Quote Originally Posted by Unknown Entity View Post
I'm going to make this clear before I go on: I didn't once disagree that the video wasn't about safety. Not once.
Then it would seem I jumped to conclusions, if so, my apologies.

You can state that all you want if you wish, but that doesn't make the video come across as any less factual. He is basically saying that it's within male nature to rape, it's going to probably happen (tough shit, girls) and that women can prevent rape by following his guidance. He give this guidance as though if women don't follow it, they will most likely be raped and that it would be their fault for dressing like a summer Barbie doll and making too much eye contact.
It's within human nature to do all sorts of unpleasant things, unpleasant things are probably going to happen. He on more than one occasion also rejected the notion that he was blaming women, AND more than once stated that it could still happen either way, and that this was not the sole deciding factor in whether or not you were raped.

Before you tell me again that NOBODY is placing blame, you have to be able to see that he is more or less assigning the blame to the victim by making them believe it can be prevented. Again, to make it clear, I don't disagree about it being about safety, but he goes out of his way to make the correlation between dressing like a slut and being raped.
Because the correlation exists. It isn't an exponential relationship or anything, but there is a correlation between what a would be rapist thinks of you based upon your appearance and actions, and whether or not he tries to rape you. It's a risk-hazard/cost-benefit analysis, the whole point is to show correlations.

Don't patronise me. I'm fully aware that I don't live in a world of sunshine and rainbows. I'm surrounded by concrete, alarms and sirens most of my day. Me and my co-workers are still petrified by a break-in at work, and fear that it'll only happen again as next gen and Christmas draw near. I work in a dodgy area of London where first world poverty, unemployment, drugs, alcoholism and thievery runs rampant, and I come into contact with it every single day. Whether it be wading through pools of vomit or shooing an aggressive customer out of my place of work, I'm dealing with the trauma that the Sun goes down at about 6pm, maybe earlier now, so my commute home is just as dark as it would be at midnight in the summer.

I didn't once say women should just say "**** it", don a mini skirt, tank top and heels, and walk through Camden at 2am in the morning because rapists shouldn't exist, so they won't. Because that's just ****ing stupid, but is it really their fault if they were raped? No. They went out dressed as what socially would be known as slutty, but that man hiding in the shadows, with the boner, who is prepared to ruin that woman's life AND even his own, is the one in the wrong. She still doesn't deserve rape for being stupid.
Apologies if I misunderstood you, but usually that's exactly where an argument is going when I see something like "You could walk out of your house wearing nothing, and you still don't deserve to be raped, and you're still not asking for someone to have their way with you. That's not giving consent - no means no." And as often as I find myself in debates, I've developed the habit of pre-countering points that I expect to be coming up. Sometimes it serves me well, others it just makes me look like an ass. I AM an ass, so I don't suppose it matters much either way. Thunderfoot also explicitly stated that not taking precautions was not the same as deserving the crime in this or any other situation. Multiple times.

Of course it's not easily tackled. I posted a simplistic belief because I did't have the time Oceaneyes had. I'm not naive to the dangers that are out there, and I'll accept advice that protects me; my brother wouldn't let me leave the house yesterday without him when I wanted to pick dinner up, for example. But that video can go both ways, you just have to view it from both sides. I, of course, see that the video puts the blame on the victim before I see that it can be about safety.
But it doesn't, it rejects the notion implicitly and explicitly numerous times. I legitimately do not understand how this point can even be contested.

If there is any advice anyone should give to a woman, to prevent rape or a beating, or whatever, it should be to be careful, and be aware of your surroundings. Know your exits, look for things that can be used as weapons if needed, and weigh up the risk before you go down darker streets. Try and travel with someone. Carry an alarm, or pepper spray, and make sure to be able to make some ****ing noise - first lesson in self defence is learning to use your voice to startle or put down an opponent. If loud grunting doesn't work, don't just scream "RAPE" or "HELP" because no one will listen (they're overused by groups of friends in playfulness) - shout "FIRE" or "BOMB" or "GUN". Actually LEARN a little self defence. Me and my boyfriend play wrestle all the damn time, and while it's fun, it's also serious - making sure I can overpower him, or find ways to, so that if I ever need them in a very real situation where a firm "stop" or "enough" or "no" doesn't work, I have at least a little preparation.
That's also good advice, just not of the same nature. The advice being given is of a preventive nature rather than a corrective one. My recommendation on what to yell would be "FIRE!", just because potential helpers would possibly be too scared of an armed attacker to help if you were to shout gun or bomb. Knowing how to defend yourself is just good practice in this world, and I'm pleased to see that you've taken that precaution.

Heartless, just because I have simplistic beliefs and state common sense far too much, that doesn't mean I see nothing but innocence in the world. I know it's a dark and terrifying place, and I see it every damn day. I can be a damn wasp when I need to be too.
Again I must apologize, I'm far too used to arguing with people who don't understand the world, or rather don't want to.