November 12, 2009
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Pro-Rape or Anti-Consent Group
A group that is described as pro-rape started a page on Facebook. It was an all male group that described itself as “anti-consent.”
Despite protest, Facebook would not shut down the page. But eventually the page was shut down by its members. Here is the link: Link (I can’t remember where I originally saw this story so let me know if it was your page).
I saw that someone commented that they allow pro-ana sites on Facebook.
Should Facebook shut down a pro-rape page?
Comments (82)
YES RAPE IS RAPE!
Hell yes they should shut that down. There is NO good reason for pro rape.
It should be immediately shut down. And perhaps the user should even be banned from Facebook if they do it a second time.
I am all for free speech but rape is a crime so I suppose it would depend on what exactly they had on the page. Starving yourself to death is not officially illegal so I suppose they can let that one slide.
finally, a group i’m interested in joining
Of course they should!
“Pro-rape”?! That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard of!
I bet this was done by the same guy that made the rape tunnel.
im going to say allow it. let the perverts sign up and then use their stories and membership against them in a court of law. you have people coming out and admitting to rape on their own? hell, it’s a golden opportunity to take out some grade a scum.
They shouldn’t have hesitated. Rape is a crime… It’s like having a KKK Facebook page. Completely unacceptable.
…uh….. conflicted. Morally, no. Logically (lawfully too, perhaps?)… leaning towards “why not? We let ‘bad things’ slide.”
They do have a lot of pro-ana pages on Facebook.
Dunno, maybe leave the page there. We could tag the members as prime suspects for everything that deals with sexual assault/harassment.
Wouldn’t it be against Facebook’s Terms of Service? I would think so.
@ionekoa - Never thought of it like that
Good point.
My favorite facebook group is Anti-Life (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2208883999). They’re not anti-choice or pro-abortion rights for fetuses, but against life of all ages.
oh my goodness. They should shut it down.
@youngvan - agreed!
Yes it should be shut down…
That’s promoting harm.
@naguyin - I’m in the canoe with you. Morally, I personally would probably censor it. A private company has the prerogative to do that. Legally, the gub’ment shouldn’t tell me to censor it. Fair compromise?
@ionekoa - Good idea. Cops use internet sites to catch criminals anyway.
But for Facebook to “allow” such a thing is ridiculous. What next? Pro-murder groups?
No, rape affects someone other than yourself. Unlike anorexia.
@nodiadau - haha o bby behave
Tell me what person thought that was a good idea? That’s like a pro child molester group. That one got a huge ‘wow!’ Outta me.
Not if group doesn’t faciliate serious communications regarding the planning, execution, or targeting of rape.
Otherwise, it’s just a dumb gag, right?
@ionekoa - I like the way you think. Give them their free speech because there will come a time when it bites them in the butt.
I think it’s a little extreme…. Why would someone be pro-rape?
Just as it isn’t a crime for someone to joke about being a terrorist, it isn’t a crime for bored teenagers to pretend to advocate rape.
shut it down. that’s messed up
It is just plain and simple stupid. I don’t think it should have been allowed to stay.
Why on God’s green earth did you choose THAT picture for THIS post?
should of shut it down -_-
Are there pro-piracy groups? Are there other groups that advocate things that may be illegal in one or more areas in the united states and/or in any one of our territories? Then there is precedent @ everyone saying that an action being illegal is reason enough for a group formed to support it to be shut down.
@ The morality crowd- That’s your moral code. Don’t foist it on others. God forbid some of the people from that pro-rape group begin foisting their morality on others… =)
It’s not a crime to be “pro rape” but then again everything on Facebook is owned by Facebook. They can do whatever they want.
@striemmy - Agreed!
People saying it should be shut down are just getting emotional and illogical. I think it’s amusing how people are always ready to strip others of rights they want for themselves.
@DarkDestiny666 - Your analogy doesn’t work because the Klan isn’t an illegal group. Besides, a group of people who advocate rape isn’t illegal either, for the same reasons NAMBLA and the American Nazi Party aren’t illegal.
Frankly I’d rather something were done about NAMBLA.
It could be argued that if even something like NAMBLA is allowed to operate in the United States of America, what’s stopping a pro-rape Facebook group? :/
But in the end ToS, though they are sometimes a pain, are in place to protect a website from litigation and bad press.
In other words, I’m not always sure what’s legal and what isn’t in this country. I will say this. If the page was satire, I don’t think it should have been taken down.
Why would anyone think that is positive in any way? The world is sinking into a sea of sewage. Could you even see anything like that happening in the fifties? “They no longer even blush”
Yes.
@oohtique - I wasn’t aware of the Right to Rape Amendment in our Constitution. Must have snoozed during that part in my government class.
hey, if Facebook allows a “Pro-Abortion” page to exist and thrive, why should they shut down a “Pro-Rape” group?
@TheModernBunny - Oh, I thought Facebook shut it down… now I see they didn’t. Ah. Well, maybe it was satire then.
