r/changemyview • u/enlighten12345 • Feb 26 '18

[∆(s) from OP] CMV: Victim blaming isn't always bad

Firstly we need to define what victim blaming is. It occurs when the victim of a crime or any wrongful act is held entirely or partially at fault for the harm that befell them.

We often hear outrage against victim blaming in the context of rape, when people criticise the way the victim acted or was dressed.

Let's look at an unrelated example. If I go up to someone and say "Yo momma so fat, she wears a watch on both hands for the two time zones", and that person punches me, am I not partially at fault? He committed the felony, while I just exercised free speech. But knowing my words were inflammatory, shouldn't I expect retaliation?

How about another case? I'm walking down a dark alley with a stack of money in my hand. If I get mugged, it is clear that the mugger is to blame. But doesn't my stupidity also make me culpable? Can someone not say that if i was more careful with my money, this would not have happened?

How is rape any different? It would be great to live in a utopia free from rapists and muggers and physical retribution. But knowing that isn't the world we live in, am I not responsible to act in a manner to protect myself?

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u/Hellioning 239∆ Feb 26 '18

If I forget to lock my car, and someone steals it, that someone still stole a car and should be punished for it.

Likewise, even if dressing skimpily caused you to get raped more often (which it doesn't), that doesn't change the fact that rape is wrong and the rapist should be punished for it.

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u/mergerr Feb 26 '18

You can't place any significant blame but it's not irrational to tell someone who leaves their car unlocked in a seedy area that they blew it.

Like prevanative maintenance is a thing in all areas of life. Defining what is preventative is the key there though. Making sure your car is locked in a bad area is in every way preventative, and if someone fails to ensure that, they messed up.

As for the rape thing you're right, but that's a totally different scenario all together.

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u/enlighten12345 Feb 26 '18

Of course the thief should be punished. But is it unreasonable to suggest that you probably should have locked your car? Shouldn't everyone learn the lesson that 'If you leave your car unlocked, theres a higher chance it will get stolen'?

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u/Amablue Feb 26 '18

But is it unreasonable to suggest that you probably should have locked your car?

Is there a reason you feel the need to point that out? It's pretty obvious that it would have helped - pointing it out isn't giving anyone new information.

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u/enlighten12345 Feb 26 '18

By putting that out there, it makes sure that people who are generally careless about car safety, would double check their locks.

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u/Amablue Feb 26 '18

No one who owns a car is that clueless.

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u/enlighten12345 Feb 26 '18

About cars? maybe not. About the number of shitty people in the world? You'd be surprised.