Jill Meagher's Disappearance Poses Some Interesting Questions to Discuss

[Starlight]

I'd rather not think about the criminal who did this to this poor woman.
 

Absolutely. But I want to further discuss this point that many people in the public seem to make often - they say she should be partially held responsible because she put herself in a dangerous situation by being alone at night. Similar situations could arise in the future, and we might have to make similar decisions during our lives. What do you think of this notion?

* She lived freakin 5 minutes away, and she wasn't able walk there without being physically harmed.

[thushan]

Yeah. Some in the public argue (including my mum) that no matter how far away you live, a woman MUST be accompanied by a trusted person. To be safe, a man and two other women (to mitigate the risk of the man himself raping the woman). But then that's an assumption that all men are potential rapists. How far do we go in terms of precaution?

Others say that she shouldn't even BE outside the house at 1 am and that she was stupid for being outside the house at night.

[Felicity Wishes]

Well, sure it is a risk and I'm betting she knew that but people do things that are risky every day and no one expects to be that person to get raped or kidnapped. She should been more cautious, for sure, but I don't think it is soley up to the women to be safe because you could still be safe but still be in danger. You're pretty much in danger everywhere, when you think about it. Even if you stay at home all dat, you could still be raped and killed. More awareness is needed in terms of keeping safe but the problem of rapists and dangerous people at night still needs to be addressed.

[Starlight]

Yes, as Nisha previously posted- although it's demoralising, it's something that's needed to be accompanied by someone known so late at night.

[Felicity Wishes]

Yes, as Nisha previously posted- although it's demoralising, it's something that's needed to be accompanied by someone known so late at night.

Either way, that cannot always assure your safety.
What if you and your trusted person were attacked by a gang?

[thushan]

Well, sure it is a risk and I'm betting she knew that but people do things that are risky every day and no one expects to be that person to get raped or kidnapped. She should been more cautious, for sure, but I don't think it is soley up to the women to be safe because you could still be safe but still be in danger. You're pretty much in danger everywhere, when you think about it. Even if you stay at home all dat, you could still be raped and killed. More awareness is needed in terms of keeping safe but the problem of rapists and dangerous people at night still needs to be addressed.

And what's more, WHY do people become rapists? WHY do people become murderers? I personally believe that these things should start being treated as treatable mental illnesses. We have to be careful here though. If we associate mental illness with "murder" and "rape," in that murderers and rapists will most likely have a mental illness (namely psycopathy or sociopathy), we have to be absolutely crystal clear that the converse does not hold. That is, mental illness of any sort does not imply psychopathy/sociopathy/rape/murder. And we don't want to drag down the connotations of mental illness like this because there are other illnesses that MUST not be treated so harshly, particularly depression.

[Starlight]

Yes, as Nisha previously posted- although it's demoralising, it's something that's needed to be accompanied by someone known so late at night.

Either way, that cannot always assure your safety.
What if you and your trusted person were attacked by a gang?

Yes true. It can only potentially save you from one, or maybe two individuals.

[thushan]

Yes, as Nisha previously posted- although it's demoralising, it's something that's needed to be accompanied by someone known so late at night.

Either way, that cannot always assure your safety.
What if you and your trusted person were attacked by a gang?

Take it to the next step as a thought experiment - should people even BE OUT at late night if they value their safety? Pragmatically? We are not talking about whether people have the RIGHT to be out at night, because they do. We are talking about, based on common sense, should people (men AND women) be outside the house at night?

You could also take the other approach and say "everyone should be armed to protect themselves." Oh wait, welcome to the United States. Let's not get started on that idea.

[MonsieurHulot]

Yes, as Nisha previously posted- although it's demoralising, it's something that's needed to be accompanied by someone known so late at night.

Either way, that cannot always assure your safety.
What if you and your trusted person were attacked by a gang?

Take it to the next step as a thought experiment - should people even BE OUT at late night if they value their safety? Pragmatically? We are not talking about whether people have the RIGHT to be out at night, because they do. We are talking about, based on common sense, should people (men AND women) be outside the house at night?

You could also take the other approach and say "everyone should be armed to protect themselves." Oh wait, welcome to the United States. Let's not get started on that idea.

Yes, I think that people should, if they want to, walk outside at night, anytime they like. While there is a risk, and a higher risk than there is during the day, of being abducted/bashed/robbed/raped etc., the likelihood is very small. You shouldn't let fear dictate what you do, unless of course that risk is high. In a case like this, I don't think the risk is high enough to stop me, at least, from walking outside at night.

[thushan]

Definitely not a good idea to be out at that time. Apparently it was only a 5-minute walk and you never think it'll happen to you

By the way (might be a bit off-topic) I just read that this might be guy

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/youre-being-followed-backpacker-sexually-assaulted-after-con-20120801-23dvb.html

Nah, that's fair enough - on topic.

[thushan]

Yes, as Nisha previously posted- although it's demoralising, it's something that's needed to be accompanied by someone known so late at night.

Either way, that cannot always assure your safety.
What if you and your trusted person were attacked by a gang?

Take it to the next step as a thought experiment - should people even BE OUT at late night if they value their safety? Pragmatically? We are not talking about whether people have the RIGHT to be out at night, because they do. We are talking about, based on common sense, should people (men AND women) be outside the house at night?

You could also take the other approach and say "everyone should be armed to protect themselves." Oh wait, welcome to the United States. Let's not get started on that idea.

Yes, I think that people should, if they want to, walk outside at night, anytime they like. While there is a risk, and a higher risk than there is during the day, of being abducted/bashed/robbed/raped etc., the likelihood is very small. You shouldn't let fear dictate what you do, unless of course that risk is high. In a case like this, I don't think the risk is high enough to stop me, at least, from walking outside at night.

I'd say this though - at night, fewer people around, more secluded area, harder to see your surroundings. That'd leave you pretty vulnerable, even if the risk of getting attacked is only slightly higher.

[Furbob]

sometimes I get paranoid to walk alone during the day - once when I was walking to my usual bus stop to go to Chjadstone and a car pulled up with a man (looked a little suss) asking directions to Chadstone then he asked where I was headed and I said Chadstone then he said "want a lift?" and I said "nah ill be fine thanks"

"really?"
"I dont mind travelling"
"aw cmon"
"no really I am fine."

I remember having my back against the glass wall of the bus stop thinking he'd get out of the car but he eventually drove off when another man came to the bus stop

I just find it sad that things like this can happen during the day

[Greatness]

Heart breaking to hear about these things I don't really want to say anything too lengthy but I think society is really, really screwed up. Well maybe as an entirety but the minorities. Like every situation they make a group of people seem much worse than they are and the thugs/criminals whatever you want to call them do that to society, think about suburbs in Melbourne some have a terrible reputation but many contain a lot of good people too. What worries me the most is the lack of social values and why people commit such acts.

[pi]

We are talking about, based on common sense, should people (men AND women) be outside the house at night?

In all honesty, we have a lot of creeps and weirdos in the world, and many choose to present themselves in the night. By common sense, no, I wouldn't venture the suburbs or the city by myself past 10/11pm (but I suppose I've been brought up that way to some extent), but by NO means does that put the blame on Jill for her rape and murder. She had every right to take that walk, and seeing as though the walk was such a short one, it's not one that's unreasonable to take. It's just a tragedy what has occurred though

[spectroscopy]

the whole problem just stems from the fact that so many men just think with their dick and dont even care about what the girl is thinking or feeling, 0 self control and 0 worry for repurcussions