Why shut it down? You’ve got rapist giving up their information and location voluntarily. Now you know who to avoid and the cops can keep an eye on them. Plus, it could definitely be used against them in court to ensure they get put away.
@TheGreatBout - exactly, however you would strongly dissagree with what i would have done to them once they were caught.
@CelestialTeapot - if you read the article, they arent joking. this is apparently a very serious problem where these people went to school. as insanely sick as that seems, they are in fact, apparently serious.
Rape rules! Yeah!!
I like the way ionekoa thinks.. but I believe that shutting down of this site would save a lot of trouble…
Many a time, those who set up extreme sites like these, i.e. rape, violence, even drugs, are people who dont commit the same but reckon it sounds/looks cool. So while the cowards are playing tough in their virtual worlds, the real criminals are running wild out there, still.
Yes, would Xanga allow a blogring like this.
rape is just to strong.
I’m against the group for obvious reasons, but I don’t think they should shut it down. ♥
What the hell? I posted about this LAST NIGHT.
@CelestialTeapot - pretty much.
@TheGreatBout - “I always feel like somebody’s watching me….”
I guess if Facebook found it to be in violation of its by-laws, but I don’t want government involved. However it might be wise to background check the members… just in case…
No. All it does is show the idiots up to be the idiots that they are. It’s like when they had Nick Griffin on BBC’s Question Time – I am glad they put him there, because he just proved himself to be an ignorant racist.
I’m conflicted…….like someone else said, why not keep the group up, since there are other bad groups on FB? On the other hand, the group promotes harm so on a moral level, it’s wrong.
Anorexia isn’t a crime. Rape is. The Facebook terms of service state that sites promoting illegal activity are prohibited and will be shut down. Seems like a cut & dry case to me.
I think it should be allowed because if your future employers can look at your facebook (as they have been), so can a court of law when you do something like rape someone. They’ll see you’re pro-rape and you could consider it premeditated (not spontaneous). I think it’d be good to know people are like that and avoid them like the plague. Or have it added to their permanent record “hey, I’m all for rape!”.
Assholes like that need to be beaten.
@echois23 - I agree with you.
I love how, having read 50 comments:
1 (one) person noticed that presumably it was a joke and explicitly mentioned that those involved weren’t serious
1 (one) person wondered why the hell you used that picture.
Which leads me to say that it should be shut down. It was almost certainly a joke, but there may well be those that stumble across it and take it seriously. And – to whoever was mentioning this – groups which explicitly (even if jokingly) exist only to promote criminal activity shouldn’t be permitted. Even if there are illegal file-sharing blogrings and other such rubbish. Their existence justifies neither themselves nor other groups of similar type.
Yep, definitely.
Sometimes, I cannot believe the sites that Facebook allows. There is so much of anger… and hatred allowed.
Should’ve kept it up – it’s easier to know who the potential sex offenders are when the idiots start blacklisting themselves.
I’m not a lawyer (and admittedly my understanding of legal complexities is somewhat superficial), but, I believe if they can be proven to have aided or abetted an actual rape, a crime to be committed, then they have quite possibly committed a crime. The internet has grown faster than the laws, but I could see some enterprising DA go after them for that, particularly if they are providing a how-to guide or encouraging people to commit a crime. (Or, I’ve just watched too many episodes of Law and Order)
Free speech comes with responsibility. Just because you can say something, doesn’t mean you should. Similar to why you can’t yell “fire” in a crowded theatre or joke about being a terrorist in the security line at the airport.
And, off topic, is that woman in the photo in “black face?” I find that more than a little disturbing.
Unless they were openly plotting to rape someone with the page, no. It’s not “right”, technically, but it IS free speech.
yes.
Facebook is full of retards.
What’s up with the pic?
And I agree with @CelestialTeapot - since there are so many of us joking about terrorist or anything that we don’t quite understand but there aren’t many standing up against it. But rape and abortion (very commonly discussed issues in the States) then it’s “horrible” or “outrageous” or whatever…
I thought Facebook’s policy was to shutdown pages that promote criminal activity? And rape, after all, is a crime.
As for it being a joke… that’s kind of along the lines of dedicating a group to running over handicapped people (because it’s funny!) isn’t it?
Also, free speech isn’t protected everywhere. If this group had created their own website, it might be covered, but Facebook can choose what they host on their servers and software. Free speech also doesn’t protect people from repercussions. I have the right to swear at my boss, but if I do it at work, I will probably get fired. If I start yelling in the library, I will probably get kicked out (and that is even a taxpayer funded location).
@ionekoa - Probably lol
Joining a group that is pro rape is fine. Making a pro rape group is fine.
As long as the group is not being used to plan rape.
