Serena Williams was Right?

[Sasha]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

There are two sides to the coin, but in no way do foolish choices make the girl ultimately responsible for her own rape.

You could say the same sort of thing about a murder victim. "Why were they walking down that alley at night? Didn't their mother ever teach them not to walk in dark alleys by themselves?"

Such questions could have validity, but they're in poor taste and moot after something bad has already happened. They're in poor taste because they at least seem to remove some culpability from the perpetrators, and there's no excuse for alleviating any of that guilt.

Foolish choices can raise our risk of harm, but they still don't make victims directly responsible for their own harm. The perpetrator is always fully responsible.

I disagree in part. I believe there is something called 'inviting trouble'. We teach our children to stay away from trouble. Why? Because something bad might happen to us that, if we'd done the right thing, it might not have happened.

A girl getting drunk and then getting raped MAY be partially responsible because she was partaking in a situation in which she was unable to control herself. It's no different than someone drinking then driving and killing someone. We don't ever say that because they were drinking and not in control of themselves that they aren't as responsible, do we?

No, I don't believe she is completely responsible or even mostly responsible, but as some point, we all have to take responsibility for our own actions, and if someone is partaking in an activity that leaves them less than completely 'with it', I believe there is a responsibility ascribed to that person for anything that may happen to them.

If we have money, we don't carry it in our hands for people to see, right? That's inviting trouble. No, it doesn't mean you 'deserve' to be mugged or robbed, but perhaps if you had carried the money in your purse or pocket instead, nobody would have mugged or robbed you.

I wish we all lived in the utopian society where everyone everywhere does the right thing at all times, but this is the world we live in, and to protect ourselves, we have to take certain responsibilities.

Years ago, my son had his bike stolen. I blamed him. I did that because for several weeks I told him that if he didn't lock it up, someone was going to steal it. Well, that day finally came and it was gone. Yes, I believe the person who stole it was wrong because it didn't belong to them, but if my son had put his bike up in our locked garage, I'm certain it wouldn't have been stolen.

Anyway, I'm sure I made my point. lol Clear as mud?