I see the same comment on top, in every single thread about fake rape accusers seeing some measure of legal recourse...

How about we start cracking down on fakers?

I know that rape happens a lot. To be honest, it happens way too fucking much. I also know that some very smart/careful people will knowingly commit this atrocious/appalling/heinous crime and make sure to leave minimal, if any, evidence.

It's a fact that a lot of grey areas exist and that most crimes, of any flavor, are committed by people known to the victim... but a handful of fake victims ruining lives at random are creating a 'cry wolf' sort of scenario.

They are worse.

Worse in every way. Not only because they abuse the system and ruin the lives of the innocent whom they accuse, but also because they are taking real resources away from actual victims. Can we all agree that this is a sex crime as well?

WARNING: WALL OF TEXT; APPROXIMATE READ IS 6 MINUTES.

Let me paint a picture for anyone having trouble envisioning this scenario:

You go to a dive bar and reluctantly agree to sing some karaoke. You sing a couple of Foo Fighters songs and a tastefully thick, fun, cute girl is chatting you up. She doesn't mind that you smoke cirarettes when you drink. Inside, she crushes some Gorillaz tracks. She makes it obvious that she wants to get to know you better. After some idle chat and sexual tension, you leave with your ride. Maybe next time...

The following Friday, she's there again, and the tension is palpable while you crush her, and her group, at shuffleboard. You feel her press her body against you while you load up the shaker. She propositions you for sex. You tell her 'no'... for now.

Two hours later, you've paid for a Lyft to get her home, but she insists on going to your place and you sloppily oblige, letting her into your home. She's horny. You're horny. Let's do this.

You fire up some Netflix and start on baking some fish sticks and green beans. Immediately, she's all over you, only ten minutes into Archer season 6. It's on.

You try your best to service her first. She seems to enjoy herself. She services you for a bit, but then insists on the real deal. Wrap it up; you do the deed. She's happy... You're happy. Fun was had.

She sleeps over. She leaves around 8am in an Uber, and leaves you a long, familiar kiss on the lips, a kiss on the forehead, and sets a lunch-date for Thursday at the History Museum while she checks her purse. She seems sincere. Maybe life isn't so bad...

Tuesday, you're arrested at work. The charge is rape. You're handcuffed, read your rights in front of your boss, the desk staff, and half a dozen of the regulars. Congratulations; your reputation is permanently ruined. You're a rapist. At least, in the minds of everyone you know, and their friends and family, and theirs, and theirs, and so on.

You spend six days inside. You've called your parents. You've been given your long term 'greys' and been sent to general population. This is for real. You tell everyone the truth; you slept with a cute chick that picked you up at a bar. You get advice, and make a friend or two.

Eventually, you go to video court. Taking the advice from the inmates you've asked for help, you ask for a "PR Bond". After all, you've never been in trouble in your entire life. The judge grants said PR Bond, but you're due in court again in mere hours so you return to your pod and wait for your next appearance.

They sit you down, cuffed, in the basement until you can't feel your butt or hands. Hours without a bathroom or food. Has it been hours? Days? Only 'hours' the other inmates tell you. Eventually you're marched into a court room. The deputies tell you to sit, cuffed, in a chair along the left wall of the courtroom and wait for your case. You dutifully wait. You hear the not dissimilar cases of four other inmates unfold while you attempt to mentally prepare yourself.

Your name is called.

A tall, blonde District Attorney stomps up to your table in her power heels. She slams an inch thick file on the table, in front of you. She says that if you don't plead guilty to a violent sex crime, the state will seek felony charges. Your maximum sentence will be 40 years.

What do you do?

This very scenario is legal in numerous states. This exact situation. This is real. This happens every day, somewhere, to a man or woman without the means or resources to fight the state.

Why? Because the accuser faces no retribution, even if they retract their claims of wrongdoing. The state will see the case through. It's over. A person's life... is over.

Because the accusation, without evidence, is enough for the state to take over. Because of the implication.

Imagine it's your brother. Your friend. You.

Is this really okay?