OK. I'll jump right in. Why is rape given special status as a crime?

[onehitwanda]

If you make too many films on the Hallmark Channel

Make films? Working is the antithesis of slothdom. The professional sloth (or slothette) is diametrically opposed to the idea of doing anything.

 

[SimonDoom]

Make films? Working is the antithesis of slothdom. The professional sloth (or slothette) is diametrically opposed to the idea of doing anything.

Some people are born sloths. Some achieve slothdom. Some have slothdom thrust upon them. And some fall out of the tree and just don't have the energy to climb back up it.

 

[onehitwanda]

And some fall out of the tree and just don't have the energy to climb back up it.

Professional slots know very well they simply have to lie there long enough and a new tree will grow under them.

* sloths, Wanda. The h is important. slots is something too derogatory even for you.

 

[yowser]

Now we're on to slot-shaming?

 

[onehitwanda]

Now we're on to slot-shaming?

 

[madelinemasoch]

I want to apologize for this reply: "Sorry. What you describe doesn't amount to major, life changing trauma to me." At least you addressed my question about what makes rape different instead of berating me for asking it. I'll add it to my collection of reasons people have for their attitude toward rape, even though I can't get my head around caring about what a rapist does or doesn't think about you.

Thanks for noticing I addressed it. No worries. You just ring to me as a very emotionally detached person, almost scarily so. I wish I had some reading recommendation to get you to see it, but someone else may have already provided that.

 

[AG31]

Fuck off.

My apology to MadelineMasoch

@AG31, I get that you’re new to the internet but there is absolutely no need for you to link to your thread posts in the same thread they’re posted in. And rarely in any other thread either.

I wanted to be sure that those particular individuals saw my reply to MadelineMasoch. There's no reason to assume that they're following all the conversations here. I'm not new to the internet. I've been here since it was being invented. Started my programming career in the late 60's.

 

[MillieDynamite]

The punishment for rape dropped considerably in the 20th century. Before 1900, the punishment was death by hanging or firing squad. There are reasons for rape to have a stricter punishment, but it won't happen. Putting their name on the Sex Offenders list seemed, at the time, to be a good step. But honestly, how often do you check for registered sex offenders near where you live? The rape of the woman by the defense during the trial isn't prevalent now, but sometimes still happens. A majority or at least a large percentage of rapes are never reported. If a man (or woman) is arrested and convicted for rape or statutory rape, you can bet the number of rapes he's committed is larger than what he is arrested for.

It's treated as a big deal because it is a big deal. However, as I pointed out, the punishment isn't nearly as harsh as aggravated assault.

 

[AchtungNight]

Thank you.

Thank you for articulating what some of us still struggle to process.

You move forward with your life on the outside, but in your head you remain stuck.
You mask your struggle for the sake of friends and family. Not wanting them to relive the pain you endured.
Years later, on some random night, you wake up dripping with sweat, your heart racing in your throat, and your head pounding. You stare up at the ceiling, reliving every detail, while reminding yourself to let it go.

You seek counseling. You medicate.
You pray.
Still just one random thing can serve as a trigger and release a flood of emotions you thought were long passed.

Thank you for putting into words, what some of us cannot.

Thank you for reminding me- and hopefully my critics here also- that I can articulate and understand such things. Processing emotions is a difficult thing sometimes. Good luck with your challenges.

 

[enbiji]

I haven't read many of the posts here, just the title really, but ok...

..."i'll jump right in"...

I've been raped three times. These experiences have traumatized me and degraded my life in ways that I can't even describe to you.

Even so, I think anyone with a shred of humanity should understand why rape and sexual assault matter.

If you are unable to comprehend why rape is a "special" crime then we truly have no basis for communicationon this topic.

God bless you.

 

[enbiji]

I haven't read many of the posts here, just the title really, but ok...

..."i'll jump right in"...

I've been raped three times. These experiences have traumatized me and degraded my life in ways that I can't even describe to you.

Even so, I think anyone with a shred of humanity should understand why rape and sexual assault matter.

If you are unable to comprehend why rape is a "special" crime then we truly have no basis for communicationon this topic.

God bless you.

THAT BEING SAID...

I believe the historical foundation of rape as a "special crime" relates to it being a patriarchal PROPERTY crime, rather than from any particular historical sensitivity to the plight of women by the male-dominated society that has created our laws

 

[MillieDynamite]

Many men, and a few rapists, believe rape is about getting sex. It isn't, and it's about power, domination, and hurting the woman. Rapists that believe it's about sex are deluding themselves.

There are many recognized types of rapes and rapists.

Barbaree typology! According to Howard Barbaree, a psychologist at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, most rapes are impulsive and opportunistic and committed by people who may commit other impulsive acts, including impulsive crimes. These rapists tend to show no anger except in response to their victim's resistance and use little unnecessary force. But they will use all necessary force.

Power rapist! For these rapists, rape becomes a way to compensate for their underlying feelings of inadequacy and feeds their issues of mastery, control, strength, authority, and capability. The intent of the power rapist is to assert their competency. The power rapist relies upon verbal threats, intimidation with a weapon, and uses only the amount of force necessary to subdue the victim. But you will submit to their power or suffer for not doing so willingly. Again, it's about the power.

Anger rapist! The aim of these rapists is to humiliate, debase, and hurt their victims; they express their contempt for their victims through physical violence and profane language. For these rapists, sex is a weapon to defile and degrade the victim, and rape constitutes the ultimate expression of their anger. This rapist considers rape the ultimate offense they can commit against the victim. The Anger rapist is brutal for the sake of brutality.

Sadistic rapist!!! Honesty to God, do we really need to even say more than the type on this one? Okay, I will.

