Oh man, my head imploded when I read what that girl and her friend said. To say that the fault is the rape victim's is so ridiculous and stupid. Even to say that they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time! That's so insulting. It's almost like saying "Ah well, shit happens. Sorry, better luck next time!" Some rapists are so calculating and cold-blooded that they spend weeks or months tracking their victim. That's really frightening, because it's like...no matter what you do, the rapist is going to come after you.

I don't like the idea that from the moment you're born, you immediately know some things, either. It was a big problem for me during my Philosophy course this past semester, because that's what was taught there, too. As though to imply that people of different cultures or religions are sinful or something, just because they don't necessarily believe in the same universals as the average Christian American does.

I basically agree with you. I'm rather uncomfortable with trying to paint things as either/or, black or white. To me, the line between a social or a personal problem can be so thin, almost nonexistent. Especially with an issue like rape. It's personal because yeah, most likely something happened in the rapist's childhood to make them prone to rape. They've got their own personal demons. But it's social because other parties (an abusive parent or whoever) created those demons and issues for the rapist. Although I'm thinking maybe it's just the definition of "social" or "personal" that's different in your class versus mine.

Sorry, I couldn't help rambling...this kind of stuff gets to me, too. Tell those people off next time!