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Police hunt man for Greenway sexual assault early today
By adamg on Mon, 09/05/2016 - 9:51pm
Boston Police report a woman was sexually attacked as she walked on the Greenway near State Street, towards the carousel, around 4:10 a.m.
The suspect was either white or Hispanic, in his 40s or 50s, about 5'5" with a scruffy face and thin. He wore a dark Bruins jersey and a baseball hat.
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Comments
Boston
It's a dangerous city, walking alone at 4:10am isn't a safe activity for anyone.
Let's not blame the victim
Let's not blame the victim
Ah yes
Offering suggestions for ways to keep one safe in the future is now "victim blaming". Does anyone deserve to be assualted? No. Are there ways to limit your chances of being assaulted? Yes.
ever stop to think..
the victim knew very well it was dangerous, but maybe had to do it anyway?
what options for transport are there at that hour?
the old "dont go out alone at night" is not a constructive, substantive "offer of advice to keep yourself safe," and it's pretty disingenuous to suggest as much.
Certainly
Like having actual patrols. Like raising people to not rape.
If we give up and "decide" that certain hours are "dangerous" we are agreeing to their being a time for people to attack other people and sanctioning the behavior.
What?
Certain hours ARE more dangerous. We haven't solved how to make them completely safe at least not in both a cost-effective and implementation-effective approach. That's not "giving up"; that's accepting reality. Thus there ARE times and places when people may attack other people at a greater frequency and with greater success than other times and places. Again, there's no sanctioning of that activity; there's only acknowledging the reality that because we can't prevent everyone from doing anything wrong all the time then there will be times and places where both the success rate and escape rate is high enough that the people looking to do wrong things will take advantage of their odds of succeeding.
You can raise all the people in the world not to rape anyone else. You can remove all the implicitness and Brock Turner's parents and equivocations and everything else. And you're still going to find people who will rape because they will find a justification however sinister, criminal, and wrongly thought out it is. And those people will take their best shot at raping when they find the situation seems like their best chance at doing it successfully and getting away with it because why would they do it knowing full well they won't succeed and/or will get caught.
Knowing that means knowing that those times and places exist and evaluating the risk of entering those places in those times for ourselves because we can't know if or when someone will make that decision to do something criminal in that place and time where success is higher than it would be otherwise.
Welcome to reality. We all have to evaluate our risks and decide where our thresholds exist based on meeting our needs and wants. If you think that just by stating that we should "change our culture" in a way that rape somehow doesn't exist is going to actually get rid of anyone's decision-making ability to rape, then you're the one who has given up on accepting reality.
Let's not confuse people
With logic, reason and common sense.
Times and Places?
Show the stats, please.
Why?
Why? Because of the position of the earth on its axis? Or because...
Aaaah, yes, the smug, sanctimonious, "We can't fix everything so that lets us off the hook for fixing anything" derail. Well played, asshole.
And -- let me guess -- you are a man, not someone who might have to be on foot at 4 am, not someone who a rapist sees as a victim. You are someone who doesn't have any skin in this game. You have no solutions to propose, yet from the safety of your privileged position, you feel entitled to talk down to those who must live in the "reality" that you claim to know so much more about. Am I wrong about any of that?
There were many more in related threads
Adam deleted them. Speaks to character.
http://www.universalhub.com/node/24763#comment-82032
That's kind of impressive
That you've held a grudge for seven years like that. Unlike you, I have no clue what the deleted comments were about, but given that the original post was about Philip Markoff, I'm betting they were your basic MRA-type crap about women.
Strawmen or strawwomen if you prefer
Which one of these things doesn't belong...which one of these things is not like the others...
What does "people saying" things have to do with all of the other reasons you gave? Nothing. And why would me saying "certain hours ARE more dangerous" mean that I'm not trying to also simultaneously be open to ways to make it safer? Do you refuse to drive your car because it's impossible to know that you won't accidentally kill someone because it doesn't have every possible safety feature that might prevent that or do you accept there are risks with driving a car and take whatever precautions you can given the safety equipment provided at this time?
You first mischaracterized what I said AND you didn't address what I said either. Where did I say anything about letting anyone off the hook or that things don't need improvement or that nothing should change from the status quo?
However, all the things in the world may need improvement and there may be better ways to do things and so on, but that doesn't change the status quo which you have to live with and deal with RIGHT NOW by definition. You can't live your life thinking nothing bad can happen to you just because nothing bad should happen to you.
What does any of that matter? Like I don't know that rape is wrong? Or that we should act to prevent it? Or stop those that don't grasp that they are wrong in raping someone? Or that the same places and times that rapists find opportunity aren't also the same times and places that find *anyone* ripe for a mugging?
