Julian Assange and socialist disappointment

[orphiel]

Trigger warnings for discussion of sexual assault.

Guys.

When you pick your heroes, try not to pick a massive rapist. This should surely be a (admittedly quite low-level) baseline in what you admire about people, along with e.g. not actively being in the KKK or Nazi party.

As a lot of you have ignored this advice lately, some even after it has been

Comments

[meus_profiteor]

Would now be a good time to point out that he's not actually been convicted of being "...a massive rapist..." or would that be letting minor details (such as the possibility of a mans' innocence) get in the way of a good old feminist rant?

[orphiel]

Now would be a good time to read the link, read what his lawyer said, and realise that his 'not being a massive rapist' relies on your description of rape not involving penetration without consent whilst the woman in question was asleep.

[orphiel]

But if that is anyone's non-description of rape, I'd like them to leave a comment below because it's always nice to be warned in advance about these things.

[meus_profiteor]

To be honest, it looks like an incredibly messy case. There's muck being thrown around from all sides

[fionnghuala]

The link you're making between anti-feminism and Marxist-flavoured politics I've seen over and over again. I call it 'After the revolution, love'.

I like the way you've made this discussion really personal. It would be great if men feared making massively anti-woman statements because the result would be the women around them ostracising them. It's hugely depressing that this isn't currently the case :(

Louise

[orphiel]

'After the revolution, love'.

That is an amazing summing up of the dismissal that gets done. I am having it. Thank you :)

[silks_ic]

I think he's a bit of a dick
As to whether or not he's a rapist I'll let a court of law decide.
I'd be interested in finding the original sources of that article - an (albeit quick) internet search found nothing like that and I'd like to see it in context (rather than on a blog where all men are assumed to be rapists)

[fuseblues]

You must be reading a different version of "the F word" to me. :s

[silks_ic]

I don't - which is why I made a massive generalisation.
I meant it kinda ironically - but I'd still like to see this in context.
As for the point of your post Meg - yes rapists are some of the worst people in the world as far as I'm concerned

[missgadget]

"As for the point of your post Meg - yes rapists are some of the worst people in the world as far as I'm concerned"

That's not actually addressing the point of the post at all...

[anonymous]

I don't like these conclusions, do you have any data that supports my worldview that everything is basically ok and I don't need to examine the actions of either myself or my friends? I'd look myself but I don't have time because I'm too busy huffing this bag full of my own farts. The ball's in your court.

[fionnghuala]

Brilliant!

[anonymous]

Given that the circumstances that can lead to a rape can be extremely confusing, we (men) really need to get it into our heads that no means no, not saying anything also means no- in fact anything short of full, enthusiastic encouragement actually means no! And even that can quite rightly turn into a no at any point- that's what consentual means.
There really is no grey area for guilt-though whether circumstances should influence consequence is possibly another debate.

[anonymous]

sometimes, i believe that some people expect men to get a written declaration of consent first

strange really that when a man says no and means it, but the woman carries on regardless, the woman is not seen as raping the man, isnt it?

[fuseblues]

Not really - women don't have penises.

#uklaw

[viclet]

Actually though, Stu, I think it should be seen as rape if the woman carries on. Just because the man still has an arection, if he decides he wants to stop then that should be equally respected. Anonymous - please be clear that what I have just said doesn't mean that I am saying that if a woman says stop and you ignore her that it isn't rape, just that women need to respect the word "stop" just as much.