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Originally Posted by Martian
As for plying her with liquor... well, I firmly believe that alcohol lowers inhibitions, but does not plant ideas that weren't there to begin with. Take from that what you will.
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According to a "Sexual Assault Awareness" training course that I recently was required to take by my employer.
The majority of
Serial Rapist are not the “Hooded Lurkers” that you see in the headlines, but are actually closer to what you might call a “Date Rape Artist” (my term.) The rapist is often someone that the victim knows casually through work/school/etc. In a social situation, such as a party or at a club, they condition their victim using alcohol and/or drugs to reduce the victim’s judgment and ability to physically resist. The rapist then maneuvers their victim away from friends and associates to a place where the rape begins as a consensual encounter (kissing/petting.) If the victim is still sober enough to resist, the rapist is not afraid to use their upper body strength and physical size to force their way.
The “Date Rape Artist” often convinces themselves that they are simply "hot with the ladies" and my often brags to friends about his latest successful conquest. His openness about having intercourse with his victim reduces the credibility of the victim and reinforces the rapist’ conviction that the rape was consensual.
The victims often doubt themselves and believe it was their own fault for letting the rape happen. The psychological effect on the victims can leave scars that will last their entire life.
I have known women who were victims of rape and their stories were frighteningly close to the scenarios presented in the awareness course.
There is line between using alcohol to “lowering inhibitions” and using it to condition a victim. There is a line between consensual sex and rape, it is crossed when the victim says “No” or tries to resist and the rapist disregards it. Proving that they resisted often comes down to the victim's word against the attacker's. Don't be so quick to assume that everything was consensual. As guys we tend to wink and give each other the high five. Stop and think the next time you hear someone bragging about the waisted Chick they got "Lucky" with.
[Please Note: My post here is intended as a plea to reconsider our personal attitudes. Not an attack on anyone in the thread.]