Which is more important...?

Question

The truth or a good story? This is what a feminist spokesperson said in when confronted with evidence that the '1 in 4 women are raped' statistic is false:

"The statistics don't really matter... We're just trying to focus on the real issue here... not bicker about numbers" http://www.deltabravo.net/files/ifmenhav.pdf

Which is more important: the truth about rape, or a fiction intended to exaggerate the prevalence of rape?

Answer 1

Frankly, this doesn't surprise me; commentators of all stripes have a history of manipulating statistics to suit their agendi.

Answer 2

I think more than one in 4 woman are raped in one form or another. Rape is any unwelcomed s*x. It could be with a known boyfriend or even a spouse. It's not just the violent activity that gets the media attention.

Answer 3

Speaking from experience, but the truth is a far better warning then some false story made up by someone who wants to "make a point". Telling women the real, the hurt, the pain, the years and years of self doubt, self hate, depression and other feelings that go along with rape is more compelling then some non-sense.

I hate people who come out and fight for rights and crime and other "evils" who have no real background or real knowledge of the fact.

People get raped on a daily basis, who do not come forward. It is impossible to put a number on that, there is no statistic for rape!

Answer 4

Truth is important always.

Don't get so caught up on semantics that you lose the message over something that isn't important.

Answer 5

I think lying about the statistics is bull****. Not only does it cast yet another false and bad light on men it serves to scare women. I guess the world needs to stop relying on what media tells us is the truth and do the research for themselves. Never ever believe what you are told ALWAYS check the facts.

Answer 6

I've noticed you have a fascination with rape Doodlebug, what's up with that?  I've seen you post quite a few questions regarding rape. Why is that?

If you really want numbers, how about you do the research yourself.

Answer 7

The truth is more important of course;  but feminists don't care much for truth, they'll support any studies and/or statistic that fits their bias and sexist point of view.

Answer 8

Your source is absolutely worthless.  

I care as much about what "a feminist" says as I care about what "a misogynist" says.  We live in a free country and people are free to say whatever they like.  If you don't like it move to Iran where there are no pretensions about free speech or freedom of the press.  It will no doubt be more to your liking, so look into it.

Bye!

Answer 9

What's important is that it shouldn't happen in the first place.  It's important that those of us it has happened to don't have to answer for those who have lied about it.  

The truth of the matter is, the way the whole issue is currently being handled does a disservice to both men and women.

Answer 10

The stastics do not matter.  Each case should be judged individually.

Did you realize your question was posed in as a very  bias choice?:  

"Is the truth more important or a fiction intended to exaggerate the prevalence of rape?"

The truth is more important.  The truth is that many woman get raped-- one is too many. That was her point.

Answer 11

Contrary to what many feminists say, the numbers do make a difference. If the stat is 1 in 4, the anti-rape laws would be much, much harsher than if the stat was, say, 1 in 4000. It's men who suffer as a result of harsher laws (VAWA, anyone?). VAWA, the anti-Dowry law and the Domestic Violence Act were all passed due to stats like this. None of them do very much to discourage false accusations.

While the real issue (Women get raped) needs highlighting, doing it with false stats is not exactly the best way to get popular. You always get exposed, and rape then becomes almost laughable. It is utterly shameful and downright embarrassing when rape victims have to be asked "So, did he force you physically, hold you down and force the issue when you didn't want to, or did you agree to it and regret it weeks later? Sorry to hurt your feelings, but that's how rape is defined." It is because of the outrageously exaggerated and flexible definition of rape than 1 in 4 exists, and victims actually have to be asked what 'kind of rape' they experienced. That is humiliating and horrible. The rape stats do nothing good for men or women.

Imagine the furor over a stat that 98% of cases registered under a feminist act protecting women were false acusations made by vengeful women. People would go head over heels to prove this is false. But sadly, in the case of the Dowry law in India, this is true. But nobody really believed until The Supreme Court of India proved this to be true. Karan Thapar reveals it in this all too familiar interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk-rcm8b3...

Why is it so hard to believe stats exposing sexism and oppression against men? Why do we buy stats about female victims so easily?

