WHEN are we going to stop blaming the victim?

[Rosemary2205]

News in Atlanta. Some guy gets attacked at the MARTA station (subway train/buses) and gets the ever loving hell beat out of him. Appearantly the scuffle with the attackers lasted about 5 minutes. The man is asking - why isn't there security in the MARTA station? (there normally is) These are not those bank security type guys - these are full fledged police officers and no one ever came to the man's aid. Marta releases a statement saying the victim's injuries are a result of his refusal to comply with his attackers.

WTF?

I appreciate the Marta security is not to BLAME for the assault, of course the attackers are. But why are they blaming the victim instead of some sort of PR hogwash "We regret the incident blah blah blah".

[devilgrrl]

1. "his refusal to comply with his attackers"

Couldn't this apply to insurgents in Iraq? Their refuse to comply with their attackers?

Sorry to hear about that gentleman... he's not to blame.

[valerief]

2. But if he complied with the attackers, who were committing a crime,

then he'd be an accomplice to a crime. By not complying, he was not an accomplice.

(I'm guessing the attackers were robbing him and that's a crime.)

[Rosemary2205]

3. They were trying to take his laptop.

You know, credit card accounts, bank passwords etc etc etc.

[valerief]

5. Wow. And if he let them take it, he'd be up the river for releasing

that info.

He was surely in a lose/lose situation.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. I wonder if they would apply the same logic to a rape victim?

"Well, it's all her fault for refusing to comply."

[Bluerthanblue]

6. yeah, guilty of being female and breathing-

guilty of being afraid-

guilty of being alive-

We like to blame those who suffer, because seeing people suffer scares us- removes the 'veil of invincibility' we love to hide behind- And fear is often the precursor to anger-

this world is so screwed.

[bobbolink]

10. What's to wonder? Of course women are usually blamed for rape.

From what she was wearing to whether she said "no".

[Beaverhausen]

7. Not that I don't believe you but do you have a link to this story?

thanks :hi:

[jarab]

8. That's standard fare ...

Cops are always telling us to cooperate when being mugged, raped, or robbed. They insist our chances (at survival, I suppose) are better if we relent. I'm not surprised at MARTA's response.

Someone will be here in 30 minutes to investigate.

I call that bullshit, but this one victim would possibly disagree.

...O...

[BeFree]

9. Yeah

it's like those who blame Kerry for having the White House stolen right out from underneath him.