It's Not The Victim's Fault, Folks

[Peter Parka]

basically,whether i'd be right or wrong.....anyone who sees fit to rape my daughter gets hunted down,hurt beyond belief and genitalia removed

Although I don't have a daughter, I agree with this and that goes for any unreformed rapist that I meet. Revenge is a natural human instinct and I see no benifit in punishing people so much for it who had good cause. Take that example, from what I can gather, from what everyone seems to be talking about - throwing rocks at a car is serious and could easily result in a death. Shooting someone for it with a crossbow is extreme but people act in extreme ways when threatened with death and that includes delayed reactions. I once got attacked on my door step and beaten up, at the time I hurt and was scared. The moment I got back inside, looked in the mirror and saw the black eye the guy had given me, the fear suddenly turned into an indignant anger and rage that I ran atound looking for him, found him, chased him down the street and broke his jaw, several ribs, caused him internal bleeding and put him out of work for 6 months. Fortunately when the police showed up, they had common sense, saw my injuries, put it down to self defense and didn't give me any trouble. I didn't have the power to do anything initially as it was a shock, when I take in the disgusting damage that someone has done, though, I turn into a different kettle of fish. Is the crossbow shooter likely to shoot someone with it who is being a good citizen? I'd say hardly based on that one situation and not a danger to the general public. If he has previous, violent convictions then there is more chance. These are some of the things which should be considered amongst others. Of course most people would rather jump in, if not violently, in words with the usual "string em up!" kind of bollocks without being privy to the full story and just after what the've read in sensational newspapers with their own agenda.

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

It's bad enough to be minding your own business and then suddenly one or more persons does something horrible to you. But to be told that it's somehow your fault makes it so much worse.

 

[The Doc]

It's bad enough to be minding your own business and then suddenly one or more persons does something horrible to you. But to be told that it's somehow your fault makes it so much worse.

They need to be told that, therefore they are more aware of their sorroundings.

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

Even those who think it's partly the victims fault when something awful happens to a person who was minding his or her own business must admit that the bad guy isn't the victim. But the victimizer certainly is!

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

It's one thing if somebody causes trouble on purpose, like someone starting a fist fight, for example.

But if the victim didn't intend any harm and something bad happens to him/her, some will say the victim was "asking for it."

Nobody asks to be raped, robbed, etc.

 

[The Doc]

It's one thing if somebody causes trouble on purpose, like someone starting a fist fight, for example.

But if the victim didn't intend any harm and something bad happens to him/her, some will say the victim was "asking for it."

Nobody asks to be raped, robbed, etc.

I used this earlier but will say it again.

Lets say I was driving around one night without a seat belt on. A drunk driver hits me, and I die. Yes its sad, and its the drunk driver hit me which is why I died... but if i wore my seat belt I would have lived. I chose not to wear my seatbelt, but it is unfortunate that a drunk driver hit me.

There are situations where the victim shares blame. If i posted my credit card number and expiration on this forum and i wake up tommorow and theres a couple grand in expenses... can i say its all the peoples fault who frauded me? No because i made the information available to them. I made myself a target

 

[Mercury]

A very delicate subject with some very good responses. I agree that victims of rape should NEVER be held accountable at the same level as the rapist since the victim typically uses no force of any form to cause the act to take place ... the decision for the act of rape is made only by the raper.

 

[All Else Failed]

Personal negligence should be considered if the victim was in true negligence of their safety.

 

[Mercury]

Personal negligence should be considered if the victim was in true negligence of their safety.

I'll agree that a lesson is probably learned by the victim ... but fault still lies with the attacker.