Texas town trembles as rapist stalks straight men

[Ian David]

BAYTOWN, Texas (AP) -- A rapist who has struck at least five times since April in and around Baytown has not only spread fear in this working-class community but also piqued the interest of those who study the criminal mind.

The reason: He preys on other men.

That makes him something of a rarity in the world of crime.

"It's the least prevalent kind of serial rape, and largely underreported," said Jack Levin, a leading criminologist and director of the Brudnick Center on Violence at Northeastern University in Boston.

Levin and other experts say male-on-male rape sometimes stems from sexual encounters gone bad. But that does not appear to be the case with the rapist in this oil-refining town of 70,000 people about 30 miles east of Houston.

Instead, he methodically identifies and stalks young men and attacks them at gunpoint or knife-point in or near their homes, according to police Capt. Roger Clifford. Sometimes he robs his victims, too, but rape appears to be the primary motivation, police said.

More:
http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2006/12/texas-town-trembles-as-serial-rapist.html

[theHandpuppet]

1. Does this Texas town "tremble" when its women are raped?

Make no mistake, the rape of anyone is a horrible crime. But I wonder why the rape of five men in Baytown makes national news and the "town trembles" in fear even though its women are raped on a regular basis? (32 rapes in 2004, not to mention violent assaults.) Where's the fear and outrage over their rapes? How many Baytown women were raped or beaten during the period these men were assaulted?

http://baytown.areaconnect.com/crime1.htm

[ProfessorGAC]

3. I'd Say Probably, Yes!

We live in the Chicago metro area, and the metro news shows will report on repetitive rape situations. I think it shakes up people far and wide when this sort of thing happens, and the gender of the victim is probably not that big an issue.

In this particular Baytown case, however, the unusualness of it probably makes it more "newsy". But, i'd guess serial rape is something that shakes folks up, no matter who is victimized.
The Professor

[theHandpuppet]

7. I think you're dreaming...

... if you think all serial rapists make the national news as this case has done. If men weren't the victims this time, it wouldn't be splashed all over the headline news across the country.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. I Think You're Acting Like A Jerk

I told you i see the news coverage of these cases in a major metro area. Are you calling me a liar?
The Professor

[theHandpuppet]

41. You need to reread my posts

I'm not denying that serial rape makes the news in metropolitan areas. What I said and continue to say is that this particular case of serial rape is only splashing across national headlines because it's men -- not women -- who are the victims in this case. You think gender has nothing to do with it, and I disagree. If that makes me a jerk, so be it. I'm calling this case as I see it.

[johnnie]

44. It's making National news?

This is the first I have heard of it, and it is just a repost from a blog.

[theHandpuppet]

50. I'm not even sure how to respond to such a reply

Unless you simply don't read the papers or watch the news. Do a Google search for the Baytown rapist. You won't be able to peruse it all in an afternoon.

[johnnie]

53. I don't watch too much news on TV

And the Cleveland paper is a right winged rag. I get most of my news here online and I am sorry I haven't seen this story. But you did fine at responding to my post.

[City Lights]

115. CNN is carrying the story.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/26/male.rape.ap/index.html

[ProfessorGAC]

48. In Your First Post, You Said I Was Dreaming

I told you i ROUTINELY hear news reports about rape cases which take place in the third largest metro area in the country! You said i was dreaming. Since i'm awake, i would have to suggest that you are saying i made that up. I didn't. So, i would say that calling someone a liar fits the bill of acting like a jerk. And, i'm calling that as i see it.

Rape is almost always a major news story. Serial rape even more so. The news element to this (becoming national) has got to be heavily rooted in the rarity of said crime. But, rape gets major attention in this country from law enforcement and the news media. To suggest otherwise is simply not true, but perhaps it is an inconvenient fact that dilutes the point you're trying to make. But, facts are facts. Cops hate rapists. Ask one. And rape is a news story. Ask a reporter.
The Professor

[VelmaD]

51. that's really funny

Nearly every woman I know has been sexually assaulted in her life and none of us have ever made the news.

And a lot of rape victims would disagree with you about how seriously law enforcement takes the crime.

