General Discussion

Mariana

(15,622 posts)

151. I think a lot of people were in your position

Thu Jan 9, 2014, 10:56 AM

Jan 2014

My mom is about the same age as Dawkins. She was molested by her older brother. She spent her teenage years planning her days so as to avoid being alone in the house with him. When I asked her why she never told her parents or anyone else, she told me there was no way she could tell them. It just wasn't possible, she said.

My uncle moved thousands of miles away and we hardly ever saw him while I was growing up. The only reason my mom eventually told me about it was because I was going to visit my cousins, and he lived nearby so I would certainly see him. My mom told me so I'd take her seriously when she warned me never to be alone with him. If I hadn't made that visit, I still wouldn't know about it.

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'Mild Paedophilia Never Did Me Any Harm': Atheist Scientist Richard Dawkins Declares [View all] onehandle Jan 2014 OP

What an insensitive ass. Common Sense Party Jan 2014 #1

He was the victim and processed it in his own way. MattBaggins Jan 2014 #16

The FUCK he did: "I don't think he did any of US (caps mine) any lasting damage." cherokeeprogressive Jan 2014 #99

Keep in mind that incident happened probably sixty years ago or more Fumesucker Jan 2014 #125

I think a lot of people were in your position Mariana Jan 2014 #151

I'm not bashing him as a victim, I'm bashing him as someone who says pedophilia Common Sense Party Jan 2014 #114

you're blaming the victim.... mike_c Jan 2014 #30

I have three friends who all went to the same Catholic high school. Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2014 #37

I would hope they would not presume to speak about how ScreamingMeemie Jan 2014 #47

I guess if he did that he shouldn't. Did he do that? Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2014 #59

'I don't think he did any of us any lasting damage.' ScreamingMeemie Jan 2014 #62

and this guy is like a rock star to some atheists quinnox Jan 2014 #2

I agree, this is creepy. But enjoy his books before I knew this. Smart man. Weird though. n-t Logical Jan 2014 #3

Umm... could you make that *some* atheists? Fumesucker Jan 2014 #6

+1. nt LisaLynne Jan 2014 #7

I will, point taken quinnox Jan 2014 #8

This message was self-deleted by its author A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #36

what the FUCk!!!!! Whisp Jan 2014 #48

He is not a creep. He is a victim who has processed this in his ScreamingMeemie Jan 2014 #73

Rape culture gollygee Jan 2014 #4

Yes Tuesday Afternoon Jan 2014 #5

I dread saying this... Shandris Jan 2014 #11

Just one person? gollygee Jan 2014 #13

Okay, I see the angle you're coming from. Shandris Jan 2014 #14

Yep. cinnabonbon Jan 2014 #142

Well that's it for Dawkins. Katashi_itto Jan 2014 #9

He's an ass. But of course he does not speak for all atheists (nt) Nye Bevan Jan 2014 #10

He's not speaking for all victims of child molestation, either. Mariana Jan 2014 #55

The brilliant often lacking in common sense. boston bean Jan 2014 #12

I see this as coping behavior nadinbrzezinski Jan 2014 #15

BASH THE VICTIM FOLKS MattBaggins Jan 2014 #17

Dawkins is bashing countless victims. A 'mild touching up' ain't so bad. onehandle Jan 2014 #18

i don't think he said people should just get over it but speaking of his own JI7 Jan 2014 #20

He is speaking for others, not for himself only: Whisp Jan 2014 #52

Make shit up so you can put down a rape victim? ZombieHorde Jan 2014 #135

BASH THE VICTIMS DAWKINS FrodosPet Jan 2014 #23

It's sickening, isn't it? nt. Mariana Jan 2014 #49

Also irresponsible loyalsister Jan 2014 #129

You mean like 'minimize the effects of molestation on children' as Dawkins just did? sabrina 1 Jan 2014 #79

Actually, Dawkins is aiding and abetting pedophiles... CoffeeCat Jan 2014 #130

This is a great comment. cinnabonbon Jan 2014 #143

Dawkins is the Victim here, he is speaking of what happened to him JI7 Jan 2014 #19

'other boys had been molested' 'I don't think he did any of us any lasting damage.' onehandle Jan 2014 #21

these are boys he knew, plus it could just be him trying to deal with it JI7 Jan 2014 #24

