News Uk Sex Abuse Reportage Over The Last Year Or So....

[Springer80]

Again, whilst it doesn't entirely justify the abuse, it trivializes it.

No it doesn't justify it....It doesn't even attempt to have a go at the actual issue...it's just a bunch of boys going 'It wasn't me it was him....well if he did why should I get punished?

 

[Meadowsweet]

I have avoided reading the details of what has happened, but the news in the UK is pretty much unavoidable. So all I really know are the names of the next person and the next person being arrested.

But I was born in the early 70's and these are the TV faces of my childhood. I wouldn't wish it on anybody, but there is a side of me that feels kind of 'normalised': What I grew up with as something that I thought was something wrong with me, seems much more widespread in that culture.

Also, seeing that it's something that adults in general ignored, or didn't accept, helps me to make sense of why nobody really noticed what went on.

What worries me in terms of the media, is that it is becoming such everyday news that somebody else has been arrested, that it might desensitise a new generation.

 

[saffy]

that it might desensitise a new generation.

Hi

I can understand your concerns. I would like to think though that it will make people more likely to report it.

One reason for this is that it is becoming less taboo to talk about it. Another reason is that even high flying and celebrities are not above the law. In the 70s Uk there was a very different attitude to it all.

I have heard people mention that they do not understand why it took them so long to say anything?

Anyone who knows the shame and the emotions that come with this atrocious behaviour will understand why it has taken so long. Especially when the attitudes them days were much worse that it is today.

Because there are so many associates to Jimmy Saville (Gary Glitter and at least two other now convicted sex offenders, to mention a few) there are going to be many stories leaked to the media. Some may be based on truth but some may also be misreported before all the facts have been gathered.

There is also a air of disbelief. Not because they do not believe the victims but they still cannot grasp the fact that someone seen to be dedicated to charity could be capable of doing such things. That does not mean it is not true though.

What the media fail to consider is the impact on the victims when they print idiotic responses by barristers working for the defence. However, it could also have the impact of sheer shock and horror that someone seems to be devaluing the victims and the crime against them.

When people get shocked and angry it shows that attitudes towards sex offenders is that of disgust and hate.

It seems that it is about time to treat sex offenders with the contempt and vile they deserve.

best wishes
Saffy :)

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

In an article I read a few weeks ago, the writer said that it was important to tell our children about rape/sexual offenses to make them aware. You don't need to be gruesomely explicit to explain to a child that an invasion of your personal space is wrong, not for you but the person doing the invasion, and they need to (no matter what they say) be told on to a responsible adult.

Now I personally would have thought that this would be seen as a good thing, but person after person thought that this discussion would traumatise the child, was unnecessary, trivialised the subect of rape, that talking about non abusive sex wasn't necessary, that there was no such thing as a rape culture and rape doesn't happen that often - it's all hyped up in the media at the moment.

That does not sound like it's affected the public in a positive manner to understanding abuse. It sounds like they think the real existence of rape and child abuse happens rarely or only in certain circles, it's not their problem and children shouldn't understand enough to report their abusers, they should just instinctively know to tell someone that something is wrong. The real problem is for all this shock and horror, people seem to see this as skin deep, blown out of proportion by cases in the media and not something that happens on a local, personal level.

The media coverage is about as helpful as the idea t that most people who are raped, are raped in a dark park, neighbourhood or alley by a stranger, it's not to say it doesn't happen that way, but that's not the only way it happens. It's stirring an over hype about the act, making it both more realistic and less so at the same time. Maybe it did happen a lot, or does happen a lot, but the media spins it out of control (read that one countless times) and blows it out of proportion. People shouldn't be worried and pander to the media.

Well maybe not. But it does happen. It doesn't have to be a celebrity, stranger or dodgy school worker, it could be a neighbour, teacher, family friend, parent or sibling. I don't think that most people suspect their friends or relatives to be capable of such acts (or they probably/hopefully wouldn't be in contact with them). Most abusers don't advocate their victims to talk freely about the abuse. I'm not saying every child is at risk of being abused, I'm saying it's not possible to know and precautions should be taken to make it more aware of being able to report the abuse.