[ProfessorGAC]

64. I'm Glad You Think Rape Is Funny, Velma

You must be so proud. Yeah, i know you think what's funny is how law enforcement thinks. And that you disagree. You'd be wrong, even though you have that personal experience. Cops hate rapists. I know a whole lot of them, because i used to train some of their bomb squad folks. They hate rapists! You'll have to trust me on that.

You and i are usually on the same page. Don't turn this into a pissing contest, please. I admitted that this case would be bigger news because of the unusualness. I don't think this is a gender equity issue. It's a crime story.
The Professor

[lukasahero]

52. "Rape is almost always a major news story."

I'm afraid I have to disagree with you there.

A year or so ago in the MetroWest section of Massachusetts women were being stalked and raped in their homes. I think it was up to 5 or 6 when I was told about it from a friend. I was able to find the story inside the pages of my local paper. It did not make the state's newspapers let alone national news. Individual rapes garner even less attention.

[theHandpuppet]

57. Why the hell are you so pissed off?

You keep referring to hearing about rape cases that occur in YOUR metropolitan area. I'm not denying that you've heard about those. I'm talking about a rape case in Baytown, Texas which is making news ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. Do you think rapes, even serial rapes, in Chicago make the news in D.C. or Cincinnati? No, but this one did!

I don't know why the hell you think I'm calling you a liar but maybe you need another cup of coffee. I DO think you're dreaming if you think this case hasn't grabbed national headlines because it's men being raped. That's called a DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. And mine isn't going to change.

[ProfessorGAC]

62. I Told You Twice Now

I don't like being called a liar. Secondly, i never denied that the victim was making this A BIGGER NEW STORY! I said it was because of the uniqueness of the crime, that it would get attention beyond normal. I never said your opinion wasn't valid, and i didn't say you lied.

That's why i'm mad. You want the insults to be unidirectional. I want them non-existent.
The Professor

[theHandpuppet]

66. Pardon me, but no one called you a liar.

What the hell IS your problem?

If you want the specific quote (from your first post) to which I was responding, here it is: "I think it shakes up people far and wide when this sort of thing happens, and the gender of the victim is probably not that big an issue."

What part of disagreeing with that statement do you not understand? I think gender IS a big issue in the way this case has been publicized. And disagreeing with you doesn't mean I'm calling you a liar, it means I DISAGREE with the above statement, ergo, "you're dreaming" if you think gender is not a big issue with this case. Get it NOW?

So as it ends up, I'm not the one accusing someone of being a liar. End of story.

[ProfessorGAC]

69. Padon Me.

You did.
The Professor

[lukasahero]

No she didn't

I just went back and re-read all the posts you two have exchanged and you PERCEIVED that's what she said because she was disagreeing with a point you were trying to make.

You two need to walk away and calm down. This is a misunderstanding because you thought she was disputing what you put forth as fact but really you two were just talking about different things. She was talking national, you were talking metro.

The first person to use the word liar was you.

[Beelzebud]

63. Man on man rape, outside of prison, is out of the ordinary. Thats why it's news.

I don't think it's part of some sexist agenda.

I know where you're coming from, but I think you're being obtuse about it. No one is trying to say a woman getting raped isn't horrible, or isn't newsworthy. This story is receiving attention because it doesn't happen often that you have a male serial rapist that targets other males.

[theHandpuppet]

70. "Sexist agenda?"

That anyone even brings up the catchprase "sexist agenda" on DU is pretty darned sad, IMHO. The fact that the rape of hundreds of thousands of women every year in this country is "ordinary" or the "norm" just goes to show there's a lot more sexism entrenched in this society than many folks would like to admit.

[Beelzebud]

73. "Ordinary" and "the norm" doesn't equate to "Acceptable".

You are arguing from an emotional level.

No one is equating the words "ordinary", and "the norm" as "acceptable" or "ok". No one is saying it's ok that women are raped on a daily basis. No one is suggesting that women being raped is "ok".

The fact is that men raping women, and not men raping men, is the norm. It is the ordinary situation. It's not acceptable, it's not ok, and it's not something to ignore or downplay.

Rape is wrong. No matter who's getting raped.

The only reason I said "sexist agenda" is because that is exactly what you imply with your comments. You are acting as if the raping of women is looked upon as acceptable, and thats why this story is covered, while other rape cases are ignored. The reason this story is news is because outside of prison, men don't rape other men very often. It's out of the ordinary. Thats not to suggest that raping women is ordinary, but in the context of statistics most rapes occur to women by men, not to men by men.

