It wasn't "rape rape!"

Anyone been following the Polanski story?  Wtf is wrong with people?

I haven't exactly seen the whole story.  But I did see a snippet of Whoopi talking about it.  From what I gathered she was saying what happened isn't the same thing as "rape" because the girl was older and gave consent.  Or something like that.... Anyway, I know what rape is and it's happened to me personally.  Once at knife point....  That in no way should be compared to a young teenager who volunteerily goes with some guy who happens to be over the age of 18-years-old.   Also, I have a relative that was falsely accused another relative of raping her.  Later she confessed to telling a lie.  Well, her stepfather is still sitting in a prison and being punished for something he didn't do.  When he finally does get out... There won't be any apologies either.  The laws should clearly define what is rape and should punish those who commit the crime.  It really irks me sometimes.  Both men who raped me were never charged, prosecuted, or served 1 second of time for what they did.  Part of the problem is our city prosecutors.  They decide to make an example out of someone just to boost their political ambitions and sometimes they know they don't have the right person and go forward with their prosecution any way.  And then they just let the real bad guys go free... It stinks.  Sometimes it makes me wish I were a lawyer.

For a 44 year old man to have sex with a 13 year old girl is just wrong.  If alcohol and drugs were involved as is purported then both of their judgements may very well have been altered, but it's still just wrong.  Unless she tied him up and jumped him I just don't see where a 13 year old has the experience to consent to sex with someone who could advance or ruin her career.

I have a difficult time believing that it was consensual when sex with a minor was the plea bargain.  Plea bargains are well known for being an acceptance of lesser charges when you're guilty but proving it will be difficult or costly.

From the point of view of the times, he would probably have been far better off to face the charges at the time back when women were frequently considered to be partially at fault for sexual crimes.  I'm shocked that the victim is not interested in pursuing this.  I'm appalled that anyone would excuse the man on the basis of his fame or artistic merit.  He's had 30 years to live it up instead of dealing with the charges at the time.  Personally I hope that they tack on charges for fleeing the sentence.

Yeah...and I'm at the point where I'm really sick of people saying "just get over it". Get over the rape of a 13 year old?

And the people saying that she's not an innocent victim because she had already had sex with some other guys and used drugs...oh, ok...so that makes the rape of a child excusable?

I don't understand people that think minors can give consent...I've stopped going onto CL for the time being cuz there's too many douchebags on there saying all this crap, UGH

If the victim is saying she wasn't raped and she doesn't want to pursue charges why is it anyone else's business?

She just doesn't want to deal with.  Understandable.  Sucks she has to relive all this again.  I haven't heard that she is now claiming he did not rape her.  As of 2008 she still kept to the same story.

The victim is not saying she was never raped.  She doesn't want to pursue it because of the original reason why they agreed to the original plea - her parents didn't want their little girl dragged through the trauma of a trial.

This pretty much reflects my feelings on it.

Original Post by smwhipple:

From the point of view of the times, he would probably have been far better off to face the charges at the time back when women were frequently considered to be partially at fault for sexual crimes.  I'm shocked that the victim is not interested in pursuing this.  I'm appalled that anyone would excuse the man on the basis of his fame or artistic merit.  He's had 30 years to live it up instead of dealing with the charges at the time.  Personally I hope that they tack on charges for fleeing the sentence.

i agree. hollywood has their heads lodged firmly up their ____ . i cant believe they can defend a pedophile because hes a great director.

i can certainly understand why she doesnt want to pursue it 30 years later though. its behind her, which is exactly where she wants to keep it. doubtful her wishes will enter the equation, this time she will have to bend over and take it from the judicial system.

Original Post by alibsam:

If the victim is saying she wasn't raped and she doesn't want to pursue charges why is it anyone else's business?

 Only the latter is true.  Her sworn statement from the original trial implies rape.