For these rapists, there is a sexual association with various concepts. Sexual excitement is associated with the causing of suffering upon their victim. The offender finds the intentional maltreatment of their victim intensely gratifying and takes pleasure in the victim's torment, anguish, distress, helplessness, and suffering; the offender finds the victim's struggle an erotic experience.

Sadistic rape usually involves extensive, prolonged torture and restraint. Sometimes, it can take on ritualistic or other bizarre qualities. The rapist may use some type of instrument or a foreign object to penetrate their victim. Sexual areas of the victim's body become a specific focus of injury or abuse.

The sadistic rapist's assaults are calculated. They will often wear a disguise or will blindfold their victims. Prostitutes or other individuals whom they perceive to be "promiscuous" are often the sadistic rapist's targets. The victims of a sadistic rapist may not survive the attack. For some offenders, the ultimate satisfaction is gained from murdering the victim.

Sexual gratification rapist (the guy that thinks it about sex).

One type of rapist is the sexual gratification rapist. For this rapist, the motivation is to obtain sex. Such an offender may otherwise be lonely and may have difficulty obtaining an outlet for their sexual desires in other ways due to being unsuccessful at courtship. These guys are losers and can't buy, borrow, or win pussy. And while their motivation is for them to get laid, they use power to do so.

Think unhinged INCEL. And no, I don't accept this as a real category. These particular guys are socially awkward and cannot make the kind of connection necessary for intimacy. They resort to rape to prove they are capable.

Shamanic rapist!

Shamanic rapists purportedly believe that raping somebody that they are serving is actually in service of that person's healing and growth. For this reason, despite that the individuals that they rape lack the capacity to consent because they are often under the influence of psychedelic medicine, and even if not are in a power dynamic where consent is not possible, the shamans typically believe that it was not rape, but rather, consensual. While these rapists often live in denial that they have raped, they often acknowledge that if other people conducted themselves similarly, it would constitute rape. It is not clear whether people who act this way have the capacity to ever make amends and change their ways.

The guys are a bag of rocks, a sack of nuts, or just BatShit Crazy.

EDIT: Men don't hold any special place in any of these categories. Women can and do abuse men in every single one of these types.

 

[TheLobster]

Many men, and a few rapists, believe rape is about getting sex. It isn't, and it's about power, domination, and hurting the woman.

It is about all of these. Rapists tend to exhibit a certain kind of paraphilia which makes them become sexually aroused from their victim's struggle in response to being assaulted.

That's how the sex aspect and the power/domination aspect combine. I don't know why, after decades of denying the latter, it has now become ubiquitous to deny the former.

 

[AchtungNight]

I learned about the first four types of rapists Millie describes in college criminology. The crazed incels she mentions are power rapists also in my opinion, and shamanistic types can fit in another category easily.

I have featured rapist villains in my stories. Mostly the Barbaree or power types, there has been at least one sadist also. Glad Millie agrees it's not a male-exclusive crime.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Sex is only a weapon for a rapist, male or female. We can argue about it, but their pleasure is from the control, humiliation, and pain they give. The rapist is concerned only with their pleasure. They enjoy it more when the victim's body experiences climax. It doesn't mean their climax is enjoyable; it's more humiliating to them when they do. Which makes it more satisfying for the aggressor.

It is about all of these. Rapists tend to exhibit a certain kind of paraphilia which makes them become sexually aroused from their victim's struggle in response to being assaulted.

That's how the sex aspect and the power/domination aspect combine. I don't know why, after decades of denying the latter, it has now become ubiquitous to deny the former.

 

[Cagivagurl]

Why is rape a special crime???
Because it's effects on the victim will go on to haunt them for the rest of their lives.
Physical injuries we recover from, but the mental scars from rape will live in the mind of the victim / survivor forever.
They may not even be aware of it, but it's there lurking.
Unrelated events will trigger those memories... The pain, the shame and suffering will come back in a flash.
Rape is one of the cruellest crimes a human can commit.
Mental trauma is so much harder to treat than physical injuries.
We shouldn't forget. A lot, I won't say most but a lot of rapes are accompanied by serious physical abuse. Beating, stabbing, STD, pregnancy. Taking away the ability to conceive because of the physical abuse....
Rape is a disgusting crime and should be punished with the most severe penalties...
If you cannot see that. Then I feel sympathy for you....
These are merely my thoughts. I speak only for myself.

Cagivagurl

 

[MillieDynamite]

Hammer, nail, and head. Head of nail, here's your hammer!

Why is rape a special crime???
Because it's effects on the victim will go on to haunt them for the rest of their lives.
Physical injuries we recover from, but the mental scars from rape will live in the mind of the victim / survivor forever.
They may not even be aware of it, but it's there lurking.
Unrelated events will trigger those memories... The pain, the shame and suffering will come back in a flash.
Rape is one of the cruellest crimes a human can commit.
Mental trauma is so much harder to treat than physical injuries.
We shouldn't forget. A lot, I won't say most but a lot of rapes are accompanied by serious physical abuse. Beating, stabbing, STD, pregnancy. Taking away the ability to conceive because of the physical abuse....
Rape is a disgusting crime and should be punished with the most severe penalties...
If you cannot see that. Then I feel sympathy for you....
These are merely my thoughts. I speak only for myself.

Cagivagurl

 

[nice90sguy]

Thanks for that post, informative. I also like the exclamation points, made me think they were all headed my way in a drak alley.

As usual I don't fit neatly into any of these categories. I'm a mixutre of all of them.

Power rapist!

Anger rapist!

Sadistic rapist!!! Honesty to God, do we really need to even say more than the type on this one? Okay, I will.

Sexual gratification rapist (the guy that thinks it about sex).

Shamanic rapist!

 

[Pauljiggs]

Because rape is the theft of the soul.
It’s taking something that can not be replaced.
Or taking THINGS that can’t be replaced.