Punishment is useless, but that doesn't mean we should protect abusers from their consequences

[belenen]

icon: "strong (a photo of me in warm light with my hair down around my face, staring intensely into the camera in a defiant mood)"Content note: general discussion of abuse, social fall-out from talking about abuse, and rape (no specifics

Comments

[topaznebula]

All of this, yes.

[belenen]

*hearts*

[millysdaughter]

yes

[belenen]

thanks

[bleodswean]

Thank you for this well-written piece. Lots to think about here. Punishment is such a deeply personal and yet global community issue. We need to spend more time considering it, discussing it and finding ways to effect change.

[belenen]

Thank you! I agree. We (people in the U.S.) need to get as far away as possible from the current system where we all profit from and depend on the labor of incarcerated people. It's the definition of a conflict of interest.

[murielle]

Very interesting and thoughtful examination of a serious issue. Well written and concise.

[belenen]

thank you so much!

[banana_galaxy]

Well said. I say this sort of thing fairly regularly - it is better to find ways to recover and improve rather than punish, but first the perpetrator has to acknowledge they've done harm and want to change before anything could possibly help.

I first heard of DARVO when a friend of mine recognized I was being abused, and how the offender was reacting when I tried to fix it.

[belenen]

*nods* I feel you on this.