[johnnie]

75. Well said

But that makes too much sense.

[theHandpuppet]

95. According to the statistics...

1 out of every 33 men in this country has been the victim of a rape or and attempted rape/sexual assault. Certainly, the statistics for women are much grimmer (1 of every 6) but fact is male-on-male rape happens a lot more often than we think.

Sexism is a disease. Both men and women are its victims and if we were to have honest dialogue about the issue then perhaps the fact that men DO get raped outside of prison wouldn't be so shocking and victims not so reluctant to come forward. So in a way we would all benefit by having a "sexist agenda". But I don't like the catchprase being used as a way to dismiss a dialogue about the subject. Your follow-up post was much more in the line of dialogue we all need to be having.

[LanternWaste]

54. I think it's News (News with a big "N") simply because...

I think it's News (News with a big "N") simply because it's out of the norm, not necessarily because of the gender. If the perpetrator were raping Postal Carriers only (regardless of gender) or raping Alligators it would probably attract more attention and have more inches dedicated to the news coverage, as those examples also out of the norm.

[ThomCat]

11. I think you're right.

I've seen news reports of serial rapists that make back pages of the paper and barely seem to be more than an "FYI" type of article. Often, rapists who target women don't get this kind of attention.

It is because this guy is targetting other guys.

[renie408]

13. I don't think it is some kind of sexist conspiracy that this has drawn attention

It is rape and it is unusual. If he were raping dogs, that would draw attention, too, and I don't think it is because raping a dog is 'worse' than raping a woman. The sad thing is that men raping women is so 'commonplace' that id doesn't draw national notice.

[lukasahero]

14. Well said

And I agree - "The sad thing is that men raping women is so 'commonplace' that it doesn't draw national notice."

[msongs]

25. women raping men and boys practically never makes the media nt

[renie408]

30. Or if it does

it's with a wink. What was the name of the teacher in Florida who was pretty, so it was like that made it OK for her to molest a thirteen year old boy??

[niyad]

34. uhhh, remember that teacher who excuted such outrage just recently?

[Xenotime]

114. According to the MSM...

if they are pretty, it's not rape. It's comedy for SouthPark.

[niyad]

28. and the truth of that statement is a chilling indictiment of our society and its view of women.

[niyad]

31. and the truth of that statement is a chilling indictiment of our society and its view of women

[madeline_con]

60. I absolutely agree. nuff said

[TheWraith]

77. In case you didn't notice, this hasn't made the national news.

Seen it on CNN? Any major paper? Of course not. It's a regional story.

[theHandpuppet]

96. Did you forget the sarcasm tag?

Or am I just assuming that you did?

[Ian_rd]

4. Let's not knee-jerk too badly

This could be considered legitimately newsworthy because of its rarity. And if you want to compare the way male-to-male rape is portrayed in the MSM to the way male-to-female rape is portrayed, then just think about about how male-to-male rape is a staple of American pop culture comedy while male-to-female rape is always a subject of serious drama.

Imagine the following two scenarios in a TV sitcom and decide which is more likely to get laughs:

(1)
"Uh oh, Frank. Looks like you're going to the big house. Don't drop the soap!" (cue audience laughter)

(2)
"Frank, my daughter was raped at a party last night. I told her never to drop the soap!" (cue audience laughter)

[niyad]

20. that was my immediate question, along with "would the town tremble if he were attacking gay men?"

[Last Stand]

74. How about a little respect for the victims here!

Did you (and other posters here) ask the same about the Duke rape case or crimes against women? It sounds like people here are upset that there are reports about the traumatic crimes being commited against straight men. They deserve the same respect, empathy and prayers as women and gay men who are victims. When the trauma of the victims in the story is marginalized for the sake of another agenda, that's wrong.

This is the story of a serial rapist and his victims. It's newsworthy, especially because the rapist is still on the loose.

What's up with this thread?

Shame, shame, shame.

[niyad]

23. self-delete-dupe

[mondo joe]

29. You wonder why? Isn't anything that deviates from the norm more

likely to be covered by the news?

Not everything is a sexist conspiracy.