Otherwise talking about illegal things is free speech, and needs to be protected.
everyones all for free speech until someone says something they don’t like. Technically the group wasn’t hurting anyone and just because they were pro-rape doesn’t mean they’d commit rape. I’m pro-choice but that doesn’t mean i’ll help with abortions. Im also Pro-gay marriage which has been getting made illegal in several states making it a crime. Does that mean that a Pro-gay marriage group should get shut down. Like someone said facebook is a private company and reserves the right to block or shutdown whatever it doesn’t like as long as its not based on discrimination so the choice is theres really. Im not a fan of free speech all the time but thats why its called free speech and not “Whatever I Think Is Ok” speech…too many ppl on this page are being hypocrites…
Morally, I think they should. However, unless these people are giving first-hand accounts of having raped people, not describing how to do it necessarily or wanting to do it, but have already done it, then I don’t think they should.
Free speech is important to our society, and if they want to be creeps and put up a page like that, that is unfortunately their prerogative. Even the KKK has the right under the law, to peacefully protest when they want to, to have meetings, to spread their word/opinion/views/beliefs. Just so long as they don’t actually cause chaos or actually harm someone.
Just because people don’t like it doesn’t mean that it should no longer be protected under free speech. Just so long as they aren’t describing having actually raped someone, I don’t think its illegal.
However…if there is something in the Terms of Service that says that the site doesn’t allow certain types of content, that’s a different story if this kind of content falls under a violation of the ToS. But, that is ultimately up to Facebook to decide.
I can’t imagine why they thought they wouldn’t get any flack for putting up a page like that. I half wonder if it was just to see how many people they could offend and make angry. Yes, this kind of a thing is morally wrong (as far as I am concerned) but, barring certain content, they have every right to put it up.
Unfortunately, free speech doesn’t just extend to people with something to say that you either like or don’t like but can tolerate.
Now, if they were describing having actually raped someone, showing pictures of someone actually being raped, or showing video of someone actually being raped, that is a crime and then something can be done about it. But, unless they do that, or the Facebook site thinks that the page/content on the page violates their ToS, then they have legal right to put that kind of a page up.
Naturally, I’d feel better if people weren’t allowed to put things up like that. But, at the same time I’d also worry about what else might suddenly be banned. Especially, since lately everyone seems to be going overboard with being PC. :/
Morally wrong, but legally allowable.
However, whether they call themselves pro-rape or anti-consent, it doesn’t change what it is. Rape is rape, no matter what kind of a wrapper you try to put on it or how well you try to sugarcoat it.
However, the members took the page down themselves, so at least its down now, right?
I still have to wonder what they thought was going to happen when they put that up, and taking it down suddenly all by themselves is kind of surprising. Which is what makes me wonder if maybe they put the page up as a joke to see how many people they could piss off. :/
Everyone in that group should be allowed to be raped.
@ccarothers - Well, there is a group called NAMBLA. At least their membership and funding is not open.
let me preface this by saying i am completely for free speech. i think it is a necessary thing, and a beautiful thing, and should be treated as a right, rather than a privilege.
however.
if you are comparing a pro-rape group to a pro-ana group, that would be like comparing apples and oranges. anorexia is a crippling disease and should certainly not be encouraged. but rape is a CRIME. further, anorexics exchanging tips or advice are not directly impacting anyone*, quite unlike a rapist attacking a woman.
i don’t specifically know facebook’s policy, but i am fairly certain that their terms of service prevent users from promoting criminal activity. one would think, anyway.
*yes, friends and family members are impacted by having someone they care about develop anorexia, but you understand my point. they are not physically abused like a rape victim would be.
@radicalramblings - haha, hadn’t read your response yet, but that’s pretty much exactly what i just posted in my comment. great minds and all.
I would shut it down.
YES. It needs to be shut down immediately. This is just plain wrong, unmoral, and purely disgusting.
@Eternalimplosion - that’s exactly what I was about to say
While anorexia does have an effect on the people around you, it is not something that is directly harmful to them. Anorexia’s victims are the people who have the disease. Rape is so awful, there are no words to describe the effects. The victims are innocent people.
I do not understand why Facebook is so keen to wipe out all pro-ana pages and groups, yet took so long to shut this group down. Like @echois23 said, anorexia is not a crime. Rape is. Freedom of speech is an important thing to have, but glorifying rape is not something that I believe should be tolerated, regardless of freedom of speech.
Yes. There is a HUGE difference between Pro-Ana and Pro-Rape. The members of the Ana groups are only hurting themselves, not promoting violence against others.
Yes! Not only is rape a crime, this site gives men a bad name.
@Eternalimplosion - you are delusional if you honestly believe that anorexia only affects the anoretic.
personally i believe that they should shut those down, but it makes much more sense to shut down a pro-rape page than a pro-ana page. rape is an illegal crime committed against someone else, anorexia is something stupid that you do to yourself
You know, I’m pretty sure that they might not have been serious. Or maybe they were and should be shot.
Certainly. It not only promotes immorality, but felonious conduct of the worst variety. Notice, also, that the picture included a young man in a semblance of Robert Pattinson’s “Twilight” character. This adds a juvenile appeal element to things beyond what those sorry movies already do. Paganism, adultery… and carnal knowledge. And can actual child sex be far behind, given that? One NAMBLA is enough.
it’s f***ing sick, shut it down. And while they’re at it, shut the f***ing pro-ana ones down to!
These people are seriously disgusting to me.