Sodomy Hazing Leaves 13-Year-Old Victim Outcast in Colorado Town

[xchrom]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-20/sodomy-hazing-leaves-13-year-old-victim-outcast-in-colorado-town.html

At the state high-school wrestling tournament in Denver last year, three upperclassmen cornered a 13-year-old boy on an empty school bus, bound him with duct tape and sodomized him with a pencil.

For the boy and his family, that was only the beginning.

The students were from Norwood, Colorado, a ranching town of about 500 people near the Telluride ski resort. Two of the attackers were sons of Robert Harris, the wrestling coach, who was president of the school board. The victim’s father was the K-12 principal.

After the principal reported the incident to police, townspeople forced him to resign. Students protested against the victim at school, put “Go to Hell” stickers on his locker and wore T-shirts that supported the perpetrators. The attackers later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges, according to the Denver district attorney’s office.

[BainsBane]

1. victim shaming

Truly awful.

[cali]

2. his isn't hazing. it's assault and rape.

and what's described in the article is horrific.

[riqster]

3. Waiting for all those who blamed the victim in the Steubenville Rape to show up here and do the same

Except they probably won't because this victim is a male.

Rape is rape, and the perps should be dealt with far more harshly than they usually are.

[cali]

5. Because DU was absolutely overrun with those blaming the victim in the Steubenville case

what a steaming pile.

The vast majority of duers did no such thing. and the implication that duers have more sympathy for male victims of rape than female is also garbage.

[riqster]

9. Looky over here:

http://election.democraticunderground.com/10023044334

Took about five seconds. There's some truly disgusting shit being spewed, by DUers.

Feel free to show me similar examples of slut-shaming on DU being done to males. I expect you can find some, but it'll take you a helluva lot longer.

[cali]

10. yeah, lookie, hon. that thread backs ME not YOU

the vast majority of DUers condemn Williams in that thread. duh.

[riqster]

11. So the fact that most people don't suck means that nobody does?

Typical. I never said the DU was "awash" with victim-blaming, or even that most DUers did so. You added that from your mind, and are now arguing from false premises.

I said "all those", which implies multiple individuals. Proven on the linked thread.

[redqueen]

58. Arguing from false premises is so sadly common here. nt

[riqster]

69. Oh, tell me.

Lots of the time I blow it off. Sometimes, I point it out.

[BainsBane]

41. Don't you find it disgusting that anyone here would blame the victim?

I only read a short way into the thread and I found two disgusting victim blamers. That was enough for me to quit reading.

[riqster]

70. I agree.

To some of these folks, the fact that "most" DUers don't behave so means that there is no problem here with victim-blaming.

[EOTE]

12. I'm sure you can provide links to all those who blamed the Steubenville victim.

Because surely all those people truly exist on DU and you are surely not talking out of your ass. You do realize that comments like yours are misandrist tripe with no basis in reality, right?

[riqster]

13. See post 9.

Next time, try checking for evidence before claiming that something has no basis in reality.

[EOTE]

17. Your post has no basis in reality, and it's sexist bullshit.

You post to a link where 99% of posters are abhorred about the stupid comments and 1 poster makes a fairly stupid comment in defense of Serena which suggests the victim should have been more careful and 1 other poster with a few dozen posts to his/her name backing that poster up. The poster also has more than one post hidden in that thread. Absolute sexist bullshit. So you've found one asshole and his/her lacky and you equate that with "all those" people to denigrate an entire group. Disgusting.

[riqster]

18. No basis in reality means what it says.

Attempting to conflate "none" with "some" is not convincing.

And I invite you to refute my thesis with reason and facts, instead of ad hominem attacks and bluster.

[EOTE]

20. Sexist bullshit.

Just a snide way to get in an attack on men and I see it all the time on DU. Idiotic comments when stories are posted about awful things that happen to a woman and almost without fail there will be a comment from one of the usuals suggesting that men will soon be around to revel in the delight of a woman suffering. It's sickening bullshit and you know it. The good thing is that no one here buys what you're shoveling. If a bullshit comment like this were directed at African Americans, it would, without a doubt be considered racist and surely hidden. But because your idiotic post is aimed at men, you think it's all gravy. It's not, it's disgusting and you know it.

