From: tbarnes@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (thomas wrentmore barnes)
Subject: Re: Rape, women, carrying weapons
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 13:50:48 GMT

In article <A2NHBT9@taronga.com> mfactor@taronga.com (Marco Landin) writes:
>In article <1992Jul22.181209.24994@samba.oit.unc.edu>, Ann.Feeney@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Ann Feeney) writes:
>> Not only that they can lead to fatalities, but if your attacker
>> is bigger, srtonger, luckier, whatever, your little knife can
>> quickly be used _against_ you, either as extra co-ercion, or
>> as a weapon.
>> 
>> So in other words, they can't help, and they're very likely to get 
>> not only the attacker (for whom I have little sympathy--if it's
>> a question of his/her safety, I'd say carry all the knives you
>> want), but the weapon is more likely to hurt you.
>
>	WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT!!! I am but a lowly Spaniard, and have never
>been to this Paradisical SCA event called Pennsic.  Therefore, I have
>become quite agitated indeed from the reverence which we as a group are
>paying to the subject of rape and sexual assault there.  
>	
>	It's scaring me to think I have lady friends going to Pennsic!
>	
>	Should they be warned?  Is it really a constant concern there?  I mean,
>SCA or not, we do live in the 20th century, and I'll be the first to
>advocate constant vigilance against such atrocities.  1 of 3 women WILL BE
>sexually assaulted in her lifetime, this is a fact.  But I thought SCA was
>a bit more...er...CIVILIZED than that.
>	Has there been history of rape at Pennsic before?  Even if not, I am of
>the philosophy that women should be protected.  And I also agree that a
>knife won't be an effective weapon against a drunken,
>testosterone-overloaded heavy weapons fighter with the extension of his
>sword gone out of control.  CS gas will do better.  Or how about a .9mm
>round through the head.  But is it really such a danger that we have to
>post so much concerning personal safety at Pennsic?
>	Call me naive but I thought chivalry was alive with us, and chivalry
>would mandate 40 or so armed persons POUNCING onto the lady's would be
>assailant at the first sound of her screaming.  Gods help the bastard,
>because I sure wouldn't.
>-- 
>      |                   |
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>       / )             ( \

Milord, 

It was with some reluctance and personal soul-searching that I started
this thread in the first place. I feel that the problem of security
(esp. against theft) at Pennsic has largely been ignored. I personally
suspect that at least one rape has occurred at Pennsic, as I stated in
my follow-up post. However, I rape in 20 years out of however many
thousands of attendees every year (yeah, I know, It hasn't always been
that big...;-)) probably makes for a fairly low chance of being raped,
on average.               
	Still, any rape is too many. I provided information to make
people aware that there is the possibility of danger, in the same way
that Baron Dur talks about fire safety - not becaause there have been
fatal fires, but to prevent them. 
	If you care for your female friends, let them see all of the
relevant posts and make their own choices. My lady and many of my female
friends will be attending Pennsic this year and are aware of the
problem. For them, the tremendous fun of Pennsic outweighs the fear of
being raped. In a similar manner, you might go to Pennsic despite the
fact that you could be killed by a drunk driver or an accident. It is a
risk you must be aware of and do your best to avoid, but must deal with
on your own.

In your service,

	Lothar von Katzenellenbogen \|/
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Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA