# The media should name all rape accusers
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [December 19, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686 "2014-12-19T18:30:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/1 "2014-12-19T18:30:06Z")
After the mess from the Rolling Stone/Virginia phony rape allegations, it is time for the media to end the absurd policy of not providing the full name of rape accusers. The pendulum has swung too far. For the crime to have occurred , there needs to be both the criminal and the victim.
It’s very simple: The story should identify both the alleged victim by name as well as the alleged rapist. “Mary Smith alleged that Joe Jones raped her on December 1 after the two met at a nightclub.”
The media should investigate the backgrounds of both the accused and accuser.
If Rolling Stone would have find this with Jackie Coakley, the UVA case wouldn’t have spiraled out of control with ridiculous “culture of rape” accusations. There’d be no need to “open a dialogue” about something that didn’t happen.
I’m aware that the alleged victims may find it embarrassing to have someone looking into their background after they’ve made a claim of rape. However, this is a necessary trade off. False claims of rape, racism, and homophobia can go viral so quickly.
If someone reports their car stolen, they’re asked if the payments are up to date. If someone claims whiplash after an auto accident, it’s useful to know if this is the 10th whiplash claim within a year. If printing the names of alleged rape victims can help reduce the number of false allegations, so much the better.
I’m aware this won’t be a popular proposal. But, too many people are having their lives ruined by highly questionable rape allegations.
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/2 "2014-12-19T18:32:25Z")
Yeah, that’ll certainly encourage women to come forward with accusations.
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### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/3 "2014-12-19T18:33:53Z")
> [@dalej42](#):
>
> I’m aware this won’t be a popular proposal.
Are you aware of WHY it won’t be a popular proposal?
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/4 "2014-12-19T18:37:13Z")
For accusers who do not report the alleged crime to the police the media should name them or not repeat their stories.
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### Author:  [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/5 "2014-12-19T19:03:36Z")
> [@dalej42](#):
>
> The pendulum has swung too far.
Oh? In what way? Do you have some data to back up that opinion, or just an anecdote or two from some highly publicized stories?
Here’s a worksheet for you:
What is the reason accusers get anonymity?
Is anonymity effective in achieving that goal?
Is the anonymity of accusers in rape cases abused in a statistically significant way?
If so, how do the positive effects of the policy weigh against the negative? How can it be changed to reduce those statistically significant numbers of abuses?
tl;dr: when come back, bring debate.
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### Author:  [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/6 "2014-12-19T19:11:43Z")
Depends on whether other crimes are treated the same way.
If accusers of all other crimes are named, then so should rape accusers.
If accusers of all other crimes are not named, then neither should rape accusers be named.
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### Author:  [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/7 "2014-12-19T19:17:12Z")
> [@dalej42](#):
>
> But, too many people are having their lives ruined by highly questionable rape allegations.
My version of your closing statement, from a different viewpoint.
Too many women are having their lives ruined by rape to do anything to make them LESS likely to come forward.
You act as if there is a vast _over-reporting_ of rape, when all data points to the opposite being true. For every woman who falsely accuses someone of rape, there are dozens that go unreported because of the social stigma.
Are there holes in Jackie’s story, sure. Doesn’t mean that some type of sexual assault did not take place, only that her recollection of the chronology and details is flawed. That flawed recollection, oh by the way, is a common characteristic of someone who has suffered a traumatic event that the mind wants to block out.
So you’re right that your proposal will not be popular. What it will also not be, is a good idea.
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/8 "2014-12-19T19:24:59Z")
> [@Velocity](#):
>
> Depends on whether other crimes are treated the same way.
>
> If accusers of all other crimes are named, then so should rape accusers.
>
> If accusers of all other crimes are not named, then neither should rape accusers be named.
You are aware of how rape differs from other crimes?
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/9 "2014-12-19T19:42:31Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> You are aware of how rape differs from other crimes?
How does it differ? Many victims of various crimes are embarrassed.
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### Author:  [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/10 "2014-12-19T19:47:13Z")
> [@dalej42](#):
>
> How does it differ? Many victims of various crimes are embarrassed.
Name another non-sexual crime that carries the same level of social stigma as rape.
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/11 "2014-12-19T19:54:32Z")
> [@leftfield6](#):
>
> Name another non-sexual crime that carries the same level of social stigma as rape.
How about kidnapping? Adults who are found being held against their will are named in the media.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/12 "2014-12-19T20:00:33Z")
> [@dalej42](#):
>
> How about kidnapping? Adults who are found being held against their will are named in the media.
Hostages and kidnap victims face sympathy, not social stigma.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/13 "2014-12-19T20:06:16Z")
dalej42, this is a little confusing. Are you talking only about the UVA circumstances where the accuser has not reported a crime to the police? Reporting on a crime that has been brought to the police is a very different thing.
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### Author:  [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/14 "2014-12-19T20:07:38Z")
> [@dalej42](#):
>
> How about kidnapping? Adults who are found being held against their will are named in the media.
Seriously? No comparison. :smack::smack: Rape is like kidnapping+++++++++
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/15 "2014-12-19T20:08:53Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#):
>
> Are you aware of WHY it won’t be a popular proposal?
Maybe the OP isn’t buying into the whole anti-rape argument.
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### Author:  [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/16 "2014-12-19T20:12:59Z")
> [@dalej42](#):
>
> I’m aware this won’t be a popular proposal. But, too many people are having their lives ruined by highly questionable rape allegations.
No one’s lives were ruined by the RS story.
Only one accuser’s name was made public, with a pseudonym, and it appears he did not even exist.
Complete fail.
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/17 "2014-12-19T20:13:47Z")
> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> dalej42, this is a little confusing. Are you talking only about the UVA circumstances where the accuser has not reported a crime to the police? Reporting on a crime that has been brought to the police is a very different thing.
Not just the UVA case. I think all rape accusers should be named. I’d like for the police reports to not have the accuser’s name blacked out when an actual case has been brought to the police.
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/18 "2014-12-19T20:18:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> Hostages and kidnap victims face sympathy, not social stigma.
What social stigma do rape accusers face in 2014? If a crime was committed , let’s get the facts and evidence out and convict the rapist.
If there’s no conviction, we should still know all the evidence. Was it a bad decision by the jury or are there too many holes and inconsistencies in the accuser’s story ?
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### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/19 "2014-12-19T20:20:05Z")
> [@Leaffan](#):
>
> Yeah, that’ll certainly encourage women to come forward with accusations.
I think you’ve sussed out the real purpose of this proposal.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2014, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-should-name-all-rape-accusers/707686/20 "2014-12-19T20:23:24Z")
> [@dalej42](#):
>
> What social stigma do rape accusers face in 2014?
The social stigma of the rape _victim_. :smack:
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