When the Rapist Doesn’t See It as Rape

There is a lot of reading here, but I hope you are willing to. There is a point I want to make.

If someone says that they have been raped, believe them. If someone says that they have not raped, believe them.

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but... No.

Here's why. Can you do something to me? Go to wikipedia and search "Day-Care sex abuse hysteria".

Long list, ain't it? Welcome to the Salem Witch Hunts of the late 80s/early 90s. An age when fucking Michelle Remembers was being used to train social workers and prosecutors.

Take a good look at some of the cases. A real good look. What's the highest number of people who were arrested for being named in the increasingly elaborate claims? 40? 90?

I know in one case they had to move the trial to another town because they couldn't get an unbiased jury. Everyone in the community was connected to an accuser or an accused.

Look up the name Bernard Baran. Parents who had explicitly stated that they "Didn't want no homos" working with their children had him imprisoned in the hysteria.

Look up the Faith Chapel Church cases. Where the initial accusers had complained about the appearance of a worker with Noonan Syndrome.

But what I really want to mention is the bloody flagship of the witch hunts of the late 20th century. The McMartin Preschool Trial.

Where the western world was gripped by a rape allegation where the students identified Chuck god damned Norris as one of their Satanic Abusers.

Now look up "Believe the Children" on wikipedia. Here's a summary of the jist to the name.

The organization's name was based on the slogan that the children, who were the primary sources of information about the alleged abuse (no physical evidence or corroboration was found for the allegations), should be believed without question.

You know. Those children who claimed that Chuck Norris had been a part of their Satanic Ritual Abuse.

Believe them without question.

Here's the point.

I'm not saying this is the level we are at. After all, I can't think of many rape claims that involve the accused slaughtering elephants and giraffes, having the power to fly, and summoning Satan.

I'm just trying to point out the danger in unquestioning belief, no matter which way it goes.

/r/Feminism Thread Parent Link - nytimes.com