And yes, you're wrong. Because you've chosen to characterize me as some monster in this conversation because you've not addressed what I wrote. It's part and parcel of your inability to address reality. Like the reality of what I really wrote. You want change? You want improvement? You're not going to get it attacking me as if I condone rape or that if anyone disagrees with the premise that dealing with reality as it exists now while also striving for improvement means you condone the way things are now. You're just going to turn away people like me that didn't want this to happen to this woman, want things to be better with realistic, plausible ways of creating that change, and want people to deal with the CURRENT SITUATION without instantly flashing to "victim blaming" any time anyone says "the world is full of high risk situations but there are ways you can proactively reduce your risks until the world is a different/better place".
Let's break it down
This is interesting; you're flipping this conversation on its head. My point was that it's so-called "common wisdom" that "certain hours ARE more dangerous", and that as a society, we accept this rather than fixing it. We don't question why we consider it OK for certain people to live under a virtual curfew; we accept it as immutable fact (or, if not immutable, certainly nothing we care enough to change). So, yeah, rather than saying "certain hours ARE more dangerous", I think we need to do more than just "be open to ways to make it safer".
Kaz, has it ever occurred to you that the people you're lecturing are the ones who have to deal with this "reality", when you don't? You're not a monster, but you are verging on tone-deaf. Your "reality" is not a woman's "reality". Women deal daily with threats that you don't, and when a woman has been attacked, a man's best contribution to the discussion is not to tell women that they need to deal with "reality". So, there's a useful message, but you might want to modulate the tone. Up to you.
How about advice to rapists:
How about advice to rapists: DO NOT RAPE! If rapists didn't rape then that would limit men, women and children's chances of being raped.
Its not my fault
If I traveled to Falluja in the middle of a war, for a summer holiday exploring the historic ruins, and found myself with my head chopped off either. Is it?
That's a war zone
Idiot.
We are talking about Boston, which seriously is much less dangerous than it used to be. I'm LOLing at BugsButthead up there, quaking in his chair and pooing his pants over everything and anything - BE VERY AFRAID and let your COP DADDIES CARE FOR YOU!
Right.
An empty city is a dangerous city. A city full of terrified ninnies is a dangerous city.
You are responsible for your own safety
It doesn't matter whether that is a war zone or the tourist zone.
There it is, folks
VICTIM BLAMING
Live in your fantasy land all you want
But SUPERMAN AINT COMING TO RESCUE YOU.
From the police statement:
TIPS FOR ENSURING YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY: The BPD encourages individuals to review the following safety tips with the understanding that, while these tips are designed to decrease and diminish the likelihood of an attack, no victim is ever to blame for the actions of an attacker.
Be aware of your surroundings, especially at night. Keep your head up. Make quick eye contact with those around you and when possible try to avoid poorly lit or isolated areas.
When possible, walk with friends and people you know especially late at night.
Avoid the distractions created when talking on a cell phone or listening to an iPod/similar device. Avoid wearing ear buds or headphones in both ears.
If you believe someone is following you, change direction, cross the street, seek a populated location and call 911.
Remember descriptive information about the person following you to report to the police.
If confronted, believe in your ability to fight back and defend yourself. Creating distance and yelling words like: “fire”, “help” or “rape” are effective ways of drawing attention and alerting people that you need help.
Keep your car keys in your hand to use as a weapon to ward off an attack.
Trust your instincts and understand that anyone at any time can be a victim of crime. Never assume: “It won’t ever happen to me.”
Are the cops giving people rides?
If not, all this is bullshit.
Why is that all B.S.?
Why is this not reasonable advice for basic measures to take in a big city? While I do not know the age or situation of the victim in this circumstance, I would suggest that you consider, before you answer, that a huge number of young people without prior big-city living experience have just moved into town.
Because the social justice warriors
Were raised in the belief that nothing they do is wrong or their fault.
Its always somebody elses fault.
NEW RULE
Nobody who uses the expression "Social Justice Warriors" should ever expect to be taken seriously.
Oh, wait, I'm wrong. That's actually an old rule.
Ain't you cute
With your Bill Maher copycat schtick.
Ain't you cute?
With your misogynist-copycat schtick.
That's just sad
Nothing else.
So sorry
Did I give you a sad? Do you need to retreat to your safe space?
I don't have safe spaces
I just exercise common sense when out at night.
Fine
Will you accept "the triggeredly able"?
Reasonable advice in response to what?
It is reasonable advice, if it is accompanied by action to change the situation that makes the advice necessary. It is also reasonable to acknowledge the failure that let the assault happen. Think about that for a minute. Every time there's an assault, we hear advice for people to "be safe", we hear all about what the victim should have done differently, but we don't hear what the city, the police, the transit system, the courts, the judges, the legislature, and society at large should have done differently. If your response to an assault is to sum up everything that the victim could/should have done, and that's it, then it's a bullshit response.
We're all ears
The stage is yours.
But if your suggestions aren't actionable, affordable, and able to solve every case of rape, then how does that leave us anywhere else than where we are? You may come up with great ways to change the world, but if they aren't adopted then who cares? And if every single suggestion is adopted and they still don't stop people from becoming victims, then what next? At the point you've changed everyone else's behaviors to the fullest extent possible and you still end up a victim, what do you recommend happen then?
