[forfrosne]

Originally Posted by Santa

1. How do you know what's enough for her? Or for anyone, but yourself?

I had meant to refrain from engaging in two debates at the same time but I'll respond anyway.

The short answer is that I don't, however given that rape is such a traumatising experience I find it difficult to believe that she would be happy with financial compensation for it. [retracted as I expanded and explained this opinion later]

Originally Posted by Santa

2. I said people disbelieving women or men who talk about being raped make it harder for others to come forward about their own experiences of rape or sexual assault. Therefore, SOME rapists are not prosecuted.

I agree that it our distrust of those who claim to have been raped makes it more unlikely for women to come forward, however let me explain why I think that this is not necessarily an issue.

We disbelieve the claims of the prosecution in court by default (although I suppose it's arguable we're more neutral than disbelief) if a man is accused of murder, why should it be any different for rape? It's a sensitive issue because the moment you accuse a man of rape his life is over, and so you have to have an iron-cast case for doing it in the first place, so it's definitely looked upon with more scrutiny. If the result of us not believing the prosecution by default is that fewer women report being raped then unfortunately that's something they'll have to deal with or find alternate solutions to; our legal system is based upon the idea of being innocent until proven guilty, accusations of rape do not exceed this rule.

Oh and sorry if I come across as grumpy or rude, I have no bad feelings toward any of you, you've just caught me at a bad time if I'm honest. I think I'll refrain from replying until I'm in a better mood.