WDYT?

loveshine1

http://gma.yahoo.com/steubenville-rape-case-havent-heard-050751050--abc-news-topstories.html

VarunaTT

THIS IS EXACTLY why people need to be taught that unless you get an enthusiastic YES, you don't have consent.

And I'll lay it out there, by people I mean boys and men.

ETA:  It also kills me that it's apparent she was so intoxicated that she has blacked out...but they are trying to argue she wasn't so intoxicated that she couldn't give consent.  What BAL does it take to black out?  Isn't it for most people, above the legal limit for driving?

TheMrsC23

I agree with V. 

And I'm sure that blackout levels are different in everyone.  I have a friend who just needed 2 stiff drinks before she was acting a fool and things went downhill fast (she's sober now). I don't think I've ever blacked out.  But I also know the tipping point of when that next drink will be a bad idea.

FLANYTATOOGURL

They should just charge all high school and college boys rape unless they get written consent that the girl said yes. How do we know that this girl isn't just embarrassed, because the whole town saw the pictures and is now claiming rape, to save her public image.

loveshine1

I agree with the enthusiastic YES as far as consent goes.

I also think that the black out point occurs at different alcohol levels. There were times that I was very drunk in college, but I never blacked out. This girl was probably going in and out, in between vomiting at various locations.

Also, these kids are in high school. Where were the parents during all of this? My parents were very strict with me and took the idea "things happen to girls" very seriously. There was no going out until all hours of the night drinking at house parties with no parents and alcohol being served. No way.

6fsn

I think it highlights a lot of failures.  Failure to teach the boys this isn't right.  Failure to teach girls how to reduce risks.  Failure to teach the bystanders how to help.

I'm not sure any of these kids really knew, or thought about the ramifications of their actions.  I find the whole situation to be incredibly sad.

Wzz

i think vomiting and blacking out should be considered an enthusiastic NO, even if she managed to joke and smile. it disgusts me that seeing her in that condition didn't make the boys think it was a bad idea. it wasn't just someone trying to make out with her. this was more than one boy putting his hands on her.

UO - i think this also serves as a message to young girls to be careful of the situations they put themselves in. if she hadn't been drunk to the point of oblivion, they'd not been able to take advantage of the situation. this isn't like saying that women should be able to wear a short skirt without having someone make advances. this is about being smart about what you are doing and where you are doing it. you don't fall asleep on the train with your IPad falling out of your hands where someone could just snatch it from you.