Comments on: Defending What Matters

By: soniCinema

soniCinema — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:23:10 +0000

@Jeff Burdges, well, the good news is that rape has gone down 70% between 1993-2008 (Atlantic Monthly, Sept 2012)…I’m guessing this is the type of change you are hoping for as we convert from our cave-man ways? Of course, who knows if that is due to people just not reporting rape, because they are scared of making 10 minutes of powerlessness into the rest of their life, afraid to have to defend it, or, as in the case of Halcyon’s camp mate, afraid of bumming everyone out, and thank goodness she wasn’t.

The part of this issue that really gets me, is that we don’t give (mostly young women) the benefit of the doubt that they can heal and move on from rape or other sexual assault. It is still looked at by our society as a permanent condition from which you can never recover, which is an additional level of violence. It starts with each one of us to remove that stigma, first by refusing to be a victim or refusing to see a victim in our friends. It is a choice not to continue giving up your power for the rest of your life.

Actions like Halcyon’s camp mate can help to draw that boundary and reestablish control, while sending a clear message to the perpetrator that their behavior is not welcome in our society.

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By: mollygolightly

mollygolightly — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 02:04:18 +0000

For instance: Sometime during the 1999-2000-2001 era there was a sexual assault arrest during the event. A woman was drugged, taken to the edge of Black Rock City and sexually assaulted. The perpetrator was dumb enough to allow his victim to take a photo before it happened. That’s how he was found. I don’t recall this being made public by BM although arrest records are public records.

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By: Reef

Reef — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:26:27 +0000

RAPE RAPE RAPE!!!

Everywhere – RAPE!

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By: Leo

Leo — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:59:42 +0000

“It’s Burning Man” should indeed mean that this is a place where people who get bullied in the world experience life without bullying and oppression. IMO that’s a good goal for this event and others like it.

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By: Chicken John

Chicken John — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:56:51 +0000

I’m glad to see this topic not as taboo as it’s been in the past. AND IT’S BEEN VERY VERY TABOO IN THE PAST. As a matter of fact, MANY people have quit and been dismissed over this topic.

the simple fact is the LLC has done so little to mitigate sexual assault that many of us have lost respect for them over this topic.

And quit.

I have been an advocate for a membership organization since 1997. But since it’s not Larry or Marions’ idea, well… you know the answer to that.

Membership would weed out tons of idiots. But it would also cut down the bottom line. So it’ll never happen as long as the greedy cunts that hold the reigns are still in power.

I can talk more, if anyone is interested.

chicken john

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By: some seeing eye

some seeing eye — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 01:33:05 +0000

Sexual assault and miscommunication is found at other festivals, gatherings with similar age structures, intoxicants, a focus on freedom/ creativity, and a sexy vibe. Like those events, people are intent on making many new connections quickly. The dance camps can put some participants into the nightclubbing state of mind by association, with nightclubbing behaviors.

The Burning Man community would do a service to society to create a new attitude along the lines of the Bureau of Erotic Discourse principles. Our goal should be reducing these bad experiences to zero at the event, for participants to anticipate zero and for participants to take that philosophy out into the world.

I’m not saying it will be easy, but it’s a good challenge for some fresh thinking about the cultural design of the event.

Concrete suggestion, BMIR PSA’s. A dedicated BED radio station. Just like each camp needs a LNT plan in their application, how about a human-to-human communication plan?

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By: toona

toona — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 22:50:47 +0000

with all the rape hysteria surrounding this event, and not a single arrest for sexual assault, even. must be pretty sad for those wishing to hang a random male.

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By: pinky

pinky — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:42:43 +0000

Halcyon, just read through the posts on eplaya about the” serial rapist, rape kits”, because i worked for ESD this year in the clinics. Working for ESD was an awesome experience, and really gave me a different view of the city. I’m in awe of what is accomplished by the ESD teams. Reading through the whole thread was very painful and my heart goes out to the people affected by this violence (which is really all of us, the whole community). Thank you again for addressing this topic in your wonderful style.

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By: Jeff Burdges

Jeff Burdges — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:45:48 +0000

Also, there is a detailed article at wired on various date rape drug testers, including their availability, reliability, limitations, and price. http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Check_Your_Drink_for_Roofies#Drink_Drug_Detection_Devices

It’ll help enormously if several wood-be rapists get apprehended trying to drug burners. And paradoxically such cases might prove much less complex to prosecute.

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By: pinky

pinky — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:37:51 +0000

Halcyon, thank you for your post and for talking about things that are hard to talk about.

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