Runner who slapped reporter’s butt in road race arrested for sexual battery

Poster #431 wrote:

You're dodging answering whether - in your opinion - everyone who has committed this egregious act of sexual violence should be treated the same (of course as long as it's illegal where it occurred). Charged with sexual battery, angry internet mod out to get them. Do you feel that would be the appropriate response to every person who has committed this absolutely heinous act against person and body? Or are you okay with the fact that many of these vicious predators are able to get away with it? Why is this so difficult to answer? Do you really not understand the question or are you intentionally not grasping the concept so you can either feign ignorance or buy time to come up with a response?

Sure, they should all be charged. The internet mob should probably be reserved for those who are dumb enough to intentionally commit the act on live television.

For those who think the incident is much ado about nothing, what if a stranger slapped your wife/teenage daughter on the butt as she ran by him during a race. If she then came to you after the race in tears over the butt slap, would you just laugh it off and tell her to stop overreacting?

What if the stranger had “playfully” squeezed your daughter/wife’s butt or grabbed her breast “in jest”? Would you be cool with that as well? I would be ashamed to be your daughter/wife if you thought it was just a big bucket of nothing.

I wouldn't be happy about it but I also would be concerned if my wife/daughter were experiencing severe emotional distress over something inconsequential.

What’s the difference? wrote:

For those who think the incident is much ado about nothing, what if a stranger slapped your wife/teenage daughter on the butt as she ran by him during a race. If she then came to you after the race in tears over the butt slap, would you just laugh it off and tell her to stop overreacting?

What if the stranger had “playfully” squeezed your daughter/wife’s butt or grabbed her breast “in jest”? Would you be cool with that as well? I would be ashamed to be your daughter/wife if you thought it was just a big bucket of nothing.

If the stranger is a hot woman, I would be so turned on.

You make a good point. What if your 40 year old bearded, hairy chested 6'4" 260lb cousin was finishing his first day as a lumberjack on a new job and one of his new coworkers, a female whom he had not previously met, celebrated a long hard day of felling trees and taking names with a hearty slap on the rump of that cousin?

Then that cousin took to social media talking about how this coworker had 'taken his power' and pressed sexual battery charges. And a fire was lit on social media with angry internet patrons going berserk trying to shame this lady to death? Would you tell your cousin to maybe let it go? Would you be confused why the internet had such a raging hard-on for the coworker?

I think your problem is that you think women are inherently weaker than men and can't deal with things in the same way as men. You should re-evaluate.

Maximum derp wrote:

I wouldn't be happy about it but I also would be concerned if my wife/daughter were experiencing severe emotional distress over something inconsequential.

I'd tell my wife/daughter to lay it on even thicker.

Then police report.

Then get her to a couple of psychologists and other health professionals.

Then law court.

Then civil court and a claim for damages. ????????????????

Yeah. Lord forbid we give women the right to not be sexually assaulted. Idiot.

Out of proportion wrote:

How many violent attacks against conservatives on college campuses go unpunished and a butt slap is now being treated as a major crime?

This woman can GTH as far as I'm concerned.

Also, is anyone else here appreciating the irony of the fact that the people who are complaining about the angry internet mob are the ones who are keeping this whole discussion going? If Armstronglivs et al had let it drop, this whole conversation would have died days ago and this thread would be on page 30 by now. Most of us would have forgotten all about this butt slapper dude by now if you all weren't keeping the conversation going. The internet mob is ready to disperse, but you keep calling them back to argue some more.

I haven't inferred that (and I think you mean implied). The reporter has the choice about whether to press charges. In the circumstances, and taking into account how most people would view incidents like this, I think she has made the wrong choice. I think she has over-reacted.

boring, correct answer wrote:

I pointed out very clearly how absurd your contention is that support of a victim’s right to bring charges is implicit acceptance of the possible penalties. That is not a logical conclusion.

Be better.

