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Serena Williams On Steubenville: "I'm Not Blaming The Girl But ..."

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WascallyWabbit

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via Deadspin

Some excerpts from an upcoming Rolling Stones article

Here, for instance, is Serena with an unfortunate "she wore the dress" take on Steubenville:

We watch the news for a while, and the infamous Steubenville rape case flashes on the TV—two high school football players raped a 16-year-old, while other students watched and texted details of the crime. Serena just shakes her head. "Do you think it was fair, what they got? They did something stupid, but I don't know. I'm not blaming the girl, but if you're a 16-year-old and you're drunk like that, your parents should teach you—don't take drinks from other people. She's 16, why was she that drunk where she doesn't remember? It could have been much worse. She's lucky. Obviously I don't know, maybe she wasn't a virgin, but she shouldn't have put herself in that position, unless they slipped her something, then that's different."
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Her PR people just lit themselves on fire
 
Not entirely idiotic.

She isn't really blaming the girl, just suggesting a way that (sadly) the situation could be avoided by the girl, in hindsight. It doesn't condone the actions of the criminals.
 
If she's raped in her life, I don't wanna hear her complain about anything. I don't even want her to call the cops. You just lost that right, girl.
 
This guy mouthed off at me the other day. So I got a knife and slit his throat, stabbed him until he died. Is it really fair I go to jail? I mean, he was asking for it!
 
Alienous said:
Not entirely idiotic.

She isn't really blaming the girl, just suggesting a way that (sadly) the situation could be avoided by the girl, in hindsight. It doesn't condone the actions of the criminals.
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Yeah, I understood her point - perhaps she could've worded it better though.

Edit: After thinking about it a bit, I can actually understand some of the outrage.
 
Holy shit Serena. Just when she's returned to peak form too. This could, maybe should, destroy her. It likely won't, she'll apologise and it'll be forgotten, but this has potential uproar written all over it.
 
Alienous said:
Not entirely idiotic.

She isn't really blaming the girl, just suggesting a way that (sadly) the situation could be avoided by the girl, in hindsight. It doesn't condone the actions of the criminals.
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This is just a more benign version of "victim blaming".

Every bad thing could've been avoided in hindsight.
 
Alienous said:
Not entirely idiotic.

She isn't really blaming the girl, just suggesting a way that (sadly) the situation could be avoided by the girl, in hindsight. It doesn't condone the actions of the criminals.
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Yeah, I also think it's more like something that was badly worded than victim blaming.

I mean, it's not wrong to be more careful in life.
 
Alienous said:
Not entirely idiotic.

She isn't really blaming the girl, just suggesting a way that (sadly) the situation could be avoided by the girl, in hindsight. It doesn't condone the actions of the criminals.
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My issue is with
"Do you think it was fair, what they got? They did something stupid, but I don't know."
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The rest is okay. Saying "I don't know" and excusing a rapist being brought to justice? That's fucked up.
 
Victim blaming never ends well but there is always some truth behind that poor conduct often leads to horrible situations. Of course you can never say so especially if you are in the public light.
 
Alienous said:
Not entirely idiotic.

She isn't really blaming the girl, just suggesting a way that (sadly) the situation could be avoided by the girl, in hindsight. It doesn't condone the actions of the criminals.
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but to even say that is a perpetuation of rape culture—society should place the onus on the rapist not to rape, not on the victim to avoid being raped.

to even question if it was "fair" that someone was raped? that's fucked up.
 
Alienous said:
Not entirely idiotic.

She isn't really blaming the girl, just suggesting a way that (sadly) the situation could be avoided by the girl, in hindsight. It doesn't condone the actions of the criminals.
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The worse part to me is she kinda implies that the boys didn't deserve the punishment they got (I believe it was 2 years juvenile prison)

Serena just shakes her head. "Do you think it was fair, what they got? They did something stupid, but I don't know.
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jtb said:
but to even say that is a perpetuation of rape culture—society should place the onus on the rapist not to rape, not on the victim to avoid being raped.
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Yup, this is what it comes down to. The focus should not be on the actions of the victim, no matter what they were. When it came down to it, she didn't have a choice when she was raped.
 
Oh god, the faux outrage.

She's not victim blaming but the girl's decisions, if she wasn't slipped something without her knowledge, have factored into it.

You can't always expect people to have YOUR best interests at heart in what THEY do.

That's like me putting the whole entirety of blame on a thief for stealing cash out of my wallet when I've knowingly left it laying around without supervision.
 
Alienous said:
Not entirely idiotic.

She isn't really blaming the girl, just suggesting a way that (sadly) the situation could be avoided by the girl, in hindsight. It doesn't condone the actions of the criminals.
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I understand what you're getting at, but Serena is still being incredibly callous and missing the point. The boys did more than "something stupid." They raped someone. It's not an oopsie that should be expected.
 
