As shown by the news story after this comment, in central Ohio, police, prosecutors and the public are debating the "pros and cons" of a new Web site that allows purported rape victims a forum to publicly expose their alleged attackers.
"Alleged" is the key word.
The fact that there is even debate about this monstrosity is a manifestation that, yes, Virginia, there is a false rape culture, and we are living in it. It is a culture where it is acceptable to destroy the lives of men and boys on the basis of nothing more than an accusation of rape even if it turns out to be false. The innocent victims of these lies are regarded as little more than flotsam -- unfortunate but necessary collateral damage in the supposedly far more important war to convict rapists.
By any reasonable measure, there should not be any debate about this evil Web site because there are no "pros" to it, only "cons." It needs to come down at once. It is an abomination against all things decent in our society.
The fact that this Web site supposedly will help catch rapists does not excuse the incalculable harm it will do to the presumed innocent men and boys falsely accused of this awful crime. If our goal is to nab every rapist, there is an easy way to do that: round up every citizen sporting a pair of testicles and imprison them indefinitely. And if that strikes you as unacceptable overkill, ask yourself why it isn't overkill to allow any woman or girl to falsely accuse, libel and destroy any man or boy by branding him a "rapist" without even the pretense of due process.
If a woman or girl claims that a male has raped her, doesn't it make more sense for her to go to the police rather than shout his name from the highest mountaintop? But perhaps nabbing rapists isn't really the goal; perhaps the real goal is to help women achieve some sort of empowering catharsis, like the gender divisive "clothesline" projects so popular on some college campuses.
No matter. With this new Web site, the trial for the hapless male is over before it has begun. With one click of the computer's "enter" key, he is convicted in the court of last resort -- the hearts of middle America, because people will always wonder if he's a rapist just because he was named. He likely will never get a decent job, or marry, or even live in peace in a decent neighborhood. He will be damaged goods, always and forever, until the day he dies. All because a lone woman or girl decided to destroy him and society allowed her to do it.
As every reader of this blog knows, every unbiased study ever conducted about false rape claims tells us they are a significant problem. As every reader of this blog also knows, men and boys falsely accused of rape have been beaten and killed and have killed themselves; they’ve been fired from their jobs and lost their businesses; they’ve suffered from depression; they’ve lost their wives, their girlfriends and have been permanently alienated from their friends. Rarely do they ever come out of it whole, and for many, the ghost of a false rape claim trails them for the rest of their lives.
We need to be talking about granting anonymity to men and boys accused of rape until conviction, not naming and shaming -- and destroying -- them in this barbaric manner.
It is hoped that every man or boy falsely named on this site will sue the site and the accuser and put them both out of business with an enormous civil judgment.
HERE IS THE NEWS STORY:
Web Site Allows Rape Victims To Identify Alleged Attackers
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Police, residents and prosecutors are considering the pros and cons of a new Web site that gives rape victims a forum to post information about their alleged attackers, 10TV's Lindsey Seavert reported on Monday.
Signs that encourage victims to expose their attackers can be found in the Short North. In bold print the flyers read, "Expose your rapist."
The flyers direct people to a Web site where they can list details about their attacker, including their name, Seavert reported.
The Web site has gotten the attention of Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien, whose office currently runs a victim's advocate program.
O'Brien believes the forum could be of help as it gives police a possible tool in serial rape cases.
"That kind of thing posted there may allow law enforcement a follow up," O'Brien said.
Even though phony posts can be traced, O'Brien worries about false accusations and proof of guilt.
Residents in the Short North shared similar concerns with 10TV News.
"It's harmful in a way because people could post something about somebody that is untrue," a passerby said after seeing a sign.
Another person who saw the sign said victims should be encouraged to seek out authorities.
O'Brien agreed.
"I think the use of this Web site would only be a last resort, in my suggestion," O'Brien said.
Police said that victims should file a police report first, and then go to the hospital to receive a rape kit, Seavert reported.
Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.
Link: http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2009/05/18/story_web_site.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=102
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25 comments:
Prosecutor: I put away an innocent man
'When I prosecuted Charles Chatman for aggravated rape in 1981, I was certain I had the right man. His case was one of my first important felony cases as a Dallas County assistant district attorney. Chatman was convicted in a court of law by a jury of his peers. They, like me, were convinced of his guilt.
Nearly 27 years later, DNA proved me – and the criminal justice system – wrong. Chatman was freed from prison in January after DNA testing proved him innocent. He spent nearly three decades behind bars for a crime he did not commit – a stark reminder that our justice system is not immune from error. No reasonable person can question this simple truth.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/DN-fry_15edi.State.Edition1.24e1b09.html
"Most vile idea ever: a Web site where purported rape victims expose their alleged attackers"
I had to share this with the U.S. and the residents, who may not know about it in Columbus. I gave credit to both the news report and this outstanding site. This , I hope will help raise awareness of false rape and sexual assault accusations.
that's disgusting. I hope it gets shot down, because doing that kind of thing on a non-government website would get you cleaned up for defamation.
