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Original poster

The tone of the coverage of the Reynhard Sinaga case. *Title edited by MNHQ*

521 replies

Dogsaresomucheasier · 06/01/2020 22:13

Just watching tonight’s news. I do not wish to minimise the trauma suffered by the victims of Reynhard Sinaga, but I’m really struggling with the reporting of the case; even from female journalists. It seems so full of empathy and gravitas, when so many female victims go unheard.

OP posts:
Singletomingle · 07/01/2020 03:19

The shocking things about this case are the sheer number of victims, that unless you have video evidence then there is no point reporting a rape because you'll end up arrested. Finally what comes across here and elsewhere is that if as a man you are raped its better to keep quiet due to the level of vitriol that will come your way almost exclusively from women.

JamieVardysHavingAParty · 07/01/2020 03:43

Either you are trolling, or this is the only forum you've ever used. The bile, hatred and doxing that gets posted about female rape victims by men and women on the internet is unbelievable.

In comparison, what has happened on this thread? People have pointed that the reporters have treated these rape victims with more of the respect and dignity they deserve than is usual. We don't object to them being treated that well.

We just think all rape victims should be treated better.

Although, as I have mentioned I don't think the media coverage of this group of rape survivors is quite supportive enough. I really don't like the undertone about the gay victims. But it is progress in the correct direction.

Limpshade · 07/01/2020 04:20

@echt so this thread DOESN'T surmount to, "What about women? They get raped too"? Hmm.

Aridane · 07/01/2020 04:48

What a vile sick Thread (in parts)

MangoFeverDream · 07/01/2020 04:56

There a few things that make this case a bit unusual. First, it’s that he had videotaped his encounters. Second is that he boasted about drugging them online. Third is that they appear to have been largely straight men. Fourth he is an immigrant from a rich family in Indonesia, a country where homosexuality, while not illegal, is taboo. Fifth is that he is quite young and photogenic.

It makes this story especially salacious for the media.

Hopoindown31 · 07/01/2020 05:12

I should have put a bet on this thread being the MN response to this horrid crime. As soonas I saw the news I knew there would be some on here that would be furious that male victims would be getting any sympathy. Pathetic.

Toomanygerbils · 07/01/2020 05:26

Rather than make this story all about you personal feelings you could just feel a little sympathy for the victims instead. This isn’t always about how it hurts your life and identity, whatever you choose that to be, this is real people recovering and reading on here how you are possibly offended by whatever, get over yourselves

NearlyGranny · 07/01/2020 05:45

Women rape victims deserve to respect and acceptance that these men got; that's all.

Was anyone questioning what the male victims drank/wore/did for the last x years in their relationships or what steps they took to prevent/invite rape?

Everyone accepts that no man would ever want to be raped: it's not uncommon for women to be assumed to have consented at the time and changed their minds the next day.

I wonder how many serial rapists of female victims have been sentence to what amounts to two full human lifespans?

Where were the people pleading that a criminal record would ruin the rapist's future?

It's as if male on male rape is a different crime altogether... Oh, wait...

Mummyoflittledragon · 07/01/2020 05:54

I understand where you’re coming from. Rape is rape and all victims deserve to have their dignity spared, to be taken seriously and treated equally.

Hopoindown31 · 07/01/2020 05:54

Was anyone questioning what the male victims drank/wore/did for the last x years in their relationships or what steps they took to prevent/invite rape?

Did you bother to find out anything about this case before getting angry about it?

FixTheBone · 07/01/2020 05:55

YABU

This case is very different from almost everything that has gone before.

The number of victims is an order of magnitude higher than any previously convicted rapist.

The fact he recorded and catalogued every victim and kept souvenirs is also rare and also meant the police and court had almost unequivocal evidence of not only the numbers involved, but also the exact circumstances of the events.

On a victim level, each victim of rape should be considered equally, but as an 'event' this is clearly is going to have more public interest around it.

Toomanygerbils · 07/01/2020 05:56

@NearlyGranny actually when you read the facts most of the victims never came forward due to the shame of this. Men on men sexual assault is a major stigma which is most often not reported. This isn’t a competition as to which rape victims are more traumatised or believed. This is a case of looking at the individual case, being sympathetic and not trying to turn it into a case of woman’s rights just for the sake of it. Respect the victims

echt · 07/01/2020 06:03

As soon as I saw the news I knew there would be some on here that would be furious that male victims would be getting any sympathy

Do indicate which poster has done this,Hopoindown31

DontGoJasonWaterfalls · 07/01/2020 06:08

I think it's the reporting of the case that has annoyed me. The idea that it's particularly bad because the victims were straight men, as opposed to because of the sheer number and nature of the crimes. The implication being that it wouldn't be so newsworthy if the victims were women or gay.

I'm really glad justice has been done but I do think it's time for some official guidelines on how the media reports sexual assault and rape cases.

Nextphonewontbesamsung · 07/01/2020 06:14

It's so important to try and get your true meaning across in a thread title. Especially on such a serious subject.

VivaLeBeaver · 07/01/2020 06:20

I think the media coverage is due to the numbers involved, not the sex.

There was similar coverage around John Worboys.

Wh0leCl0ves · 07/01/2020 06:20

What a vile thread. A new low even by MN standards. I despair, I really do. Can’t believe how unpleasant areas of MN have been reduced to.

Puppy78 · 07/01/2020 06:32

This thread is horrible. The reporting is due to the numbers. I remember similar reporting around the black cab rapist.

AraGrand · 07/01/2020 06:37

The fella who raped me was a serial rapist. He was just out of jail - for rape - when he raped me - less than a month later he raped a 15 year old. I was drugged too and brought to his house. He was jailed for 9 years. Apart from local newspapers, nobody covered it. It certainly was not all over the news. I can see your point OP.

eeyore228 · 07/01/2020 06:38

I think this level of media is simply because of the scale and evidence against him. It doesn’t mean less is thought of women who have been through this.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 07/01/2020 06:41

I understand OP. The reporting of this case is rightly sympathetic towards the victims. The reporting of rape cases against women often isn’t but it should be

THIS ^

It's almost as though women being raped is to be expected, whereas for a man to be raped is beyond dreadful, totally unacceptable, and they have to do something about it NOW!

OP isn't dismissing the seriousness of the assaults on these men - she is questioning why it takes the rape of a man to bring to the public eye what a horrific and far-reaching crime rape is. I agree with her. It's bloody shameful that women can be raped and no-one bats an eye, but when anything happens to a man they need protection.

ALL of us need protection, as far as possible, from brutality.

Wh0leCl0ves · 07/01/2020 06:42

Aragrand if he had been as prolific with as much video evidence it would have been all over the news.Hmm

Pretty sure individual cases such as yours will have happened to men too and gone by with little coverage.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 07/01/2020 06:43

Excellent post NearlyGranny

Wh0leCl0ves · 07/01/2020 06:45

Schaden are you choosing to ignore the numbers that make this newsworthy.

You are just belittling make rape for your cause. It’s disgusting. Male rape happens, there is a lot of shame involved, it will often go unreported.

rwalker · 07/01/2020 06:46

I don't think the men are getting any more sympathy as women FFS it's not top trumps .
The point is he record his attacks, rape is about consent and practically every case they have to prove a crime and the only evidence 1 persons word against another. thats why it's making headlines .
I don't think there has been any other case with such a volume of indisputable evidence with male or female victims .