swaziland - Jezebel

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Truck Stop Girls Just Want "Someplace Safe"
Pedophile Rapist Gets 1 Year In Prison • Platonic Baboon Pals Perplex Scientists
New Reports Aim To Reveal Hidden Truths About Rape
Women Get Smaller To Help Their Children Get Bigger

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Maggita
08/20/09

In reply to Truck Stop Girls Just Want "Someplace Safe"
"I asked her what she needed most. 'Someplace safe,' she said. 'Someplace to be a girl. Someplace where I won’t have to have sex with men anymore.'"

Here's to change for the better.
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formergr
08/20/09

@Maggita: That made me tear up...
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clevernamehere
08/20/09

In reply to Truck Stop Girls Just Want "Someplace Safe"
These are the stories I think about when Jez has posts about happy, college educated sex workers.

Its not that I doubt that sex workers by choice exist, its that sex workers by choice are so glamorized and so able to convey their stories to the media that it overwhelms these stories. I know someone is going to say that all they see in the media are down-trodden hookers, but while I can think of two tv shows about happy, affluent sex workers I can't think of one about this. The most this kind of sex work gets is a very special episode.

When people talk about legalization, I think these stories are what they need to think about. The affluent, out-call sex worker is doing okay already. But it legalization really going to help someone who already feels forced into sex work? Does she have time to make it to the sex workers union to make sure her voice is heard? Is legalization going to help her get out of sex work? Stories like these exist all over the world and legalization hasn't gotten rid of them anywhere. Maybe that has to do with how legalization is handled, but it so far hasn't shown to be a solution for women at the bottom of the sex worker totem pole.
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ChildBride
08/20/09

@clevernamehere: THIS. Well-stated and what I believe too.
"Slavery still exists, but now it applies only to women and its name is prostitution." --Victor Hugo
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DutchessOfDork
08/20/09

In reply to Truck Stop Girls Just Want "Someplace Safe"
Swaziland King's solution to HIV/AIDS crises was telling people to stop having sex for 5 years. This was whilst he took on a few more wives. So I think this is a step in the right direction.
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CurtCole
08/20/09

In reply to Truck Stop Girls Just Want "Someplace Safe"
"a prominent minister suggested that AIDS and HIV victims be "branded,"'

Oh, go save a soul.
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Edited by CurtCole at 08/20/09 4:07 PM CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

tailfeather
08/20/09

@CurtCole: Right!? Because that will really encourage people to get tested. Logic fail.

And honestly, if you're in a country where the person you have sex with has a 33% chance of being positive, everyone is branded. It's everyone's problem.
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CurtCole
08/20/09

@tailfeather: I love that this guy refers to himself as a "Christ Ambassador" because I am certain that's what Jesus would be all about, branding people.
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Edited by CurtCole at 08/20/09 4:21 PM CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

tailfeather
08/20/09

@CurtCole: Dude threw some wild parties. I could see it happening.
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Ailatan
06/17/09

In reply to Pedophile Rapist Gets 1 Year In Prison • Platonic Baboon Pals Perplex Scientists
I can't get past the South African item.
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chinaplate
06/17/09

@Ailatan Hearts BabyJane:

It's borderline propaganda. So a quarter of all my family are rapists? They interviewed fewer than 1800 men, from less than half of SA's provinces. It's bullshit, but rich Westerners love to read it and it makes me want to scream.
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Ailatan
06/17/09

@chinaplate: I'm neither rich, nor a Westerner (according to some opinions, since Latin America is not considered "Western" whatever!) The number seems extremely high, but as you said the sample is quite small.

Reading there are many cases of rape is not something I want to read, mind you. I expect you're more informed on this than I could be myself from reading a single report.
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Steve_Holt
06/17/09

In reply to Pedophile Rapist Gets 1 Year In Prison • Platonic Baboon Pals Perplex Scientists
My Human Evolution prof told us that homosexuality is evolutionary for the purpose of population control. It's always made sense to me, and always an argument I use when talking to people who think homosexuality is "unnatural". I just tell them it's evolution. Of course more often than not they don't believe in evolution.
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sybann
06/17/09

@Steve_Holt: I had a gay Bio prof in college and posited this very idea to him - he did get a very interested look on his face. Of course at 17 I was scared shitless he'd be offended.
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Ms. Nickels
06/17/09

In reply to Pedophile Rapist Gets 1 Year In Prison • Platonic Baboon Pals Perplex Scientists
The plea deal is a perfectly valid compromise between the parties after assessing their likelihood of success at trial. If there is not sufficient evidence to convict him of child rape beyond a reasonable doubt, then he shouldn't be convicted. Period. There are very good reasons that our system works that way, such as protection of the innocent from mob rule and the government.

Why are we all assuming this guy is guilty anyway?
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nellicat
06/17/09

@Ms. Nickels: We are not assuming it. He pled guilty. He is, therefore, no longer entitled to the presumption of innocence and is legally guilty.
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nellicat
06/17/09

@nellicat: Oops; he pled no contest. But the judge pronounced guilt in order to impose the sentence so he is, therefore, legally guilty.
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peperony and chease
06/17/09

@Ms. Nickels: I believe he's guilty because the child said so. I think we owe it to women and children brave enough to come forward about sexual abuse and battery to believe the essence of their claims.
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Blueberry26
06/17/09

In reply to Pedophile Rapist Gets 1 Year In Prison • Platonic Baboon Pals Perplex Scientists
Perhaps the reason some people haven't been spending less is because they couldn't spend less? As in, they were already buying the bare minimum and simply couldn't cut expenses any further?
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clevernamehere
06/17/09

