Posted on 03/08/2005 8:27:02 PM PST by Girl_in_Red
This comment is in response to an article I recently read on this site when doing a search for rape conviction sentencing. I was horrified to see such a short sighted article, infering based upon the "information" provided that rape accusals are abused and lacking in credibility. As a rape survivor myself, I find this a hard arguement to swallow to say nothing of buy into. The reason I never went through with pressing charges is no one believed me and it was too emotionally raw to keep pursuing. It is harder than anything to get someone to belive you were raped, even if, like myself, you are a model student, you have an excellent reputation and you have the bruises to boot. So to all you short-sighted individuals, please consider both sides of the story. Until you have had your life turned upside down physically and emotionally by someone else's desires and selfishness, watch what you say about rape convictions. Check the stats about unreported cases first, talk to your female friends because guess what? One in three were probably sexually assaulted at some point in their lives all ready.
Hmmmmm.
Welcome to FR.
Welcome to the cattery.
I know such rape is common and I'm sorry it happened with you.
What would you tell women to help keep them from being targets? Also, what would you want men to do?
Surprised this thread's still here!
Don't you think this is something best discussed elsewhere, or with a P-sychiatrist?
Ever read the article about the Viking Kitties and the Troll? It ends with a Zot!
Also, what would you want men to do?"
G_I_R seems to not be responding, so I'm guessing she wants you to talk to your female friends, because, guess what?
I hope that you are now armed, and trained to shoot if it ever becomes necessary.
If such a thing happened to you, then I know no legitimate person on this site would be against you, and would empathize with you.
However, your lack of reference to the post that upset you, and your being a new signer upper, this initial post seems a bit suspicious.
Your subject is not often or maybe ever covered here.
The tone and tempo is varied ,animated,contentious and infuriating...and at times astoundingly caring.
It's hard to predict how a thread like this will go.
Welcome. Now hang on!
Maybe it's covered here, DU cries rape, dated 12/04...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1293024/posts
Why not spend some time on Free Republic reading the articles and comments ~ getting a feel for the place and for the folks who post here. Newbies who've not taken the time required to become aware of (or who are insensitive to) the policies and procedures of FR will find the response to their vanity posts ... en-lightning.
They must have hired an Independent (or Republican) to write that piece...
Sadly, a large number of them (up to half in some studies) do turn out to be bogus, where "bogus" means there is no physical evidence that a crime occurred, there are no third-party witnesses, and the accuser subsequently and unambiguously recants the charge. Why do women bring these false charges? The top 3 reasons given are spite, anger, and to have an alibi.
The women who do this make it very difficult for women who are actually raped. The ones who don't recant are even worse. How many of these stories do we want to read?
"It feels good," said Michael Mercer, 53, who was freed at the request of the Manhattan district attorney's office.
State Supreme Court Justice Leslie Crocker, in granting the motion to end Mercer's time behind bars, said: "Obviously a terrible mistake was made."
This is a tough thing for the authorities to sort out.
I can't find an article post on the system that would match up with your concern. I've used your title elements and the "rape sentencing" you mentioned for your research.
Are you posting on the right website?
Ping-Ping-Ping
I doubt that the alleged post ever existed. I think we have a T-R-O-L-L attack in progress. 
There's also the hit and run thingie... lol
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