Yet another rapist and yet another 'women should stay inside' response.

[Mytwopenceworth]

so so

Just caught a news report about a rapist on the prowl, and the official advice is for women to not go out alone after, think it was 9pm (was listening from kitchen, so didn't catch it all).

That makes me so bloody angry. Yet another sick f*ckwit and women are supposed to cower in their homes, or go out escorted!! Bloody male police who think this is the best course of action! Put a bloody curfew on men, not women. Why is it every time they say women should be restricted in this way? Get police on the street and arrest any man out after 8pm without aproval and escort him home. THAT'S what they should stuffing well do.

And I know, the rapist will just hide and go out anyway and women have to be responsible for their own safety and a million more justifications and I suppose they're true and maybe sensible, but it still makes me feel angry that men commit these crimes but its women who have to alter their lives. Yet more power to the rapists. x a million!!!! - I wish there was a steam coming out of ears emoticon!

[hercules]

and as I said earliert men at my college were warned about a series of male rapes on the tube and advised not to be alone etc.

[Tortington]

seems sensible to me

[Mytwopenceworth]

You're right Hercules, its not men against women - its rapists who want to abuse and control and a system that doesnt punish v women!

My dh is black - he doesn't feel afraid, I'm happy to say, to go anywhere - but if there was a racist attacker in the area, he may well decide to take precautions - but would the official police advice be for him and other black people to not go out at night? Because I don't think it would be. And THAT, more than anything, is wrong.

It's not wrong to advise people to take reasonable precautions against becoming a victim of crime. We all know that in this world we have to be sensible - and that in itself stinks! But its the way it is - but that is no reason to not wish it was different!

But I think it is wrong to give one group advice to protect themselves against harm that you do not give to any other group and which, I believe, is based on gender.

[hercules]

But women arent being told not to go out!

[QueenOfQuotes]

But lets face it, apart from serial murderers (who more than often target woman) very few crimes of this nature take place in the same place each time they/he attacks.

Serial rapist DO tend to attack in the same area, racist attacks often do NOT happen in the same area. I don't think I've ever heard of a case in the news where a series of racist attacks have happened in the same locality within a short space of time, and by the same people.

[Mytwopenceworth]

My male police advising women was a bit sexist of me, which I am sorry about. I guess what I meant was the male-dominated-authorities point of view that women should stay in and it should be women who curtail their activities.

[hercules]

We're talking about a specific area and a specific incident not in general terms. Who's to say similar advice isnt given to other groups of people in certain areas with attacks on a speific group. I've already said advice was given out to men during a series of male rapes.

[hercules]

But women are not being told to stay in and it's not just men advising women......

[Chandra]

I believe that the world is not perfect and unfortunately we need to adjust our behaviour to be able to survive in an non-perfect society. It's not fair, it shouldn't be like that but unfortunately, it is.

[QueenOfQuotes]

They're NOT saying that woman should stay in - they're saying not to go out ALONE unless absolutely nessecary - sensible advice anywhere IMO. Especially as 3 of the women that were attacked were teenagers.

[Mytwopenceworth]

I can hear you shouting at the screen Hercules - "WOMEN ARENT BEING TOLD TO STAY IN ARRRGGGGHHHHHH WHATS WRONG WITH THIS STUPID MTPW??"

It is advise not insist - but if you don't take the advice - it happened because you didn't follow police advice.

We obviously have a choice, I know that...

you know what, listen, I've got very strong views and whole 'issues' about it, and I don't want to seem like I'm getting into a fight about it. All I want is for it to be a crime that is punished severely and taken so so seriously be the courts, and when I hear stuff like women are advised to not go out it makes me scream ITS NOT FAIR

[hercules]

No one is saying you deserve it if you dont follow the advice and no one, not even the police are saying the advice is fair. It is though sensible as the world we live in isnt fair.

[Mytwopenceworth]

No, it's not. Its a stinking horrible world. Its not fair at all.

[QueenOfQuotes]

But the advice is

"We are asking all females, wherever possible, to avoid being out alone at night or in the early hours of the morning"

Not advising them to stay in but to try to ensure they're with someone else.

On the very rare occasions I've been out for a drink with friends we've seen young woman/girls out walking VERY late at night on their OWN - and walking through some very dark and potentially dangerous places (ie the lovely park at the back of our house is fantastic during the day, but a 'no go zone' at night - even for single males).

[Mytwopenceworth]

Clarify

I agree with you, its not fair, its a stinking horrible world its not fair at all.

in case you thought i misread your last post!

[Mytwopenceworth]

QoQ, and that's so wrong isn't it? you shouldn't have to only go out in groups to be safe. I know that's the reality, but it makes me so angry and I'll never stop campaigning and shouting for change!!!!!

[hercules]

sadly you arent going to change a rapist by campaigning.

[Mytwopenceworth]

No, but I have to do something. You can't make a pervert not a pervert, but you can make sure he gets caught and locked up for many, many years! (and I wonder would castrating with a rusty knife be seen as a step too far?) And you can make a pervert understand that he is going to feel the long arm of the law cos it is a crime they will chase you to hell and back for.

[QueenOfQuotes]

But MTPW - even if you take rapist out of the equation it's STILL not safe to walk around many areas of the UK (and in this town and our local 'big' town - Northampton) at night on your own.

There are many other criminal acts which can be carried out on a person, mugging, stabbing, murdering, etc etc - and more often than not the criminals will target people out on their own.

[Mytwopenceworth]

I know, I know. I'm not very rational on this at all am I? I can't help it - I just feel it so strongly! Its wrong wrong wrong! The whole world is wrong. People have no respect for other people - their person or their property.

[paolosgirl]

Crikey, it's just plain common sense, isn't it - don't over-analyse! A rapist (or a group of them)with a preference for females rather than males are on the loose - so it's kinda best not to wander the streets alone at night until they catch him, don't you think?!

By all means, make a stand and go out alone if you choose, though. It's a free country. Now - if we're going to have a heated debate about lawyers and the legal system and 'human rights' of the criminals, then please count me in

[Mytwopenceworth]

Don't even get me started on the 'human rights' of criminals because !!!

btw, I wasn't suggesting I was going to go wandering outside alone at night - I was saying it is so completely wrong to have to restrict yourself, its wrong that the emphasis seems to be on dont go out (alone) rather than on catch the bastard. But anyway, I think I've totally said how I feel, so trying to move on now!!!!!!

[Mytwopenceworth]

I mean I'M trying to move on, as in not repeat myself!!

[paolosgirl]

Deep breath, Mytwo, deep breath!!

[Mytwopenceworth]

i neeeeeeeeeed a big kiss and a whiskey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!