tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post5787044059716777898..comments2024-03-13T21:26:03.011-07:00Comments on Right on the Left Coast: Views From a Conservative Teacher: So-called Rape CultureDarrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-26398158425519269452015-03-27T09:49:13.957-07:002015-03-27T09:49:13.957-07:00I was watching the Daily Show the other night, and...I was watching the Daily Show the other night, and Stewart was interviewing the directors of the new film "The Hunting Ground," which examines the issue… and, what struck me was Amy Zoehring's assertion that false rape claims were no higher than for any other crime. I believe she's wrong … but there is a distinct difference from mistakenly identifying a suspect (as one might in a robbery or a murder) and misidentifying a crime. Because, in the case of rape, there are many variables due to the fact that, unlike a robbery or a murder, there is frequently no obvious evidence that has a crime has been committed at all. Certainly, in the case of underage women, or women who have been beaten and/or show signs of forced penetration -- there is no question. But … there is a middle ground where the sex could have happened, and it may or may not be considered rape. (Just to be clear: I'm not being a date -rape apologist--I'm just saying that in those cases, the accused has just as much right to defend himself as does the victim o protect herself). So, if we want real data, we need to do a few things:<br /><br />1) Do everything possible to reduce the shame of making a rape accusation, and encourage every woman who has been raped to press charges. If not for them, for the next woman. Then, stop saying "most rapes aren't reported" -- because if we've done everything we can to make reporting the crime as shameless and anonymous as possible, and you elect not to press charges? That's on you.<br /><br />2) Protect the anonymity of the accused. We do that for the accuser, only in the case of this crime (except, obviously, for juveniles). I agree that the victim's idea should be protected, but so should the accused … fair play on both sides, because if the charge proves to be false, the accused is still tarred.<br /><br />3) Prosecute people who falsely accuse others. Not always … but if, as in the case of the UVA student who was profiled in Rolling Stone, it is shown that the charge was completely without merit an filed maliciously … then you charge. That actually wouldn't have worked at UVA, as she never pressed charges, but still…<br /><br />4) Agree on a definition of rape. Mine would require some form of forced or unwanted penetration of , well, somewhere. Then, the only relevant statistic will be (#convicted rape charges + #of unsolved rapes)/# of women. You don't get to add in other forms of sexual assault, but…<br /><br />5) you can also have a stat for those. Just make sure you define your terms … and only count convictions …and, if you want to be believed, break them down in to the most specific categories you can.maxutilshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11294262473781967372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-41673570748000867332015-03-26T19:58:41.553-07:002015-03-26T19:58:41.553-07:00It's Group Signaling, more than anything else....It's Group Signaling, more than anything else. Self-identifying as a progressive means that you don't actually have to be a good person...pseudotsuganoreply@blogger.com