You only have to look around. I actually asked people what they thought when men initiated 75% of all divorces. They said men are irresponsible and uncommited, so it isn't a surprise. When I revealed the real stat (women initiate 75%), I was bombarded with "Are you sure?" "That is sexist! It's not true!" and so on. People already have preconceived notions that women can only be victims, men only criminals.

Why false stats I ask? Focus on the issue and give the real numbers. You'll get sympathy and support anyway. Focus on the effects of rape to stress the seriousness of it, feminists. Feminism's one fault is that it uses numbers for everything without thinking. Numbers only cast temporary horror, though they cause quite a stir. And you will be proved wrong soon. But the seriousness of rape can never be proven wrong.

What is better, support that stays or support that turns against you when you're disproven?

But the real numbers would not support the exaggerated feminist view of rape and female victimhood. So twist the numbers. Simple isn't it? Except that when you're exposed, people lose faith in everything you ever said.

Yes, rape is a heinous, serious crime, and deserves attention, but it isn't as common as feminists would have us believe. Even with underreporting, it will never be close to even 1 in 1000.

Answer 12

The truth is important, and the truth is that far too many women are victims of rape.  Rape statistics are not easy to pinpoint because it is such an underreported crime.  Nevertheless, I think we can all agree that even one rape is too many.

Answer 13

That statistic IS false.  I remember when it came out in the press.  It said, one in four college coeds has been sexually assualted, which makes more sense and is more likely.  Unfortunately, it has degenerated into one in four women has been raped.

Answer 14

I find it sad that people justify these things with what someone wore and how much she drank as to whether she deserved it or not. Granted, there are those who make fraudulent claims, but it truly does hurt those like me who have been raped. It makes the stigma of it all that much harder to overcome, and makes others indifferent as to whether it's truly a problem because they cannot imagine it happening.

As for feminism and rape - I think unless their stats are sound they should back away from this issue. More than likely it's a way to vilify men in general, and not to actually help and empower women into protecting themselves.

Answer 15

Good story of course.

Answer 16

It depends upon your agenda, I suppose.  Statistics can be manipulated, and usually are.  The problem is that when the manipulation is revealed, the credibility of the one doing the manipulation is damaged.  In this case, the credibility of those seeking gender equality is damaged, and that is shameful.  Of course, any rape is horrible.  There is no argument there.  Expanding the definition of rape belittles the horror of it.  

In the quote you give, I wonder what the "real issue here" is?  If the "real issue" is that rape is awful and rape prevention needs considerable attention, that is indisputable, and the statistics need no manipulation.  However, if the issue is something else, something more sinister, then there is an agenda asserting that men are the problem and men must be dealt with harshly and men are in their very essence evil.

I wonder why when a male teacher is accused of having s*x with a 14 year old female student the media labels him a rapist, but when a female teacher is accused of having s*x with a 14 year old male student the media reports they had "sexual relations"?  Could it be the same agenda?

Answer 17

Depends who you're asking. Obviously the fairytale is favored by the people with initiatives.

Answer 18

How can you put a number on something that is impossible to track? Does someone go around with a clip board and a questionnaire about the likelihood of being raped, asking whether or not the person doing the survey has been raped or had done any raping? It`s ridiculous to even think that there could be an accurate number showing the correct numbers of women OR men raped in North America...let alone in other countries where women are more outwardly oppressed.

I don`t know the rape statistics. They don`t matter to me. Every time someone gets raped, they have been failed. It`s tragic. It`s horrible. The issue here wasn`t a `good story`but rather awareness on the subject of rape. While the truth IS important, do you see a need to know just how many people have experienced something as horrible as being raped?

There are many people who stay quiet when they are raped. They don`t tell a soul. They might feel guilty about the situation, feel as though no one would believe them, or feel dirty and ashamed even though it isn`t their fault. I have had 2 of my friends fall victim to rape and it is no light subject or something that has been easy for them to just ``forget about and move on.``

Why is the number so important? You would think that it would be more important to make awareness so it happens less frequently rather than being obssessed with a number.

Edit: If you gave me a thumbs down, does that mean you advocate rape?

Answer 19

I think you're the one who is way to hung up on the numbers. What is important that a young women's life is destroyed every day because of rape. How can feminism outrage you so much but not this?