The truth, of course, is in the middle somewhere. Xithras Jan 2014 #22

this is the kicker jollyreaper2112 Jan 2014 #154

He's an asshole BuddhaGirl Jan 2014 #25

To be fair, he said "I don't think", not "I know for a fact" arcane1 Jan 2014 #32

"'I don't think he did any of us any lasting damage.' BuddhaGirl Jan 2014 #35

I've been trashing the anti-religion threads, and this one will get trashed as well. liberal_at_heart Jan 2014 #26

Talk about a Wtf moment. hrmjustin Jan 2014 #27

This message was self-deleted by its author A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #28

no argument from me.... mike_c Jan 2014 #31

You cannot possibly know that, unfortunately and sadly... ScreamingMeemie Jan 2014 #39

This message was self-deleted by its author A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #42

You need to take a break from DU tonight. ScreamingMeemie Jan 2014 #44

This message was self-deleted by its author A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #69

A child who is molested newcriminal Jan 2014 #81

This message was self-deleted by its author A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #83

That's not the help you need. newcriminal Jan 2014 #84

This message was self-deleted by its author A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #86

Since I can't respond to your post A Heretic I am newcriminal Jan 2014 #93

This message was self-deleted by its author A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #110

I know what it's like to be forcibly raped as a child and I find what Professor Dawkins said to be Arcanetrance Jan 2014 #75

Agreed he is a fool in regard of this but ... intaglio Jan 2014 #29

Yeah, but that was in the past... onehandle Jan 2014 #33

That is not the point, other DUers have done timely work on this intaglio Jan 2014 #34

There's another "great thinker" who says that we should "look forwards and not backwards" Fumesucker Jan 2014 #38

This message was self-deleted by its author A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #40

ok, I know what the fuck I am talking about. newcriminal Jan 2014 #41

This message was self-deleted by its author A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #43

Ah,but it's religion wars on DU now, don't 'cha know. Le Taz Hot Jan 2014 #144

Daily Mail. LOL...nt SidDithers Jan 2014 #45

Are you also laughing at his quotes? rug Jan 2014 #50

I'm laughing at how transparent this attempt to "get" Dawkins is... SidDithers Jan 2014 #53

Somehow I doubt you're laughing. rug Jan 2014 #58

What is a "Mild touch up"? hrmjustin Jan 2014 #46

Copping a feel. Fondling. Inappropriate touching. Mariana Jan 2014 #87

Thanks. hrmjustin Jan 2014 #88

My husband is English, so I have a translator handy. Mariana Jan 2014 #91

"Copping a feel. Fondling. Inappropriate touching." Another word for it? MOLESTATION. cherokeeprogressive Jan 2014 #101

Of course it was molestation. Mariana Jan 2014 #108

Would the outcry here be different if it was someone besides Dawkins? Someone you admire? Hamlette Jan 2014 #51

It was not harmless. newcriminal Jan 2014 #54

and how is it that you know? Hamlette Jan 2014 #68

I know you were harmed because you admitted you didn't want to be known as the boy who was molested. newcriminal Jan 2014 #76

It did do lasting damage, just because he does not want to face it treestar Jan 2014 #56

he does not imply others should no complain, and there is no way you can know it did lasting damage. Hamlette Jan 2014 #72

Of course it did lasting damage, how does that take an expert? treestar Jan 2014 #90

you think you know me better than I know myself? Good on ya. Hamlette Jan 2014 #95

So says the internet treestar Jan 2014 #134

Not according to him.. MellowDem Jan 2014 #74

I would not take their word for it treestar Jan 2014 #92

I like Dawkins, but this comment is in really poor taste chungking34 Jan 2014 #57

What does being "an atheist" have to do with anything? catbyte Jan 2014 #60

What does "scientist" have to do with it? He calls himself both. rug Jan 2014 #64

Dawkins' comments are being grossly taken out of context Shankapotomus Jan 2014 #61

Here's his statement on what he calls a "misunderstanding". rug Jan 2014 #65

Thank you Shankapotomus Jan 2014 #67

You're welcome. I don't know why it has a Polish translation. rug Jan 2014 #70

Of course. And your post will be completely ignored. Hissyspit Jan 2014 #121

Ewww... l just lost pretty much all respect I had for this guy. fujiyama Jan 2014 #63

This message was self-deleted by its author A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #71

I know exactly what I'm fucking talking about fujiyama Jan 2014 #80

This message was self-deleted by its author A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #82

