We guess they'll let anybody write advice columns these days. Take, for instance, Amy Dickinson, who recently chastised a rape victim in her syndicated Tribune Media column "Ask Amy," calling the young woman a "victim of her own judgment."The letter writer, signed "Victim? in Virginia," acknowledged that she'd been drunk at a frat party, but that even after she'd repeatedly told one of the brothers "no," he forced her to have sex with him. She wondered if this still constituted rape.
Dear "Virginia," According to the law and common sense and every reasonable person on the face of planet Earth, YES, you were raped. What happened was illegal, contemptible and completely wrong.
But Dickinson -- whose advice appears in publications from the Chicago Tribune to NPR -- responded, "Were you a victim? Yes. First, you were a victim of your own awful judgment. Getting drunk at a frat house is a hazardous choice for anyone to make because of the risk (some might say a likelihood) that you will engage in unwise or unwanted sexual contact."
"A victim of your own judgment"? Amy, you're a victim of being stupider than a cross-eyed water snake.
While Dickinson goes on to admit that a crime was committed, her first impulse is to blame the victim. Which we find, frankly, despicable.
Also reprehensible? Characterizing all frat guys as potential rapists. Fraternities are social organizations with group housing, and their members are just as morally diverse as any pool of human beings. (We acknowledge the high incidence of date rape on college campuses, but the worst thing most frat guys will ever do is make you listen to them play "Burn One Down" on acoustic guitar.) And look, even if all frat houses were filled to the rafters with rapists, it is never your fault if you're raped. EVER. Period. Suggesting otherwise is disgusting and irresponsible.
As if that weren't bad enough, Dickinson goes on to say, "You don't say whether the guy was also drunk. If so, his judgment was also impaired."
Hey, guess what? It doesn't matter! IT'S STILL A CRIME. That's why the last time you got so hopped up on PCP that you knocked over a convenience store, the police didn't care that it was "just the angel dust robbing." It's nice that they let you keep your newspaper column, though!
And "Virginia"? From the rest of the civilized world, here's some real advice: It's not your fault, sweetheart. You aren't alone. Tell the cops, get tested, and get counseling.
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Comments:
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Tuesday 29 December
By willow
sorry, but i agree with her. rape is wrong (as the writer of the article said) HOWEVER dumbass bimbo was 1: drunk , 2: at a frat party, and 3: TRULY A VICTIM OF HER OWN POOR JUDGEMENT!!!
not defending the rape, that was wrong, but if you are going to get drunk at a frat house, you really are taking your health and well being and throwing it out the window.
men are pigs, and college men are the biggest pigs in the world and they take advantage of anything and everything they can.
so..
therefore, the little slut got what she wanted.
anyone with half a brain wouldn't get drunk there to begin with.
i agree with the writer of the article.
Friday 11 December
By Hilary
No means no - yes being drunk certainly alters one mindset, but no is no drunk or not. To learn how to help victims of rape, violence and other crimes, visit http://my.adcouncil.org to see PSA's on Teen Dating Violence, Drunk Driving Prevention and more.
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Friday 11 December
By Veronica
I agree with the columnist, and you, whoever wrote this article, should not be calling her an idiot. I live downtown Toronto and I hear about sexual assaults ALL the time. Then I see how these 'women' carry themselves: they are dressed like hookers and drunk as a skunk. They are just asking for it. If you don't want to have sex, don't create a sexual image for yourself by wearing sleazy clothing and putting yourself in a compromising position by getting drunk with people you don't know or are comfortable with. It's just common sense.
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Friday 11 December
By kenpoman
amy d i hope someone rape's then cut's your penistrap that you don't know how to keep shut.I'm sure your turn is next.
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Friday 11 December
By dees
This "advise columnist" was extremely unprofessional, immature, condescending, uncaring, pettily defensive, inexcusable, and irresponsible in both her original response and her follow up. She demonstrated nothing suggestive of constructive feedback, compassion, psyschological or humanitarian insight or support, or respectful or useful advise.
Thus, I see nothing credible to support her position as an "advise columnist", ...therefore....
She should be fired - plain and simple.