[theHandpuppet]

45. Sad when raping women by the millions is considered the "norm"

That in itself says a lot about sexism in this socety.

[mondo joe]

61. Aren't most rapes committed against women?

Doesn't that make it the norm for rape?

[TheWraith]

92. Millions?

Don't you think that the problem is bad enough without grossly exaggerating it? Average rapes in a year in the US are around 90,000. Even figuring for massive underreporting doesn't being it north of 130k.

[niyad]

103. even if your figures were accurate (and considering that a woman is raped about every 4 minutes in

this country alone, I doubt it), the figure of millions would be reached in just over ten years by your figures alone. so no, the person ISN"T exaggerating. and since the crime of rape is THE most under-reported, even your figures are, more than likely, wildly off.

[theHandpuppet]

105. Yes, I said millions

Because I was talking in terms of the 1 in 6 American women who, in their lifetime, will be the victim of rape or attempted rape. You assumed I was talking in terms of yearly statistics.

As for your own figures, I suggest they may need some review. Here are some good places to start:

http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~ad361896/anne/cease/rapestatisticspage.html
http://www.rainn.org/statistics/index.html
http://www.paralumun.com/issuesrapestats.htm
http://www2.ucsc.edu/rape-prevention/statistics.html

[theHandpuppet]

107. BTW...

Were you joking in your previous post about this case not having made the national news? Since you didn't answer me, I assumed you were being sarcastic.

[fishnfla]

32. according to the report

male on male rape is the most under-reported crime. That is newsworthy. And, as the director of the national rape center is quoted in the report, the more people that come forward in this case the sooner the guy is caught. And perhaps nationwide the stigma of this crime is brought forth. To answer your questions with a question: how many other men were raped that have not come forward?

I understand your frustration with the female victims, all rape is wrong. Society in general tends to make it harder on the victims.

[GumboYaYa]

55. I think you are completely wrong in your opinion.

This matter deserves national attention in the same way that women's rights groups had to bring attention to the prevalence of unreported rapes in women to begin to deal with the problem.

For generations women underreported their victimization precisely b/c of the "they deserved it mentality" and the failure of prosecutors and police to vigorously pursue the perpetrators of rape. I am quite certain that there are more men than these five who have been raped. I am also quite certain that men are far more reluctant to report being raped than women.

The silence is a product of the "male-dominated macho society". What we frequently forget is that there are men who are also victimized by patriarchal social conventions.

[Renew Deal]

56. Whoever said there are no stupid questions was wrong.

Geez

[WI_DEM]

79. I think it would be news if it were a serial rapist of women too

[lukasahero]

85. It wasn't last year in my local area

Barely made the local paper, didn't make the state and the national? Not hardly.

[malaise]

2. Where is Foley these days?

Sorry but most women would find this funny:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[AngryAmish]

6. Rape is a very humorous subject

Nothing like a good-ole rape to set the funny bone a shaking. I'm sure you agree.

[malaise]

10. By no means but I simply can't

conjure up men raping men and neither can my hubby.

[renie408]

17. I am not sure I understand.

Are you saying that you cannot imagine this could happen?

[TahitiNut]

21. Well, that's the kind of attitude that would certainly encourage a male victim of rape to report it.

Yes, indeed. Nothing like disbelief that makes a victim of rape (ANY victim of rape!) feel secure in reporting it. :eyes:

[malaise]

99. Sorry if I appeared insensitive

Just that neither hubby nor I have any understanding of big men being raped.
We both grew up in macho cultures and here just the thought of male rape that would be viewed as funny.

[Solon]

102. As a victim myself, let me just say that what I want to say would be deleted...

what I will say is that this so called "Macho" culture is fucked up beyond belief.

[Bluebear]

113. Somebody violently sticking a penis into a rectum = funny?

You and hubby have a strange sense of humor!

[lectrobyte]

35. I'm not sure I understand your problem with understanding this...

Do you mean you can't imagine how (in the "mechanical" sense of how) a man could rape another man, then if a man could catch a woman unlocking her car and assault her there in her car, why couldn't it happen with another man as a victim?

If you mean you can't imagine what would motivate someone, then consider this: From what I've seen of the media, it seems that men raping men in prison is almost a joke now, so perhaps someone was released who liked it, or is just otherwise psychotic or whatever?

