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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Why are people so defensive towards alleged rapists?

706 replies

PinkyofPie · 28/07/2016 15:40

If you're charged with a crime that goes to court, unless there's a reason to retain anonymity (such as it involves your child therefore naming you effectively names them) the press can name you if they wish to do so. Be it burglary, assault, theft or rape.

So why, every time a rapist is on trial, do people hop about saying "innocent until proven guilty" "they shouldn't be named they're tarred for life now" etc. But literally NO other crime.

A few days ago my local paper posted a picture on their FB newsfeed of 2 men on trial accused of raping a 18yo in the park. The above comments were there and even calls to "name and shame" the victim Shock and also "will she get sentenced if they're found not guilty". Perhaps because "not guilty" does not mean innocent and if the law worked that way even fewer women would report rape than there is now

One of the men accused also posted mocking both the trial and people who actually had sensible comments. I looked at his profile, which is public, and there's lots of people saying "good luck mate" for today (verdict) and memes about liars getting their comeuppance.

Today both men were unanimously found guilty by the jury in just 7 hours.

No comments so far on the post about their guilt.

Can anyone offer an explanation as to why people take this attitude with rape, and only rape? The poor survivor has had to read all that sympathy for them Sad

OP posts:
ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 31/07/2016 22:00

I could have told someone right after it happened.

Instead I let my sister make jokes about what we had been up to...when I could have told them he had raped me.

We could have went straight to the police there and then and he might have been locked away now.

JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:01

Toads, you aren't responsible for him xx

Hannah4banana · 31/07/2016 22:05

Does anyone actually know someone that was accused of rape? Unfortunately my brother was. The girl he consensually slept with had a boyfriend and 2 days later told him she was raped. Absolutely horrific for all if us, I never doubted his innocence but someone posted on social media. He's a shell of the man he was, always thinking back and questioning what happened. These liars give genuine rape victims a bad name! It's awful x

JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:07

Trying, so sorry.

Gone, WBY is targeting rape myths like those believed by trying's friends a and family around blame. If people who love her are so steeped in rape myths that they don't start by believing her and encouraging and supporting a report, then the reporting rates will not change. And victims will feel alone.

WBY is not about changing the jury system or whatever. It goes far deeper than that. Which is why I asked you to describe what you had a problem with on WBY once you'd looked at it in greater detail. You've chosen not to do so, which is your prerogative of course

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 31/07/2016 22:07

Yes Hannah I do. Two people actually. Nothing really happened to them tbh. Their lives are going on as normal.

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 31/07/2016 22:08

And Hannah everyone's brother who has been accused of rape believes they were falsely accused.

JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:09

So a girl told her boyfriend that? Did she go to the police? Or was it solely on Facebook?

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 31/07/2016 22:11

And how do you know that she lied about your brother raping her Hannah?

Do you have any evidence that she is guilty of committing a crime? Falsely accusing someone else of a crime is a crime in itself remember...

Hannah4banana · 31/07/2016 22:15

Really! Accused of rape and it hasn't made any difference to their lives.

Hannah4banana · 31/07/2016 22:16

There was no evidence and it got thrown out if court but the damage was done.

JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:17

There was no evidence and it got as far as court? That's unusual. What caused it to be thrown out? Did the judge direct the jury to find not guilty?

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 31/07/2016 22:18

There was no evidence and it got thrown out if court but the damage was done.

That doesn't prove the accusation was false.

Hannah4banana · 31/07/2016 22:19

She admitted it wasn't true. Total waste of time for everyone!

Felascloak · 31/07/2016 22:21

I'm still really struggling with all the women posting their experiences on here then some total trombones coming on to say how awful for falsely accused men. Fuck off the lot of you.

JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:22

Was she charged with wasting police time or attempting to pervert the course of justice?

Hannah4banana · 31/07/2016 22:22

I know this is feminism chat and you really want him to be guilty but he wasn't! There are some innocent people out there. Innocent until PROVEN guilty. These girls should be prosecuted for false allegations!

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 31/07/2016 22:22

Right.

Hmm
JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:22

Felas Flowers

JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:26

If she admitted to lying in court, it is surprising that she wasn't charged. Do you know why not?

I notice that you are quite new

Felascloak · 31/07/2016 22:26

Thanks Jaquetta Smile
Might be getting towards thread hiding time for me. It's such wasted emotion posting on these threads yet I do worry about the rape/sexual assault victims reading all the rape apologist crap.

JacquettaWoodville · 31/07/2016 22:26

...to MN, how are you liking it?

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 31/07/2016 22:28

These girls should be prosecuted for false allegations!

And they are.

Just Google "woman jailed for making false rape claim" or similar and you will get plenty of pages full of stories about women being prosecuted for making false rape accusations.

However here's the thing Hannah; in order to prosecute a woman for making a false rape accusation you have to prove that the accusation was a false one.

You can't just start throwing women in jail just because the accused was your brother and you just "know" he would never do that or because he wasn't convicted or because you think she might have made it up.

You have to prove it.

Felascloak · 31/07/2016 22:28

toads I've been trying to think what to say, firstly I 100% agree with Jaquetta. Secondly it's never too late to report these things, but only if you want to and I'm definitely not saying you should.
Thanks for posting on here, fighting the good fight for all of us, hope you are ok xx

228agreenend · 31/07/2016 22:29

Hannah - how awful for your brother and your family. IT shows how a false allegation can cause so much damage.

RufusTheReindeer · 31/07/2016 22:32

Oh for pitys sake

Is there an alarm that goes out or something

A weird bat signal