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Friday 11 December
By Friend
I can't believe this woman!!! IT IS NEVER EVER THE FAULT OF THE VICTIM FOR BEING RAPED!!!!! I'm so mad that she could even suggest it "victim of your own awful judgment." I loved how insincere her "apology" was "to take responsibility for the only thing she could control -- her own choices and actions -- but I regret how harshly I expressed this." It is NOT NOR IS IT EVER the choice of the drunk or otherwise victim to be raped THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED RAPE!!!!! I hope she gets fired...because it's her fault for being a rape apologist!!!!
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Friday 11 December
By chrissy
........................................................am i wrong for secretly wanting her to be raped? seriously come onnn! & she keeps going...come on, just own up to it that you fell of your little advice wagon for a day.
Oh i'm sorry, you got in a car accident? you shouldn't have been driving! You put yourself in that position to get hurt. That's the same exact idiotic logic.
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Friday 11 December
By popeyect
It's sad to me how many of you women refuse to take any responsibility for your own decisions.
Taking "no means no" to extremes is why you lose credibility.
Learn to live in the real world, ladies. If you put yourself in situations in which you are likely to get raped, robbed, mugged, etcetera...then you have exercised poor judgement.
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Friday 11 December
By wahjazz
When I read the column a few days ago I said to myself, you're right, she was a victim of her own behavior but Ms. Dickenson would catch hell for saying so from the politically correct. Guess what? The holier than thou croud did what they always do, dump on the truth-sayers. She was raped. She wouldn't have been if she'd behaved like a responsible person, not gotten intoxicated and not gone to the guy's bedroom. Duh.
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Friday 11 December
By helltopay
popeyect --
Have you ever in your life had too much to drink? And in that state, let's say you were at a party and someone stabbed you, would you be to blame?
You are an uneducated person. Most rapists are friends or family of the victim. As the researcher who posted her before said, if you are going to tell a woman that it is her responsiblity to to avoid any potential situation where she could be raped, then she should avoid all contact with her family or friends.
Grow up, Ignorant popeyect.
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Friday 11 December
By melinda
Popeyect there is NO EXCUSE for a man to rape a woman. do you feel the urge to rape women when they are dressed scantily or drunk? "oh poor billy couldn't help himself, jane just looked so hot, he couldn't control himself and raped her?" no, you CAN control yourself unless you have mental problems...
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Saturday 12 December
By jma
This is all taken out of context.. people need to be a little bit responsible for their own safety. You dont walk thru the ghetto late at night flashing money and jewerly or someone will rob you. so what is the difference between that and going to a frat party alone and getting too drink and getting taken advantage of. NO she didnt cause the rape and it doesnt excuse the rapists one bit, the idea is one needs to not put themselves in situations where bad thigs can happen. American society also needs to take a better look at how eurpopeon sexuality and how nudity is not something wrong, legalize prostitution etc...in Europe with legalized prostitution, nude or topeless beacheseverhwere and a healthy look at the human body and sexuality their per capita rate of rape is the lowest of the world. remove the forbidden or its dirty view of teh hman body and teach proper sex education and things like this at frat parties will be greatly reduced
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Monday 14 December
By apologetics
I see a lot of apologetics in the comments here. Many seem to be justifying their own failures and transgressions. If a male doesn't accept a NO by a female , no matter if its a half hearted one or not, he is the victim of his own stupidity and it will surely catch up to him. Going to a Frat House party and testing ones limit of drinking is in fact a gamble that never pays off in the short or long run. Its such a bad and sad way to learn one has to be responcible for thier own actions.
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Monday 14 December
By Sara
Did no one read the entire response? She said "First, you were a victim of your own bad judgment." This was true. She drank to the point of being unaware of her own environment with people she didn't know well and without a buddy. Any 6 year old who attends a Kidpower class would know better. Yes, she was raped. Yes, it is awful. But yes, she also purposefully let down her own guard, such that she was in no position to stand up for herself long before she went alone with him to his room. Later in the post she clarified that the woman was raped and what she could do next.
Go Amy - you had the courage to tell the truth!
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Monday 14 December
By Clemdane
This also means if you get drunk I can stab you and it will be your fault.
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Thursday 18 November
By al
that women is a dum a**
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