@Blueberry26: Yes, an as Hispanics tend to be newer immigrants with lower incomes you wouldn't expect a huge change in spending.
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JinxyMcDeath
06/17/09

In reply to Pedophile Rapist Gets 1 Year In Prison • Platonic Baboon Pals Perplex Scientists
Wow. I guess all children are now free to be raped. With that logic, I guess blind people, too. Thanks, Judge Bartheld! Also, fuck off.
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lalaland13
06/17/09

In reply to Pedophile Rapist Gets 1 Year In Prison • Platonic Baboon Pals Perplex Scientists
And also, Oklahoma lawmakers kind of disgust me. Yes, it's a horrible situation, but it just smacks of trying to get points for wanting to lock away the child rapists. We all want to do that. Trust me. Actually doing it sometimes involves making difficult decisions.
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lalaland13
06/17/09

In reply to Pedophile Rapist Gets 1 Year In Prison • Platonic Baboon Pals Perplex Scientists
I think others have said similar things, but I'll add my voice to the chorus: You take a big risk when you put a kid on the stand. I've sat in on a few trials with testimony from kids, and the defense is ruthless. They try to say little Joey "misremembered" or was "confused." As an adult, the idea of testifying in a rape trial in the same room as my attacker kind of makes me want to run down a hallway. I can't imagine what it would be like for a kid.

But I'd bet money the guy violates the terms of his suspended sentence by say, not registering as a sex offender or not reporting to his parole officer (I hope it's nothing more serious than that). Then he's in jail for up to 19 years, no questions asked.
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Tart of Darkness
06/17/09

@lalaland13: And they will work intentionally to confuse the child, also. A four year seriously would be toast in court.

Samantha Runion's killer had been acquitted of sexually abusing his girlfriend's daughter and another girl because the jury did not find them "believable".

Police believe he went to Runnion's apartment complex looking for the girlfriend's kids and didn't find them, so he took her instead.

At least in this case the guy is established as a known sex offender.
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PinkSoxHat
06/17/09

In reply to Pedophile Rapist Gets 1 Year In Prison • Platonic Baboon Pals Perplex Scientists
Child witnesses are really, really unreliable, and testifying could have been really traumatizing. I'm sure the prosecutors took that into account. I'm also pretty sure the judge considered everything before the sentencing. While the judge has the discretion to up the sentence, the defendant also then has the right to revoke his plea, and the original guilty plea can't be held against him.

If it's a year and life as a sex offender or nothing, I'll take the year.
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nellicat
06/17/09

@PinkSoxHat: You really can't just "revoke" your plea unless there is legal cause to do so. Getting a harsher sentence than you had hoped isn't sufficient legal cause.
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MarissaExplainsItAll
06/17/09

In reply to Pedophile Rapist Gets 1 Year In Prison • Platonic Baboon Pals Perplex Scientists
Babboons apparently also don't want baby daddy drama.
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badmutha
06/17/09

In reply to Pedophile Rapist Gets 1 Year In Prison • Platonic Baboon Pals Perplex Scientists
Well, duh people about the infection from Brazil waxes! You can't be ripping hairs out all the time and not expect some bacteria issues.
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Tart of Darkness
06/17/09

@badmutha: But it's not really different from ripping or cutting the hairs on any other part of your body. I think they just wanted to say "bikini wax".
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LaFemme
06/17/09

@Tart of Darkness: Maybe not for some people, but I have had to have ingrowns surgically removed from my bikini line after infection, and in 7 years waxing my arms and legs I have had no problems. I think for a lot of people the hair is different on your bikini line, or at least grows at a different angle.
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nellicat
06/17/09

In reply to Pedophile Rapist Gets 1 Year In Prison • Platonic Baboon Pals Perplex Scientists
The judge didn't have to accept the plea; that's one of the chances you take when you plead guilty or no contest. The DA typically agrees to ask for a lower sentence in exchange for the plea, but the judge doesn't have to honor it.

I respect the DA's decision, but I call complete and utter B.S. on the judge's.
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shorty63136
06/17/09

@nellicat: Right - but if the judge refuses to honor the terms of the plea agreement, the defendant can turn around and say, "We'll take our chances at trial." and that would leave it open for him to be completely acquitted based on the evidence they DO have.
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nellicat
06/17/09

@shorty63136: No, not typically. The defendant takes his chances by pleading, knowing that judges almost always agree to the terms recommended by the DAs. But saying that the judge reacted more harshly than he had hoped does not typically negate a plea deal. He has already pled guilty; no "backsies" just because the judge doesn't do what he had hoped.
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shorty63136
06/17/09

@nellicat: Yeah, but if he plead guilty to "inappropriate touching" or "indecent exposure", one could argue that not accepting the plea deal which included one year and instead handing down 10-15 years for THAT crime (which wouldn't be the typical sentence anyway) would enable them to back out - especially knowing that the judge would be convicting him of a charge, rape, that he was not actually charged with.
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shorty63136
06/17/09

Ok - I see he plead "no contest" to 1st degree rape and forceable sodomy.
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nellicat
06/17/09

@shorty63136: You could argue that, but I don't think the court of appeals would buy it. If the judge stays within the legislature-approved maximum sentence for "inappropriate touching," the defendant doesn't have a legal leg to stand on. The judge could have cited other aggravating circumstances (including the extremely tender age of the victim) to justify a sentence that was longer than most "inappropriate touching" sentences but still within the max.
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peperony and chease
06/17/09

@nellicat: Also, due to time served, he'll be released in fifteen weeks. I understand this was also at the judge's discretion. Unbelievable.
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