Victim blaming, or sensible advice

[xoggoth]

But this message isn't targeted in any way at all

Depends how you read it. I suppose it could be phrased better but the essential message needs to be got across, whether it's rape, street mugging , online fraud or any other crime, we need to get the message to potential victims - stay alert and avoid any behaviour that makes you an easy victim! Failing to do so will mean more will become victims.

[mudskipper]

I tell my daughter not to walk home late at night (admittedly advice I don't follow myself) and to watch her drink to check no-one spikes it. I don't tell her not to drink, and manage to bite my tongue when she goes out in a skirt that barely covers her arse.

The message should be "stay safe" but needs to be delivered in a way that doesn't appear to make the victim even partly responsible if something does happen and they've not followed every bit of well meaning advice to the letter. Everyone could do more to stay safe - it's finding the balance between what's sensible and what infringes on your freedom to enjoy life - and this may be different for different people.

I also think there is a danger of making women disproportionately fearful compared to the risk (or maybe not, maybe the risk is greater than I think it is?) Women shouldn't see all men as potential rapists, but, when you are walking home at night, you do feel nervous if a man is walking behind you (and I know many men are aware of this and take steps, such as crossing the road, to avoid it) - it's not a nice situation for either party.

Posters like this one, without a clear message, aren't helpful, and are possibly damaging.

[xoggoth]

For the "Think Paedophile" poster the person would have to be a White male well-known public figure

Unless you read the local papers. Plenty are not white male or well known but then only well known figures, usually white, make the national headlines. Funny how the grooming gangs in Rochdale, Oldham, Birmingham, Blackburn, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Blackpool have attracted so little attention. But it would be racist to mention ethnicity (unless it's white obviously)

BBC News - More than 2,000 children 'victims of sex grooming'

[mudskipper]

Depends how you read it. I suppose it could be phrased better but the essential message needs to be got across, whether it's rape, street mugging , online fraud or any other crime, we need to get the message to potential victims - stay alert and avoid any behaviour that makes you an easy victim! Failing to do so will mean more will become victims.

What do you think this poster's message is intended to be?

[vetran]

I also think there is a danger of making women disproportionately fearful compared to the risk (or maybe not, maybe the risk is greater than I think it is?) Women shouldn't see all men as potential rapists, but, when you are walking home at night, you do feel nervous if a man is walking behind you (and I know many men are aware of this and take steps, such as crossing the road, to avoid it) - it's not a nice situation for either party.

Posters like this one, without a clear message, aren't helpful, and are possibly damaging.

You have met me, I'm a fair size, I was a bit skinnier when I was younger but I have never looked weedy.

At times I have been nervous walking down the street on my own drunk, sometimes with good reason. I have been physically attacked violently without provocation twice in my adult life. Both while drunk, luckily I was faster than the attacker but they meant me harm. I have also been in a number of situations where I or a mate have managed to talk our way out of trouble.

These situations happen, I'm better at spotting and avoiding them but were I a women I hope someone would prepare me for them, be it self defence classes or street reading skills. If you are out on your own then you are vulnerable, if you add drugs and or alcohol then exponentially so.

If 20% of the female population have suffered a serious sexual assault then we have a big problem. I think education on both sides, this start is better than nothing.

Just as being laid off is 'not your fault' there are a lot of things you can do to avoid it.

By the way I hate having to cross the road in such cases or be so careful around kiddies because being a bloke makes me 'suspicious'

[SueEllen]

Unless you read the local papers. Plenty are not white male or well known but then only well known figures, usually white, make the national headlines. Funny how the grooming gangs in Rochdale, Oldham, Birmingham, Blackburn, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Blackpool have attracted so little attention. But it would be racist to mention ethnicity (unless it's white obviously)

BBC News - More than 2,000 children 'victims of sex grooming'

I'm taking the p*ss.

Most paedophiles are in the family or carers of the victim.

[vetran]

I'm taking the p*ss.

Most paedophiles are in the family or carers of the victim.

Indeed good job we vet & manage them so well isn't it

[EternalOptimist]

When I was a young lad (or even a medium or an old lad) sex was something that birds had, and you had to try to get it off them.

there were lots of different ways to make them part with it. flattery, bribery , alcohol.
some blokes went too far, and that was the rapey bit.

no one I know has ever been in the 'violent rapist' model, but many would fall into the 'unintentional and accidental and aghast', rapsit model

i.e. they tried a bit too hard and were stoopid

[vetran]

When I was a young lad (or even a medium or an old lad) sex was something that birds had, and you had to try to get it off them.

there were lots of different ways to make them part with it. flattery, bribery , alcohol.
some blokes went too far, and that was the rapey bit.

no one I know has ever been in the 'violent rapist' model, but many would fall into the 'unintentional and accidental and aghast', rapsit model

i.e. they tried a bit too hard and were stoopid

Indeed I think birds believe in this 'new man' stuff, should we tell them?

[NotAllThere]

There is no excuse for rape, a woman should be free to wear/drink whatever she wants.

"There is no excuse for mugging. A person should be able to walk through all areas freely waving a wad of £50 notes."

While this also self-evidently true, it's not exactly helpful to the discussion. Chanting these mantra is a substitute for informed argument and actually engaging brain.

Four legs good. Two legs baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahd.