Women’s Views on News:
campaign against Facebook to shut down pages that advocate rape
Just as racist jokes can only be found funny within a culture of racism,
rape jokes could not exist outside of a culture of rape.
Angi Becker Stevens 7/10/11
Latest news…
17.2.12: Facebook Irony Fail
15.12.11: The Good Men Project
12.12.11: Alternet
15.11.11: New York Times and the 1000 year old man and Ms Blog
12.11.11: Women’s Views on News
11.11.11: Eve Ensler at The Huffington Post: Over it.
9.11.11: Four demands for Facebook
9.11.11: BBC News and latest media coverage
5.11.11: VICTORY!!! the page is finally taken down!!!! But the fight goes on…
3.11.11: Change.org sends out new press release and attracts more media coverage
1.11.11: Join the Change.org Twitter campaign on Wednesday 2.11.11
23.10.11: Wales on Sunday
19.10.11: Coverage has reached Zimbabwe
18.10.11: The Huffington Post
17.10.11: Sunday Telegraph article reprinted all over Canada
16.10.11: Coverage in Sunday Telegraph
14.10.11: New Zealand launches a campaign: a total of four countries now involved – see right.
12/10/11: New media release
7/10/11: The page has been whitelisted (advertising has been stripped from the page), but the jokes get worse.
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At the beginning of August 2011, Women’s Views on News were alerted to a Facebook page that contains so called ‘rape jokes’:
You know she’s playing hard to get when your chasing her down an alleyway (sic).
Despite many ‘reports’ to Facebook attempting to get the page taken down, Facebook refused, stating:
“It is very important to point out that what one person finds offensive another can find entertaining – just as telling a rude joke won’t get you thrown out of your local pub, it won’t get you thrown off Facebook.” (Given to the Annie Othen Show, BBC WM Radio, 17.8.11)
and…
“Direct statements of hate against particular communities violate our statement of rights and responsibilities and are removed when reported to us,” Facebook said. “However, groups that express an opinion on a state, institution, or set of beliefs – even if that opinion is outrageous or offensive to some – do not by themselves violate our policies”. (Given to Guardian 30/9/11)
In response, Rapeneverfunny was set up in order to publicise Facebook’s refusal and also encourage people to sign a petition set up by Orlagh in the UK, and another set by John in the US against numerous other, equally offensive pages.
Please make your voice heard.
Jane Osmond
Co-editor, Women’s Views on News
Last updated 17.2.12
NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSE RAPE IS NO LAUGHING MATTER HOW DARE ANYONE MAKE A JOKE ON SUCH CRIMES
BAN FACEBOOK
SURVIVORS SPEAK OUT dot com advocates for the prevention and awareness of abuse
Should it be removed? I can’t believe people are actually asking that question! Of course it should be removed! It’s appaling and disgusting! I was mortified when I found out and I’ve never had to endure that awful experience….imagine how those feel that have. If it is not removed I will be removing my profile from facebook and I will make it my mission to spread the word; in fact, I’ve already started.
I agree, rape is never funny.
All this attention server no purpose other than giving these idiots even more perverse pleasure than if you just ignore a couple of jokes between a few sick friends.
Instead of telling Facebook to take a public stand, why not suggest how nice it would be if all outside channels were cut off so nobody but those idiots can even see what they post. Adding a few lines of rotating code would keep them so busy, it’s not even funny! Not anymore.
Or, keep them bragging long enough to coax some actual details, photos and video footage that can be used against them in a Court of Law? Still not funny…or is it?
Hi thriftgirl, the problem with not highlighting what is going on is that there is no public debate, so we had to weigh up the increased attention against not getting any publicity. Tricky at best.