MaryE

Your posts tend to be rather monocular in that you argue from a personal perspective. It seems to me you missed the thrust of what I was saying. Perhaps you should consider the overall point and not such an out of context minor part.

In every topic there are different ways to look at the subject.
All I said was that challenging rape as a topic was valid as is/are any other topic if one is to be objective.

Socrates held that one should and be able to examine ones most deepest notions if one is to grow. It was his willingness to logically question mores that ended up with a cup of hemlock which didn't prove him wrong just that mob rule dominates. I have no desire to have a similar metaphoric fate.

I therefore don't intend on getting into that debate with you or on this site about the topic of rape.

Experience has shown that objectivity and context are largely just words on OLO.

You must be careful not to assume too much based on your own biases.

Regards

Examinator Ant

"In Australia one in two women will be physically assaulted at some point in their lives and one in three women will be sexually assaulted. We also know that by the time a girl turns 18 there is a one in four chance she will have experienced rape or another form of sexual assault. To put that figure in context we also know that men in prison have a one in four chance of being sexually assaulted, suggesting that when it comes to rape, what young women endure in their everyday lives would for men be considered prison conditions."
http://2mf.net/news158.htm

CJ I don't want to get into a protracted debate over this, as someone who generally values your contributions I tried to find a gentle way of pointing out that I don't think your sniping at Antiseptic does you credit.

In my own defense I think I've been paying enough attention to be very confident that the spiteful sexist comments are not all coming from Antiseptic (or those with similar views). I'm very confident that the personal insults are not just from Antiseptic.

My own impression is that what is directed at Antiseptic is far worse than what he posts, I've tried to allow for the fact that I'm not keeping count and not make definative claims which I can't support.

As for Antiseptics comment regarding rape, I think that he does himself harm by raising the question on this thread but do think that the topic is one which is valid to be discussed (preferably away from the circumstance of claims by a child of having been raped).

R0bert

Pomeranian of little brain:"Now he apparently wants to diminish the seriousness of the crime of rape "

Me (on Sunday, 9 August 2009 9:37:22 AM": Is non-consensual sex (rape) really the "the second worst crime...next to murder"? Why?"

Poor thing, you really aren't very bright at all, even for a Pomeranian with very little brain.

Here's a clue little fella, if it has one of these squiggly things "?" at the end of it, it's a "question" not a "statement" and it means I'm seeking the opinion of others (no, not yours little fella, we already know you don't have any opinions of your own).

I note that no one has had a go at my question. Dear me, is it so difficult?

Foxy:"If the majority
of posters find the words you use offensive -
then obviously you need to take another look at the
reality you've constructed for yourself."

Oh dear, foxy. "Appeal to the majority" is one of the easiest fallacies to fall into and you've just gone headfirst into it.

Discussion requires dissent. We learn nothing from saccharine agreement with each other, even if it does give some people a warm glow to know that they are conforming to what they perceive as the expectations of their group without having to apply any thought at all. It is those people who find their responses to my words difficult to deal with and so they call me "offensive". In fact, I find their constant efforts to channel discussion into well-worn, mindless paths offensive in the extreme.

One of the reasons I engage with you is that while you do tend to Gidget-like positivity, you are open to the consideration of things from other angles. I'd not have expected an "appeal to the majority" from you.

As for "looking at ..reality", what is more likely to lead to improved understanding - asking questions designed to elicit responses (positive or negative doesn't matter, it's the response that's important) or joining in a consensual reality that has no basis in reason?

MaryE:"The question is, "why would he even think to ask that question in the first place, in reply to the other member?""

It wan't another member, it was the managerof the NSW Rape Crisis Centre, Karen Wills, as I said. if you can't even get the attributions right, how much did you read before your knee started jerking too violently for you to continue?

I thought to ask the question because Ms Wills made the statement. My background is in science and engineering and I am trained to do that.

MaryE:"I find the member's question to be the most disgusting thing I've read on this site"

Interesting. Why? it's an obvious follow-on from Ms Wills' statement. If she had said "it's the third most serious crime" would that have made a difference to your response to my question? She has clearly made her statement to give her own organisation, which gets lots of Government money and very little oversight, more "importance". Fair enough, lots of people do that sort of thing, but having done so, their statements become fair game for questioning.

MaryE:"I believe rape should not be diminished."

Should it be exaggerated?

MaryE:"It's a serious and insidious crime, often committed for the purpose of control and intimidation."

Yes, it is serious, but is it "the second worst"? What if the purpose is merely the sex, not the control and intimidation? Does the motivation of the offender change the seriousness of the crime?

MaryE:"The consequences of rape can last an entire lifetime for the victim"

The consequences of an assault can do that whether the assault was sexual or not. What of a young man "king hit" and left paraplegic? Is the consequence of rape greater than the consequence he has to live with?

Examinator:"questioning rape as a real offense is a valid question but not in the current context"

No one has questioned rape as a "real offense". It's quite clearly an offence, the question was whether Ms Wills's statement can be supported. Why is that invalid in the current context?

Anti,

You too make far to many assumptions and wallow in unnecessary offensive rhetoric to be truly interested in find any real truth.

Assertions like "conversations need dissent" (sic) are erroneous and say more about the user's vulnerabilities and needs that the targets. Many good and interesting topics are had in politeness.

Before you run away with another assumption that of me being pompous let me suggest that While I too have antisocial failings that doesn't give justification for deliberately wallowing in my own failings in the assumption that if I spread enough poo around no one will notice my short comings. who wants to communicate with a pig covered in excrement and mud?

It would appear reasonable that you revel in being the centre of attention and that you also subscribe to the concept that any attention is the objective.

Contrary to that reasoning I would suggest such behaviour tend to stifle conversation rather than facilitate it.