(no subject)
Before last night I'd never been at a party where the cops show up and people start running for the back door. The first time it was just in response to a noise complaint, which was totally valid because someone kept insisting to turn up the 90s rock on the stereo. But when they came back I was scared because I was vaguely aware of certain semi-illegal activities going on in the vicinity. Guilty by association. That would be the gold star on my track record.
They ended up leaving again, someone sweet talked the uniforms into some mercy. But then I heard some downright terrifying stories of people being arrested for what's called "consensual battery," in that there is no legal way to participate in sadism/masochism activities in MA. If anyone witnesses someone "beating" someone else they are entitled to report it to the police and it's called a crime against the commonwealth.
I suppose in a country where sodomy was illegal in most states a few years ago (in fact, there might still be some southern states that still have it on the books, but it's not enforced) this shouldn't be surprising. I just don't understand the concept of "consensual battery" being a crime, if there is no "victim" how can there be an offense? I can understand if one party says it went to far, that it crossed the line into abuse, a crime has definitely occurred, but how is society harmed by what is done in private?
It doesn't really matter anyway because Jason and I were playing a card game when the cops looked around, so whatever. It was a lame party anyway.
They ended up leaving again, someone sweet talked the uniforms into some mercy. But then I heard some downright terrifying stories of people being arrested for what's called "consensual battery," in that there is no legal way to participate in sadism/masochism activities in MA. If anyone witnesses someone "beating" someone else they are entitled to report it to the police and it's called a crime against the commonwealth.
I suppose in a country where sodomy was illegal in most states a few years ago (in fact, there might still be some southern states that still have it on the books, but it's not enforced) this shouldn't be surprising. I just don't understand the concept of "consensual battery" being a crime, if there is no "victim" how can there be an offense? I can understand if one party says it went to far, that it crossed the line into abuse, a crime has definitely occurred, but how is society harmed by what is done in private?
It doesn't really matter anyway because Jason and I were playing a card game when the cops looked around, so whatever. It was a lame party anyway.