As I've said, although I respect her wishes, as a society, I do not see how we can set the precedent that you can get away with pleading guilty to charges and if unsatisfied with the sentence you receive (crazy judge aside), you just run away and let the victim "get over it" over decades.  You have your lawyer go after the State if there was screwing around with your plea bargain, or, if the plea deal was legit, you accept the consequences of your actions.  Fleeing the country until the victim gets sick of dealing with the ordeal is not an option.

Original Post by brendaminor448:

I haven't exactly seen the whole story.  But I did see a snippet of Whoopi talking about it.  From what I gathered she was saying what happened isn't the same thing as "rape" because the girl was older and gave consent. 

She was 13 and was definitely not old enough to give consent.  Even if she was, he drugged her!  It is most definitely the same thing as rape and he's a complete animal as well as a child molester and he needs to be in prison!

Or something like that.... Anyway, I know what rape is and it's happened to me personally.  Once at knife point....  That in no way should be compared to a young teenager who volunteerily goes with some guy who happens to be over the age of 18-years-old.  

Over the age of 18 isn't the half of it, literally!  He was 44 years old when he forced himself on a 13 year old CHILD!  Her sworn testimony states that she didn't voluntarily sleep with him and was in fact afraid of him.

Also, I have a relative that was falsely accused another relative of raping her.  Later she confessed to telling a lie.  Well, her stepfather is still sitting in a prison and being punished for something he didn't do. 

Polanski pleaded guilty to the crime.  He admitted to forcing himself on this child.  I wish they'd lock him up, throw away the key and let the other inmates deal with him, and any celebrity that supports him will not get any of my movie ticket money.

Sorry, double posting.

To SMWHIPPLE:

For a 44 year old to have sex with a 13 yr old is indeed wrong and I'm not making excuses for the bastard either, but if they were both using and abusing drugs and alcohol.. then it's both of their fault.

You realize how many 12, 13, and 14 yr olds are out there these days willingly committing to sexual behaviors that they are too young to comprehend?

Are you just blind? Your opinion is biased.

Anyone can consent to sex. There are kids 12 and under now-a-days that fully understand the meaning of sex. Females are maturing at younger and younger ages according to recent studies.. and in school classes like Phys. Ed. and what have you - the males hormones are steadily increasing due to the increase in female hormones.

Even if the girl wasn't aware of the consequences.. she should've know right from wrong as well and if she didn't the fault lies with the parent's. Most parents these days don't teach childrean things they should know and be aware of, especially when it comes to talking about sex. Parents need to pick up the pace. Kids don't stay kids forever.. and sex needs to be talked about so **** like this doesn't happen.

There isn't any ignorance for stupid (in the man's case), but there's also no excuse for ignorance either.

3-dude, when you have a 13yo daughter, feel free to feed her to the 44yos. let us know how that works out for you.

Original Post by watergirl:

3-dude, when you have a 13yo daughter, feel free to feed her to the 44yos. let us know how that works out for you.

 ^This

Original Post by 3cxod:

To SMWHIPPLE:

 

For a 44 year old to have sex with a 13 yr old is indeed wrong and I'm not making excuses for the bastard either, but if they were both using and abusing drugs and alcohol.. then it's both of their fault.

 

You realize how many 12, 13, and 14 yr olds are out there these days willingly committing to sexual behaviors that they are too young to comprehend?

Are you just blind? Your opinion is biased.

Anyone can consent to sex. There are kids 12 and under now-a-days that fully understand the meaning of sex. Females are maturing at younger and younger ages according to recent studies.. and in school classes like Phys. Ed. and what have you - the males hormones are steadily increasing due to the increase in female hormones.

 

Even if the girl wasn't aware of the consequences.. she should've know right from wrong as well and if she didn't the fault lies with the parent's. Most parents these days don't teach childrean things they should know and be aware of, especially when it comes to talking about sex. Parents need to pick up the pace. Kids don't stay kids forever.. and sex needs to be talked about so **** like this doesn't happen.

