# Advice columnist: Trump raped me in a fitting room

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [June 25, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042 "2019-06-25T16:34:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 20

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**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/382 "2019-07-01T15:31:07Z")

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> [@Charlie\_Tan](#):
>
> [bolding mine]  
> I’m going to regret this, since I almost never post in GD, but here goes:
> 
> Can you please elaborate? This is not an attempt at _gotcha_, but being Swedish, I’m curious what the Scandinavian phenomenon is? What is this population segregation you mention and how has it increased due the the effort to create equality (did I read your intention correctly?)?  
> And you don’t need to provide tons and tons of literature, but a few choice example would be nifty.
> 
> BTW: There is an ongoing debate here too about glass ceilings, female CEOs, as well as the issue of rape culture.

Argh! Welcome. Please don’t regret it. This deserves my time and reply. I am somewhat overextended in this thread at the moment. I don’t want to ignore, but I don’t think I am able to do it justice just right now.

Please extend me your forbearance. I will try to circle back with at least a couple of links, but forgive me if I don’t do it well or immediately. I’m not dodging or ignoring.

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**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/383 "2019-07-01T15:41:18Z")

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> [@Scylla](#):
>
> The Breakfast Club, Grease, and Dirty Dancing are the Holy Trinity. These are the three movies that my wife keeps on rotation while she runs on the treadmill, and she has been watching these three movies over and over since 1993 anytime it is too cold to run outside.
> 
> I have this watched the countless times. I think I have them memorized. My wife and I have discussed them endlessly. I may in fact, be one of the foremost authorities on these in the entire world. I would be absolutely delighted to discuss with you in great detail the topic of misogyny, sexism, rape culture, etc. as seen through the lens of these films.
> 
> I apologize that we will need to throw Dirty Dancing into the mix, but I insist. These films are of a time and have a lot to say about 79s and 80s culture and I feel they should be taken as a group.
> 
> I will risk putting words into your mouth and guess that you think the most problematic is The Breakfast Club.
> 
> For me, the two most obvious things to discuss are Bender’s sexual assault of Claire while he is hiding under the desk, and secondly, Allison being portrayed as low value and ignorable until her miraculous transformation into a pretty girl, accompanied by slo-mo and music, her new value being demonstrated to the audience through the admiring and lustful look of Andrew.
> 
> (We could also discuss Danny’s assault/near assault of Sandy at the drive-in and her later change in value through her miraculous transformation (it’s fascinating how these mirror each other to some extent in The Breakfast Club and how they differ, and what that reveals about the actual underlying themes being communicated and espoused, but I digress)
> 
> Does that sound like a good starting point to you?
> 
> If it does, please share your thoughts and tell me what you think is going on with this. If not, and you prefer other scenes, like from Grease don’t let me steal your thunder. Fire away. I am all ears, and excited to discuss it with you.

I referenced specific scenes from two well known movies to highlight media where women are treated like objects, where bad boys get the girl and your response?

“I haven’t seen that movie. I don’t know those guys. I am skeptical to the extent that both exist.”

I even told you the song name where the boys ask if Sandy “put up a fight” . I described the end credit scene with Judd Nelson, fist in the air, crosses the football field. I love both of those movies but they normalize and reward bad behavior. You even point out additional bad behavior and problematic aspects of both movies. My point is that there are constant, subtle points in our culture that, while they don’t create bad behavior necessarily, do tell a story. That story is that treating women like objects, behaving badly, even committing sexual assault is normal and will be rewarded. The boy will get the girl in the end, even if he assaults her. Boys will be boys. You don’t see it, and I don’t think I can convince you.

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**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/384 "2019-07-01T15:50:26Z")

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> [@Scylla](#):
>
> Liking the strong and reviling the weak is not revering bullies. A bully is someone who specific preys on those that can’t defend themselves because they enjoy the feeling of power it gives them. You can be strong and successful and competitive without being a bully.

Do you think bullies think of themselves as bullies? Because they don’t. They think of themselves as “strong” and “successful” and “competitive”. If they are kids, they think of themselves as just being cool and having a little fun. When they taunt the weak and unpopular, they aren’t conscious that they’re getting off on feeling powerful. Picking on others is just a harmless sport to them. Telling it like it is. Boys being boys.

This delusional thought process facilitates almost all misbehavior; no one sees themselves as the “bad guy” even when their actions are objectively wrong.

As for rape culture, you made it evident that you’ve been raised in it when as soon you argued Carroll couldn’t have been raped because she isn’t Trump’s type. This idea is straight out of the handbook for rape deniers. Not only is it absurd to say this about a former pageant winner, but it conforms to the backwards notion that “undesirable” woman can’t be raped, especially by high status men. Instead of looking at valid evidence, this notion causes people to discount and belittle victims who don’t measure up to some cockamamie beauty standard. “She made the whole thing up because she wishes a guy like him would want to her,” is the path this leads people down.