You seem incapable of discussing this maturely fujiyama Jan 2014 #85

He does have a point about degree BlueStreak Jan 2014 #66

Absolutely. Someone who does that Mariana Jan 2014 #89

Go ahead and explain to me the "Degrees of MOLESTATION". Explain it like I'm a child. n/t cherokeeprogressive Jan 2014 #102

Ok, for the sake of discussion, let's define a scale from 1 to 10. 1 is just 'creepily' looking at, Electric Monk Jan 2014 #131

Exactly. It is childish to look at life as if there are only 2 choices on everything BlueStreak Jan 2014 #150

I admire Dawkins, but sometimes he says the stupidest shit. Vashta Nerada Jan 2014 #77

This was news a while ago... MellowDem Jan 2014 #78

the New York Mets won the 1969 World Series rustbeltvoice Jan 2014 #94

Oh, it has a lot to do with it I think... MellowDem Jan 2014 #96

+1...nt SidDithers Jan 2014 #140

gratuitive anti-catholic derangement syndrome rustbeltvoice Jan 2014 #155

If you want to back anything up you said... MellowDem Jan 2014 #156

not so mellow rustbeltvoice Jan 2014 #160

Am I understanding this? Dawkins was a molested as a child and calls it no big deal? Orrex Jan 2014 #97

He made the mistake Mariana Jan 2014 #118

Ah. Yes, that's different. Orrex Jan 2014 #146

Well, he didn't really do that. Mariana Jan 2014 #148

What the hell is wrong with my reading comprehension this morning?!? Orrex Jan 2014 #149

So it's cool to blame the victim if he's an atheist? WTF DU? Demo_Chris Jan 2014 #98

OK Let me see if I have this right Beearewhyain Jan 2014 #100

No, you don't have it right. Thanks for playing though. Don't forget your door prize. cherokeeprogressive Jan 2014 #103

Quaint Beearewhyain Jan 2014 #105

Nnnnnnope. cherokeeprogressive Jan 2014 #106

I stand in awe of your rhetorical powers Beearewhyain Jan 2014 #107

Personally, I don't give a fuck what you stand in. cherokeeprogressive Jan 2014 #116

Has anyone told you that you are a charmer today? Beearewhyain Jan 2014 #117

1. Yes 2. Yes 3. No 4. No ScreamingMeemie Jan 2014 #109

he said he shouldn't have said that JI7 Jan 2014 #111

I am glad to hear that. I just want it to be known I don't do the religion thing or post veiled ScreamingMeemie Jan 2014 #112

Thank You Beearewhyain Jan 2014 #115

Rape is rape - child molestation is rape Agnosticsherbet Jan 2014 #104

Love Dennis Miller or hate him, he has a great alter-ego group to NAMBLA. WillowTree Jan 2014 #113

Some people are easily sunburned. Some are not. hunter Jan 2014 #119

... CFLDem Jan 2014 #120

WTF? Considering that he remembers his emotions 65+ years later ecstatic Jan 2014 #122

Richard Dawkins has been demonstrating he's a complete asshole for quite some time CrawlingChaos Jan 2014 #123

let's not confuse issues DonCoquixote Jan 2014 #124

Asshat...he probably touches boys and think its ok. SummerSnow Jan 2014 #126

Please log off the internet and don't post again, if that's what you got from this. nt Electric Monk Jan 2014 #132

What a dumbass thing to say--Dawkins just lost his credibility CoffeeCat Jan 2014 #127

A man stuck his hand inside a kid's pants. xfundy Jan 2014 #128

Well, if a grown man... CoffeeCat Jan 2014 #133

The subject is so emotional for people that many don't even know what he said. ZombieHorde Jan 2014 #136

They don't care what he said, either. Mariana Jan 2014 #139

Probably. nt ZombieHorde Jan 2014 #152

Yup. n/t Comrade Grumpy Jan 2014 #159

This sort of attitude is not uncommon in older men who went to English 'public' schools LeftishBrit Jan 2014 #137

Hitchens talked about this extensively in his autobiography. nt Demo_Chris Jan 2014 #138

I attended British public school. MindPilot Jan 2014 #147

I was hesitant in clicking on this thread baldguy Jan 2014 #141

When someone's first name is "Atheist"... MindPilot Jan 2014 #145

Have no idea why someone would feel the need to say this. nt stevenleser Jan 2014 #153

So why are you posting this other than anti-atheist dog-whistle flamebait? alp227 Jan 2014 #157

That's it. I'm done with him. applegrove Jan 2014 #158