Are false accusations really that insignifiant?

DistrictAccurate · 2021-10-21T13:16:06+00:00

I believe it to be absolutely essential to point out that this does not mean that 92% are true. In fact, only mentioning the 8% number without context - or even in an incorrect context, like crimes that go unreported, might do more harm than good.

We have no idea how common they are, as most cases are inconclusive. One would need to compare the rate of those found to be false to the rate of those found to be true (convictions). Still, it only gets you so far if 80% could be either.

BeanieBreakdown · 2021-10-21T13:39:37+00:00

You've no idea how glad I am to see this discussion being prompted. The entire reason that I even began seeking out men's advocacy spaces, is that earlier this year, a dear friend of mine was falsely accused. He was an admin of a leftist Facebook group, and a beloved member of our community. Over night, he lost the majority of his closest friends, had his job threatened, and lost his entire support network.

Luckily, over time, I and others discovered the truth of what really happened. And he does have a small group of friends and confidents, myself among them, who are trying to help him rebuild. But seeing the left's immediate response of unthinking, brutal condemnation at the second of any allegation whatsoever. Regardless of evidence, lack thereof, or otherwise. The outright refusal to even engage with proofs of innocence offered. The shunning of anyone who did not immediately take sides.

It opened my eyes to the serious misandry issues that we have on the left. Which I have now come to believe are almost as serious as the right's affinity for misogyny. A problem being one faced by only a "small" section of a population, has never been a determining factor in it's seriousness for the left.

Only 0.58% of the US population identifies as trans. Yet, we recognize trans rights as a focal point of our advocacy. According to the FBI, between 1.5% and 8% of rape accusations are later found to be false. It's even harder, almost impossible to account for false harassment allegations. We have to do better.

TheTinMenBlog · 2021-10-21T12:56:49+00:00

There are few things as divisive or as controversial as false allegations of sexual assault.

It’s an uneasy subject to talk about and one we’d rather forget – but in a culture of cancellation, where patience is short, tempers high, words irresponsible and due process often circumvented, it’s a problem to be discussed, whether we want to or not.

Its very nature makes false allegations hard to properly quantify - but many have done so, wading in with foregone conclusions.

Often this voice waves the problem away as mountains made of molehills.

‘How many people are affected?’ They scoff.

Often to muddle the issue amongst the trivialities of being struck by lighting, winning the lottery, being eaten by a lion or squashed by a piece of space debris.

But is that how it really works?

Because what is insignificant to society, is not insignificant to those impacted by it.And where do we stop?

What are the chances of someone robbing a bank? Pretty long odds I’m sure, but that doesn’t delegitimise the crime, or condone those who do it.

Breonna Taylor was just one of two Black women killed by police last year, in all of America – does she fall short of our minimum order of compassion too?

No, she does not. And nor should she.

Her tragic death was immortalised by memorials, vigils, testimonials, protests and outrage, with Black women placed, rightly so, as protagonists of the BLM movement.

So what about these allegations?

Are they to be ignored because of our own discomfort?

And are they really as trivial as many claim them to be?

Source:Home Office Report

This data has also been used by the BBC to create a great documentary here I am not a Rapist

Images by Max Larochelle of Unsplash

wh_atsuperother10_9 · 2021-10-21T13:49:37+00:00

No, false accusations from anyone toward anyone are absolutely always unjustifiable, sometimes life-destroying, and ought to be treated in the severest way for the person(s) who have done it, and in the most caring way for the victim(s) or survivor(s).

molbionerd · 2021-10-21T14:28:24+00:00

Once again another great, poignant, and timely post u/TheTinMenBlog. Thank you.

It’s frustrating to see both sides on this discussion (probably a generous description) inflate, misuse, and misrepresent the stats to their own end. It does no good for anyone and it obfuscates the reality of the situation and prevents productive changes.

I think one thing that we need and would help alleviate some of the damage done in truly false accusations as well as accusations that can’t be proven (i.e. is reported but not charged or charged and found not guilty) is to protect the identity of the accused in the same way we protect the identity of the victim. I think this would have three important results: 1) it will help prevent trial by media/public opinion and the fall out from that, 2) remove some incentive for someone to make a false accusation, and 3) restore some belief and acceptance of innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. Once found guilty, I don’t see a problem with releasing the perpetrators name, in fact I think there is an obligation to do so.

ImpressiveDare · 2021-10-21T22:28:21+00:00

You also have to consider the 8% is legal accusations. But what if the accusation is a Facebook post?

There’s also the racial aspect of completely dismissing false accusations. Many black men and boys were murdered because a white woman accused them of sexual assault.

Do I think false rape accusations are “high priority” issue in the grand scale of things? Not really. But saying they never happen is pretty disrespectful to anyone who has been affected by it.

Boredguy2307jr · 2021-10-21T17:26:09+00:00

Also, I remember reading a quote which was like " I would rather have 100 guilty men go free than have 1 innocent man go to jail"

baggedmilkenjoyer · 2021-10-21T14:40:55+00:00

i refuse to believe 8% is the real number, that was the number from 2005. it has probably risen alot, or atleast, a bit

griii2 · 2021-10-22T09:51:56+00:00

Sorry u/TheTinMenBlog, I don't think this one is as good as your other work. Few reasons:

- You compare the percentage of the entire population affected by vitiligo and intersexuality with the percentage of a fraction of a population that was accused of a sex crime. The "how man do you know" argument compares apples to oranges.

- There is a sharp contrast between false accusations of rape and of other crimes. From wikipedia: "In the US, FBI reports from 1995, 1996, and 1997 consistently put the number of "unfounded" forcible rape accusations around 8%. In contrast, the average rate of unfounded reports for all "index crimes" (murder, aggravated assault, forcible rape, robbery, arson, burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft) tracked by the FBI is 2%"

- At the same time the consequence of false rape accusation is usually much worse for the victim than the consequence of any other false accusation.

- The 8% is just one of many estimates, and the 8% represent only "demonstrably false" accusations. This does not mean the 92% is demonstrably true.

- I would certainly mention the fact that we don't have a better understanding of the problem because even research in this area is seen as problematic and even stigmatised as rape apologetics.

viikoko · 2021-10-21T15:56:15+00:00

This "minorities" is just the ones that represents their agenda and their beliefs

AskingToFeminists · 2021-10-21T19:40:43+00:00

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