even if false accusations are as "rare" as some of you are saying (which, how can you even prove that any more than you can prove that there's so many unreported?) is that the false accusers get off so lightly most of the time. Like in that Brian Banks case that Chris posted, she didn't get any criminal charges levied against her. The worst "penalty" she got was that she got sued and lost the money she originally won for damages, but no jail time whatsoever. And even then that only happened because Banks secretly recorded her confession, he would've probably never gotten exonerated otherwise. The punishment for false accusations should be equal to if not greater than a sentence for a rape charge tbh. Otherwise, while committing perjury isn't exactly a risk-less thing to do, it's a whole lot less dangerous if you're only getting a relative slap on the wrist if you get found out

Not sure about the US, but in Iceland being drunk isn't an excuse, drunk consent = consent, if you decide to buy a house drunk the house is bought, et.c.

Mercator @ 27/1/2015 22:40

Not sure about the US, but in Iceland being drunk isn't an excuse, drunk consent = consent, if you decide to buy a house drunk the house is bought, et.c.

That is how it works in the US, the problem is that sometimes women get so drunk that they can't remember consenting and then try to claim they were raped after the fact

Boc @ 27/1/2015 21:40

even if false accusations are as "rare" as some of you are saying (which, how can you even prove that any more than you can prove that there's so many unreported?) is that the false accusers get off so lightly most of the time. Like in that Brian Banks case that Chris posted, she didn't get any criminal charges levied against her. The worst "penalty" she got was that she got sued and lost the money she originally won for damages, but no jail time whatsoever. And even then that only happened because Banks secretly recorded her confession, he would've probably never gotten exonerated otherwise. The punishment for false accusations should be equal to if not greater than a sentence for a rape charge tbh. Otherwise, while committing perjury isn't exactly a risk-less thing to do, it's a whole lot less dangerous if you're only getting a relative slap on the wrist if you get found out

I hate the double standard and that I have to tell my son things like, "don't ever get into a her word vs. your word situation. They will always believe the girl."

There are unfortunately many women in situations where they feel they can't report abuse. Not going into the reasons, but trust me, they exist and it sucks.

Boc @ 27/1/2015 22:40

even if false accusations are as "rare" as some of you are saying (which, how can you even prove that any more than you can prove that there's so many unreported?) is that the false accusers get off so lightly most of the time. Like in that Brian Banks case that Chris posted, she didn't get any criminal charges levied against her. The worst "penalty" she got was that she got sued and lost the money she originally won for damages, but no jail time whatsoever. And even then that only happened because Banks secretly recorded her confession, he would've probably never gotten exonerated otherwise. The punishment for false accusations should be equal to if not greater than a sentence for a rape charge tbh. Otherwise, while committing perjury isn't exactly a risk-less thing to do, it's a whole lot less dangerous if you're only getting a relative slap on the wrist if you get found out

Do you really think rape claims are falsified more than other crimes? I certainly never hear about false crimes of other fashions in such great depth other than some special episode of dateline. You wouldn't have a discussion about break-ins and half the posts talk about insurance fraud and people stealing their own things or leaving their doors unlocked intentionally... but people sure do seem to jump the gun at undermining rape cases by saying "wellll what if she's lying she is a woman afterall".

As for your other point, sure whatever I think perjury should be a serious crime but that's not even strictly rape related and seems a little off-topic. Like you make a false report you pay the consequences, be it theft, assault, murder, etc.

Chris25 @ 27/1/2015 23:43

Mercator @ 27/1/2015 22:40 Not sure about the US, but in Iceland being drunk isn't an excuse, drunk consent = consent, if you decide to buy a house drunk the house is bought, et.c. That is how it works in the US, the problem is that sometimes women get so drunk that they can't remember consenting and then try to claim they were raped after the fact

The problem is men taking advantage of drunk women (or even drugging them) and claiming they consented after the fact... which to me seems like the way more fucked up scenario and is just as likely in any of these circumstances.

