Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Edwarda who wrote (72871)	1/22/2000 7:09:00 PM
From: jbe	Respond to of 108807

Edwarda, it's hard to be sure what exactly the authors are arguing, but I get the impression (see my previous posting) that they are going over more or less the same ground we went over, at great length, right here on Feelies. I don't think they are talking about "shelving rape as an act of violence." Seems to me their basic position (with which I would agree) is that rape is a sexual act, as well as an act of violence. Going further: sex is not necessarily "benign" because it is "natural"; Mother Nature is not necessarily benign in all her manifestations, either. What I remember from our discussion of this subject is that the folks on the "other side" insisted on two things: 1) sex is not "sex" unless both sides agree to it; and 2) rapists are, by definition, "unnatural" -- i.e., exceptionally hostile and criminal individuals. Where (1) is concerned, I would agree that consensual sex isn't consensual unless it is consensual -- but that, of course, is a tautology. IMO, an act is sexual if sexual organs are involved, whether willingly or not. On (2), that is probably so, in a society where rape is punished swiftly and harshly. Only criminals would risk it. But in many societies, it is the woman who is raped who is punished, rather than the rapist. And throughout history, rape has been widely practiced -- even encouraged, especially in time of war. All kinds of nice momma's boys have turned into rapists, when the occasion presented itself. Sure it's about power -- but it is also about sex. I believe you're absolutely right about "flirtatiousness," by the way. A flirtatious woman, who acts provocatively, may indeed get many more propositions than other women; but is she more likely to be raped? I rather doubt it. Joan