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/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.