Rape Victims

I agree with bruceleeroy. You can wear whatever you want, but use some common sense, and not just where clothing is concerned. If you go to a seedy bar or something, and you aren't dressed or acting like a regular, you're going to get noticed. Calling attention to yourself is a surefire way to have something bad happen, especially when alcohol is involved. True, it isn't the rape victims fault-if they wanted it to happen then it wasn't rape, at the base level. But what steps did the victim take to prevent something like that from occuring? And if it did happen despite the victims best attempts, what's the plan of action when you're assualted? Everybody should have the right to go out and have a good time every so often, but common sense dictates to plan for the worst.

For ShawnPorter:

Here is a relative article on the subject that I read a couple days ago...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405297020422620457660117424095232...

A Thin Line on Skirts

Note to women in the South Park Slope and surrounding Brooklyn: You might want to think twice before wearing shorts or skirts when you walk home alone at night.

That's the message some women say police officers are spreading as they step up patrols in the area in response to at least 10 unsolved sexual attacks that have taken place since March.

In a neighborhood with a reputation for liberal and feminist tendencies, the message is, as to be expected, not going over so well.

Lauren, a South Slope resident, was walking home three blocks from the gym on Monday when she was stopped.

The 25-year-old, who did not want her last name to be used, was wearing shorts and a T-shirt when she claims a police officer asked if she would stop and talk to him. He also stopped two other women wearing dresses.

According to Lauren, the officer asked if they knew what was going on in the neighborhood. When they answered in the affirmative, he asked if they knew what the guy was looking for.

"He pointed at my outfit and said, 'Don't you think your shorts are a little short?'" she recalled. "He pointed at their dresses and said they were showing a lot of skin."

He said that such clothing could make the suspect think he had "easy access," said Lauren.

She said the officer explained that "you're exactly the kind of girl this guy is targeting."

Asked whether officers were warning women against wearing shorts or skirts, the New York City Police Department responded in no time.

"Officers are not telling women what not to wear—there's a TV series that does that," quipped Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne in an email. "They are simply pointing out that as part of the pattern involving one or more men that the assailants have targeted women wearing skirts."

Note to the NYPD: It should be apparent by now that commenting on women's clothing is not a good idea, no matter how good the intention.

So it should come as no surprise that a grass-roots group formed in the wake of the attacks, Safe Slope, has criticized this alleged tactic—among other things—in an open letter posted on its website and Facebook page.

Jessica Silk, one of Safe Slope's founders, called such interaction with police "completely inappropriate."

"There have been reports that the women attacked were all wearing skirts," she said. "Unfortunately this might be a common link between the women that were attacked but the message shouldn't be that you shouldn't wear a skirt. The message should be that, 'Here are ways that you can protect yourself.'"

Lauren said she's been surprised by the male responses to the incident—including from her own father. She said the consensus among men is that while it was inappropriate for the officer to broach such a topic, they all think he has a point.

"I completely disagree," she said. "Where do you draw the line? I can't wear shorts? Besides the fact that I wasn't wearing anything that was inappropriate or provocative….I don't think that should be part of the problem. At all."

Lauren said she thanked the officer for patrolling the area but said she would prefer that he focus on apprehending the suspects, rather than the dressing choices of women.

To be fair, the police have clearly stepped up their presence in the South Slope, Greenwood Heights and Sunset Park area in recent weeks.

This week, police cars with their lights flashing were stationed at nearly every other block on Fourth Avenue outside of the Prospect Avenue subway station.

Some think the attention has become alarmist. Most of the assaults were attempts that included groping or grabbing, and didn't involve weapons. (There was one rape in Sunset Park, in May.)

Sketches of potential suspects are posted at local businesses, and on a recent day Jay "Rocket" Ruiz handed out Police Department "wanted" alerts for three men accused of attempted rape.

Mr. Ruiz (he said his name is a stage name) is a civilian who recently started the Brooklyn Bike Patrol, a volunteer group that escorts people who are afraid to walk home from 11 area subway stations. He said he's been getting more than a dozen calls on some nights. He said the local precinct screens all volunteers to ensure they don't have criminal records.

"I hate to see women getting attacked, that's one of the most cowardly acts anyone can do," said Mr. Ruiz. "We just want to get people home safe."

Wearing a fluorescent yellow T-shirt, Mr. Ruiz hollered, "Brooklyn Bike Patrol," "Free escorts home," and "Get home safe."

Meanwhile, Safe Slope started its own pilot program on Thursday night, making available volunteers to escort people home. And two local City Council members have funded free one-day self-defense workshops in the area.

The Center for Anti-Violence Education said it saw more than 80 women in three such workshops and two more are planned, including bilingual classes in Sunset Park, said Tracy Hobson, the center's executive director.

Many women who have taken the one-day course say they are considering enrolling in additional classes. "You know, it's gotten scary, quite honestly," said Shannon Sharpe, a 33-year-old who lives a block from where the first attack took place in March. "I just felt like I needed to be able to defend myself."

Ms. Sharpe says she's seen women at local bars call a car service to drive them as few as two blocks.

She, like other women, has had to change her routine due to safety concerns. She said she's stopped wearing high heels so often because it's harder to run in them. But she said she hasn't changed her clothing, because she doesn't normally wear mini-dresses or anything particularly sexy. "If I did, then maybe I'd be more conscious of that," she said.

"It's frustrating because there's probably something true to that," she said, referring to a certain type of clothing attracting sexual assailants.

Not everyone is scared.

Ronnie Yoked, a 29-year-old resident, stopped to talk to Mr. Ruiz this week as he handed out police alerts.

Ms. Yoked said she hopes she runs into the man—or men.

"I have my black belt in karate," she said. "They're all short dudes. I'm waiting for one of them to try to get me."

Let's hope the police get them first.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20008347-10391704.html

This

Don't wave a steak in a hungry bears face.

Everyone always ask me what I would do if I got jumped in an ally or in a bar fight. I tell them nothing I don’t go to bars and I don’t walk down alleys alone. I think people should be more aware of where they are and the people around them. The pizza company’s won’t deliver a pizza to my work after dark. Any one walking alone in the area after dark is not smart male or female. It is a high crime area the police know it and are working to fix it. But if you know a mugger or rapist are active in the area why risk it. Everyone should be responable for there own safety.

I'm all for execution for those that rape, but the problem is, if they're not clearly proven immediately of being guilty of doing so.  Unfortunately there are some cases of Women lying about being raped.  It's not as rare as many would think, neither.  

The legal system is a bit screwed up.  I don't trust a rapist, especially a serial rapist of ever being rehabilitated and being able to rejoin society as a contributing member, ever again.  I have a nifty app on my iPhone that shows all the registered and illegally unregistered sex offenders near me.  It's a bit sickening and suprising how many there are, and how close they are!

If someone is caught in the act, I believe they should be immediately shot and killed.  No trial, no arrest, just the cost of a bullet.  I know, this will enver happen in the USA but here's to hope...  

I have mixed feelings on this

Women want 2 things.  Certainty and uncertainty.  Good luck.