[Name removed]

71. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lectrobyte]

81. Yeah, more detail than I wanted to throw in. Anyway, Deliverance

is on this week on AMC if the person needs more help in conjuring. Squeal like a pig!

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0068473/

Thu. Dec. 28 8:00 PM AMC
Fri. Dec. 29 1:00 AM AMC
Sat. Dec. 30 5:30 PM AMC

[sniffa]

93. what detaiL?

:shrug:

[lectrobyte]

100. The deleted message was explicit in how one man could rape

another one.

[bicentennial_baby]

109. wow....

just...wow... :wow:

[lukasahero]

12. "Most" women would do no such thing

I'm sorry but rape is serious enough to me to never consider it funny. I'm also sorry that perhaps I don't hate men as much as you think I should to wish this on them.

Geez, it's like all the hate being spewed about Ford's death. You know, I don't love the man but common courtesy dictates that when someone dies, you treat their death with the sobriety it deserves. The exact same courtesy - some call it empathy - is deserved here.

[LanternWaste]

98. If I may...

If I may...

I imagine that the 'humorous' attitude regarding rape is more along the lines of hospital humor than callously dismissive or simply cavalier.

Sometimes, many people react with gallows humor to a negative incident because we have two emotional options-- laugh or cry. Those were my reactions to a patient's death after working at a Cancer Center for five or six years... sometimes we just can't cry anymore or we go over the edge.

Anyway, it's something to consider...

[lukasahero]

108. I appreciate the response

I get the idea of gallow's humor and may even buy the idea of laugh, cry or go over the edge, however, I think personally, women are more inclined to empathize with the victims here since we are more likely to experience the crime. (Not to mention the sexist culture of "boys don't cry" but women are bound by no such myth.)

Since this thread was likely to (and indeed did) degrade to yet another men vs. women flamefest, I really wanted to be clear that THIS woman would in no way consider the rape of a man funny.

We ask men to speak up for us and not dismiss rape. I felt it was important to do the same in return.

[renie408]

15. Oh dear. That's a BIG 'no' on that one.

I am a woman and I don't think ANY kind of rape is funny. When you add to that the fact that I have a fifteen year old son and a husband I love....noooo, nothing funny about ANY man being raped.

[mondo joe]

24. Most women would find rape jokes funny?

Which women are you hanging out with? Ann Coulter?

[NYCGirl]

36. There is not one single thing funny about rape. Not funny ever. No matter who

is the victim.

[Solon]

59. You are a sick person, you know that right?

:puke:

[terrya]

111. Gay man = rape. Yes, of course.

Naturally, one follows the other. Pure ignorant homophobia. Which isn't even the least bit funny. Unless you've got the IQ of a rock.

[bicentennial_baby]

112. Oh, you live in Jamaica...Homophobia Central

That explains A LOT... :puke:

[Marnieworld]

116. Thanks for looking at the profile

I was just stunned waiting for a punch line from those comments. How completely ignorant do you have to be to even think that?

Rape is not sex it is violence. This person thought male rape equals gay sex, who is gay but Foley? Then to imply that women would laugh as if we all hate men to want them raped? Then to assert that they can't fathom to possibility of male/male rape as if it is just impossible? Shocking ignorance.

But then you said Jamaica and it all made sense. They are notorious homophobes, violently punishing gays on a regular basis. I watched a whole documentary about it and it made me vow never to go there.

Sometimes people try to be provocative but I just think you can't fake this kind of stupid.

:grr:

[bicentennial_baby]

117. Yep, that's when it clicked for me..

I was completely shocked until I saw that, but now, not so much...Still makes me sick though... :puke:

:hi:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

118. It takes a really sicko woman to find ANY rape funny.

Rape is disgusting, whether the victim is male or female, and for the sake of humanity, I hope most women agree with me.

[LostinVA]

120. This woman doesn't find ANY rape funny

WTF is wrong with you? This is NOT funny in any way.

[Gman]

5. Somehow I don't think there is anyone trembling in Baytown

except for the fingers on the triggers just hoping to find the guy.

[dogday]

9. I posted this thread yesterday

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2985835&mesg_id=2985835


Because Baytown is one of the communities around Houston, it is a local story for me...

