# Do you stigmatise rape victims? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 12, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647 "2015-01-12T20:09:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![VanillaGorilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@VanillaGorilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanillaGorilla)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/21 "2015-01-13T08:14:29Z")
I mistakenly clicked yes. You know, because I’m a dumbass. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/22 "2015-01-13T09:36:44Z")
Good. It’s now down to 6. A good friend of mine is a rape victim. The person who introduced us told me about it (I worked for him.) I never mentioned it to her but she told me once we had become good friends. She is one of the best people I personally know - delicate and strong, tiny and yet out-sized in presence (personable, but that’s not what I mean here), funny and looking for humor in everyday situations. In the weeks and months after she told me (it happened in her exclusive clothing shop), after she had described how fiercely she had fought and what it had been like for her in the endless moments of it, I would sometimes weep to myself, by myself, to think what she had gone through, what she endured physically and still does psychically, to have been so alone, grappling with such an evil … I’m sorry, I don’t really know where I’m going with this. No, I don’t stigmatize rape victims. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/23 "2015-01-13T10:50:33Z")
I answered yes because I figure that I probably have implicit/subconscious biases I’m not aware of. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/24 "2015-01-13T12:39:56Z")
No, it was a crime and not her fault. But I also know I have to be careful and not set off any triggers. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/25 "2015-01-13T12:49:45Z")
Nope - I mean, that would also be stigmatizing myself, why would I do that? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/26 "2015-01-13T12:51:45Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I hate to sound like a republican politician, but no I won’t stigmatise the victim of a legitimate rape. However, I do think we’ve stretched the definition of rape way too far and that some women do use the buyer’s remorse excuse and falsely claim rape. Women’s groups lie when they make up nonsense like 1 out of 4 women are raped at college. > > I do think that there are far too many cases of women falsely claiming rape for either extortion or revenge purposes. I know I’m very harsh and suspicious of these rape claims. I don’t think anyone’s going to say, “Yes, I stigmatize rape victims,” but the attitude above is a pretty damaging one and probably as close to an admission as you’ll get. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/27 "2015-01-13T12:57:36Z")
Depends on what you men by rape. Some form of forced sex while obviously protesting - no. Regret over who they slept with, or did not protest unwanted sex, yes Too drunk - maybe But the yes and maybe is not because they were raped, it was for calling it rape, the person who cried wolf, and potentially could damage another’s reputation to destroy their lives. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/28 "2015-01-13T13:51:43Z")
No. Hell, no. Rape is NEVER the fault of the victim. ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/29 "2015-01-13T14:14:39Z")
Does anyone really _decide_ to stigmatize a rape victim? _Depending on the circumstance_ I could see it affecting my view of the victim… not that I’d ever want it to, but I’m sure somewhere in the back of my mind I would have the passing tought of maybe the victim is not 100% blameless in the matter. I realize it’s wrong to think that, but I don’t have 100% control of my thoughts either. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/30 "2015-01-13T15:13:54Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > I have this really weird feeling that not many people are going to answer “yes” to this one (well, apart from a couple jokers). Seriously, nobody who stigmatizes rape victims _thinks_ they do - this is like asking, “So, do you treat gay people unfairly?” Yeah, this is like asking, “Do you support injustice?” Nobody thinks they support injustice, even if their words or actions have that effect. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/31 "2015-01-13T15:46:14Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > I answered yes because I figure that I probably have implicit/subconscious biases I’m not aware of. Very well put, IMHO. Scientists must train themselves to think in this way, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/32 "2015-01-17T00:05:52Z")
Are people answering accounting for the victims of false rape allegations? They’re as much rape victims as anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/33 "2015-01-17T00:10:55Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Are people answering accounting for the victims of false rape allegations? They’re as much rape victims as anyone. That’s right. Just like all those people falsely accused of murder are as dead as anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/34 "2015-01-17T03:44:53Z")
What IS it lately with this big uproar about false rape accusations? Maybe it’s just me, or all a sudden, I keep reading and hearing that somehow there’s this huge conspiracy of women who are out to accuse every man they go out with of rape, that men are being victimized by them, and we MUST stop this horrible persecution before it’s too late. Because all men are targets of these EVIL feminazis, and blah blah blah. I know that that idea has always been around. However, it seems like I’m hearing it more and more. What the fuck? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/35 "2015-01-17T04:09:37Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > What IS it lately with this big uproar about false rape accusations? Maybe it’s just me, or all a sudden, I keep reading and hearing that somehow there’s this huge conspiracy of women who are out to accuse every man they go out with of rape, that men are being victimized by them, and we MUST stop this horrible persecution before it’s too late. Because all men are targets of these EVIL feminazis, and blah blah blah. > > I know that that idea has always been around. However, it seems like I’m hearing it more and more. What the fuck? The power to effectively and falsely accuse someone of rape is as destructive to a persons life as the power to rape someone has to the victim. Both are taking a position of power over the other which is inherent of what rape is. In many ways it is the same crime, perhaps, or perhaps not, divided in the way males and females would do it. But it does not seem recent, the stigmatization of those accused of rape seem to go far back as well as those who are raped. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/36 "2015-01-17T06:12:22Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > What IS it lately with this big uproar about false rape accusations? Maybe it’s just me, or all a sudden, I keep reading and hearing that somehow there’s this huge conspiracy of women who are out to accuse every man they go out with of rape, that men are being victimized by them, and we MUST stop this horrible persecution before it’s too late. Because all men are targets of these EVIL feminazis, and blah blah blah. > > I know that that idea has always been around. However, it seems like I’m hearing it more and more. What the fuck? For almost any crime you can name, there are people who have been wrongfully accused of it at some point. Theft, murder, robbery, arson, embezzlement, drug trafficking, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/37 "2015-01-17T08:41:21Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > What IS it lately with this big uproar about false rape accusations? Maybe it’s just me, or all a sudden, I keep reading and hearing that somehow there’s this huge conspiracy of women who are out to accuse every man they go out with of rape, that men are being victimized by them, and we MUST stop this horrible persecution before it’s too late. Because all men are targets of these EVIL feminazis, and blah blah blah. > > I know that that idea has always been around. However, it seems like I’m hearing it more and more. What the fuck? Some of us closely followed the Duke lacrosse fiasco, and witnessed a group of young men have their character permanently tarnished over demonstrably false allegations of rape. Add to that an overzealous prosecutor (who actually served time) and you see a picture that rape allegations can be headline-grabbing and can ruin lives, even if the accused are innocent. After all, once an (accused) rapist, always a rapist, right? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/38 "2015-01-17T13:28:30Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > Some of us closely followed the Duke lacrosse fiasco, and witnessed a group of young men have their character permanently tarnished over demonstrably false allegations of rape. No they did not. They are known far and wide for _not_ committing rape. Their champions arise every time the specter of rape accusation is mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/39 "2015-01-17T16:16:43Z")
Absolutely not. I don’t care if a person was walking in a really bad neighborhood at midnight and wearing a tiny little tight halter and shorts. Nobody has the right to touch them. ---
**Author:** ![GeoBa92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8491ac/32.png) [@GeoBa92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GeoBa92)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647/40 "2015-01-17T21:28:21Z")
I used to as a child, but not anymore. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-stigmatise-rape-victims/709647.md?page=3)