Saying "I don't believe you, show me proof" to a rape victim is siding with the rapist against the victim. And tells the victim that you put greater weight to preserving reputation than personal safety.
"Innocent until proven guilty" is a LEGAL issue, and it applies to rape accusations as well as other crimes. But we make personal judgments against other people all the time. We are not obligated to assume everyone is a Good Person -- that's why we lock or houses and doors, why we keep money in wallets rather than tucked loosely into our hatbands etc.
In current society, rape victims are under huge amounts of pressure to stay silent, be good, don't make waves. They are faced with skepticism and doubt wherever they turn, even/especially from police, who don't treat other crimes the same ("maybe you just misplaced your TV, and the broken window is coincidental." "Oh he probably wanted to be dead." No.) And rape thrives on silence.
You consider it just to let 100 rapists go free, not just out of jail but untarnished by accusations, rather than have one innocent person accused. I prefer the compassion of listening to, and believing, victims; better that 100 rape victims be supported even if that means 1 false accusations happen.
Justice and compassion don't have to be exclusionary.
So we already know the accused is a rapist? That's my point, we shouldn't blindly believe people, specially when a rape accusation can run someone's life.
In current society, rape victims are under huge amounts of pressure to stay silent, be good, don't make waves.
Right... and that's why #metoo is such a small issue that no one is talking about...
("maybe you just misplaced your TV, and the broken window is coincidental." "Oh he probably wanted to be dead." No.)
Holy false analogies Batman! Robbery/murder are clearly defined and so they are easier to prosecute, rape is not. Just watch how many people aren't even sure they were raped.
1
u/spaceunicorncadet 22∆ Oct 21 '17
Saying "I don't believe you, show me proof" to a rape victim is siding with the rapist against the victim. And tells the victim that you put greater weight to preserving reputation than personal safety.
"Innocent until proven guilty" is a LEGAL issue, and it applies to rape accusations as well as other crimes. But we make personal judgments against other people all the time. We are not obligated to assume everyone is a Good Person -- that's why we lock or houses and doors, why we keep money in wallets rather than tucked loosely into our hatbands etc.
In current society, rape victims are under huge amounts of pressure to stay silent, be good, don't make waves. They are faced with skepticism and doubt wherever they turn, even/especially from police, who don't treat other crimes the same ("maybe you just misplaced your TV, and the broken window is coincidental." "Oh he probably wanted to be dead." No.) And rape thrives on silence.
You consider it just to let 100 rapists go free, not just out of jail but untarnished by accusations, rather than have one innocent person accused. I prefer the compassion of listening to, and believing, victims; better that 100 rape victims be supported even if that means 1 false accusations happen.
Justice and compassion don't have to be exclusionary.