I don't believe in the death penalty, but I DO believe in giving maximum sentences to child rapists. I think child rape should carry the same sentence as murder, and for me that would be life in prison.
agreed. unfortunately, our prisons are filled up with dope smokers and prostitutes, so it's tough to find a place for actual criminals to stay for a long time.
I would probably agree with that too, it's just that I haven't taken time to think that one through. It's different for children and adults, because of things like brain development and emotional maturity, which is why we have stricter laws in place to protect "children and vulnerable adults" from abuse (I'm required to call CPS or APS, for example, if one of my clients or students talks about a child or vulnerable adult being harmed, but not if I hear about domestic abuse involving adults, and even if I DID report it, APS can't do anything
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well by that logic you could say that saying that child rape is worse disempowers women, because little girls grow up to be adult women, after all
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well by that logic you could say that saying that child rape is worse disempowers women, because little girls grow up to be adult women, after all.
But I didn't say it was worse, I said that I think it's different, and I *need more information* before forming an opinion about a punishment that should be applied across the board for rape of adults. I have thought this through for rape of children but I don't believe it's the same for adults.
i don't see what is so disempowering to recognize the legitimate and awful psychological damage being raped as an adult has. i can't work because of it.It's not, and I don't think I said that it was. I was talking about putting women into the same category as "children and vulnerable adults" when it comes to mandatory reporters and/or anyone reporting abuse to police/CPS/APS. I can't call up APS and tell them about the woman who I know whose husband is physically abusing her and have them do anything about it, and I'm torn as to whether that's a good thing or not. On one hand I wish people
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A five year old going to the zoo is different than a 25 year old going to the zoo.
A six year old getting the flu is different than a 36 year old getting the flu.
Differences in psychological development and emotional maturity between adults and children are a given--so why would it be difficult to imagine the value in talking about rape of each as being different? Or would you say that there should be no distinction between children and adults?
no, i just don't think there should be a legal distinction over whether you get a higher punishment for raping a child or a woman, especially since rape is already so heavily condoned in our society, it would be pretty cool to actually have men go to prison instead of getting parole after seven years.
if i could have prosecuted the man who raped me, i would want to see him go to prison for the rest of his life, and it makes me kind of mad that you would put a judgement on the fact that you and others who have been raped as children should get to see their rapists go to prison forever as opposed to adult rape victims. it's not about vengeance, it's about being constantly afraid that the same man is going to come back and fucking rape you, and as we should all know, restraining orders just don't work.
jesus christ, I don't know how much more clearly I can possibly spell out that I am not saying that child rape is worse or that it should have a worse punishment than adult rape. I'm saying that I DON'T KNOW. and I don't think I should be forced to have an opinion on this since what my opinion is doesn't even matter right now--I'm not voting on anything, I'm not writing anything that influences lawmakers or even human beings. I'm simply saying I DON'T KNOW. I don't think it's so very unreasonable for me to want some more INFORMATION before forming an opinion about something that I know little about.
I'm angry because all I'm trying to say is that child rape and adult rape ARE NOT THE SAME THING and that's getting twisted into me somehow saying "child rape is worse" and I AM NOT SAYING THAT.
well it's just that i can't see exactly what information is missing that you would need to make this opinion that wouldn't imply trying to figure out 'which is worse.'
I don't think in those terms, linearly, ranking things as if on a ladder. I don't put things in a neat row of "worse" and "better" or "higher" and "lower." That is very Greek, Western, masculine way of thinking. I simply don't think like that. My way of thinking is more feminine, eastern, circular. Two things being different doesn't mean one is better or worse than the other. How could we "rank" things like oranges and sunsets, or siblings and paper? These things have their own value and need not be compared to anything else. Me saying child rape is different from adult rape does not imply any kind of ranking, value judgment, or worse/better delineation
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I understand what you're saying--a child that is raped feels violated, but cannot accurately describe how and why they feel violated (the same is true of developmentally disabled adults), while an adult woman can.
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But I didn't say it was worse, I said that I think it's different, and I *need more information* before forming an opinion about a punishment that should be applied across the board for rape of adults. I have thought this through for rape of children but I don't believe it's the same for adults.
i don't see what is so disempowering to recognize the legitimate and awful psychological damage being raped as an adult has. i can't work because of it.It's not, and I don't think I said that it was. I was talking about putting women into the same category as "children and vulnerable adults" when it comes to mandatory reporters and/or anyone reporting abuse to police/CPS/APS. I can't call up APS and tell them about the woman who I know whose husband is physically abusing her and have them do anything about it, and I'm torn as to whether that's a good thing or not. On one hand I wish people ( ... )
Reply
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A five year old going to the zoo is different than a 25 year old going to the zoo.
A six year old getting the flu is different than a 36 year old getting the flu.
Differences in psychological development and emotional maturity between adults and children are a given--so why would it be difficult to imagine the value in talking about rape of each as being different? Or would you say that there should be no distinction between children and adults?
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if i could have prosecuted the man who raped me, i would want to see him go to prison for the rest of his life, and it makes me kind of mad that you would put a judgement on the fact that you and others who have been raped as children should get to see their rapists go to prison forever as opposed to adult rape victims. it's not about vengeance, it's about being constantly afraid that the same man is going to come back and fucking rape you, and as we should all know, restraining orders just don't work.
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I'm angry because all I'm trying to say is that child rape and adult rape ARE NOT THE SAME THING and that's getting twisted into me somehow saying "child rape is worse" and I AM NOT SAYING THAT.
Gah. I think I've said all I can say on this.
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