5 ms·

I think the most disturbing thing about this is that there are even 800 serial rapists in one single county, even if it's over a 30-35 year period. That's arou

I think the most disturbing thing about this is that there are even 800 serial rapists in one single county, even if it's over a 30-35 year period. That's around 25 serial rapists a year in that one county, which is kind of extraordinary when you think about it. Serial rapists are supposedly incredibly rare. They say that in nearly every case it's someone that the victim knows. This makes me think twice about that. And these are just the ones they identified! And in just one county! I have a young daughter and information like this kind of terrifies me.

rhino369 9y ago
>Serial rapists are supposedly incredibly rare. They say that in nearly every case it's someone that the victim knows. Serial rapists aren't rare, but they do know their victims typically.
opencl 9y ago
"Serial rapist" means "has more than one victim", not "rapes strangers". It is entirely possible for one person to rape ten people who know and trust them, and not at all surprising that anyone sleazy enough to do this would likely be a repeat offender especially when there's such a high probability of getting away with it. The numbers are quite staggering though: "A rapist rapes on average seven to 11 times before they're caught. ... Of our set of 817 ... over 50 of them have 10 to 15 hits apiece."
kaitai 9y ago
Serial rapists aren't that rare. Here's a Fivethirtyeight article that covers the two major studies about that over the last few years: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-if-most-campus-rapes-arent-committed-by-serial-rapists/ https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-if-most-campus-rap... The crux of the disagreement between the two major studies is that one indicates serial rapists commit most rapes, while the other indicates 10.8% of college men are rapists and many do not do so serially. Anyhow, gives some stats to pin calculations on.
excalibur 9y ago
It's not any old county. Wayne County is the most populous county in the state. It includes the city of Detroit and much of the surrounding metro area.
- turc1656 9y ago
  I was aware of that when making the comment. I still find it surprising, though. The statistics are just much higher than I expected, even for Detroit.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
mLuby 9y ago
I'd bet most of the serial rapists are also known to their victims. In other words Tinder not trench coats. (Supposition) Important to get that data so the media don't start parents panicking.
DoreenMichele 9y ago
I have a young daughter and information like this kind of terrifies me. Teach your child that hugs and kisses require mutual consent. Teach her it is her choice and kissing someone once does not obligate her to future kisses. Tell her if someone disrespects her no to come get a parent. Tell friends and relatives of yours no for her if they try to insist she is obligated to give hugs and kisses. Being dragged off into a dark alley by a total stranger is the rare exception. Sexual assault almost always begins with boundary violation and disrespect and eventually culminates in rape. A child (or woman) who won't accept disrespect and who feels empowered to have a cow at the rudeness stage is at low risk.
- falsedan 9y ago
  I hear most perpetrators of sexual assault are men, shouldn’t your advice be more effective at prevention/avoidance if directed at sons instead?
  - DoreenMichele 9y ago
    I would like to see all children get the message. I certainly raised my two adult sons exactly like that. The problem with your theory is that it is incredibly disempowering for women. I see this over and over and over. Everyone wants to cure "rape culture" for just one half of the equation. I don't think that works.
    - jdietrich 9y ago
      Look at the allegations made against Harvey Weinstein and Louis CK. Many of these women wanted to say no, but didn't feel able to. Teaching young men to respect the boundaries of women is clearly important, but we also need to give young women the confidence and skills to assert their boundaries.
      - DoreenMichele 9y ago
        It would also really help if people who aren't rapey bastards would step forward and open doors for women in terms of career instead of looking the other way, worrying that if they give a woman a leg up professionally there will be talk etc. That would do a lot to reduce the power that men like Harvey Weinstein wield. When that isn't done, women wind up with no one to negotiate with other than men who expect them to pay for their career advancement on their back. If anyone needs a little insight on the matter, I will suggest reading Salma Hayek's testimony about Harvey Weinstein: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/13/opinion/contributors/salma-hayek-harvey-weinstein.html https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/13/opinion/contr...
frandroid 9y ago
And that's those caught. From those rapes where women decided to report and get a rape kit done.

rhino369 9y ago

>Serial rapists are supposedly incredibly rare. They say that in nearly every case it's someone that the victim knows. Serial rapists aren't rare, but they do know their victims typically.

opencl 9y ago

"Serial rapist" means "has more than one victim", not "rapes strangers". It is entirely possible for one person to rape ten people who know and trust them, and not at all surprising that anyone sleazy enough to do this would likely be a repeat offender especially when there's such a high probability of getting away with it. The numbers are quite staggering though: "A rapist rapes on average seven to 11 times before they're caught. ... Of our set of 817 ... over 50 of them have 10 to 15 hits apiece."

kaitai 9y ago

Serial rapists aren't that rare. Here's a Fivethirtyeight article that covers the two major studies about that over the last few years: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-if-most-campus-rapes-arent-committed-by-serial-rapists/ https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-if-most-campus-rap... The crux of the disagreement between the two major studies is that one indicates serial rapists commit most rapes, while the other indicates 10.8% of college men are rapists and many do not do so serially. Anyhow, gives some stats to pin calculations on.

excalibur 9y ago

It's not any old county. Wayne County is the most populous county in the state. It includes the city of Detroit and much of the surrounding metro area.

turc1656 9y ago
I was aware of that when making the comment. I still find it surprising, though. The statistics are just much higher than I expected, even for Detroit.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

mLuby 9y ago

I'd bet most of the serial rapists are also known to their victims. In other words Tinder not trench coats. (Supposition) Important to get that data so the media don't start parents panicking.

DoreenMichele 9y ago

I have a young daughter and information like this kind of terrifies me. Teach your child that hugs and kisses require mutual consent. Teach her it is her choice and kissing someone once does not obligate her to future kisses. Tell her if someone disrespects her no to come get a parent. Tell friends and relatives of yours no for her if they try to insist she is obligated to give hugs and kisses. Being dragged off into a dark alley by a total stranger is the rare exception. Sexual assault almost always begins with boundary violation and disrespect and eventually culminates in rape. A child (or woman) who won't accept disrespect and who feels empowered to have a cow at the rudeness stage is at low risk.

falsedan 9y ago
I hear most perpetrators of sexual assault are men, shouldn’t your advice be more effective at prevention/avoidance if directed at sons instead?
- DoreenMichele 9y ago
  I would like to see all children get the message. I certainly raised my two adult sons exactly like that. The problem with your theory is that it is incredibly disempowering for women. I see this over and over and over. Everyone wants to cure "rape culture" for just one half of the equation. I don't think that works.
  - jdietrich 9y ago
    Look at the allegations made against Harvey Weinstein and Louis CK. Many of these women wanted to say no, but didn't feel able to. Teaching young men to respect the boundaries of women is clearly important, but we also need to give young women the confidence and skills to assert their boundaries.
    - DoreenMichele 9y ago
      It would also really help if people who aren't rapey bastards would step forward and open doors for women in terms of career instead of looking the other way, worrying that if they give a woman a leg up professionally there will be talk etc. That would do a lot to reduce the power that men like Harvey Weinstein wield. When that isn't done, women wind up with no one to negotiate with other than men who expect them to pay for their career advancement on their back. If anyone needs a little insight on the matter, I will suggest reading Salma Hayek's testimony about Harvey Weinstein: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/13/opinion/contributors/salma-hayek-harvey-weinstein.html https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/13/opinion/contr...

frandroid 9y ago

And that's those caught. From those rapes where women decided to report and get a rape kit done.