[Lex]

16. How does the rapist know beforehand that these are straight men?

:shrug:

[renie408]

18. What is the stat on homosexuality? Isn't is something like 10%?

So, the odds are in his favor that he will be raping a straight man 9 out of 10 times.

[Lex]

19. Yeah, I get that, but the title sounds like he only stalks "straight men."

Like that was more egregious somehow?

Probably just me reading it wrong, then.

[renie408]

26. No, you are right

And it sucks.

Or maybe they are mentioning it to warn straight men?

[TheWraith]

101. You may be correct.

In situations where people actually know of male rape, it's a not uncommon belief that victims are always or almost always gay. Untrue of course, but it contributes further to the idea that the rape of a straight male is impossible. By emphasising that this attacker stalks straight men (a characteristic which wouldn't really be that hard to determine) it highlights the danger and tries to break through some preconceptions.

[dogday]

22. Where in this article does it state he

is stalking straight men? The word straight is not in the article, nor is it in the local news here in Houston.... I am just curious as to why it is titled that way???

When I posted this thread yesterday is was titled Rapist preys on men in Baytown

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2985835&mesg_id=2985835

[TahitiNut]

27. There's a very troubling implication there.

It could be easily concluded that the emphasis on 'straight' implies that if the males were gay then it wouldn't be 'rape.' That's disturbing ... to say the least.

[Warpy]

37. Why? It's the same shit women have faced forever

as in "Rape? Just lie back and enjoy it." How many times have we heard that one?

Rape is a sickening crime of violence and control using sex as the weapon. Nobody wants to be raped and nobody enjoys it.

It's high time a lot of guys came to terms with that. Maybe some of those trembling males in Baytown will make the connection now that they're at risk.

[TahitiNut]

42. In other words, they deserved it? Do you see this as "justice"?

Unreal! :puke:

[lukasahero]

47. That is not what was said and you know it

I agree that the subject line was inflamatory but the explanation behind it does not say what you are implying. The poster did not say that anyone deserved anything.

She said she felt bad for the guys it happened to. And then she said that maybe the guys it didn't happen to might gain some understanding of what it feels like to live under constant threat even if you are not the victim.

Please, there's no reason to make this a gender flame war.

[TahitiNut]

78. "you know it"?? Since when is what I "know" your area of expertise?

While you ponder that, try logically connecting Warpy's response to my post #27. Just what the FUCK does it have to do with what I posted?

:eyes:

FWIW, the word "but" is often called an "erasure word" - i.e. it conveys a sense that everything preceding it is pro forma window-dressing and is completely negated by what follows.

[lukasahero]

82. Whatever,

Go for your personal insults.

Well hey, I guess we've had the smoker and suv wars recently so it was just a matter of time before the gender wars started again. Go for it, I'll stay out of your way.

[Warpy]

83. Read it again and try to understand it

Thanks.

[TahitiNut]

97. Are you able to find a "silver lining" in the rape of women, too?

"Well, maybe she'll understand that wearing those clothes isn't wise." ... sound familiar?

Blaming the victim, either by classing them with others or by attacking their choice of clothing, is a reprehensible stance, imo. There is NO REDEEMING VALUE to a rape. No matter who's the victim! None!

[dogday]

46. If you don't want it regardless of your sex or

sexual affiliation, it is rape..... This guys scopes out his victims, I don't know what he is looking for, who knows with a wacko like this!

[Lex]

49. I sort of picked up on that too, TahitiNut.

Or that somehow if it were straight men being raped, then that would be much worse.

[slackmaster]

39. There are no gay men in Texas

Everyone knows that.

[VelmaD]

33. Does it make me a bad person...

that my first thought on reading the subject line of the OP was "welcome to our fucking world"?

I feel for the men who were raped. I know what they're going through. But if other men in that town are "trembling" then I hope it gives them just the tiniest bit of empathy for what most women go through every fucking day. And maybe now they'll do something to help stop ALL rape.

[renie408]

38. I tell my husband and son

all the time that they don't know what it is like to have to be watchful wherever you go. Or to feel prepared to defend yourself at all times.

