Blaming the Victim (punishment)

[standing_alone]

In the Seperate Bathrooms thread, literal visionary made this comment:

Originally Posted by literal visionary

Like in the country, two gay men were killed because they were walking around holding hands, but if thats your lifestyle you shouldn't purposely expose yourself in a place with lots of skinheads, It might not be right that they were killed but they would still be alive today if they just walked down the street not holding hands.

and this one:

Originally Posted by literal visionary

It is there fault for trying to shove their Idealogy down the throats of a pack of ignorant skinheads, whom you wouldn't be able to reason with anyways.

By these posts, it seems evident that literal visonary believes that the victims are ultimately at fault for their victimization.

So, what I want to ask and have debated is:

How much is the victim responsible for their victimization?

If someone is victimized because of something like referenced in literal visionary's posts, is it their fault?

And if it is the victim's fault either somewhat or entirely, should the person who victimized them face less of a punishment/no punishment at all?

Basically, can the victim be at fault/blamed for the drastic actions of their attackers?

[evearael]

An adult is responsible for their own actions. The attacker is accountable for their own actions.

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by standing_alone

In the Seperate Bathrooms thread, literal visionary made this comment:



and this one:



By these posts, it seems evident that literal visonary believes that the victims are ultimately at fault for their victimization.

So, what I want to ask and have debated is:

How much is the victim responsible for their victimization?

If someone is victimized because of something like referenced in literal visionary's posts, is it their fault?

And if it is the victim's fault either somewhat or entirely, should the person who victimized them face less of a punishment/no punishment at all?

Basically, can the victim be at fault/blamed for the drastic actions of their attackers?

How much is the victim responsible for their victimization? Never, but...What I mean by this is that if a person is purposefully doing something, that they know is going to get them attacked (i.e. a young lady walking in a dark alley), maybe they need reevaluate why they are walking in that dark alley if they know they may get attacked.

Victims need to do as much preventive things as they possibly can so that they do not get victimized.

A person(s) should not be victimized if they are doing somehting that warrants somebody to attack them. Nobody should be attacking another for things like that. For example, like was mentioned, holding hands, that should not warrant an attack. In another instance, lets say, you see someone being beat up and you go after the attacker, then yes, they are warranted. Sorry.

No, a person who attacks should get their full punishement, they started it by attacking the person because something bothered them.

Very rarely, if ever can a victim be blamed. I've never known a situation that could be that way.

[evearael]

That sort of reasoning could easily be applied to interacial dating in the segregated south... well, he knew it would get him lynched... and only reinforces the status quo in which it is normal for people on the fringes to be brutalized.

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by evearael

That sort of reasoning could easily be applied to interacial dating in the segregated south... well, he knew it would get him lynched... and only reinforces the status quo in which it is normal for people on the fringes to be brutalized.

Me? I hope this comment was directed at me. I'm saying it's not their fault, but they need to realize the danger that COULD be there and take precautions like the rest of the human species. Isn't it common sense not to walk in a dark alley alone?? That's all I'm saying. In no way am I saying it's their fault that they are victimized, all I'm saying is they need to take precautions like hte rest of us.

[standing_alone]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

I'm saying it's not their fault, but they need to realize the danger that COULD be there and take precautions like the rest of the human species. Isn't it common sense not to walk in a dark alley alone??

I agree with you there. People need to consider possible risks for certain actions - but when it comes down to certain attacks upon a victim, there is nothing the victim could have done to prevent it or there was no way the victim could have known they were setting themself up to be victimized.

[evearael]

I'm not attacking you Becky... I was in Richmond when that whole sniper thing was going on, and I would sit on a bench outside of a gas station, because I wasn't going to live my life based on fear. Then the terrorist would win because I was restricting my freedoms based on fear. Taking precautions is perfectly acceptable, and recommended, but to live a life based on fear isn't much of a life at all.

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by evearael

I'm not attacking you Becky... I was in Richmond when that whole sniper thing was going on, and I would sit on a bench outside of a gas station, because I wasn't going to live my life based on fear. Then the terrorist would win because I was restricting my freedoms based on fear. Taking precautions is perfectly acceptable, and recommended, but to live a life based on fear isn't much of a life at all.

I'm not saying let the terroist/attacker/etc win, but don't we need to take precautions in order to make ourselves safe? So it's the driver's fault when someone runs in front of the car?

[evearael]

Only when they swerve to hit them...

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by evearael

Only when they swerve to hit them...

Yes, but what I'm saying is that everyone should take some preventive measure, just like you don't run in front of a car. If a young lady is going to be in an area she knows is dangerous at night, she needs to take preventive measures, why do we have mace, and other ways of defending ourself?

In no way am I saying these attacks are warranted, not at all.