How the fuck is there a statute of limitations for rape in New York?

[LadyForCamus]

@Drich -

I want to make sure I'm explaining myself clearly to you here.  As I said before, if you wanted to come into this thread advocating for women to report sexual assaults when they happen, I am behind you on that.  I wouldn't even be personally offended by your callous, "tough love" approach in advocating for that position.  If you came in and said something along the lines of, "listen ladies:  I know it's scary and painful, but you need to grow some vagina lips and stand up for yourself, and for future victims," I'd probably be off-put by your lack of sensitivity, but...I agree with you.  I know I said some off the cuff comments out of emotion earlier, but I DO think it's critical that women report assaults as soon as possible.

The problem in what you said was your patently false assertion that women who don't report their assaults weren't actually assaulted.  It's your failure to acknowledge the factual inaccuracy you put forth regarding the nature sexual assault trauma that is bothersome to me.  

Implying that someone is weak, or a baby, or just plain morally wrong for not coming forward is certainly insensitive, but at least you are acknowledging that the allegation of non-consent could potentially be TRUE, despite how you judge the individual's response to the trauma.  Denying the existence of very real reasons people don't come forward is just willfully ignorant on your part.  Do you understand the difference here?

Why should women report sexual assault? The norm is to doubt, berate, and blame anyone who has reported it. Rapists with eyewitnesses to the crime don't go to jail for more than a few months, and that's if they go to jail.

Why SHOULD we report it?

I understand where you're coming from. I've been there. And yeah, it's infuriating. But I think it's important (at least for me it was) to stand up and say out loud - "I'm a human being, and what was done to me is NOT okay." Even if no one listens. You're saying it for yourself. I was dragged into the police station practically kicking and screaming by my friends, lol, and nothing came of if it. But in hindsight, I'm glad I took that stand for my own humanity. I think I would have regretted not reporting. But that's me. I'm only one silly person after all. [emoji12]. I'm not sure what the research says about psychological healing with regards to reporting versus not reporting, if any exists at all. Any one got anything?