Matthew Johns + Rugby Players Sex Scandal

[costargh]

I am getting really sick of reading all these condemnatory remarks by people in power who I believe are being swayed by politics and "what the public want to hear".

Here are my thoughts:

1. I believed from the outset that the group sex was consentual - this is backed up by the fact that no charges were laid and that a former colleague of the 'victim' came out and said that she was boasting about her achievement at work.

2. I believe this lady suffers from a mental disorder - this is purely my gut feeling. At the time is would seem that she loved every minute of it, but as time has passed she has become hateful and has become depressed. This to me is called REGRET! and I think it was triggered by her fucked up-ness.

3. There is nothing wrong with group sex - for fuck sakes, it's a lifestyle choice! Who are we to say that group sex is 'distasteful', 'degrading' and 'offensive'. All parties consented to the action and therefore they made concious decisions to live that way.

4. Matthew John's wife was told from day 1 what happened - Matthew Johns went to his wife and told her everything that happened and they worked through their problems. The fact that he did this in the first place is wrong (correct!) but he has spent 7 years working through these issues, its not like his wife has just found out.

5. There was no need for this girl to come out and ruin Matthew Johns' life - She made a decision 7 years ago and should live with it like everyone else. Not ruin other peoples lives, make them lose their jobs by revealing the past and 'wish that all the players were dead' - or words to that effect.

[excal]

Such is the court of public opinion, unfortunately...

[ninwa]

Totally agree with everything costargh, well said.

It was when the news came out that apparently "Clare" had bragged about what happened for days afterward that I lost all sympathy for her.

There was nothing morally (though some may disagree) or legally wrong about the sex. The only things "wrong" with this whole fiasco are the fact that he cheated on his wife, and the fact that his so-called mates aren't owning up to being in the room and letting him take the brunt of it (though I can't really blame them seeing as how the media has turned this into a massively misguided witch hunt).

[ReVeL]

Agree with pretty much everything said.

Johns has been crucified as a result of this incident, and I really feel for the guy. Lost his job at channel 9 and his coaching position as well. He is in for an extremely tough few years coming up. He has a family too, and they're now going to be copping it from all angles.

[costargh]

These are the sort of things that piss me off.

I wonder if the media would have a field day if the following was true.

A man went back to a hotel room with 2 Australian netball players. Upon entering the hotel room there was another 10 girls there wanting to have get on him.

The headlines would more likely be something like "Australian sluts" or something rather than addressing a certain level of vulnerability when engaging in group sex as is the case at the moment.

[mypurpleundercracka]

my god wats happening to the sporting world, on top of this saga this is just in:

Sydney FC recruit Sebastian Ryall stood down while he fights sex charge - http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25487489-5003460,00.html

[ninwa]

These are the sort of things that piss me off.

I wonder if the media would have a field day if the following was true.

A man went back to a hotel room with 2 Australian netball players. Upon entering the hotel room there was another 10 girls there wanting to have get on him.

The headlines would more likely be something like "Australian sluts" or something rather than addressing a certain level of vulnerability when engaging in group sex as is the case at the moment.

Yup, reverse sexism.

I love the people going on about "she's only 19 so she couldn't have really consented!" I'm sorry, what was the age of consent again?

I can understand a victim taking 7 years to gather the courage to face her assaulters. But not only did she only go to the police after a few days of bragging (probably because she realised people thought she was a slut instead of a hero) but when she did, police investigations resulted in no charges being laid. It's also interesting that I don't think she's ever actually brought up the word rape.

[costargh]

my god wats happening to the sporting world, on top of this saga this is just in:

Sydney FC recruit Sebastian Ryall stood down while he fights sex charge - http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25487489-5003460,00.html

Yeh I saw this earlier in the day.

Pretty disappointed if true. He's actually a very good player (a-league standard) and is still very young.

[wombifat]

eh
the media loves to over exaggerate don't they

[Mao]

When fun's the game, then 3+ is the aim.

but seriously, if she didn't want it when she was doing it, she could always pull away whenever she wanted to and say no. obviously she was enjoying whatever it was.

[excal]

I love the people going on about "she's only 19 so she couldn't have really consented!" I'm sorry, what was the age of consent again?

Tall poppy syndrome can make people bend the rules.

[midas_touch]

I feel for Matthew Johns and his family. It has not only reopened an old wound, but made that wound a lot bigger, since this has now been brought to the public's attention. It was not an act of rape, the only thing that Johns could be guilty for was cheating on his wife. As a result, all this has forced them to relive this experience, which they have tried their best to put behind them. Not only that, it has ruined Johns's career indefinitely. I can't understand why she would want to do this....

[mypurpleundercracka]

regardless of whatever happened he still is a legend of league

[wombifat]

http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/lifematters/women-embrace-group-sex-survey-20090526-blpi.html

[excal]

^ Self-selection bias.