The girl that falsely a cussed me of rape had nothing to lose if i were to file a civil suit against her (of which i considered). An attorney also told me i could not file suit against the police department.
What i wanted, was to feel safe, knowing that this girl could not do this again, and specifically requested that she be charged with filing a false rape acussation, and the officers in charge of my case told me they we're going to charge her, but never did.
I was the second guy she falsely a cussed of rape that year, and she got a bundle of "VICTIM FUNDS" from the womens rape crisis center that she never had to pay back. This ???CRISIS CENTER??? paid her a bundle, for her false rape acussation, and she never had to give the money back...because these crisis centers ALWAYS BELIEVE THE WOMEN....AND IN MY CASE EVEN WHEN SHE IS LYING.
Thats why i say.."Break the gender feminist / law enforcement misinformation Alliance...because it is a stain, and a perversion on our legal system.
"He spent nearly three decades behind bars for a crime he did not commit – a stark reminder that our justice system is not immune from error."
That's right, anonymous. Even our JUDICIAL SYSTEM isn't immune from error, after affording the accused some semblance of due process. If that is so, why are we entrusting the good names and reputatons of the presumed innocent to individuals, who can go on that website and -- without even the pretense of due process -- name and shame them?
This is already being done, sort of.
Locally a rape crisis hotline advised a group of high school girls to call them with unfounded rape reports to "create a paper trail".
They were complaining a certain entitled football player was going about raping them, but nothing was being done about it.
The hotline assured the girls that if enough of them made reports, prior claims, even unfounded ones, could be used against the guy if he were involved in a 'weak' case.
Sort of like they did to Michael Jackson.
Guilty by reason of unfounded claims...
Sgt. Mom, very good: "Guilty by reason of unfounded claims...."
You make a good point. In general, confiding in an authority figure (even a rape hotline) is somewhat less odious than plastering the boy's name on a web site for the world to see. But the facts that you describe may actually be worse: this organization seems to be fomenting hysteria about a particular kid solely for the purpose of frying his balls. By encouraging young women to make reports about him, it is inviting prevarication, hyperbole and wrongful claims.
" That's right, anonymous. Even our JUDICIAL SYSTEM isn't immune from error, after affording the accused some semblance of due process. If that is so, why are we entrusting the good names and reputatons of the presumed innocent to individuals, who can go on that website and -- without even the pretense of due process -- name and shame them? "
" after affording the accused some semblance of due process. "
Or a facade of due process.
We should not trust them out of hand, they need to earn and maintain any trust we have in them. As far as allowing a web site to exist that allows an alleged rapist to be named and/or shamed, it should not be allowed or tolerated. What do you think they would do if a web site were created that named alleged and "alleged" false rape accusers? The report in the link is , in my opinion, an indictment against a system that has been hijacked and perverted by the gender feminist misinformation alliance and their allies.
Sgt Mom,
Is there any way to prove they did that? "Paper Trail" wise. I would think they could be investigated and shut down if that was the case.
Perhaps it would be worthwhile to contact financial backers with this information. If nothing else, it may get some need questions asked, or at least some unwanted attention brought. That's a pretty vile thing they are trying to do.
Needless to say this site is both immoral and disgusting and should be shut down. However, unless i've gotten the wrong site they have only 9 registered members and two posts including one accusation, so the damage seems rather limited. Obviously if this was a site accusing women of such and such there would be no debate as to it's "pros and cons".
Oh yeah, wasn't it nice of the people who published the story to advertise it by showing us the poster including the part with the web address? Lovely.
Porky, good points. The news media is bent on fomenting readership. It cares not at all about men and boys falsely accused of rape. On a forum where our post was discussed, someone suggested that it wasn't a good idea for us to talk about this vile site since we were merely publicizing it. My response was that they were right -- we should just pretend it doesn't exist and it will go away, the way the feminists pretend false rape claims don't exist. Oh, wait, that's not a good analogy. The fact is, every double standard in the rape environment that has hurt innocent men and boys has happened because there wasn't sufficient opposition. We need to make ourselves heard even if it gives some unwanted publicity to these sorts of things.
Why is our system looking for even more ways to enable false accusations? There is an epidemic of lies going on. YOU PEOPLE NEED TO STOP THE LIES, NOT CREATE EVEN MORE OF THEM.
Our system and culture are corrupt.
Porky,
Wait until we have the database up and running here of those who falsely accuse. I had hoped to have it ready by the end of this month, but some delays have occurred that will push it back to the end of June, beginning of July. I imagine there will be a bit of outcry about it.
Funny thing though, it won't contain a single thing that isn't available from a web search.
The sad thing is, that our society is utterly swarming with idiots and numbskulls who will see NOTHING wrong with this. I don't know how many times I have met such people. :(
However, there are also plenty (in growing numbers) who will get FURIOUS about this!
