Meet the Predators (men need to learn how to recognize and fight rape culture)

[TeamsterDem]

72. I see you completely ignored my point

We do agree that all people need to look out for one another. And of course we agree that all men (and women) need food, oxygen, and various other things to survive. But you missed my discussion of that very point where I said that unless it's some obvious universal need such as oxygen or food then it's a sexist comment, something you damn well know. If I were to say that "women need education" I'm sure I'd get banned from DU, and depending on what exactly I were referring to probably rightfully so. Yet it's evidently okay to suggest - by way of our "need" to be "educated" on a certain thing - that we're too dumb to understand it on our own, hence the education necessity. Strange, that.

I realize that no woman on DU has ever said that "all men are evil" which is of course why I never claimed one did. That's a manufacture on your part, from where I've no clue. What I said is that using the term "men" means all of them unless first described as "some" to denote a particular segment of the population. That you're feigning to not comprehend that is extremely interesting. And ridiculous.

With respect to not adding anything, uh, I'm adding my point of view. And so are you. And so are all the other members contributing in this thread. That's what DU exists for, friend, for people to share their views. Something you're now attacking me for doing. Why? Can you not challenge my views with your own? What are you adding to the thread besides your own opinions? Nothing, exactly the same as me. Man, the hypocrisy around here knows no bounds.

Supposition is a dangerous hobby, for it often makes fools out of those who practice it. In this case there's you assuming that I believe that rape victims' pain is somehow inferior to some pain of my own, whereas actually I don't see myself as a victim of anything, nor is there any pain to speak of. Instead it's called a viewpoint, an opinion you might say. Opinions and viewpoints needn't have any "pain" attached to them to be real or genuine, instead they need only be felt by their orator. Yes, it bothers me to be stereotyped and lumped-in with such a disgusting group of creeps, but this is a discussion board and I don't take any grand offense that there's a few uncouth hypocrites out there whose opinions don't jive with mine. Instead I'm simply sharing my opinion, much as you are. That you're somehow engaged in some grand enterprise while I'm just a fly in the ointment speaks to your level of disconnect with the fact that not everyone agrees with you, and even in disagreement there can be common ground (such as ours on rape and its horrific nature/effects).

The reality is that rape is an abhorrent sickness which unfortunately happens to people, and they're the victims of their assailant. But those victims deserve better than "advocates" who presume to speak on their behalf while offending those who otherwise ALSO advocate for them (see "men," not all, but many). There's no good reason to label all men while discussing rape, and as such I called it out. That doesn't diminish rape as a crime in any way, shape, or form. It instead says that let's all agree that rape is bad, and let's also agree that good men don't do it or encourage/condone it in any way, while unfortunately some bad men do. You see? I managed to make almost the same case as the OP without labeling anyone, while making sure to state that rape is something we need to fight together to stop. Together. And to be truly together we shouldn't be labeling parts of the advocacy, lest they decide their help isn't wanted and they're instead judged and labeled.