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A few short thoughts on a long topic:
1. Abusers do not abuse all people — only some people. When someone you “know well” is accused of sexual abuse and they did not abuse you — your experience will not be the same as his victims.
Obviously.
1. Abusers do not abuse all people — only some people. When someone you “know well” is accused of sexual abuse and they did not abuse you — your experience will not be the same as his victims.
Obviously.
2. Abusers most often cultivate a double life.
Ergo, they will have strategic access to victims while ensuring they are unquestioned and “above reproach,” even whilst engaging in reproachful conduct.
Ergo, they will have strategic access to victims while ensuring they are unquestioned and “above reproach,” even whilst engaging in reproachful conduct.
3. Victims are most often selected based on specific characteristics (age, gender, appearance) but the most important part in the selection process is — wait for it — vulnerability.
Victims rarely enjoy the credibility of the offender.
Victims rarely enjoy the credibility of the offender.
4. Disclosure of sexual abuse of any kind across, all age categories, is rare and delayed.
False reports of abuse are even more rare than abuse disclosure.
Offender incarceration is even MORE rare.
Objective evidence supports these claims — they are not opined.
False reports of abuse are even more rare than abuse disclosure.
Offender incarceration is even MORE rare.
Objective evidence supports these claims — they are not opined.
5. When disclosure does occur, often very little evidence of sexual abuse is available, even in the most egregious of cases.
Victim testimony is considered evidence.
Victim testimony is considered evidence.
6. Available evidence suggests that sexual abuse prevalence rates are relatively stable across socioeconomic, cultural, and religious divides.
No one sector is immune to perpetrators.
No one sector is immune to perpetrators.
7. Self professed religious offenders report having the youngest victims, the most victims, and committing the most egregious crimes with the most force.
Religion is not an inoculation against sexual deviance and may, in fact, be a cover for it.
Ergo #2.
Religion is not an inoculation against sexual deviance and may, in fact, be a cover for it.
Ergo #2.
8. Predatory behaviour is as predictable as it is catastrophic.
When outed offenders engage in classic #DARVO behaviour.
Denial.
Attack.
Reverse Victim & Offender.
Incidentally, even incarcerated offenders with videographic evidence vehemently maintain their innocence.
When outed offenders engage in classic #DARVO behaviour.
Denial.
Attack.
Reverse Victim & Offender.
Incidentally, even incarcerated offenders with videographic evidence vehemently maintain their innocence.
9. Family, supporters, and community members alike, most often rally for the offenders credibility in a pernicious form of DARVO & institutional betrayal.
The offender need not defend himself, his double life has all but ensured his victims will be disbelieved upon disclosure.
The offender need not defend himself, his double life has all but ensured his victims will be disbelieved upon disclosure.
10. The odds are extraordinary high that when a victim finally discloses sexual abuse that he/she is telling the truth.
However unbelievable this news may be to those who have not been abused by the accused.
End thread.
However unbelievable this news may be to those who have not been abused by the accused.
End thread.
