I read this out of curiosity (for some reason, I spontaneously attached "Attack of" to the title, in a tacky, 50's horror-movie font), and I have to say, I agree with everything you have said. The problem is, I can understand why someone would want to use violence against a rapist. Rape horrifies me so utterly, and I know part of the reason is what it implies: It is predominantly a male gender thing, which, for obvious reasons, makes it uncomfortable to deal with. You find yourself looking at yourself in, not to put too fine a point on it, a pretty revolted way: Is that something I'm capable of, because I am of the same gender? Okay, kill me now.
But the problem is, I don't think a lot of males do that - it's difficult to tell, because it's such a taboo subject - particularly amongst males: You'd never, ever get a group of males discussing it, but why not? It concerns us. It's about us, and our behaviour. It's the Uncle Ernie syndrome, where you know, deep down, that it goes on, but you ignore it, because shining a torch in the furthest corners of your gender is, well, frankly, an unpleasant experience. But therein lies the problem. Our society (and I will take the one I know personally, rather than, say, South Africa - I don't know enough to comment on), does a fine job of making excuses, in it's own, mumbled and insidious way. The right to violence, predominance, control, power - these are all things that males have in our society, and that gives us carte blanche to do whatever the Hell we want, evidently. If it's too uncomfortable to be self critical, we don't bother: It must be someone else's fault. I hate it. But the problem is exacerbated by the fact that often the only thing stopping males from raping is that it is seen to violate a code of conduct - you know, all that stuff about "treating a lady right": Thou shalt open a door for a lady, oh, and it's not too polite to rape them, either - at least until you feel (in your own mind) you've been given permission. I reckon, if you were to do a controlled experiment, where you could interview males and females in the sort of environment where they felt safe to really express their views, without fear of judgement, you would find the following: Most males don't think rape is as bad as murder. Possibly not even as bad as smoking a joint, in some circles. I mean, society knows that's bad, right? But stopping healthy, virile males having a bit of sport? I mean, that's not natural, is it? I think I know what the female response to the same question would be. Because of this (I'm simplifying, I know, but stay with me on this one), the rape victim becomes the transgressor. How many women refuse to come forward, or even downplay the event in their own mind, because they know the way society will look at them? At best, if they do come forward, they know they will have to go through a dreadful experience to get the sort of justice they deserve. And the suggestion that the "sliced" bloke becomes the victim, enabling them to file a lawsuit against the woman, who was wearing the killer tampon, is sick - utterly sick, but I don't disagree with you. I could see it happening. The tosser would probably get an extension, and make a career performing in hard core porn, or something - oh, wait, that already happened.
I'm sorry to rant; I know I'm preaching to the converted, and that I'm not saying anything you don't already know, but you've hit a sore point with me. I know violence doesn't solve anything, but in a way, I can see what this Haumann is trying to do - if you're caught with your dick in place, so to speak, it's fairly inequivocal. Of course, you can't necessarily prove that it wasn't consensual, but I can understand someone trying to do something in a hopless situation. Maybe taking a victim at their word might be a start, but I can't see that happening: I could see male law makers the world over stiffening (not that way) over that one. Maybe making all males go through some kind of treatment, that if they do anything that is of that nature, they turn bright blue, or something. Then everyone could see. Something that makes the words "I am a scumbag: feel free to treat me as such" come out on his forehead.
Okay, I'll stop now, and go on my way, mumbling crossly to myself. I hope you don't mind me saying this stuff, or interposing on your thread. I just felt the need to say something. Feel free to hit me over the head with blunt or sharp objects if you want: I shan't mind. I consider you all my friends, and when it concerns you it concerns me.
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I am the sunlight on the sides of houses.
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