[riqster]

21. So, you have no cogent arguments, just rage and insults.

Good luck winning people over with that approach. It's downright Limbaugh-like.

[EOTE]

26. Yes, and you've plenty of cogent arguments for "all those" assholes cheering on the rape of women.

"All those" meaning 1 random asshole being put in his place by everyone else. Again, if a similar disgusting comment were made toward women or other minority group, it would be hidden and the poster most likely wouldn't last long. Luckily, this bullshit is tolerated less and less around here. Enjoy your hate.

[riqster]

28. So, you're saying that women are completely equal to men in all respects?

And that they are not subjected to double standards? That they don't get slut-shamed, and blamed for rape? And that it isn't worse for women than men?

That, my friend is sexist horseshit, and if you want to make such a claim, I suggest you provide some evidence.

[EOTE]

30. Yeah, one could say that's my view if they were utterly incapable of reading and generally not that

bright.

Because I said nothing of the sort. I said that to claim that "all those" people reside on DU as if they're some significant faction is sexist bullshit and well beyond idiotic. Try reading.

[riqster]

34. Live in your bubble as you wish

But the reality is that there are people on DU who slut-shame and victim-blame women. And there are more than one of such DUers. I chose to only post one example because:
(1) it proves the existence of something that was being denied by a DUer, and
(2) closed-minded people won't change their minds no matter how much or little evidence is provided to them, so there's no point in providing multiple links.

You can rage and hate all you want, but this is reality.

Another reality is that women get more slut-shaming and victim-blaming lugged at them than do men. Again, deny it all you want, but the fact is, women get treated like dung in America, in lots of ways.

And for you to call me "sexist" for pointing that out, and to do so in the manner in which you have, does not alter a single one of these facts.

[EOTE]

35. That you don't realize it's sexism is pretty hilarious.

If you had made a blanket statement awaiting the arrival of a group of black people to do something awful, you'd be called out for being a disgusting racist. You do the same thing to men and you sickeningly expect to be praised for it. For you to do that at a place like DU where people like that are not only in the minority, but an utterly insignificant minority is even worse. Sickening.

[BainsBane]

59. I looked for 45 more seconds and found 5

instances of victim blaming or congratulating the victim blamer. I wonder how many I would count if I read the entire thread? Her ponit is valid.

[EOTE]

62. I read the entire post as well. I found 1 with one toady supporting, out of god knows how many

And those posts were primarily suggesting that the victim should be more careful in the future. It's a crass way to put it for sure, and I wouldn't have done it (and it certainly seemed like the poster was ill informed about the case to say the least) , but I don't believe it's the same thing as victim blaming. To suggest that DU has a faction of these people who are abhorred over male rape and dismiss female rape and victim blame is ludicrous. It's sexist bullshit.

[BainsBane]

63. You may disagree as to what constitutes victim blaming

or how many members engage in it, but to call it sexist is nonsensical. This thread is about victim blaming of a young man. It is repulsive irrespective of the gender of the victim. Because the other victim is female somehow compels you to call the other poster's condemnation of it sexism? You disagree that the other thread exhibits sexism (which is in itself problematic, but we'll set that aside for the sake of argument). That someone else observes what she considers the existence of sexism does not make something sexist. it seems pretty clear to me you have no idea what sexism is.

[EOTE]

72. It's sexist to suggest that such a contingent exists on DU.

That there are DUers just waiting to dismiss female rape and be abhorred about male rape. That's sick and it's utter bullshit.

[BainsBane]

73. You may consider it bullshit

but there is no conceivable argument that it is sexist. That assertion is patently absurd.

Five posters engaging in victim blaming or support of victim blaming is in and of itself appalling. It need not constitute a majority for someone to find it disturbing. You seem intent on trivializing it. There is nothing trivial about perpetrating rape culture, and victim blaming is central to rape culture.

[EOTE]

75. No, not at all sexist to suggest that all those men are just waiting to come in express shock at

male rape while simultaneously victim blaming and excusing the rape of females. Or do you think those were females the poster was referencing? If you honestly don't think that was directed at men, I've got quite a few bridges to sell you.