But if a woman is too attractive? Too sexually appealing? Then you have people thinking “She was asking for it when she put on that dress.”

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**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/385 "2019-07-01T16:01:48Z")

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> [@Scylla](#):
>
> What position has he taken that you think is wrong or harmful?

Because it’s topical. Wherein, [JP builds straw(wo)men faster than he can knock them down](https://youtu.be/g8GSlP2yCD8?t=137):

> [@JP](#):
>
> There’s been an adolescent insistence since the early sixties that sexual behavior can be rule-free. Now a lot of that was generated as a consequence of the birth control pill, because that was a biological revolution. All of a sudden women can control their reproductive function, in principle…What does that make women? Because now they’re a new biological entity. And so, it’s wide open. What are women now? We don’t know!..

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**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/386 "2019-07-01T16:18:57Z")

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> [@raventhief](#):
>
> I referenced specific scenes from two well known movies to highlight media where women are treated like objects, where bad boys get the girl and your response?
> 
> “I haven’t seen that movie. I don’t know those guys. I am skeptical to the extent that both exist.”

I’m sorry for the confusion. The intended context was that I have not scene a movie or known a guy that has led me to believe there is such a thing as rape culture.

> [@](#):
>
> I even told you the song name where the boys ask if Sandy “put up a fight” . I described the end credit scene with Judd Nelson, fist in the air, crosses the football field.

Yes, but you have left a hell of an explanatory gap. You haven’t explained what those things mean.

Bender’s character, and his fist in the air have some very very specific connotations and meanings in my view. The character is the archetypal trickster, used in literature and mythology and a mainstay of storytelling since stories were told. He also (deliberately in my view) a Miltonesque antihero like Satan in Paradise Lost. He is a tempter and a promethean bringer of knowledge, and he has deliberately taken on the role of the villain in order to accomplish a greater good.

What do you think the fist in the air means? He fucked Claire? I think that’s an incredibly poor read. His fist in the air demonstrates triumph. He has succeeded in breaking down the walls that separate his fellow detainees who are imprisoned inside their labels by the oppressive “good” of society. You did hear the essay being read right before he put his fist in the air, right?

That is what he is celebrating.

The film is a recapitulation of Milton and borrows heavily from its themes.

[/quote]  
I love both of those movies but they normalize and reward bad behavior. You even point out additional bad behavior and problematic aspects of both movies. My point is that there are constant, subtle points in our culture that, while they don’t create bad behavior necessarily, do tell a story. That story is that treating women like objects, behaving badly, even committing sexual assault is normal and will be rewarded. The boy will get the girl in the end, even if he assaults her. Boys will be boys. You don’t see it, and I don’t think I can convince you.  
[/QUOTE]

I consider that an incredibly unnuanced understanding of these films. You are seeing them only through one lens.

Let’s get very specific, so we can think exactly about the message being sent by certain scenes, and their context within the movie as a whole.

Do you want to talk about Bender’s sexual assault on Claire? It’s not a trap. I think it is the most obvious example of what I think you are trying to describe, and the hardest to explain away or excuse, which is why I brought it up.

I think there are actually a lot of things going on there in that scene. I think there is a lot of truth to the idea that it is sending a very poor message. I would like to hear what you think about that scene, and what it means, and exactly what message it sends.

Why did he do it? What was his intent? His expectation?

I think it was a very poor and indefensible choice to do that scene that way, but is the purpose and message of the scene to say “hey look, it’s ok to assault women.” Or, is their something else primarily going on?

I think the former definitely spilled over (which is why I say it is poor and indefensible) but I don’t think that was the intent of the filmmaker.

I think it was primarily intended to show something else, and fulfills a different role.

Have you thought about that? Would you like to take a guess?

Or, do you think it pretty much begins and ends with “it’s ok to sexually assault.”

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**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/387 "2019-07-01T16:24:47Z")

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> [@QuickSilver](#):
>
> Because it’s topical. Wherein, [JP builds straw(wo)men faster than he can knock them down](https://youtu.be/g8GSlP2yCD8?t=137):

??? I’m not getting you. What’s dangerous?

Birth control didn’t let women control their reproductive functions allowing them to redefine their roles in society, and forcing society to adapt?

IIRC, This is presented as a pretty strong net positive to society as a whole.

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**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/388 "2019-07-01T16:44:51Z")

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Raven:

As for the scene Grease you refer to during “Summer loving.”

Who asks “did she put up a fight?” What kind of character is he? Is he admirable and to be emulated? How is he responded to? During the actual moment he says it, what is physical stature towards our hero, Danny?  
This is not being portrayed as an appropriate or admirable question to ask. Exactly the opposite.

