But I Never Raped Anyone…

(but adding to what I just said above) If that wasn't her intention to discriminate, if she is lumping all the non-hostile guys as doing wrong by doing nothing, then I have to disagree with her on many reasons. First of all, I put myself in some form of danger whenever I stop to help a stranger, whether it be in person or a testimony in court. If the rapist is, for example, a gangster, then my actions may trigger ramifications that'll backfire on me. But even if it's not a gangster, if it was just one skinny guy with a knife raping a little girl in a dark alley, I'm still in danger of going to jail for saving her life. I cannot touch him because I was not in immediate danger at the time. That is the law here in Los Angeles. That's why many of us Angelinos do nothing when we see a rape in progress. Yes, it looks cold, yes we wish we were Spiderman at this point, but it's a terrible situation best left to the poilice who have the right under law and authority to use excessive force to deal with the assailer. The courts do not reward heroes, they reward law abiding citizens, and produce short-term sentence for rapist. It's a very ugly situation! And any lawyer here will tell you there is no justice in our court system. Money and power takes precedence over well-being.

In saying that, chivery is mostly dead where I live. That's why novels of knights-in-shining-armor sell very well. Women love such men...but once again, if the speaker's intention was to discriminate, then she needs to examine herself and realize that she's falling into that "rescue me!" character that I don't think is befiting a true feminist seeking "equality". A lot of women, especially in Los Angeles, carry this with them when they should be carrying pepper spray or a few months of karate training under their belt when out alone in the streets. Some men call such women "gold diggers", others use words I don't think I can use on this messege board. Point is, it would get a negative response from the female community if a man got up on stage and spoke of the things women "should" do. Suddenly equality goes out the window. Why? Because men are "expected" to take care of themselves, therefore men are "expected" to help out their sisters because we are physically stronger than woman, therefore we are not your equal but your better or savior (insert adjective here) in such situations. Thus, those men who flee a confrontation are considered less than a man by a woman's standard. This female "rescue me!" attitude doesn't just stop when she's being assaulted, but stretches into the financial and career sector of a man's life. But that's a whole other discussion.

In summary, this is why it's ill-advised to listen to a woman, especially a young one, tell you what it means to be a man. Only another man can truly answer that question.

I had to see the video twice to decifer that the speaker was lumping the same guys who abuse or harass women as the ones who do nothing to help them. The comments were so close together as to suggest that that was her intention. I don't think she criticized men who had absolutely nothing to do with anything, but rather the men whom I just mention above.

damn yo. i believe that rape in any form is wrong and I hope that all the stupid fucks responsible for taking away a man or woman's innocence can suck a cock and go to hell. i myself, believe that rape is one problem in the world that seems to be chronic, and it is one of the worst things that you can ever do. to ZAHEER and PAT i don't know why the fuck you two are arguing when in the world right now as i'm typing this, a male or female person is being raped against their will. so i say to you two, get a damn life, stop complaining towards each other, and start ACTUALLY DOING something. peace out.

Zaheer, from #6:

You are doing what's known as "concern trolling".  Example: "Yes, that's bad, but you should be focusing on these things here, which are so much more important!"  As though one can't care about more than one thing at once; as though there is only ever so much caring to go around; as though your issues are automatically more important than another's.

That's not how it works.

I believe that not only does she make a valid point here, it is well written and formulated.
Yes Zaheer there are other important issues in the world, but does that mean that an issue like this is of any less importance?

Feminism is not about being 'more equal' or controlling men, it's about genuine equality and neither sex feeling like they are being overshadowed or the other being empowered. Frankly, most men can't handle a women being independent of their control, refer back to the 'women controlling the world article' http://menstrualpoetry.com/world-dominated-women . My response is to 'man up' guys. Women are beginning to have voices, like those which you men take for granted. Deal with it.

Pat also makes a good point, the majority of society does indulge in this culture. It's disgusting and incredibly exploited.

Everything you guys are saying sounds way out of place and is out of context of her message of redefinition of the term "rape". She is not asking you to be supermen but to not fall into the trap of society's creation of what defines a man sexually and physically. She is also not saying every guy is at fault but a huge scapegoat for this issue is what women look like/wear and they are somehow the only source of wearing "what men want". When society is telling a young women from 1000's of media outlets to dress like a prostitute who can you trace that messages creater back to? A majority of men heading media companies that know sex sells and they become the pushers of sex. Buying into this is one thing that all men have done at one point or another whether they tune into a sexually driven music video because its sexually driven or when they buy a Maxim magazine because they're most fantasized celebrities pose half-naked. I'm not telling you to firebomb a media outlet but to not purchase blatant sexual products because they effect everyone that views them and the men that define they're image of beauty and sex from it.

I think you've pretty much confirmed you're just someone full of hate as opposed to someone able to hold a discussion. Then again perhaps it wasn’t such a smart thing posting this on a feminist’s blog. I stand by my beliefs that blaming every guy not raping for not doing anything about rape isn’t fair. You’re responsible for the crisis in Sudan. Why? Because you’re not out there actively trying to stop it. That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. I'm neither a neo-con nor a Fox subscriber. In fact I'm not even from the states. Spreading awareness about rape is a noble cause. Getting pissed off by guys who aren’t raping is simply beyond me. Inaction is not complicity. I’m sorry I don’t know any rapists or victims of rape to act on. I’m not going to go out of my way to protest about it so that makes me a fucktard? There are a helluvalotta people not doing anything about a lot of things. Guess we’re all fucktards and closet rapists then.