So - we've got the elements of a cultural civil war brewing here. Just add water and bring to a slow boil while stirring. . .
Interesting times.
The Archivist wrote: "Wait until we have the database up and running here of those who falsely accuse."
Because men are so much more trustworthy than women to start slinging names around?
Why should anyone post anyone's name anywhere?
I assume the database of false accusors will only list those who were actually punished? Otherwise their names wouldn't be anywhere else on the web already, would they?
Because men are so much more trustworthy than women to start slinging names around?
No ElissaF, our database will only be of those who are proven false accusers. We won't indiscriminately add someone.
Norm,
That's exactly it. The names will be from the articles we have posted here, that are proven false accusers. Someone simply wanting to post someone's name won't happen.
This website allows anyone to sign up and accuse a person of rape, with impunity, and with no due process of law. It allows someone to be considered guilty in the public sphere, with no ability of the accused to defend themselves. That is morally reprehensible.
I worked in a large high school in the mid to late '90's. I wasn't a counselor, but many kids felt safer talking to me(I was one of the rare adults working at the school who befriended nerds instead of jocks).
The school had a very intimidating football team going. They called themselves The Pimp Club.
Several girls began complaining about a certain 'football star' who they claimed was raping them. When I asked an administrator about it, she said the girls complaining couldn't be trusted - they had pretty bad reputations themselves.
Side Note: This is one of those damnable 'shade of gray' zones. The girl's reputations WERE questionable. High school football jocks DO feel entitled and their misbehavior IS protected by administration. It could really go either way.------------
After complaining for several days about this boy, one of the girls began informing the others about the rape crisis hotline's 'paper trail'.
This was in 1998-99. I remember the boy's name quite well. I personally disliked the kid - he was very arrogant and brazen. He was hulking and threatening toward goth and gay kids. That does not mean he did it, however.
The group of girls complaining grew to be quite large. Their parents got in the act, accusing the school of protecting 'jocks'.
Which it did.
Just as the complaints reached a peak, a girl claimed one of the boys on the Tennis team followed her into the bathroom and tried to rape her...during a supervised 10 minute break.
Perfect timing. They 'believed' her, kicked the kid out of school, and proudly used it to 'prove' they didn't favor 'jocks'.
Trouble was, I KNEW this kid was innocent. He was a sweetheart, one of my son's best friends. He wasn't some bulked up steroid-ed over-priviledged 'jock'.
He was on the Tennis Team, for God's sake.
Sgt. Mom,
That is the same knee jerk reaction that occurs today. Not much has changed, sadly. This is why, while all complaints should be taken seriously, they must be handled cautiously and with forethought.
It would help if people didn't equate athletic ability, or any ability for that matter, with integrity and decency. Anyone is capable of doing evil things, especially if they are given the opportunity and shown there are little to no consequences.
Do you know what happened to the young man from the tennis team?
His name was Luke. Such a nice, sweet faced kid.
I don't know what happened to Luke afterward- this was during the same time my own son was embroiled in his false accusation.
I know Luke was not brought up on official charges - he was expelled and attended another school the last quarter of his Senior year.
They knew he didn't do it - he was used to get complaining parents off their back and still preserve their winning football team.
I called his mother(she volunteered every year to help me with registration) at the time to let her know I believed in his innocence, and told her what was happening to my own son - that he had been jailed after accepting a plea for no jail time, that he was facing years of sex offender treatment he probably wouldn't be able to complete as an innocent person, and yearly visits to register as a sex offender.
We had a good cry together. The family moved from the area. We did too.
I might ask my son...he keeps in touch with almost everyone he's ever known.
Not all complaints should be taken seriously. As long as they are these horror stories will continue.
"Because men are so much more trustworthy than women to start slinging names around?"
"Need I look upon a death's head moth in a ring, that have one on my face?" --John Donne
Or if that didn't help, think of the biblical thing about 'motes' in peoples eyes...or casting stones..get my drift?
Reading Sgt. Mom's story, I think we're going to need to start doing some remedial work for young men -- tell them how to beat these false accusation claims. These witch hunts are scary when you consider they can happen to any young man. And worse, I KNOW most of these boys don't know how to handle it.
I promise you, that if it happened to me, knowing what I know (and gee, it did!), I wouldn't become one of unfortunate stats (and I didn't).
There is no way to handle it, other than to get a good lawyer. Freedom or a lifetime of slavery is up to the whims of twelve people who don't know what they're doing, some of whom are women who don't have to worry about being falsely accused.
Sgt. Mom,
Thanks for the information. These are the types of stories that we need to keep putting into the public notice, as often as possible. Only when people realize just how large this problem is, will things begin to change. We are slowly seeing that change, as more and more false accusers are held to task for their acts.
If your son ever wants to tell his story, from his point of view, we would be happy to run it. We also understand if that would be too painful.
All the best.
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