Men and Rape

[BroomJockey]

I am most assuredly NOT a potential rapist.

Yes you are. Are you capable of exerting control over your limbs? Are you capable of physical interaction with animate matter? If so, then congratulations, you meet the minimum standards of "potential" rapist. Whether you'd do so or not is immaterial to being physically capable of an act.

[Pedersen]

I am most assuredly NOT a potential rapist.

By the definitions used by the speaker, all people (not just men, even though she chose to use the word men) are potential rapists. When a woman hears about a sexual assault, her guard goes up. All men suddenly have to be considered as a potential attacker. At that point in time, to that woman, all men are potential rapists.

Of course, the other part is that so are all women, even to the woman who hears about the sexual assault. However, since people tend to only think of men sexually assaulting women when they hear the word rape, that is what the woman who hears about another one goes through.

At least, so goes the logic presented in the comments on that article. Sadly, I can see some merit in the logic.

Saying that I am, is very insulting.

Doesn't it suck when someone who has never met you tosses out a statement that is a flagrant insult to your very being, and then refuses to apologize for it, or even acknowledge that they have done so?

In case that was too obtuse a reference, it was meant to be a pointed statement that you might wish to reconsider some of your words on occasion. I know of at least two times that you have wound up insulting a group of people, resulting in pages of thread derailment, and never once come back to say even so much as "I'm sorry, offense was not intended."

Now that you've become a victim of that yourself, maybe you'll be at least a little more sensitive to it.

I would rather die painfully than commit rape.

I happen to agree with you on that. But a woman who has just heard about a rape, and sees us on the street (and has never dealt with either of us before) would have no way of knowing that about us. To her, we very much are potential rapists right then.

And yes, it definitely does suck.

[Flyndaran]

Yes you are. Are you capable of exerting control over your limbs? Are you capable of physical interaction with animate matter? If so, then congratulations, you meet the minimum standards of "potential" rapist. Whether you'd do so or not is immaterial to being physically capable of an act.

I disagree. I am no more a potential rapist than I am a potential homosexual. I'm not, and saying that I am is just wrong.
Some things are impossible due to mentality or emotional state. Physics is not the end all and be all of possibility.

...

Doesn't it suck when someone who has never met you tosses out a statement that is a flagrant insult to your very being, and then refuses to apologize for it, or even acknowledge that they have done so?

In case that was too obtuse a reference, it was meant to be a pointed statement that you might wish to reconsider some of your words on occasion. I know of at least two times that you have wound up insulting a group of people, resulting in pages of thread derailment, and never once come back to say even so much as "I'm sorry, offense was not intended."

Now that you've become a victim of that yourself, maybe you'll be at least a little more sensitive to it.
....

I found the idea insulting. I know that the poster meant no offense. That's also what I assumed others would gather from my posts.
These are arguments of definition. I would never assume that we all use the same internal dictionaries.

[BroomJockey]

Some things are impossible due to mentality or emotional state. Physics is not the end all and be all of possibility.

First, congratulations on finding a different definition of potential.

Second, *insert sound of brain exploding* WHAT?! Aren't you the one who's argued that anything not scientifically possible at this exact moment is forever impossible? That metaphysics is ludicrous? That theology is delusion? How do you square that with physics NOT being the end of all possibility? Biology states that you physically possess the capability to rape. Lack of use of that potential does not negate the existence thereof.

[Flyndaran]

First, congratulations on finding a different definition of potential.

Second, *insert sound of brain exploding* WHAT?! Aren't you the one who's argued that anything not scientifically possible at this exact moment is forever impossible? That metaphysics is ludicrous? That theology is delusion? How do you square that with physics NOT being the end of all possibility? Biology states that you physically possess the capability to rape. Lack of use of that potential does not negate the existence thereof.

Let me try to explain.
From the scant amount of information about me that you have, then yes I am a potential rapist. But from the information I have from being me, I know that I am not capable of rape.
Better?

[BroomJockey]

Better?

