PDA

View Full Version : New York’s Affirmative Consent Law Affirmatively Confuses Students




Cabal
11-01-2015, 11:48 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUS2cuBNQSc


In an effort to address sexual assault on college campuses, New York became the second state to pass an affirmative consent—or “yes means yes”—law this summer, putting college students at risk of punishment if they cannot demonstrate that they received “clear permission” to engage in “sexual activity.” But how many students know about the new law they’re required to follow? What kinds of actions constitute sexual activity? And how exactly can they demonstrate or get consent?

FIRE’s Shelby Emmett went looking for answers from students at New York University in New York City. What she found, though, were more questions. Many students didn’t even know the new law had been passed, while others said they heard about it only in passing. The law doesn’t define a “sexual act,” and students were split about whether something as ubiquitous as kissing counted. Answers ranged from a shaky “I think so?” to a firm “definitely” to a non-committal “no, not really.” Some students said they used “body language” to cue their partners about consent, while another student said the new law seems to mandate more, including “a verbal confirmation that they’re ready to have sex with you.”

Yet another thought that no matter what a potential partner said—even if he or she verbally consented—students had to be on the lookout for physical cues, too. “I think a lot of the times people can say something but not really mean it,” the student said.

There was also confusion about the law’s requirements when one or both parties have been drinking. The text of the law says that “depending on the degree of intoxication,” a student might not be able to consent. How drunk is too drunk? “It’s a gray area,” said one student. “It’s hard to tell whether you’re too drunk, or whether they’re too drunk.” The question that stumped students the most was how they would prove they had consent if accused of sexual assault. “I don’t know, actually,” said one.

“Oh my gosh. Well I think that’s really difficult because it ends up being your word against the other person’s,” said another. One student in particular summed up the concern that the law simply doesn’t reflect how sex works in the real world: “I’m not gonna have everyone I sleep with sign a document saying, ‘Yes, I consent to having sex with you.’”

Under the affirmative consent standard, where one must be able to demonstrate that consent was ongoing at each step of a sexual encounter, even that might not be enough.

Suzanimal
11-01-2015, 11:50 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo4568PIRnk

acptulsa
11-01-2015, 12:11 PM
There's an interesting passage in Hunter S. Thompson's Hell's Angels about a girl who voluntarily 'pulls a train', then spends the next day laughing as she points out guys who didn't participate to cops and accusing them of rape.

Which hath more fury--a woman raped or a woman scorned...?

Ronin Truth
11-01-2015, 01:01 PM
That way no matter what you do, IT'S WRONG!

Intoxiklown
11-02-2015, 01:10 AM
It's not rape. It's surprise sex.

Intoxiklown
11-02-2015, 08:59 AM
Damn...I make an absurd joke reflecting the flip side of a stupid proposal, and I get neg rep telling me how rape is still rape.

Some of you people live in plastic fucking bubbles.

Suzanimal
11-02-2015, 09:16 AM
It's not rape. It's surprise sex.


Damn...I make an absurd joke reflecting the flip side of a stupid proposal, and I get neg rep telling me how rape is still rape.

Some of you people live in plastic fucking bubbles.

Have a +, I laughed.:)

tod evans
11-02-2015, 09:22 AM
Have a +, I laughed.:)

And another. :D

specsaregood
11-02-2015, 09:29 AM
The morality police goes full circle... Now its the "left" trying to stop freelove.

kpitcher
11-02-2015, 06:37 PM
Well now there's a valid reason to have all those cameras in the bedroom...

MelissaWV
11-02-2015, 06:42 PM
Damn...I make an absurd joke reflecting the flip side of a stupid proposal, and I get neg rep telling me how rape is still rape.

Some of you people live in plastic fucking bubbles.

I wasn't behind the neg, but it's less funny when you actually don't live in a bubble and it happens to you or someone you love. That said, it shouldn't require contracts and other bullshit to safeguard either party. It's a sad universe we live in.