being a victim.
I can't always succeed - there are always unsuspected or unpredictable situations.
But if I can reduce the risk of a crime by even 10% I will do so.
That means for example locking the door when I'm home alone, and not drinking enough to dull my sense of awareness. And lots of other things.

What about locking your door when you're home with a trusted friend of the family, and your rapist is on the inside of the locked door? Most rapes are committed by someone the victim knows.

Then I will be raped.
I have been talking all along aboutreducing risks. That's all anyone can do.

Your have to face the fact that whatever the government or the police or anyone else does about it, there always will be rape and there always be murder.
We should press the authorities to do everything possible to reduce it.
But it is only sensible for us, the potential victims, to do anything we can to reduce the risk to ourselves.

The government, the police, the criminal justice system, society does not do enough about it. It is an insult that this is where they choose to allocate their money.

I agree with those saying that this isn't victim blaming.

Telling men not to rape is not going to rid the world of rapists unfortunately. I also dislike the idea that men are, by default, a rapist, unless you tell them not to be

"Rapes happen because rapists decide to rape."

Are you denying that some rapists may be opportunistic and may take advantage of a situation where a woman is drunk?

Freudian, no one is excusing their behaviour. No one is saying that it is ok to rape someone if they are drunk or that it is their fault that they were raped because they were drunk. As an earlier poster said, knowing that it is entirely the rapist's fault that you were raped isn't much consolation if you think you could have avoided being in the situation if you had not been drunk and had made a different decision.

Sallying "if I can reduce the risk by even 10% I will" - so you will be divorcing your husband will you? Never allowing any male relatives, friends or acquaintances into your home? Statistically, these would reduce your risk much more than avoiding underpasses in winter.

Bumbley I believe that challenging male sense of entitlement and bringing up boys to understand that enthusiastic ongoing participation is the only acceptable basis for sex is actually the way to reduce rape. Do you think there is nothing that could?

By the way following your logic I should be telling myself I could have "avoided" being raped by "taking different decisions" - like not having friends, not staying at anyone's house when I was at school or not going to bed in the spare room at bedtime. I don't tell myself these things because these are perfectly legitimate things for me to have done, and didn't cause, contribute to or excuse the fact a man chose to rape me. Drinking alcohol outside of the home is also a legitimate action for a woman.

so you will be divorcing your husband will you
Don't be ridiculous.

The 90% risk is that DP might suddenly turn into a rapist. I can't do anything about that so I accept it.

The 10% risk is that I might make a foolish decision while drunk in a public place. I can avoid that by not getting drunk, so I do.

If that saves one rape in ten it won't help the other nine, but it's bloody well worth it for the one who doesn't get raped.

You will avoid a 10% risk but not a 90% one? Ok...

By the way, getting raped isn't a "foolish decision" you take when drunk. HTH.

bumbleymummy then why are we discussing women putting themselves at risk if the rapist is always 100% to blame

I would hope no one would ever blame themselves in anyway at all if they were raped but sadly attitudes like yours and much of society still will blame women for putting themselves in a situation where a man made the CHOICE to rape her

The 10% risk is that I might make a foolish decision while drunk in a public place. I can avoid that by not getting drunk, so I do

A foolish decision? like daring to go out with friends? Like having a drink?

Is wearing tight clothing or a short skirt a foolish decision too?

Or heels? Because you can't run in heels.

So you go out in a duvet cover, flat pumps, head scarf and drink water so as to not put yourself at risk, have a lousy night because god forbid a person control thenselves

I do wonder why people on this thread, are using examples about the way the woman is dressed, when there is no link or increased risk associated with attire, whereas there is an avoidable increased risk associated with women getting so drunk that they leave themselves far more vulnerable.
There is nothing on the poster about the way women dress.

Women are free to choose to ignore the information. It's just information. An inescapable fact that you are more vulnerable to a number of crimes, including rape, if you are drunk. You can choose to take that into consideration when you go out, which will reduce the risk of you becoming a victim, or you can choose to ignore it, and put yourself more at risk. It doesn't make it your fault if you do become a victim, the blame lies with the attacker, but it is perfectly reasonable for women to have the information so that they are able to make informed choices.

Should women not be given that information?
What does it say about someone who thinks that that information should be withheld and not advertised?

I think the fact remains that men are (generally) physically stronger than women and we can't always defend ourselves, being drunk just makes us more of a target.

It's just stating a fact, and a bloody good bit of advice. People are just too easily offended. Usually women. Men would take that as a good bit of solid advice and go with it but we'd rather carry on regardless making it easier for these monsters to rape and than just take well meant advice.

But it's NOT "just information". It's implying that because women chose to drink, they are partly responsible for what happens if someone then attacks them. Which is invidious, because the only person fully and totally responsible for a rape is a rapist.

(As several PPs have pointed out, if one in three rapes is committed when the victim is drunk, them it follows that the other two happen against people who are not. So you are twice as likely to be a victim sober. I await the "stay safe by getting plastered" campaign.)

It IS just information though isn't it?! It's a FACT.

So why are there no campaigns advising short, weak men on how to defend themselves? Or people in wheelchairs, who can't get away from assault easily? They are more vulnerable than I am, thay's a FACT too.