The problem with the current media is adults receive it and most protect and shelter their children from it and whilst it draws attention to the problem it doesn't deal with it in a helpful manner. There is because of the way that it has been handled many people who entirely disbelieve the victims and that they are sick, on article after article, day on day, week on week. By making people scared of it, it creates an irrational hysteria of juxtaposed ideas. It does trivialise it to many and make it seem so unbelievably extreme to others they don't know how to deal with it.

I agree sex offenders need to be caught and that they deserve a whole plethora of negative treatments and emotions thrown at them. I personally disagree that all the media coverage at the moment is helpful (there are however, some that are).

 

[ms spock]

I have being noting the increased media coverage about sexual abuse. I am pleased that it is there but find it difficult.[DOUBLEPOST=1370854762][/DOUBLEPOST]I feel for every one who is struggling.

 

[Abstract]

There have been more things that really stick in my throat since this thread started. Peoples ignorance and callousness just astounds me.

Still glad whenever things are exposed though compared to the alternative.

I'd like to see a documentary educating people about the consequences (without looking at gory details).

 

[Springer80]

Jeremy Irons said today that girls in the 70's were 'goers' and what was it they were after exactly when they were waiting to meet their icons?

I think it's sad that the often uninformed and idealistic longing of young girls can be used like this, cos lets face it if you had the chance to ask any of them in a queue outside a dressing room...most of them would say they were in love.

The problem is that girls are often 'spared' being told the ugly details by their mothers and defended from it by their fathers and then lied and manipulated in their ignorance and then blamed for being ignorant, all while being sold an image that their self worth is in their looks. Lambs to the slaughter.

PS Jeremy Irons...In reference to Ken Loach whom you seem to have so much sympathy for...how many eleven year old 'goers' have you met?

 

[rainy_daze]

PS Jeremy Irons...In reference to Ken Loach whom you seem to have so much sympathy for...how many eleven year old 'goers' have you met?

You mean Bill Roache, the actor.

Ken Loach is a director. I realise you muddled up the names Springer, but had to point that out.

Jeremy Irons said today that girls in the 70's were 'goers' and what was it they were after exactly when they were waiting to meet their icons?

I can't access the original interview with Jeremy Irons - I think it was in the Sunday Times, and you have to subscribe to read the interview in the full context of how it was first reported, instead of how other papers are reporting what was allegedly said.

I'm starting to wonder if he (Jeremy Irons) has early onset dementia, or the media are misrepresenting what he is saying, because he has been saying some bizarre things in the media lately, including his strange things about gay marriage and incest.

I feel crushed back into the ground every time.
...
It really makes me feel like crying today.....I feel physically oppressed by it. Do none of hem realize they only make it harder for the victims?
...
I just hoped some people on here would be feeling the same thing.

I think that people speaking out about abuse they have suffered is important, Springer, and the media will do what they always do and sensationalise very sensitive issues like abuse. They will also continue to keep these kind of stories going, because that is what sells newspapers.

I feel awful for you and I hope that you can look after yourself because unfortunately the news isn't something that goes away (something I'm learning as I'm getting better at dealing with stories which upset me). I hope you are doing okay - I send you healing vibes through the internet, and hope you can ignore these stories that are clearly hurting you so much. rainy_daze x

 

[Springer80]

You mean Bill Roache, the actor.

Ken Loach is a director. I realise you muddled up the names Springer, but had to point that out.

Yes...thank you Rainydaze....usual brain slip! Definitely not Ken Loach...and now you've said it I can picture him quite clearly.

 

[Abstract]

The other person that I am not keen on at present is Nick Ross. Everything that comes out of his mouth at present seems to be offensive.

 

[ms spock]

It is important to keep discussing these issues because there is a societal narrative out there that is about covering for abusers and minimising the effects on victims, as I know you all know. We just have to keep holding the ground.

 

[rainy_daze]

The other person that I am not keen on at present is Nick Ross.

Not sure who he is, and feel glad that I haven't came across anything he has said, based on your post. There really are so many idiots in the world, particularly people being interviewed by UK media it seems, and it's hard to keep track of them all.