A girl was allegedly raped in the metaverse. Is this the beginning of a dark new future?

[Silent3]

17. I think there's a strange dynamic, motivated by the laudable desire to make sure rape is taken seriously...

...where people want to say, "Rape is rape!" and abolish all distinctions between all types of unwanted sexual interaction... I was about to say "unwanted sexual contact", but when you start considering meta-universe rape, even "contact" goes out the window.

However well-intended this is, I think it's a mistake. Severity of physical assault should matter. Force and coercion should matter. I think how much room there is for misunderstanding and miscommunication should matter.

"Rape is rape" is too simplistic. Hell, we have first, second, and third degree murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, etc. I don't think it should be so unspeakable to talk about rape having varying levels of severity too. Some unwanted sexual interaction (purely verbal) should be considered harassment, outside of the category of rape altogether.

On such a scale, I'd say meta-universe rape should rate pretty low, only considered more severe where its an adult knowingly assaulting a minor.