When I was younger and was getting used to alcohol, and then would subsequently have a few long nights, I never once assumed someone would rape me by the time I was too drunk to function. I don't think anyone should have to assume that. But we live in the world where women are treated horribly and so they have to be that extra bit stronger and careful.

It's a sad reality - girls just have to be slightly more careful about such matters until society can develop the maturity to tackle rape. We all have a part to play in bringing more awareness to the matter, and ensuring a safer environment for our female friends and family members. But until that time comes, being a bit prudent and being aware of your surroundings never hurts.
 
The Abominable Snowman said:
Oh god, the faux outrage.

She's not victim blaming but the girl's decisions, if she wasn't slipped something without her knowledge, have factored into it.

You can't always expect people to have YOUR best interests at heart in what THEY do.

That's like me putting the whole entirety of blame on a thief for stealing cash out of my wallet when I've knowingly left it laying around without supervision.
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She implied that the rapists should have gotten off easier. That goes way beyond advocating caution.
 
So in her mind there's a question of whether or not their punishment was fair because the girl put herself in a more vulnerable position? Dumbass.
 
When she implies that the boys should've gotten a lighter sentence is where she fucks up. She's not far off in saying that getting blackout drunk isn't a good idea, but that doesn't excuse rape either.

edit:or put her at fault for the actions of others.
 
The Abominable Snowman said:
Oh god, the faux outrage.

She's not victim blaming but the girl's decisions, if she wasn't slipped something without her knowledge, have factored into it.

You can't always expect people to have YOUR best interests at heart in what THEY do.

That's like me putting the whole entirety of blame on a thief for stealing cash out of my wallet when I've knowingly left it laying around without supervision.
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"Faux outrage" (aka, nobody is allowed to be offended by anything ever) again? Jesus Christ.
 
Serena, and Venus, are in the unique position where they could beat the fuck out of anyone who tried to mess with them in such a fashion.

But yeah, come on girl, you know better than that.

Dude Abides said:
Serena's dead sister should have known better than to be hanging out in Compton.
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damn-friday-o.gif
 
The Abominable Snowman said:
That's like me putting the whole entirety of blame on a thief for stealing cash out of my wallet when I've knowingly left it laying around without supervision.
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You share part of the blame, sure, but a wallet stolen is not the same as being raped, and I think being the victim of rape is "lesson" enough for the victim.

She doesn't need to be reminded by a sports icon that she might've made a mistake going drinking with those guys. It's just insensitive and patronizing.

Also the whole "they did something stupid, but I don't know" a.k.a "boys will be boys" thing is laughable and probably the greater sin here.
 
Serena just shakes her head. "Do you think it was fair, what they got? They did something stupid, but I don't know.
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What. The. Fuck.

Maybe... maybe she is saying it wasn't "fair" what they got because it should have been much worse?

How did this even come up? "So, I'm feeling really good about my game, and by the way, the Steubenville rapists totally shouldn't have been punished, the girl was stupid. I like my chances at Wimbledon this year."
 
Keru_Shiri said:
Accusing people of "faux outrage" is going to get worn the fuck out on GAF, I can already tell.
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"Going to get" worn out?

The number of people who regularly used the term "faux" in their life without following it up with the term outrage is probably small enough that a double amputee could count it on their digits.
 
not psycho said:
What. The. Fuck.

Maybe... maybe she is saying it wasn't "fair" what they got because it should have been much worse?

How did this even come up? "So, I'm feeling really good about my game, and by the way, the Steubenville rapists totally shouldn't have been punished, the girl was stupid. I like my chances at Wimbledon this year."
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Sounds like a day in the life interview.

It also sounds like she's taking the prospective of the student athlete that's surrounded by people showering you with glamour based on how well you do in your sport, and how easy it is to misstep while trying to please everyone and having a skewed sense of right and wrong from everyone constantly agreeing with you. I can relate.

Doesn't make what she said right, but...::Shrugs::
 
Cereal KiIIer said:
If she's raped in her life, I don't wanna hear her complain about anything. I don't even want her to call the cops. You just lost that right, girl.
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oh shut up.


Serena, you have my sword. My flaming sword, it burns and we will slay many enemies. But...we may ultimately perish.

Dude Abides said:
Serena's dead sister should have known better than to be hanging out in Compton.
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it's not the same. And she's not victim blaming...not really.
 
FatboyRoberts said:
"Going to get" worn out?

The number of people who regularly used the term "faux" in their life without following it up with the term outrage is probably small enough that a double amputee could count it on their digits.
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Faux.


Since it means false in French, I'm pretty sure a high number of people have said it without the term outrage.
 
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