From: sheehan@pagosa.scd.ucar.edu (Tim Sheehan)
Subject: Re: To amy young: Thank your lucky star ...
Organization: NCAR/UCAR
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 22:57:46 GMT

In article <1992Jul24.224422.1503@brtph560.bnr.ca>, kimmyd@bnr.ca (Kimmy Posey P920) writes:
 > ... that God created lithium bicarbonate.  And that I was taught to respect
 > women regardless of their behavior or their left-handed bleeding-heart-liberal,
 > there-there-poor-baby-you're-just-misunderstood-and-terribly-terribly-confused
 > attitudes.  Otherwise I might say something very ugly.  You are so, so wrong
 > when you say I want to sweep the problem of rape under the carpet.  WRONG LADY!
 > I WANT TO NUKE IT OFF THE FACE OF THE FREAKIN' PLANET!

 >  When I posted here it
 > was because I felt that this group was intended as a place to discuss rape as
 > it applys to the victims. It seemed to me that there was to much support for
 > the rapist instead.  You certainly haven't changed that opinion.

One of the purposes of this group is to discuss how to prevent rape. There are
many approaches to this. Some are more direct (e.g. kill all rapists) than others
(e.g. reform rapists through therapy). I have not seen any post in this group
that supports rapists. I haven't seen anything that says "Yeah! Let rapists go
free, they're not hurting anybody." I haven't seen one post that blames the victims.

I get the sense that everyone who posts here feels strongly that rape is all too
common. I would venture to say that everyone who posts on this group or reads it
wants to see more done to prevent rape. The difference comes with how they propose
to do that.


 >  Rapist don't
 > deserve support.  Other than someone to hold the chair they are standing in
 > while the noose is slipped around their neck!  And you're right I don't think
 >                                                                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 > these posts out.  Rape does not invoke a rational response from me.  It invokes
 > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 > a savage emotional one.

Above you say that you first posted here because you felt this group "was intended
as a place to discuss rape as it applys to the victims." 'Discussion' carries the 
conotation of calmness and rationality. In a forum dealing with such a sensitive
subject as rape, thinking before writing is very important. Emotions run high, and
many of the people who read and post in this group have been hurt by rape as
as you and your wife have been.


 >  Like if I were walking down the street and saw some
 > degenerate forcing himself on you I wouldn't think "Oh that poor misguided man,
 > Look how he is coping with our faulty society by raping that woman".  NO WAY!
 > I'd rip his head off and ask questions later.  I don't know if you have ever
 > been raped.  I hope not.  I doubt that you have judging from your attitude.
 > I feel sure that if some 250 pound whacko drank a couple of gallons of beer and
 > then broke into your house forced himself on you then you might think a little
 > differently.  I hope it never happens.  But just a word of advice.  Be very
 > careful about who you call an ignorant boob.  You never know who might be on
 > the other end of the network.  It might be some 6'2'' tall, 225 lb. manic-
 > depressive with less than 5% body fat and nothin' left to lose.
 > 

I know you have already apologized for the fact that this last portion could be 
taken as a threat, but again, THINK OF YOUR READERSHIP. How would you like it if
someone said the above to a victim of rape that you love? How upsetting would that
be for someone who has been the victim of traumatic violence? Statements such as 
this one can have a chilling effect not only on the one for whom it was intended
but also on others.

I realize you have a confrontational nature, you've stated that and shown it. I'm
also aware of the pain you are going through and the intense emotions it causes.
These facts make it that much more important to think your posts out. Rape has
already caused too much pain in this world. The discussion of how to prevent it
should not cause more.

-- 
-Tim-

sheehan@ncar.ucar.edu

Newsgroups: talk.rape