Dear rapist...

[Seethepony]

Hi folks,
Here's a unsettling article from the Guardian. Our old friend ethanol plays an important part in this creepy tale, which is why I thought it worth mentioning here...

Dear Rapist… | Society | The Guardian

[medic]

Dear rapist...

Hi See.

That is quite a shocking article on many levels. Not only does it call into question all too familiar misogynistic attitudes about gender but the cultural attitudes about alcohol abuse which seems to be still be sustained as something somewhat harmless. Hey, as long as the ad says DRINK AWARE at the bottom though, eh?

What is strange though is that the story fails to elaborate on whether it was exclusively alcohol related (I'm thinking along the lines of date-rape drugs like rohypnol), or something beyond. Still the method of manipulation was aided by our so-called "social-lubricant," so I suppose it still has cautionary validity.

The article goes into the rapist's embrace of AA and making amends for his so-called alcohol induced behaviour but this is where I play devil's advocate because, though alcohol can help - without doubt - encourage the most immoral acts, I think that the old fashioned fraternity mentality is the real culprit here.

I still think posting this article was a good idea though See... Alcohol has a lot to answer for in its many guises.

med+c

[fluff]

Dear rapist...

I cannot imagine that poor woman living with such an emotional and physical torment that will always be there for her life. It's just so sad to read.

[Bruunhilde]

Dear rapist...

I'm surprised she ever trusted a man enough to marry. It took much less than that to make me mistrustful.

[Kaslo]

Dear rapist...

I read this long article as well, and I am glad you posted it. I agree with the sentiments expressed so far, but I was struck by the self serving attitude of the rapist as he came to terms with his past and seemed to use alcohol as an excuse and a scapegoat. And feels absolved. I see this all the time with users / abusers. Almost a sociopathic disinterest in anything except the self, and how others relate to the self, and I wonder if that is not a biochemical side effect of alcohol addition. Being a drunk has been a legally acceptable excuse for crime in modern society, by not making criminals own up to thier actions; they were drunk, not thier fault. And the protection the university gave the criminals instead of the victim is not just misogynistic its criminal itself. The University should have been sued IMHO. This article simply reinforces my belief that there is a huge gulf between the alcoholic and the rest of society, to the extent that the rest of the world suffers just as much as the alcoholic does, for the damage we (AL's) do.

[ladyjan]

Dear rapist...

Just read read the full story...
have goosebumps of memories.....justice never gets delivered as it should....
no wonder we drank..
I say it in the past tense, as I am now out of that nightmare.......but it never goes completely away

[mario]

Dear rapist...

Just read this, I dont know whether I could forgive anyone who did that to me or anyone belong to me,Sometimes its handy to blame all our mistakes in life on alcohol or other mind altering substances.

[Marshy]

Dear rapist...

I read this article in the Guardian yesterday, and I agree with Kaslo about the rapist's self-serving attitude and that alcoholism is used as an excuse for committing crimes. It also sounded as though he was getting a lot of enjoyment from resurrecting his crime (in his emails to her and his behaviour at the trial).
I'm glad to see the police took the victim seriously even though the rape happened 20 years ago but it's disgraceful that the rapist only served a few months in prison.

[IAD]

Dear rapist...

" Got Ya ! News Anchor.......Ha! Uncanny is'nt it ! Ha!

[ladyjan]

Dear rapist...

IAD;1109240 wrote: " Got Ya ! News Anchor.......Ha! Uncanny is'nt it ! Ha!

sorry can't see the joke in this...????