A woman is MUCH more likely to be raped than to be the victim of an act of terror though. I mean, any of us can be killed by a bolt of lightning or a meteorite falling from the sky, anywhere, anytime. Those are not scary though, because the likelihood is so remote. The likelihood of rape, sadly, is far less remote.
<!--quoteo(post=1869057:date=Aug 15 2011, 07:36 AM:name=Align)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Align @ Aug 15 2011, 07:36 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1869057"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Terrorism isn't taboo? What exactly is the meaning of taboo in this context, that people are uncomfortable using it in written stories?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Well as an example, one of the CoD games had a level where you could participate as a terrorist shooting civilians, while it generated some controversy I'd be willing to bet no where near as much as a game including rape.
<!--quoteo(post=1869055:date=Aug 15 2011, 07:30 AM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Aug 15 2011, 07:30 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1869055"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->A woman is MUCH more likely to be raped than to be the victim of an act of terror though. I mean, any of us can be killed by a bolt of lightning or a meteorite falling from the sky, anywhere, anytime. Those are not scary though, because the likelihood is so remote. The likelihood of rape, sadly, is far less remote.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> This is true, but I wounder would terrorism be more taboo to you if you lived in Kabul?
In a terrorism class I took in college the professor suggested that rape is a form of terrorism, putting it on the same level. I do not agree with that, I just wanted to throw that out there, and I am not sure if rape deserves its special distinction or not, I just want to see where the discussion goes.
<!--quoteo(post=1869061:date=Aug 15 2011, 07:53 AM:name=Sops)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sops @ Aug 15 2011, 07:53 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1869061"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->This is true, but I wounder would terrorism be more taboo to you if you lived in Kabul?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> To continue this, certainly the higher rates of rape make it scarier but does frequency really have anything to do with how taboo it is? If we lived in a near perfect society where rape is almost unheard of would rape be any less taboo?
Possibly it has something to do with terrorism being pretty difficult for the average citizen to commit, I certainly wouldn't know where to start making explosives or something.
However certainly everyone male is perfectly capable of rape, most people are simply disinclined to do it, but jokes about it might sound a bit uncomfortable.
But then of course you have things like 'I'll kill that guy' or 'I could murder a cup of tea' and other such expressions, and most people could pretty easily kill someone else, so that isn't entirely consistent.
<!--quoteo(post=1869109:date=Aug 15 2011, 11:32 AM:name=Chris0132)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chris0132 @ Aug 15 2011, 11:32 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1869109"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Possibly it has something to do with terrorism being pretty difficult for the average citizen to commit, I certainly wouldn't know where to start making explosives or something.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> I have seen a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derail" target="_blank">derail</a> on ebay, someone could case a lot of damage with one.
After some pondering I am going to reject my comparison of rape and terrorism as terrorism is much more impersonal between the victim and attacker, rape also involves sexuality which makes it more disarming for the victim.
Comments
What exactly is the meaning of taboo in this context, that people are uncomfortable using it in written stories?
What exactly is the meaning of taboo in this context, that people are uncomfortable using it in written stories?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well as an example, one of the CoD games had a level where you could participate as a terrorist shooting civilians, while it generated some controversy I'd be willing to bet no where near as much as a game including rape.
<!--quoteo(post=1869055:date=Aug 15 2011, 07:30 AM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Aug 15 2011, 07:30 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1869055"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->A woman is MUCH more likely to be raped than to be the victim of an act of terror though. I mean, any of us can be killed by a bolt of lightning or a meteorite falling from the sky, anywhere, anytime. Those are not scary though, because the likelihood is so remote. The likelihood of rape, sadly, is far less remote.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is true, but I wounder would terrorism be more taboo to you if you lived in Kabul?
In a terrorism class I took in college the professor suggested that rape is a form of terrorism, putting it on the same level.
I do not agree with that, I just wanted to throw that out there, and I am not sure if rape deserves its special distinction or not, I just want to see where the discussion goes.
To continue this, certainly the higher rates of rape make it scarier but does frequency really have anything to do with how taboo it is? If we lived in a near perfect society where rape is almost unheard of would rape be any less taboo?
Probably not.
However certainly everyone male is perfectly capable of rape, most people are simply disinclined to do it, but jokes about it might sound a bit uncomfortable.
But then of course you have things like 'I'll kill that guy' or 'I could murder a cup of tea' and other such expressions, and most people could pretty easily kill someone else, so that isn't entirely consistent.
I have seen a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derail" target="_blank">derail</a> on ebay, someone could case a lot of damage with one.
So that brings me back to no comparable crime.