42 percent? Bullshit.
I was up at Notre Dame this weekend, where I saw the following flyer in Lewis Hall:
The statistic wasn’t attributed to any source — how could it be? The very definition of the statistic makes it unknowable. Whoever wrote that statistic just made it up.
Rape statistics are often inflated in order to add urgency to the situation — particularly on college campuses. Unfortunately, this kind of ploy is destined to backfire if people do their homework.
Yes, rape is awful. Rape victims should come forward, and we should put rapists away for a long, long time. But artificially inflating the number only discredits women and may lead to a “cry wolf” situation in which legitimate rape accusations are doubted.
… and 42% of statistics are made up on the spot. But I’ve sworn not to go down that path. I’ve taken Steve Martin’s non-conformist oath:
I promise to be different (echoed by crowd)
I promise to be unique (echoed by crowd)
I promise not to repeat things other people say (oops…)
Seriously though, Matt, you nailed it here:
“But artificially inflating the number only discredits women and may lead to a “cry wolf” situation in which legitimate rape accusations are doubted.”
If these 42% NEVER TELL, how did the statistic get compiled?
Femi-Nazi propaganda. Bullchips!
My favorite is 1 ot of 8 women will get breast cancer. When i started med school it was 1 out of 12. And more women die from heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and colon cancer. But i can’t get them to quit smoking.