 

There isn't any ignorance for stupid (in the man's case), but there's also no excuse for ignorance either.

 Well by all means,  you were so persuasive I think 13 should become the legal age of consent.  In fact, 13 year old should be able to join the army too.  Just give 'em an automatic weapon, a case of condoms and a good talking to and they should be all set.

12, 13 and 14 year old children are out there having sex precisely because the majority of them DON'T comprehend what it means.  Sex is everywhere in our society and it's portrayed as a fun little hobby.  Something that makes you "grown up." 

Show me a 13 year old who's mature enough to raise a child on their own without relying on state aid, mature enough to take the medication regime necessary for someone to live with HIV, mature enough to fully grasp their self-worth and be strong enough to say "No!" to someone who's trying to get them to do something they don't want to and I'll show you a 13 year old who's mature enough for sex.

I don't know all the details either, but my question is where were the parents when their child was out doing drugs and being taken advantage of by some old pervert?????

Original Post by 3cxod:

There isn't any ignorance for stupid (in the man's case), but there's also no excuse for ignorance either.

 Even if you can claim that this 13 year old girl is "ignorant" and it's her parent's fault, she still said NO.  I don't care what she was and wasn't aware of in terms of sex education, even if she was of the legal age of consent (and she wasn't) - she said NO, and he ignored it.

There is no excuse for that.  None.

Original Post by amayou82:

I don't know all the details either, but my question is where were the parents when their child was out doing drugs and being taken advantage of by some old pervert?????

 I agree that the parent(s) share the blame because they obvious neglected to protect their child from this predator.  The fact remains, however, that Polanski committed unspeakable crimes against a child.  The fact that she doesn't want everything drug out again is understandable, but this loathesome predator has to be held accountable for his crimes.

The transcript of the victim's testimony can be read here. If you think that Polanski is not a rapist, please read the testimony. Just as a warning, it is quite disturbing.

I just cannot believe some of these responses.

• The 13-yr old girl was partially responsible because she was on drugs.
• The 13-yr old girl was partially responsible because she wasn't exactly pure and had sex previously.
• It's the 13-yr old parents' fault.

Are you freaking kidding me?

Are we really justifying what Roman Polanski did by defaming a 13-yr old girl and her parents?

Roman Polanski initiated sexual contact with someone he knew to be underage, persisted after she said no, pled guilty to unlawful intercourse with a minor, and fled the country when he feared he would go to prison anyway.

And we should now just forget about it because it was so long ago? Or because the girl - lady now - doesn't want to relive her past? How many rape victims don't want to face their attacker and make their story public?

Alibsam, are you really saying that if there is any victim who does not want to face their accuser, or wants to put the past behind them, then we should just forget about prosecuting the culprit?

3CXOD, are you really saying that a 13-yr old girl - no matter the circumstances - should be as accountable to her decisions as a 44-yr old?

Freaking unbelievable.

Original Post by bobs9895:

I just cannot believe some of these responses.

• The 13-yr old girl was partially responsible because she was on drugs.
• The 13-yr old girl was partially responsible because she wasn't exactly pure and had sex previously.
• It's the 13-yr old parents' fault.

Are you freaking kidding me?

Are we really justifying what Roman Polanski did by defaming a 13-yr old girl and her parents?

Roman Polanski initiated sexual contact with someone he knew to be underage, persisted after she said no, pled guilty to unlawful intercourse with a minor, and fled the country when he feared he would go to prison anyway.

And we should now just forget about it because it was so long ago? Or because the girl - lady now - doesn't want to relive her past? How many rape victims don't want to face their attacker and make their story public?

Alibsam, are you really saying that if there is any victim who does not want to face their accuser, or wants to put the past behind them, then we should just forget about prosecuting the culprit?

3CXOD, are you really saying that a 13-yr old girl - no matter the circumstances - should be as accountable to her decisions as a 44-yr old?

Freaking unbelievable.

 What Bobs9895 said