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Getting drunk.

(85 Posts)
NanKate Thu 28-Aug-14 10:21:38

I read in the paper this week criticism of a retiring judge Mary Jane Mowat who said that women who get drunk are making themselves vulnerable to rape.

She has been pilloried for this very sensible statement IMO.

As a teenager my mother always warned me that I needed to keep my wits about me, especially where alcohol was involved. This advice stood me in good stead.

I am not saying that women need to dress very conservatively or not drink, just that we need to take responsibility for our own safety.

What do you think ?

TriciaF Sun 31-Aug-14 08:01:35

If they were both drunk, how could they even remember if they'd had sex, or positively identify eachother?
Remember that episode of Montalbano when he shared a bed with the blonde girl, she asked in the morning, "Did anything happen last night?"
If they can't remember anything how can there be any proof?

Eloethan Sun 31-Aug-14 21:28:13

I thought the Judge was just commenting on a legal point, but on reading a bit further, this woman has quite a history of making controversial decisions that seem to favour men.

This included sparing a 41-year old ex-soldier a prison sentence for having sex with a 13-year old girl, on the grounds that the girl "did most of the running".

thatbags Tue 02-Sep-14 09:22:51

Today's article by Mary Jane Mowat makes interesting reading.

NanKate Tue 02-Sep-14 09:44:08

I think the article says it all thatbags from an experienced judge who has seen the consequences of binge drinking.

Mishap Tue 02-Sep-14 09:59:47

A drunken woman may get frisky of her own (inebriated) volition and engage in an activity that she wishes she had not the next morning. It is of course absolutely wrong that a man should force a woman to have sex against her will, but in a drunken state (probably both parties) the normal social niceties go out of the window. It is important for both men and women to take responsibility for their lives and to avoid getting drunk to the point where they are incapable of making judgements and doing things that they later regret or that cause them harm.

I worked with a young paraplegic man whose life had been ruined by jumping over a wall whilst drunk, having forgotten about the sheer drop on the other side.

granjura Tue 02-Sep-14 10:07:17

An excellent article thatbags. The point I made earlier, is that if a boy is as drunk and drugged up as the victim- he could be considered a victim too, in many ways. It all gets so complicated.

I was also so lucky as a young woman to be surrounded by slightly older men friends who always looked after me- even when I was foolish enough to drinl too much and put myself in danger.

Atqui Tue 02-Sep-14 10:50:49

Thanks for posting that link thatbags. its a pity the article wasn't published in the DM where ( if my memory serves me correctly) her original comments on the difficulties of getting convictions were reported and misinterpreted by many.

ginny Tue 02-Sep-14 14:49:32

I just want to know why anyone would deliberately go out to get drunk on an evening out. Do they not have enough personality to be able to enjoy themselves without drinking themselves silly? Where do they want to waste money on an evening out and then not remember it ? So many youngsters are keen on saying that they are their 'own person' and why should they follow the crowd and yet surely that's exactly what they are doing.

NfkDumpling Tue 02-Sep-14 17:59:15

A mystery to me too Ginny!

I think Mishap your poor paraplegic colleague sums it up perfectly. So many people going for a good night out metaphorically jump over that wall, and have a lucky landing - but some, like him, aren't so lucky. Best to not get drunk enough to chance the jump(!).