"UVA Rape Case"

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I don't think it matters that you find it unbelievable. That's what the police and our justice system are for. Debating the veracity of a potential victim makes me really uncomfortable. It should make everyone uncomfortable, IMO.

LoneWolf_70 wrote: »

TheVirgoddess wrote: »

I don't think it matters that you find it unbelievable. That's what the police and our justice system are for. Debating the veracity of a potential victim makes me really uncomfortable. It should make everyone uncomfortable, IMO.

i assume you dont know anything about the case then.

Your assumption would be incorrect. Are you implying that since she shared her story, she's open to people questioning the truthfulness of it?

LoneWolf_70 wrote: »

TheVirgoddess wrote: »

LoneWolf_70 wrote: »

TheVirgoddess wrote: »

I don't think it matters that you find it unbelievable. That's what the police and our justice system are for. Debating the veracity of a potential victim makes me really uncomfortable. It should make everyone uncomfortable, IMO.

i assume you dont know anything about the case then.

Your assumption would be incorrect. Are you implying that since she shared her story, she's open to people questioning the truthfulness of it?

Yes? Anyone claiming a story that he/she is the victim of a crime is subject to the normal questions that would take place. If someone claims they were shot, but wouldnt give the name of the shooter and didnt show wounds wouldnt we question that person?

Sure they are subject to, and should be questioned - by the cops. She hasn't pressed charges though, right? I might be a bit behind.

Which unfortunately happens quite often. There are some strange attention seekers out there who will do or say anything regardless of whom it hurts just to justify sexual actions they are regretful about.

LoneWolf_70 wrote: »

^correct...and thats my point, we only have her word. the reporter nor the police have questioned the alleged rapists. She named them to the reporter, but the reporter made no real attempt to reach out.

My point is this story appears flimsy, which before it was reported in a magazine shouldve received better vetting, because rape DOES happen, and if this case is a hoax or she's delusional it only harms the ppl who are really raped.

I dunno. I've been raped, I don't feel like her story (true or not) lessens mine. It's also why I'm really hesitant to call any potential rape victim a liar. When you've been raped and people ask you questions that imply you're not telling the truth, it can do a LOT of damage. While no one has questioned my experience personally, I've seen it happen often, while working with rape victims. Their friends, family - asking why they were there, or why they didn't do this or that......you're so vulnerable. In this case I'd rather be taken for a fool and assume the victim is telling the truth than cause further harm on the chance he/she isn't. Does that make sense?

As a rule I don't follow cases like that. On one end the man could be a total monster. On the other end the woman could be a total manipulating self-serving nut job. Either way, it ain't my business.

I think the mere fact that the poster thought a debate about rape fit under "Chit-Chat, Fun, and Games" is very, very sad indeed.

NextPage wrote: »

I think the mere fact that the poster thought a debate about rape fit under "Chit-Chat, Fun, and Games" is very, very sad indeed.

Can I ask you where this topic would be put then? OP wanted to discuss a topic that is very serious IMO.

newmeadow wrote: »

But it is a reminder that while women, or men, who come forward with accusations of sexual violence deserve to be treated with support and respect, the sensitive nature of these cases is no reason to suspend rational judgment.

Read more: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/12/04/the_uva_rape_story_a_cautionary_tale_in_skepticism_124841.html#ixzz3L29e7819

I do want to say that I agree with this, too. I think if you press charges against someone and claim sexual assault, you should absolutely be questioned, because it's a very serious charge.

I think the difference for me is that you should be questioned by the police, not the public at large.

Just wanted to clear that up.

newmeadow wrote: »

TheVirgoddess wrote: »

LoneWolf_70 wrote: »

to Virgo: IDK what her story has to do with your own. Im speaking specifically about the facts of THIS story, which on the face, seem implausible. Now, im not saying it didnt happen, but for the sake of all (victims/accused rightly or wrongly) we OWE it to those people to ask the tough questions. How we feel about it based on personal experiences shouldnt really be in the equation.

I brought up my story because you said this:

LoneWolf_70 wrote: »

if this case is a hoax or she's delusional it only harms the ppl who are really raped.

So my response was entirely relevant.

My argument is that it does *not* harm people "who are really raped".

We are not owed the facts of her story - she does not need to be tried by the public court. She chose not to press charges, and that's it. It doesn't matter if she's lying, or not. If the accused want to clear their names, then they can so do the same way she chose to share her story.

It doesn't matter if she's lying or not?

If she's not pressing charges, no it really doesn't matter. Why would it?

LoneWolf_70 wrote: »

^ it matters because the entire male pop of the fraternity has been tainted with a brush that is libelous. The UVa admin has now take action that has effected all all of the frats/sororities. Now before you make an assumption, I have never been a member of any fraternity. Lonewolf and all lol.

Point taken. I didn't really think about how this would impact the University - that they would have to have an internal investigation and there would potentially be consequences for the boys and perhaps the Dean. I was generally just thinking about this in terms of a woman's story - my mistake for not seeing the bigger picture.

I am following it. I work at another state university in VA, soooo.... relevant to me. My brother-in-law went to UVA undergrad and has always held UVA up as an excellent option for any of my three nieces. He and my sis have both said that after that article, they are hesitant to continue pushing UVA. That's a big, BIG change for them. Especially with the excellent academic rankings of UVA.

What I keep trying to point out to them is that while this article is aimed at UVA and a particular case, the rape culture in higher ed is what they really need to be paying attention to. The larger problem is not this case, it's the idea that any higher ed institutions are either covering up/not reporting/stifling victim accounts or accusations to keep their sexual assault stats low on the record or protect assailants.

It's that (whether it happened in this case this way or not) there IS a culture out there where a response of "If you take this to the police it will end their academic career," or "you'll just be that girl that was raped,"etc.

If a sexual assault occurs it should be reported, it should be taken seriously, and it should be investigated (by valid, qualified non-biased investigators). Action should be taken or not based on the results of those investigations.