[BainsBane]

78. I think it's quite likely some are women

but I really don't know. Your point about sexism appears to be based entirely on your own assumptions about the gender of the posters. Women engage in victim blaming all the time. Moreover, the other poster did not comment on the gender of the other posters in that thread. I would suspect she is no more familiar with their gender than we are. Now, I would not have made the point in the way she did, but I have witnessed what she described all the time. Nearly ever thread about rape attracts either some victim blaming or someone who doesn't seem to understand that people are talking about rape rather than sex. In this thread, for example, you have people talking about the problem of hazing. This is about the rape and victim blaming of a sexually assaulted young man. Some people just don't get it.

Women are not your enemies. There is no reason to jump on every discussion of gender by calling it sexist.

[EOTE]

83. I'm quite aware that women aren't my enemies.

My myriad female friends, coworkers, wife, daughter and many others would attest to that. I will, however, continue to call out sexist bullshit when I see it. And your suggestion that I jump on every discussion of gender and call it sexist is utter bullshit as well. I don't think I've commented on something like this in many weeks. But don't let that stop you from getting a good slam in.

[BainsBane]

104. It wasn't a slam

I was trying to explain a perspective to you. I had hoped you would try to understand. Perhaps you simply do not want to.

After I wrote that last post, I was thinking about your situation and was actually concerned about what experiences might have prompted your reaction here and in other threads I've seen. Instead of leaving work after my meeting, I came back to my office to delete a post below that I thought might have been insensitive to you. Now I feel quite foolish for caring.

[Scootaloo]

79. Then why do you keep suggesting it?

You know, Rigster said nothing with regards to the gender of victim-blamers. "All those men" is entirely your own invention. Why is that?

[EOTE]

82. Yeah, I'm sure he was suggesting that loads of women would come in excusing female rape

and expressing their shock and dismay over male rape. You're a very astute one, aren't you?

[Scootaloo]

84. I am astute, yes

So astute that I can scroll up, see that rigster made no accusations about the gender of victim-blamers, and then scroll back down to your posts, where you clearly make the baseless assumption that rigster is railing against men.

So far, you're the only one assuming they'd all be men. That's a little strange.

[EOTE]

85. I'm quite aware of dog whistles when I hear them.

The pattern is pretty damned clear. A post comes up even tangentially related to gender and one of the first few posts will undoubtedly be an attack on men (this time, those that just love female rape, but hypocritically decry male rape). Other times it's: "Hey, I can't wait to see all the men arriving to defend this horrifically sexist ad." or "I can't wait to see all the men defending the rape of this toddler." It's sickening and you can live in your fantasy world and pretend it doesn't exist. As for you last inane comment, I'm far from the only one who thinks this.

[Scootaloo]

89. Again, you're the only one assuming about men, EOTE

Got some backup for these?

"Hey, I can't wait to see all the men arriving to defend this horrifically sexist ad."

and

"I can't wait to see all the men defending the rape of this toddler."

I'd be delighted to see the posts you're quoting there.

[EOTE]

90. Sure, I've got one that you can quickly dismiss for some reason or another.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022559356#post1

I'll wait for you to tell me why this one doesn't count.

[Scootaloo]

94. I'd say it does count. Here, let me show you the difference

thank you so much sharing a horrifying vile ad that men will think cutsey and funny

vs

Waiting for all those who blamed the victim in the Steubenville Rape to show up here and do the same

I wonder if you're aware that "those who blamed the victim" is not a gender-typed object? It's clearly not "just men," unless you have something you want to say about Serena Williams, perhaps...?

[EOTE]

96. When they suggest that they'd ALSO be horrified at male rape, you're damned right that identifies

gender. It's utterly asinine to think that doesn't reference gender. And Serena's comments were idiotic in the extreme, god only knows how she would have thought about this case. But that's irrelevant to whether or not the post I replied to suggested that men would excuse female rape and be horrified at male rape.

[Scootaloo]

97. Only men can be horrified by male rape now?

[EOTE]

98. Nowhere did I suggest that.

You should read my posts again. I'm suggesting by saying that a number of DUers are going to be flooding the board with posts abhorring male rape while summarily dismissing female rape is, without a doubt, sexist tripe. This really isn't that complicated.

[Scootaloo]

100. No, it's pointing out that some DU posters are sexist

In that these posters are willing to dismiss or blame a woman who is raped, while showing full sympathy for a male victim.

No comment is made referring to the gender of the posters in question. That is all you, that's 100% made up in your head, and every post you've made thus far has been assuming that what's only in your head is actually in riqster's posts.