[fishnfla]

40. It doesn't make you a bad person

but I think the editor of that blog made the headline a lil' provacative on purpose....judging by the responses here, it worked

[mondo joe]

65. Yes, it does.

No one bears the "sins" of another - not another person, not another group.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

68. They won't

Not because they don't want to or don't care but because they probably can't. From the earliest age, guys are taught to distance themselves from all things female. I've worked in male-dominated industries for years and have found that asking a man to put himself in a woman's position is like asking him to fly to Jupiter. Plus, there is little to no empathy toward female characters modeled in popular culture. Think about it: When do you ever see a book or movie with a female protagonist that is not dismissed as being a "chick" book or movie? But we're all supposed to relate to a male character. And then there's the way sexual violence is often glamorized in entertainment. Even some women have a hard time empathizing with female victims. But most people of either gender will have a visceral reaction to the idea of a male being sexually assaulted.

What I'm afraid will happen is that discussions of women's experience of rape will be further sidetracked and overshadowed. I see it on the blogs all the time. I've also noticed that those who complain loudest about male rape being "ignored" show no intention of doing anything about it themselves by forming groups or what-have-you. They want organizations that exist to help women to drop everything and focus on the men.

[AngryAmish]

80. Aliens

[sniffa]

86. totaLLy a chick fLick

they pLay it on Lifetime every other day.

"kiLL biLL" as weLL.

[AngryAmish]

90. Kill Bill was way too girly for me

Wasn't Halloween a total chick flick?

[sniffa]

91. if the amount of tissues i went through is any indication...

oh wait. :yoiks:

[bicentennial_baby]

104. .....

:spray:

i wuv you.... :rofl:

[Mad_Dem_X]

119. No...I thought that, too

That maybe now some men will understand what women go through.

[Mandate My Ass]

43. Maybe, just maybe

we can all now come to an agreement that nobody "asks for it."

My deepest sympathies to the victims of that sociopath.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

58. Rape carries a stigma that can keep the victim from speaking up

I imagine that stigma would apply to men as well, probably more so.

I hope all the victims get the help they need to make it out of this whole.

[Sapphire Blue]

67. Your subject line is inflammatory, and per the posted article, factually incorrect.

The article does not state that the victims were straight.

[dogday]

72. We don't know what the victims are, and it

does not matter... Rape is not about sex, it is about control and anger.... Straight or gay, it makes no difference, it is not about sex at all....

[Sapphire Blue]

84. No, we don't. The OP subject line is factually incorrect.

Yes, dogday, I know exactly what rape is about.... and no, the pain involved, physical, psychological, and spiritual, doesn't distinguish between gender or sexual preference.

[dogday]

87. Exactly

edited to add a great big hug

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

88. ...

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[fishnfla]

76. hey, yeah, whats up with that?

hyperbole on top of hyperbole--whats with blowing this thing up?

To be realistic, I dont think the guys in this town are "trembling".

Think about it: Texas, a black guy is raping men at gun or knife point.

I think the response would be a run on; guns, ammo, ropes, whips, white sheets, lone star beer and wild turkey whiskey

[Junkdrawer]

89. Well, if they didn't dress so provocatively....

:sarcasm:

[renie408]

94. Ok, that was funny. In a sad way, but funny all the same. n/t

[TheWraith]

106. A few facts about male rape

It's considered by experts to be by far the most underreported form of rape, with less than a third of victims coming forward.

Victims are usually young, aged 25 and under.

An estimated 60 percent of victims are straight.

The perpetrator does not neccessarily have to be gay or self-identify as gay.

A weapon is commonly used to prevent the victim from struggling.

Common types of incident include the rape of a gay man, or someone who the perpetrator perceives as gay, as a form of homosexual rage and/or panic; rape of a gay man by another gay man out of power-assertive roots; and the rape of any male by a straight male out of power-assertive motvations.

[warrens]

110. A town of 70,000?

Kinda hard not to be noticed. This is truly weird.

[me b zola]

121. Ahem...alleged rapes, alleged victims...

Recently those terms were not only used here on DU when discussing a woman who reported rape, but were defended as being used correctly.

Rape is a violent crime that should be taken seriously when reported--regardless of who is reporting the crime.

This post has been brought to you by a pissed off woman who was thrashed for being outraged @ the sickening term "alleged" being used when speaking about women who report rape.

[Fenris]

122. Locking.

This discussion has more than run its course.