"There are more problems in the world besides the maltreatment of women Menstrualpoetry." -Zaheer

You sir are a fucktard and everyone else that is bashing her outcry against rape in all forms. You guys are narrow minded and probably are all subscribers to Fox News.

"That’s not to say its not an important issue"-Zaheer

Wait thats exactly what your saying. Your first tried to tell me it wasn't important and now it is. In the words of a awesome flash video, "WTF Mate?".-End of ze world.

"but people are starving, dying of disease and there are young boys being sexually abused around the world too. I doubt you’ve dedicated your life to fighting these problems. The fact is I’ve got assignments to hand in, I’ve got to pay for a degree and I’ve got to worry about my own life as I’m sure you do too."-Zaheer

Thats what I thought. Previous to quote #1 you do absolutely nothing but worry about yourself while she is spreading awareness about as you said "a important issue".-Zaheer
You are a fucking hypocrite and probably subscribe to Fox News or another equally narrow-minded and controlled version. Go fuck yourself everyone that has put her down and probably done jack-shit themselves.

So good guys who have never raped or abused women shouldn't sit on the sidelines and do nothing? There are more problems in the world besides the maltreatment of women Menstrualpoetry. That's not to say its not an important issue but people are starving, dying of disease and there are young boys being sexually abused around the world too. I doubt you've dedicated your life to fighting these problems. The fact is I've got assignments to hand in, I've got to pay for a degree and I've got to worry about my own life as I'm sure you do too. If it's not effecting someone I care about or who cares about me I can't be held accountable for every faceless, nameless victim of whatever catastrophe in the world. That's my excuse for not worrying about the maltreatment of women. I've got my own shit to handle. What's yours? Why aren't you volunteering in Africa? What I'm saying is human beings in general are selfish whether you like to admit it or not. You're not interested in issues that don't effect you and nor am I. I give my bit to Oxfam every month but besides that I'm holding my own life together. If we tried to help every problem in the world we wouldn't be able live our own lives. It's a defence mechanism. Please don't act like you don't do the same.

I do want to say that there is a difference between not understanding what is being said and thinking that it is without merit.

Yes, I understand what you are trying to say. It is just ridiculous in its lack of personal accountability and offensive in the obvious bias against responsibility of an entire half of the population. As you can see from the reaction on shoutwire, your two minute poem has a tendency to raise awareness of this issue, but not in the way you would intend.

However, more disturbing is that you seem to look at the comments as us not understanding. Oh, we understand. But without you also including the women that allow men to form their sexist attitudes, you are an ironically large part of the problem. Next time, speak out against the women that use sex to get love. Bash the Maury guests that don't even know who is the father of their fourth baby. Rail not against the makers of Playboy and Maxim that give dirty men their dirty ideas, but the women that choose to pose in such provocative manners.

Without accepting the partial blame of women, I reject your idea that men who don't speak out to other men are also responsible; women who would rather bash well intentioned men than focus on their own problems are also responsible.

"All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others."

Feminism in a nutshell.

Don't spew equality of the sexes, citing hatred and generalization of your gender as the arrow to your spleen, and then turn around that hideous two-faced neck, spew your own version of "justice" that involves further generalizing the male gender and claim a massive injustice against yourself.

For all those women who think when a man opens the door for them, that is sexist; fuck you.
For all those women who think that they can just as easily take advantage of men and get away with it; fuck you.

Whilst in the past, I acknowledge that women have been treated unfairly and as unequally by society, as much as blacks or Jews, and in some way, Feminism has helped to alleviate this, the time for change has PASSED. It is now time to abandon the radical wing of feminism and rejoice in an open-viewed conservatism that still highlights the woes against BOTH GENDERS.

This sort of shit reminds me of the French Revolution; starts off about egalitarianism, liberty and justice for all, but as the we all know; "La révolution dévore ses enfants" and at some point, you need to decide that this is enough.

Just like a swinging pendulum, it is inevitable that you will revert back to the center of the circle, but until then, stop bringing class-hatred, stop blaming men for problems, stop demanding equality and then riding men for all they're worth, actually GIVE us the opportunity to be EQUAL ; mothers have just as many rights as the father should. Keep in mind that men are raped too, are victims of abuse and that women are not the only ones who need to survive.

Learn that not every man is a rapist, that there are just as many nice men out there as there are men; but you need to take a further step in this cultural revolution and overcome your own prejudices.

Eventually you will find that many of your problems are the results of your own decisions. Don't be stupid and walk around at midnight in a dark alley, short skirt and boobs exposed to the world, 'cause you're just asking for trouble.

Why do you want to spread hate? There are positive ways to solve the problems we face in life no matter how much pain we feel. You are angry about rape, and beatings, and vulgar hurtful language, and you are angry at people who have hurt you, or who did nothing to help you and let you and many others scream and cry alone. Are you trying to be feared, rejected, despised?
At least be fair and hate everyone equally. Both genders can be selfish, ignorant, and ruthlessly vicious.
Life is also far too beautiful, and inspiring to shut people out just because of the body they were born with. Get to know people for who they really are.

Try putting yourself in a woman's shoes. You will realize that men have the power and men abuse that power. I can see that everyone that has commented has completely missed the message that brave woman tried to convey. Yes there is plenty of blame to go around but when it comes down to it someone needs to take responsibility, the cowards are always the first to toss the blame.
Try growing a fucking brain that isn't between your legs and look at the big picture.

P.S. 20 year old male that agrees with every word she said.

Lol this has spawned a couple of response posts that you (the author) might consider reading:

http://www.shoutwire.com/comments/138949/In_Res...

http://www.shoutwire.com/comments/138930/The_Pr...