” that doesn’t mean they’re actually benefits or privileges.” Yes, those are benefits to counter their disadvantage. “So that people can brace themselves or take themselves out of an environment that will open old wounds.” I get what you want to say, we have to care for the wounded. But how long will they be wounded? Shouldn’t they heal? “It’s not giving them something extra cushy and granting them the privilege of forewarning”, no, it is. It’s emotionally cushy. ” You can’t just live a normal life after something so heinous happens to you; ” And that’s where I am disagreeing with you. I’ve seen people completely heal from this. I know, that there is a saying that “you never recover fully from that”, but I don’t think thats entirely true.

Again, I want to point out here again, that those are, in fact “privileges that counter disadvantages”. They are granted because you are wounded, and for the time you need, they are needed and a good social tool.

I only have 2 critique points with that, I’ll make that clear again. -A wound should be treated and healed over time /-People may be using their victim status as a shield and weapon, so you should strip them of their priviledge to protect yourself and others.

I want to close this comment with the utmost respect for you and your experiences and hope excuse myself for perceived respectlesness due to imbalances in my wording, I’m actually not a mother-tongue level speaker of english.

“You clearly lack the background information to speak on this matter.” I actually experienced sexual assault myself, as well as seen the impact on others. I don’t want to delve into this, because it’s personal as it is. But I’ve seen victims “using” their victim-status as a shield, and leverage. They didn’t want therapy, they used their trauma against others to inflict shame and guilt. Would that be ok to you as well?

“Getting a cast when you break your leg”, you are right, it’s actually the same as breaking your leg. I quote myself when I say “With time, they should be able to leave”, which means, the “cast” has not to be there forever. When you actually heal inside, forgive the perpretrator, you are losing your “cast”, which is natural. Don’t you think?

“We give emotional care to people who need it,” Thats exactly the point. It’s an ok and good thing. But do we have to do this forever? When is it enough, when is the person able to heal inside, and forgive and move on? Do we have to care them forever of one traumatic experience or do they actually HAVE TO move on?

I’d like to express my respect for victims of sexual assault, but have to condemn those who use it as a tool of power. That’s a hairy situation, but I hope I am clear in distinguishing those 2, and I hope you are able to distinguish between those two as well.

And as far as “rape culture” goes, you’re mistaken on that count as well: http://www.occasionalplanet.org/2014/06/11/miss-usa-and-the-rape-culture/ and http://www.occasionalplanet.org/2014/04/23/rape-culture-defining-it-acknowledging-it-working-to-end-it/

Excuse me? You think sexual assault comes with privilege? Going through significant trauma and emotional pain is not privilege. Trigger warnings are basic human courtesy, not a “special treatment.”

We give emotional care to people who need it, just like people go to the ER when their limb is chopped off. That’s not a “special privilege.” That’s a necessity and arguably a human right.

Getting a cast when you break your leg isn’t a “social benefit” or a “benefit” of any kind. That’s just what happens when you break your leg.

You say you don’t want to belittle victims – but you say you refer to them as “children” and you say they should be able to leave their “cozy victim bubble.”

Excuse me, but patronizing people who have just had their dignity and rights grossly violated is uncalled for.

You say you believe rape should remain “personal.” If we kept crimes “personal” then we wouldn’t solve or draw attention to the problem. You admit yourself you haven’t even read Will’s column. What gives you ANY credibility on the topic then? You clearly lack the background information to speak on this matter.

It’s kinda funny that feminists only want you to “check you priviledge” if its a priviledge they don’t have. The “priviledge” of being a victim comes wirh intensive emotional care. Trigger-warnings, “softened up” social interaction (if somebody knows), and even the prohibition to joke about rape if a rape-victim is there. Those are, by definition, social benefits. Privileges.

Dont get me wrong, I don’t condone rape or think it’s good. Nor do I want to belittle victims further, because they’d know how that feels.I actually know, too.

I’d rather like them to see that they are no children that need “intensive care”. With time, they should be able to leave their “cozy victim bubble” via a process of healing and forgiving.

I haven’t read Will’s column, but I get what he’s at. A “moving personal story” is something personal, which needs personal therapy. And no Trigger warnings on textbooks, or artificial terms like “Rape culture”. These are actually made up by the ones that were raped.to cater for their needs. Seek help, get healed, and live a normal life.