Malion @ 27/1/2015 23:42

Chris25 @ 27/1/2015 23:43 Mercator @ 27/1/2015 22:40 Not sure about the US, but in Iceland being drunk isn't an excuse, drunk consent = consent, if you decide to buy a house drunk the house is bought, et.c. That is how it works in the US, the problem is that sometimes women get so drunk that they can't remember consenting and then try to claim they were raped after the fact The problem is men taking advantage of drunk women (or even drugging them) and claiming they consented after the fact... which to me seems like the way more fucked up scenario and is just as likely in any of these circumstances.

People that drug women and rape them are scumbags and deserve to fry.

With that being said, there are alot of college aged girls and guys that go out and get drunk on the weekends with the expectation of hooking up. If a drunk guy hooks up with a drunk girl consensually that is not rape even if the girl regrets it the next day or "would never do that" or "has a boyfriend" or whatever.

Thats not "taking advantage."

a woman gets fucking wasted to the point where she can't even speak and some guy has sex with her. That's taking advantage of them. Bringing up a separate example doesn't change that fact. This isn't about some girl making up a rape lie to excuse some sex she had.

You say drunk guy and drunk girl but that's not even always the case. Would it matter to you if the guy had full control of his motor functions and reasoning skills and she could barely stand up or is a yes a yes for you?

Good to see that the trans-bandwagon has made a move to this thread.

False rape accusations aren't an epidemic. Rape is an epidemic. DO NOT FOR A SECOND THINK THAT THE FEW MEN HURT BY THE ACTIONS OF FEW WOMEN OUTWEIGHS THE ACTUAL VICTIMS OF RAPE.

I don't think anyone is disagreeing with the fact it's wrong to make false allegations and anyone doing so should face appropriate charges. It doesn't do anything to disprove that over half of sexual assaults aren't ever reported and even when they are, the chance of the accused being prosecuted, let alone convicted, is very unlikely. No one is saying guys never get falsely accused but it's more likely a guy will get away with rape than be arrested or falsely imprisoned for it.

Malion @ 28/1/2015 0:12

a woman gets fucking wasted to the point where she can't even speak and some guy has sex with her. That's taking advantage of them. Bringing up a separate example doesn't change that fact. This isn't about some girl making up a rape lie to excuse some sex she had. You say drunk guy and drunk girl but that's not even always the case. Would it matter to you if the guy had full control of his motor functions and reasoning skills and she could barely stand up or is a yes a yes for you?

We're obviously talking about two completely different scenarios.

This is a complex issue specifically because there are so many little things and small details that can come into play and the same situation could possibly never play out the same way twice.

I don't think this is a black and white issue and we can go back and forth all night changing small details of the story to twist the scenario to make our argument.

Boc @ 27/1/2015 22:40

The punishment for false accusations should be equal to if not greater than a sentence for a rape charge tbh.

WHAT THE FUCK?!

It's a terrible thing but a guy who ruins a girl's life, trust for other people, and scars her for life should not get off easier than the very few women with mental health issues who would falsely accuse someone of that. Bullshit, Boc. People are raped every single day and COPS COVER THAT SHIT UP. There is a 10 year backlog of rapekits, did you know that? People are less likely to believe the women. Natalie said that cops will believe the woman. That's not fucking true.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/12/12/san-francisco-police-make-progress-on-backlog-of-untested-rape-kits/

Nofo ☭ @ 28/1/2015 0:32

False rape accusations aren't an epidemic. Rape is an epidemic. DO NOT FOR A SECOND THINK THAT THE FEW MEN HURT BY THE ACTIONS OF FEW WOMEN OUTWEIGHS THE ACTUAL VICTIMS OF RAPE.

This isnt a balancing act, injustice is injustice and each instance, whether its a girl getting raped and nobody believing her or a man going to prison because some crazy bitch lied for 10 years, IS AN ABSOLUTE FUCKING TRAGEDY EITHER WAY.

And what you guys are saying is that we need to cast a very wide net, and if a girl accuses a guy of rape then we should charge and convict everyone and if one or two innocent guys have their lives ruined then "oh well, thats the price guys pay for having a dick"

Thats not how the justice system is built in this country and its absolute fucking bullshit.