Liquor Control Board Pulls Shocking Date Rape Ad

I for one think they should have left the ads up because this is exactly what happens to some women who drink themselves into a stupor. The ads promote self-control and watching out for your friends. I don’t view them as blaming the victim but they do warn women what could happen if they aren’t vigilant about someone putting something in their drink or drinking themselves into oblivion so that they don’t know what is happening around them, or not watching out for their friends. It’s time to put the ugly truth out there and give young women something to think about when they head out on the town.

if you’re saying that the woman’s behavior (drinking alcohol) caused the rape to occur, and that she would not have gotten raped had she been sober, then yes, you are blaming the victim. any woman, man or child is vulnerable enough to be attacked, maybe not overpowered every time but at least targeted and attacked. no one is “too good” or “too strong” or “too well-behaved” to become a victim of crime. it just happens to you and you can’t control it, whether you are drunk or sober. drinking is not illegal. raping someone is. so who should this ad be targeting?

C, are you saying that you would get totally wasted with no one to protect or defend you in the company of males roaming for sex, amongst men, those of which you have no idea whether or not they are rapists? Would you tell your daughter that she should feel comfortable doing that? If so, you are much braver than I am. Have you read the study saying that there are men who would only rape if given the opportunity and if they didn’t think they would get caught, meaning they would not stalk a woman or look for someone to rape, but if they were at a party with a drunken girl in a room alone, they would do it. Don’t you know that any male is a potential rapist, your friends, husband, your father, your brother, your son, why make it easier for them than it already is.

Wow, these supposed advocacy groups just want to see people make stupid decisions, don’t they? Is it victim blaming when you tell a guy he’s stupid for walking down North Broad Street in one of Philly’s worst neighborhoods at 2 A.M. with hundreds in his hands and drunk? No, it’s calling him stupid for engaging in high risk behavior that he can easily prevent to severely limit his chances of beging robbed. Same thing with young women + large doses of alcohol + disgusting men that are desperate to get a woman. Why make it easier than it already is by making yourself drunk?

@ G:

“Wow, these supposed advocacy groups just want to see people make stupid decisions, don’t they?”

The decision to get raped? Talk to rape victims and ask them when they decided to get raped. Talk to male and child rape victims, too. Maybe it was pleasurable for them.

“Is it victim blaming when you tell a guy he’s stupid for walking down North Broad Street in one of Philly’s worst neighborhoods at 2 A.M. with hundreds in his hands and drunk?”

That is odd behavior, but there is NEVER an excuse to hurt someone and commit crime, even if it looks easy. It is NOT okay to rob someone because they’re holding some money, no matter how easy it might be. You can “limit” your chances of being robbed by staying indoors and avoiding people who look like they might rob you, whatever that may look like to you. but you can’t live your life in fear. even people who are protective and aware of their surroundings can become victims of crime at any time, whether you are strong or not so strong.

“young women + large doses of alcohol + disgusting men that are desperate to get a woman.”

rape is NOT about h orny men. rape is NOT about sexual pleasure. rape is about people who want to harm and overpower you and ruin your life because they want to feel in charge, and THAT’S what they feel pleasure in, listening to you beg them to stop, listening to your cries and screams and knowing that even if they get caught, this victim will never forget you and how much power you have. please do not make the mistake of thinking rapists just want a good one-night stand, then buy you breakfast and never call you again. rapists rape because they want to watch you hurt and bleed and beg for your life. you can’t stop a rapist from targeting you even if you wear turtle necks and sweatpants and never drink or go out with friends. they’re not looking for someone sexy and vulnerable, they’re looking for someone they want to HURT. and many rapists DO know their victims and have been targeting you long before you went out and had that drink.

@C, I think that raping a sober infant is just as bad as raping a drunk woman. You & I do not agree because I actually believe that we should do whatever it is we can to minimize the possibility of harm coming to us, knowing that it is no guarantee. Clearly, you equate taking responsibilty for what you CAN do to keep out of harms way equates taking the blame if some ill falls your way. The two are not the same. I would like you to answer this question. Would you leave your infant or young child in a house full of adolescent and/or adult men, not know which one of them might be a rapist? Please answer that question.

@G

it has nothing to do with people being men. if they were a group of people i knew well and trusted, then yes, i would leave my child with them if i wanted to. adolescents don’t bother me either, as long as there was at least 1 adult present that i knew and trusted. if my child was raped/robbed/abused/harmed during this time, i would file charges against whoever they were harmed by. i would NOT think to myself, it’s all my fault because i knew better than to trust MEN. i have no regrets leaving my children in the care of my husband because they are his children too. i do NOT avoid men and be around women only because i think everyone is out to get me and if i leave my house i WILL be raped and murdered. it is still a form of control when someone makes you think that you shouldn’t be around any men at all because you’re so scared of them. if i am a victim i take it to the police – i do not let that person control me by making me afraid of going places and living my life. “women drinking alcohol = asking to be raped” is as random as saying “driving a toyota = asking to be robbed” or “wearing a blue tshirt = being gay” or “watching the news = you must be a Seinfeld fan.”

@charles – what you are describing is a one-night stand where a woman gave consent and then regretted it so she lies and says you forced her. rapists are very different from men who are just looking for a one-night stand. men are free to drink alcohol on saturday nights without anyone criticizing them.

“Most people are missing the point here. Do you think that the “Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign makes it easier for people to get out of drunk driving accident because they can blame the alcohol?…”

AMEN to C! – Are people misunderstanding this AD because they don’t want to be told they cannot drink? I think this AD should not have been pulled, it makes a powerful and convincing statement of why it’s important to be aware of how much you drink, and what can happen if a person drinks too much. It is NOT placing blame on getting raped. It is true, women are raped drunk or not, dressed provocatively or not, etc. This ad is NOT saying it’s the victim’s fault, but rather empowering us women to think about what could happen if drink too much. It’s a fact that alcohol can impair judgment and slow one’s reaction time, it acts like a depressant in the system (men and women). It’s much easier to be taken advantage of by a predator in waiting if one is intoxicated.

Charles, women don’t have to drink too much to get sex…….no means no, and if she is not intoxicated then her ability to say no will not be diminished.

I can see why at first the ad might look to be worded to cause some misunderstanding….but taken in context it’s EXACTLY what anyone who drinks needs to know, and I hope they will bring the ads back..