(and just to be clear, since you pulled a bullshit strawman out last time, none of these questions prevent us from doing any of your suggestions to make the situation better than it is now and reduce the likelihood of you becoming a victim from whatever risk/rate/likelihood it is today. These questions even *suppose* you can take those actions and make walking alone at 4 AM through a park far less risky than it is today..yet still become a victim.)
Epic Mansplaining!
Bravo.
AKA Common sense
Something you lack.
"actionable, affordable, and able to solve every case of rape"
Emphasis mine. Wow, Kaz, really? My suggestions must be absolutely perfect, and "affordable", whatever that means (= don't raise Kaz's taxes), or they're not worth a damn? Have you ever tried to make anything better? Please tell me what, so I can dump all over your failure to achieve a perfect solution.
Don't blame me
I voted for Bernie.
"If you believe someone is
"If you believe someone is following you, change direction, cross the street, seek a populated location and call 911."
Find me a populated location in Boston at 4:10am? Like a subway? Nope those stopped running at midnight. Like a bar? Can't get into one after 1 or 1:30am. Too bad the people who work at those places rarely get out before 3am, sometimes 4am if you're a place that does late night food.
Keep your head on a swivel and carry pepper spray or a knife. No knife, shove a key between your fingers and do your best to protect yourself.
Greenway
It's just a thought, but I wonder if the probability of this happening would have been less if the victim had been walking on one of the sidewalks on either side rather than on the Greenway itself. I just don't trust that Greenway. When it's deserted it's like a deserted park.
The greenway around the carousel is never deserted
Its usually full of homeless once the sun goes down.
park
"When it's deserted it's like a deserted park."
And how!
This is not a secluded part of the Greenway
There are parts of the Greenway where visibility is obscured by lush shrubbery, but this is not one of them. It's a paved plaza area.
Hey all you Einsteins, what
Hey all you Einsteins, what about all the homeless women in this city who have no place to go because there is no room in the great selection of Women's Shelters? Where are they supposed to go at 4:00 a.m.? Do you have any idea how many of them are sexually assaulted because they don't have a place to stay but the street?
Straw man argument
Straw man argument
Another new rule
Anyone who uses "social justice warriors" as an argument automatically loses any and all future ability to call "straw man" on anything.
Oh, wait, that's an old rule.
Here is another rule for you.
If you are going to make a comment. Make sense.
.. how so?
for real, how is this an irrelevant point?
How?
How, exactly, is this a "straw man argument"?
Adorable!
Mr. "Social Justice Warrior" launches a strawman accusation. How cute.
Ah, little miss can't be wrong shows up.
A little late today, arent we?
Awwww ...
Is Making America Great Again not working out for you so well today?
Wrong again.
I can't stand Trump.
But I know you always think you know everything.
Where should they go?
How about a vacant luxury condo? Stick a cot in one and give everybody in the building a tax rebate.
If we were really a world class city
We would have 24 hour public transportation.
Unless
You have 24 hour transportation that drops you door to door safely, im not really sure how this matters.
We don't even have 18 hour transportation that gets you there safely.
Door to Door
People like you are probably completely convinced that OMG THERE'S SOME BOOGEYMAN UNDER MAH BEDDDDDD!!!!!
And that boogey man IS YOUR FAULT.
Go take your rape apologist nonsense for a hike, dude.
Please explain
How the hell 24 hour transportation prevents somebody getting attacked in the middle of the night?
And please explain why people are attacked on the Subway and in subway stations when the subway is actually running.
Get a Netflix subscription
Get a Netflix subscription, you've been watching "The Warriors" too many times.
Oh, too easy..
http://www.universalhub.com/2014/police-convicted-child-rapist-sexually-...
http://www.universalhub.com/crime/20160318/police-hunt-man-knifepoint-ro...
http://www.universalhub.com/crime/20150121/2-million-bail-teen-charged-s...
http://www.universalhub.com/crime/20140318/police-man-goes-berserk-orang...
http://www.universalhub.com/crime/20130127-police-man-attacks-toddlers-f...
Over to you
Free Self Defense Classes in Charlestown
Free Self Defense Classes in Charlestown
Saturdays at 10am
http://www.womensselfdefenseboston.com
Not victim blaming, just sharing a resource. If only there were a class to teach men, to stop hurting women.
Let's have the class right now
Lesson 1: Don't talk to strangers, except for the following three sentences:
"What time is it?"
"Your house is on fire."
"How do I get to ______?"
There endeth the lesson. Final exam tomorrow.
Stupid, dismissive and unhelpful
Congrats, Will, you're in good company in this thread.
Unhelpful
I'm telling would-be sexual assailants how they can not be sexual assailants. Women do not need my help in not approaching strangers.
I have better ideas for how I would stop them, but you're all going to yell at me.
Foiled Again!
I was totally going to rape someone but they didn't say anything to me except asking for the time. So I couldn't:( .
*cracks knuckles*
my my, look at this shit storm. where to start...