Lots of interesting things going on in that song and scene. It is very very well done from a narrative, and character establishing viewpoint.

Do you remember the line where Danny says “I saved her life. She nearly drowned!” Sandy’s next line is “He showed off, splashing around.” This is directly pertinent to our earlier discussion about the roles boys are being taught, to see themselves as an escort and protector, a valiant knight. Sandy’s line illustrates the ridiculousness and self-importance of boys being saddled with this notion, and as I have previously described is suggestive of the reasons why they are indoctrinated thusly.

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**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/389 "2019-07-01T17:18:39Z")

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Raven:

To tag on to trend of my last post in case it was not clear what I was referring to when I was talking about the ridiculous thing of boys being indoctrinated to be protectors.

They are told to be protectors of women from drowning, ninjas, kidnappers, assaulters, runaway trains, bears, wayward UFOs and all kinds of varieties of threats that real and imagined that may or may not threaten actual adolescent, and for which the adolescent girls are more cognizant of and better equipped to deal with more often than not.

The purpose of the indoctrination is of course not to turn 15 year old boys into actual knights and protectors.

They are the biggest threat.

Telling them they are protectors mitigates that, lets them see themselves in another role. It’s primary purpose is as a reminder to stop them from being a threat.

This indoctrination is the opposite of rape culture.

It’s absolutely fascinating when you dive into these stereotypical roles and look at how they function and what they are doing.

Not that you are advocating such a them, but I am not sure if it is a good thing to remove that role.

If we don’t teach 13-14-15 year old boys that their job is to be the protector of women (and when we fail to get the message across) what do they often become instead?

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/390 "2019-07-01T17:30:07Z")

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Men?

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**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/391 "2019-07-01T18:01:09Z")

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As i said, I don’t think I can convince you that bad behavior is rewarded in media. You don’t see it. I’ve tried to point out some examples, and frankly I’m tired of trying to make what seems to me to be a fairly obvious point.

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**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/392 "2019-07-01T18:20:54Z")

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> [@raventhief](#):
>
> As i said, I don’t think I can convince you that bad behavior is rewarded in media. You don’t see it. I’ve tried to point out some examples, and frankly I’m tired of trying to make what seems to me to be a fairly obvious point.

Perhaps it would have helped if your examples illustrated your point and backed up what you are saying.

If your point was simply “media rewards bad behavior,”. I certainly would have agreed, but that wasn’t what you actually said, was it? It was more about how culture indoctrinated boys to teach them to treat women badly as illustrated through the movies, and that this demonstrates that there is a rape culture.

Which is, you know slightly different.

I would have enjoyed engaging with you on this topic, do I am sorry to see you go.

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**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/393 "2019-07-01T18:31:11Z")

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> [@Scylla](#):
>
> ??? I’m not getting you. What’s dangerous?
> 
> Birth control didn’t let women control their reproductive functions allowing them to redefine their roles in society, and forcing society to adapt?
> 
> IIRC, This is presented as a pretty strong net positive to society as a whole.

If you honestly believe that that was all he said in the 6+ minute clip, including the quoted text I provided, then I have one question and one comment:

A) Why did it take him so long to say it? Why didn’t he just say what you said above and be done with it?  
2) Our world views are so different that I don’t think we stand a very good chance of being able to have a satisfying conversation if, ‘Contraception is good for women and society’, was all you heard him say.

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**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/394 "2019-07-01T18:56:24Z")

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> [@QuickSilver](#):
>
> If you honestly believe that that was all he said in the 6+ minute clip, including the quoted text I provided, then I have one question and one comment:
> 
> A) Why did it take him so long to say it? Why didn’t he just say what you said above and be done with it?  
> 2) Our world views are so different that I don’t think we stand a very good chance of being able to have a satisfying conversation if, ‘Contraception is good for women and society’, was all you heard him say.

Clearly there is more.

It would sincerely help if you were being more specific and forthright from the get go.

I don’t know what you are finding pernicious, here. What is false or dangerous and damaging?

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**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/395 "2019-07-01T18:59:19Z")

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Is it that the sins uncovered by MeToo might have their origin in the sexual revolution?

Is it that he says you can’t separate sex from emotion or power?

What?

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**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/396 "2019-07-01T19:02:43Z")

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> [@Scylla](#):
>
> Argh! Welcome. Please don’t regret it. This deserves my time and reply. I am somewhat overextended in this thread at the moment. I don’t want to ignore, but I don’t think I am able to do it justice just right now.
> 
> Please extend me your forbearance. I will try to circle back with at least a couple of links, but forgive me if I don’t do it well or immediately. I’m not dodging or ignoring.

