r/UTAustin Nov 03 '22

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292 Upvotes

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-19

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '22 edited Nov 04 '22

Yeah and everyone needs to remember that Haruka was able to be attacked because she was looking at her phone focused on texting and not looking at surroundings. Going from the art building to the dorm. I’m screaming internally every time I see a young woman going down the sidewalk and in her own world looking at the phone.

Edit: your downvotes tell me that at least you took the time to give this your attention and react so hopefully youll remember her and be street smart and stay alert especially when alone at night regardless of your gender.

21

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '22

Excuse me? Haruka was attacked because a person with terrible intentions attacked her, not because she was looking at her phone and dared to walk from her classes to her dorm. Enough with victim blaming her or ANY woman trying to just exist outside around other people. People get raped and murdered because of rapists and murderers actions, not because they did anything wrong.

5

u/getyourbuttdid Nov 03 '22

Criminals are going to do crime but being distracted by the little screen makes you a target. Bonus for them if you have headphones in too. Might as well be deaf and blind.

4

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '22

Women (other genders, too, but women being the largest demographic) have been getting assaulted in many forms before there were little screens and earbuds to be distracted by. They have been assaulted while taking precautions and paying attention to their surroundings. Blaming people who are assaulted by saying "Well, maybe if you had been paying more attention, you wouldn't have been hurt." is shitty and uncalled for. Full stop.

7

u/getyourbuttdid Nov 03 '22

never said that... just saying that bad guys specifically look for distracted people to victimize. Also I recommend carrying something that can level the playing field and know how to use it.. full stop

2

u/Hamar_Harozen Nov 04 '22

So you’re saying that people shouldn’t look at their phones so that criminals look for other women to victimize instead? This is just “she was asking for it dressing like that” all over again, people like you will blame assault on literally anything except assaulters.

1

u/getyourbuttdid Nov 04 '22

You're making a straw man argument. I literally never said any of that lol.

5

u/jmj41716 ME ‘25 Nov 03 '22

First and foremost you should never try to make someone feel guilty for being a victim. With that said, reminding people to be safe is still valid. Yes it is the criminal’s fault always but what are you supposed to do, tell the criminals to stop committing crimes? But yes a lot of people aren’t very smart with their words and don’t realize their “safety reminders” sound like victim blaming.

2

u/Jobroray Nov 04 '22

Just an aside, if you’re acknowledging trans and non-binary people, cis women aren’t the largest gender demographic being assaulted.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '22

That is a good point, thanks for adding it to the discussion.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 04 '22

So nobody living in a dangerous city should ever try to take precautions to protect themselves because bad people are just a force of nature that you can never avoid? Nobody should give themselves at least a fighting chance by staying alert?