Blaming the victim

[entanglement]

I've always wondered why do so many people do it? Perhaps it's because the victim is considered a 'loser' of some sort :shrug:

[Orsino]

1. It's the classic guilt of the "haves."

We've all done it; we love scandal, the sensational flaming out of celebrity hubris. Those who don't really deserve good fortune need to be taken down a peg.

If we have that sneaking suspicion about ourselves, we have to denigrate those others who aren't enjoying our priveleges. "Only little people pay taxes."

[jpgray]

2. Having a big/little brother near you in age can bring perspective on this

:D

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Because they obviously brought it on themselves

through some kind of sin.

Probably homosexual in nature.

[entanglement]

4. I agree; 'they brought it on themselves'

is something I hear far too often

[JimmyJazz]

5. I believe that the reason people blame the victim is so that they

can convince themselves that "it" (whatever "it" is in the particular scenario) can't/won't happen to them. i.e., if I can blame the woman who was raped by saying she was dressed provocatively, I can convince myself (however falsely) that by not dressing provocatively, I won't be raped. It saves having to face reality.

I just think it's some sort of defense mechanism.

[entanglement]

6. Interesting, I never thought of it as a defense mechanism before

n/t

[Fleshdancer]

7. that's how the sociology books explain it n/t

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. It also means that one doesn't have to do anything about it, either

If it's "their fault", then it's not really a crime, so there's no reason to actually do anything.

"She brought the rape on herself". Thus, rape is not a problem.

"He got robbed because he didn't put a good enough lock on his door". Thus, there's no reason to try to reduce burglaries.

Etc.

[JimmyJazz]

10. I agree.

:)

[Nikia]

9. That's sort of why I always blame myself

Even when I am the victim. If the issue was actually my fault, if I behavior correctly next time, it won't happen.
In a way, this makes me feel bad about myself.
In another way, I feel more empowered and less afraid because mean people just don't hurt me for their pleasure. IF I always do the right thing, bad things won't happen to me.

[JimmyJazz]

11. You should feel empowered when you behave in a

prudent manner, but even if you always do the right thing, that's no guarantee that something won't happen. It does reduce risks, but it doesn't eliminate them.

But, this isn't the same thing as being introspective and correcting risky behaviors. This is someone on the outside, looking in and making excuses as to why something happened to someone else. It's passing judgment on the innocent.

[AVulgarianHue]

12. From an email received today

:banghead:

"I'm sure that your version of the truth has merit, but
I also think that there was merit to what Pat Buchanan said about making people dependent on government help renders them incapable of thinking & fending for themselves in emergencies & the reaction of the poor section of New Orleans certainly shows that happened."