Quite all right. I can see that you are being busy.

It’s not that I don’t see that there’s some merit in what you are saying re: Scandinavia, only that fleshing it out a bit may make it clear if there are misconceptions or not. As an example: Sweden took in more refugees, _per capita_ of our population, than any other EU nation in 2015 - 153K - that meant that our population grew with 1.5 per cent in three months. We were told that this was the end of the country by the (far) right opposition and neighboring countries.

Well, we’re still here. As in the US, the economy is really strong, unemployment is low, wages are up and since our currency is kinda weak the export industry is booming\*. However, we really suck at getting those 153K integrated and finding them work. There’s a popular saying here: We have the highest educated fast food workers and taxi drivers in the world.  
\*Traveling abroad sucks though and some imported stuff is _expensive_.

But that’s immigration. And the topic of this thread is gender. I’m perfectly fine waiting.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/397 "2019-07-01T19:08:20Z")

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Back to the subject of this thread: Baring in mind the length of time between the reported incident and the time it was finally reported, what would convince you that Trump most probably raped this woman?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/398 "2019-07-01T19:15:17Z")

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> [@Charlie\_Tan](#):
>
> Quite all right. I can see that you are being busy.
> 
> It’s not that I don’t see that there’s some merit in what you are saying re: Scandinavia, only that fleshing it out a bit may make it clear if there are misconceptions or not. As an example: Sweden took in more refugees, _per capita_ of our population, than any other EU nation in 2015 - 153K - that meant that our population grew with 1.5 per cent in three months. We were told that this was the end of the country by the (far) right opposition and neighboring countries.
> 
> Well, we’re still here. As in the US, the economy is really strong, unemployment is low, wages are up and since our currency is kinda weak the export industry is booming\*. However, we really suck at getting those 153K integrated and finding them work. There’s a popular saying here: We have the highest educated fast food workers and taxi drivers in the world.  
> \*Traveling abroad sucks though and some imported stuff is _expensive_.
> 
> But that’s immigration. And the topic of this thread is gender. I’m perfectly fine waiting.

I am glad to hear you guys haven’t sunk into the ocean yet.

Here is the Wikipedia page about the study and criticism of it:

> **[Gender-equality paradox](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender-equality_paradox)**
>
> The gender-equality paradox is the finding that various gender differences in personality and occupational choice are larger in more gender equal countries. Larger differences are found in Big Five personality traits, Dark Triad traits, self-esteem, depression, personal values, occupational and educational choices. This phenomenon is seemingly paradoxical because one would expect the differences to be reduced as countries become more gender egalitarian. Such a paradox has been discussed by num Va...

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/399 "2019-07-01T19:27:15Z")

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> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> Back to the subject of this thread: Baring in mind the length of time between the reported incident and the time it was finally reported, what would convince you that Trump most probably raped this woman?

Hypotheticals are hard. Convincing evidence, obviously. That could be in many forms. Best would be security footage of them going into a dressing room together, and her coming it later, upset. A police report? Forensic evidence like an orange hair or semen residue. All kinds of things. Many pages ago I posted a set of criteria that I use to judge the merits of accusations (not just of sexual assault.). Merits mean how seriously I take them. That should go far to answering your question.

I would like to think that I refrain from either believing or disbelieving except in the case of overwhelmingly compelling evidence. Belief implies faith, maybe wishful thinking, and those shouldn’t apply here.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/400 "2019-07-01T19:32:42Z")

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> [@Scylla](#):
>
> Hypotheticals are hard. Convincing evidence, obviously. That could be in many forms. Best would be security footage of them going into a dressing room together, and her coming it later, upset. A police report? Forensic evidence like an orange hair or semen residue. All kinds of things. Many pages ago I posted a set of criteria that I use to judge the merits of accusations (not just of sexual assault.). Merits mean how seriously I take them. That should go far to answering your question.
> 
> I would like to think that I refrain from either believing or disbelieving except in the case of overwhelmingly compelling evidence. Belief implies faith, maybe wishful thinking, and those shouldn’t apply here.

I believe I mentioned taking into mind the difference between the time of the reported incidence and the time of its reveal, but all of your suggestions ignore this.

edited to add: Wishful thinking? Are you actually suggesting that some of us wish she had been raped just to put the screws to Trump?

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**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-columnist-trump-raped-me-in-a-fitting-room/836042/401 "2019-07-01T19:32:51Z")

</div>

> [@Scylla](#):
>
> I would like to think that I refrain from either believing or disbelieving except in the case of overwhelmingly compelling evidence. Belief implies faith, maybe wishful thinking, and those shouldn’t apply here.

This would appear to conflict with your earlier assertions that you believe Carroll is lying.

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