No. Because the whole point is, the article is saying, from a woman's view, everyone's a potential rapist, so you've not solved a single thing.

[Flyndaran]

No. Because the whole point is, the article is saying, from a woman's view, everyone's a potential rapist, so you've not solved a single thing.

I assumed she meant it in a more general absolute way. Never mind then. In that case, I agree with her statement as useless as it is in any practical way. Every person and animal on earth is a potential rapist.

[Nyoibo]

I disagree. I am no more a potential rapist than I am a potential homosexual. I'm not, and saying that I am is just wrong.
Some things are impossible due to mentality or emotional state. Physics is not the end all and be all of possibility.



I found the idea insulting. I know that the poster meant no offense. That's also what I assumed others would gather from my posts.
These are arguments of definition. I would never assume that we all use the same internal dictionaries.

There is the potential, simply because you exist and are physically capable.
Potential: existing in possibility : capable of development into actuality

I assumed she meant it in a more general absolute way. Never mind then. In that case, I agree with her statement as useless as it is in any practical way. Every person and animal on earth is a potential rapist.

Well I don't know about slugs, but basically yes, hence the absurdity of the statement.

[Flyndaran]

There is the potential, simply because you exist and are physically capable.
Potential: existing in possibility : capable of development into actuality



Well I don't know about slugs, but basically yes, hence the absurdity of the statement.

Wait you haven't heard of slug penis fencing? Ok, it's flatworms that do that. But slugs will often bite off the others penis to force it to take the female role. That's kind of like rape.

But possibilities should include all available information, including mental state. Otherwise you have brain dead people being potential rapists, which is ridiculous.
I am not emotionally capable of rape, therefore I am not a potential rapist.

[kamn]

Flyndaran I believe Nyoibo is meaning that you are unwilling to commit rape for now. You can and do change day after day, and there is a posibility, however slight, that you might one day be willing to commit it...

[Flyndaran]

Flyndaran I believe Nyoibo is meaning that you are unwilling to commit rape for now. You can and do change day after day, and there is a posibility, however slight, that you might one day be willing to commit it...

Only from your point of view and limited information. We all have a few traits that are intrinsic to our personalities. Mine are atheism, silly sense of humor, attraction to females, and of course the inability to rape.
I'm sure it's obvious to most here that I can be rather strict in how I comport my thoughts and actions. I have a few rules that will never be violated EVER.

I understand Nyoibo. I just vehemently disagree.

[Pedersen]

I'm sure it's obvious to most here that I can be rather strict in how I comport my thoughts and actions. I have a few rules that will never be violated EVER.

What's that saying? Never say never?

You have no way of knowing that you will not be involved in a horrific incident which results in severe brain damage tomorrow. When the brain is damaged, people can (and frequently do) undergo severe personality alterations. What you believe to be 100% true today can become 100% false (in your mind) tomorrow.

Had you said something like "My personality will not allow it." I would have accepted it. You just stated an absolute, though, about all possible future paths you will take. If you're able to predict the future that well, I can think of a few politicians who would like some words with you.

[Fashion Lad!]

As far as the rape issue goes, the statistics aren't terribly surprising given the way they set up the evaluation. It's easy to imagine doing a lot of things. But I'm willing to bet that most of the men who could imagine raping a woman would get two minutes into it and lose any interest in proceeding. A woman's terror is not a turn-on for most men. Feigned terror might make for fun role-play for some, but the real thing would be a whole other ball of wax.

Not often I agree with you, but I agree with you pretty much 100% on this. However, I can't even imagine raping a woman even if I knew for sure I wouldn't get caught. I couldn't do that to someone, that's just awful.

[gremcint]

How many people claim to be able to kill someone will most likely not be able to when the time comes?

Just because people say they can and will do soemthing doesn't mean they will.

[Nyoibo]

How many people claim to be able to kill someone will most likely not be able to when the time comes?

Just because people say they can and will do soemthing doesn't mean they will.

The opposite of that is also true.