General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "all men are potential rapists" [View all]Summer Hathaway
(2,770 posts)That is a very far cry from what the OP discussed, which is about the term "all men are potential rapists".
You DO understand the difference between not believing that ANY MAN could be a rapist and not viewing ALL men as potential rapists - or do you?
As the OP clearly states, the notion that "all men are potential rapists" is intellectually meaningless, in that anyone is 'potentially' anything.
One could say that all women are 'potential' gold-diggers. That doesn't go to say that all women will become gold-diggers, nor does it go to say that there are NO women who marry for money.
All children have the 'potential' to grow up to be criminals. That doesn't mean that ALL children will become criminals, nor does it mean that NO child will become a criminal.
The real problem arises when women are encouraged to view ALL men as 'potential rapists' - in the same way problems arise when women view ALL men as incapable of sexual assault.
It stands to reason that both men AND women should exercise caution in their interactions with each other, for a myriad of reasons. However, that caution should be exercised in a reasonable manner, and based on circumstances, how well acquainted they are, observations of each others' behavior, each others' conversation, etc.
If you are in a crowded bar full of strangers, you would be wise to keep your purse close at all times; that is exercising reasonable caution. But if you refuse to let go of your purse while you're at your best friend's house for coffee, on the basis that she, like anyone else, is a 'potential' thief, that's not caution - that's paranoia.