And penalties are not a logical outcome of a decision to press criminal charges? What do you think a court does? Files it away for future reference? Once charges are pressed we are accepting the outcome of the process, which is that if the charges are proven or admitted to (as they are here) there will be a prescribed penalty. If you don't wish for a criminal penalty, or approve of the penalty imposed, you don't press charges. Still struggling to be better, I see.

What’s the difference? wrote:

For those who think the incident is much ado about nothing, what if a stranger slapped your wife/teenage daughter on the butt as she ran by him during a race. If she then came to you after the race in tears over the butt slap, would you just laugh it off and tell her to stop overreacting?

What if the stranger had “playfully” squeezed your daughter/wife’s butt or grabbed her breast “in jest”? Would you be cool with that as well? I would be ashamed to be your daughter/wife if you thought it was just a big bucket of nothing.

It hasn't been dismissed as "a bucket of nothing". There have been consequences already for the offender. He has been told that his actions are offensive, he has been publicly called out and humiliated and produced a public apology.. The issue, in a nutshell, is whether bringing criminal charges is now necessary or is an excessive response to the degree of harm his actions are believed to have caused. In view of what has already occurred, and that such incidents very rarely find their way to the courts, I say it is.

I would go further and say the consequences have ALREADY far surpassed the crime. I think nearly everyone would rather get a firm slap in the ass then get publicly outed for some mistake you made in the past.

This dude is going to remain unemployed for the rest of his life.

Wejo and rojo must be so proud of the site they've created.

Armstronglivs wrote:

I haven't inferred that (and I think you mean implied). The reporter has the choice about whether to press charges. In the circumstances, and taking into account how most people would view incidents like this, I think she has made the wrong choice. I think she has over-reacted.

Suppose he had slapped her across the face instead of on the butt. Do you still think she would be over-reacting if she pressed charges? By the way, a woman in another part of Georgia was charged with battery for throwing a drink (the liquid, not a hard bottle) at a reporter. Over-reaction? What is the appropriate consequence for someone who does these sort of things out of the view of social media? Please answer.

Yeahhhhhhh wrote:

This dude is going to remain unemployed for the rest of his life.

Nah, he works in the tobacco industry, they'll take anyone.

Wejos mom wrote:

Wejo and rojo must be so proud of the site they've created.

They're upholding the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and should each be given the highest civilian award of The Presidential Medal of Freedom and a British Knighthood.

On second thoughts make that a Lordship, then they won't have to bow and scrape to Lord Coe when they meet him.

To the Defenders of the Dude (or whatever I called myself before wrote:

Armstronglivs wrote:

I haven't inferred that (and I think you mean implied). The reporter has the choice about whether to press charges. In the circumstances, and taking into account how most people would view incidents like this, I think she has made the wrong choice. I think she has over-reacted.

Suppose he had slapped her across the face instead of on the butt. Do you still think she would be over-reacting if she pressed charges? By the way, a woman in another part of Georgia was charged with battery for throwing a drink (the liquid, not a hard bottle) at a reporter. Over-reaction? What is the appropriate consequence for someone who does these sort of things out of the view of social media? Please answer.

Well, what do you think? Is a slap in the face the same as a slap on the behind? I've experienced the latter and I would not see it as anything like being struck in the face. It was harmless - I wouldn't see being struck in the face in the same light. Apart from the effect, they are acts of completely different intention, as a slap in the face is a very aggressive act. The same for throwing liquid over someone. A common assault - as aggressive force is described - is not deemed the same in law as an indecent assault. They aren't treated as equivalent and each individual offence will vary in degrees of seriousness. As has been pointed out here, many men experience being slapped on the rear by women; few take it seriously but I doubt they would see being struck in the face in the same light. And nor would you, I would guess. If the reporter had been struck in the face - which is an attack - I would have supported bringing charges. I think being attacked is much more serious than being fleetingly groped - as unwelcome as that act may be.