A rant: In no way to be considered an Essay

[jaysummers]

Before you read what I'm about to read, please take note of the following link:

A Rapist's View of the World: Joss Whedon and Firefly.The following author is kind enough to articulate this as a rant, so I am doing the same. I will not cite my opinions as well-researched or as particularly poignant. This is not an essay and should not be

Comments

[idemandjustice]

First off, I did read her essay and utterly disagree with everything she said in it, pretty much.

However, as much as I hate giving this crazy person any credibility, I disagree with you about prostitution not being rape. I'll explain why, in short. Coercion is considered rape. The thing is, in the real, modern world (which is not the same as Inara, or Phedre in the Kushiel series either, obviously), most women (with the occasional exception that is rather rare but often very loud-mouthed) really don't choose to be prostitutes. They wind up there because they don't have any other options, which makes them unwilling. Which makes it rape, by my definition, and the law's at least in theory (since they do define coercion as a factor) if they bothered to care, which they typically don't. I hope you're not offended, because that's really not my intent. And I really don't find what Inara does to be remotely the same, seeing as she has so many luxuries and freedoms that real-world prostitutes don't. And to call Joss a rapist

[akumadaimyo]

Courtesans are NOT prostitutes though. They don't have to have sex. At least that's wha I've heard about them. Perhaps in Firefly that's not true but I know I've had this argument with ignorant people's about Geisha since I know a lot about them and am interested in Japanese things.

Also exactly how is it rape with someone you pay? Since when do they lose the ability to say no? Unless they have some asshole pimp smacking them around they can say no after all. Even if you pay someone they should still be able to say no.

That feminist chick seems like a raving nutjob to me. I'm sorry but it seems like if a man does not bow and scrape and treat a women with walk on eggshells level of politeness then he must hate women! Jesus. I hate some people who are women but I don't hate them because they are women I hate them cause they are assholes. They just happen to be female. *Shrug*

[idemandjustice]

On courtesans, geishas, etc, we agree. I was trying to make a distinction there. Sorry if I didn't manage it very well.

And for others, I would argue that when it's a choice between getting to eat or not, that falls under coercion. Not to mention, as you said, the likelihood of getting smacked around by some pimp.

Yeah, people like her are why so many people think feminists are crazy man-haters. I think that most of the things she said were not only ludicrous but utterly disgusting. And my husband does not rape me, I don't give a shit what she thinks.

Does that make my position clearer for you? :)

[akumadaimyo]

Hmm, I still wouldn't say coercion like needing to eat is rape. They can still say no. The poster has NO clue about Inara's concept at all. It's based a lot in Indian culture too. (The Hindu kind, not the Native American kind). I find the idea of me getting horny thinking about a woman to be rape is just idiotic. As I stated my gf likes watching me shave. So I guess she's a rapist? Oh and I told my gf about this nutjob. She said she'd throttle her if she could. Guess she hates women too? *rolls eyes*

[idemandjustice]

Damn. I was going to link you to another friend's post discussing that thing, where the comments were much, MUCH saner than the ones in the actual entry, but it seems it was locked. That's too bad. Might've restored your faith in humanity a little. :(

[jaysummers]

Hahaha, actually, Katsu linked to another conversation discussing it, so my faith is a smidge restored. XD

[akumadaimyo]

Chrisy says she finds it erotic to watch me shave! SHES RAPING ME! SAVE ME FROM THE RAPIST! That's essentially what that nutburger's logic is.

[jaysummers]

Oh no. She's not raping you. You have a penis.

[katsudon]

Well, duh. It's impossible to rape something if it has a penis. Those guys in prison are just cuddling.

[jaysummers]

Men don't believe men get raped...and when it happens, we repress it and make it go away.

[katsudon]

When I told Mike he was a rapist, he just gave me a creepy smile. Should I be worried?

[katsudon]

HELP, HELP, I'M BEING REPRESSED!

[katsudon]

Haha. When I read the thing, my second thought (since my first was OMGWTF) was, "Oh yeah. This is why Chelsea doesn't like calling herself a feminist."

[kanara]

Totally with you there, hon.