If you are going to assume that all posters who would do this are guys, then I guess that's something you might want to reflect on about yourself. But it's not something riqster ever said.

[BainsBane]

110. This whole outrage is in your mind

You've invented a story in your mind and blame everyone else for what you're thinking. Believe me, women are well aware of how much victim blaming some other women do. Do you actually think we've lived to any adult age without witnessing it? Your argument is with the dialog in your head, not what the poster said. Moreover, you predictably point to a post from Seabeyond, who has left this site because of hateful people making her a scapegoat. That post is months old, and that's what you point to for what purpose? To prove that women are evil because they call out violently sexist advertising? She wasn't blaming rape victims there. She was commenting on an ad depicting violence against women, and she is right that a lot of men find that stuff cute. If they didn't, why the fuck would it be an international ad? I have no sympathy for your self created outrage when you call out out someone members like have managed to drive off the site. Find someone new to kick around, and start taking responsibility for your own thoughts rather than creating some fake controversy to bask in your self created victimhood.

The last place I saw you pitch a fit was in a thread on military rape where someone dared to mention the fact that women too are rape victims. You accused that person of ruining the entire thread by mentioning women. You've got serious issues, and they have nothing to do with rigster or Seabeyond. I suddenly don't care what problems you've experienced when you bring up the kick Seabeyond crap. It's the kind of ugly bullying that made her leave this site, and I hold members like you and your juvenile tactics responsible. If you can't make a point without beating up on people not in the thread and not even on the site anymore, you obviously have nothing to say.

[Scootaloo]

64. I find it interesting that you're arguing against nothing that rigster has actually posted

Just a snide way to get in an attack on men

It was?

and I see it all the time on DU.

You do?

Idiotic comments when stories are posted about awful things that happen to a woman and almost without fail there will be a comment from one of the usuals suggesting that men will soon be around to revel in the delight of a woman suffering.

rigster said this where?

It's sickening bullshit and you know it.

Well, when it comes to bullshit, you might be a certified expert.

The good thing is that no one here buys what you're shoveling.

Whatever that might be, in your unique perception of reality.

If a bullshit comment like this were directed at African Americans, it would, without a doubt be considered racist and surely hidden.

You must be new here.

But because your idiotic post is aimed at men, you think it's all gravy.

Her post is aimed at people who blame victims.

It's not, it's disgusting and you know it.

Actually having read your posts on this subthread, I feel as if I've lost knowledge.

[BainsBane]

65. Scootaloo

[EOTE]

71. Yes, it was without a doubt an attack against men.

Suggesting that there would be "all those" posters so incredibly offended about male rape and dismissing of female rape as if they actually exist here. If the genders were swapped there would have been an outrage and the post would have been hidden. You keep pretending that double standard doesn't exist.

[Scootaloo]

74. Then why do I feel so thoroughly un-attacked?

I'm not even feeling mildly threatened.

Maybe it's just you?

[EOTE]

76. You're a pushover? You lack pride?

I couldn't tell you why. And I don't feel threatened, I feel offended. A bit of a difference.

[Scootaloo]

80. Or perhaps - just maybe - there is no attack.

I "lack pride"? Yeah, that'll be the day.

Oh, oh, why not suggest I'm "white knighting" while you're flailing your way down this particular path?

[EOTE]

81. Or perhaps, just maybe, you don't care?

There seem to be a good number of people who do care here, so maybe you're in the minority? But keep on telling us not to be offended when stupid people say really stupid shit. That will surely get you far in life.

[Scootaloo]

87. So far it just seems to be you, EOTE

One's not a good number. In fact I've heard it's the loneliest number, worse than two.

Voices in your head don't get a vote, by the way.

[EOTE]

88. Perhaps you're having a hard time concentrating due to the rattle in your head.

I can forgive you for not being able to see the patently obvious.

[Scootaloo]

95. And I can forgive you for believing the hallucinations are obvious

LSD's a hell of a thing, innit?

[BainsBane]

56. I saw two

and I only read the first few posts. Even if they are the only ones in the thread who did so, it's repulsive.
How you interpret the other poster's remarks as sexist is astounding. I can't even begin to understand the thought process behind that.

[Quantess]

40. What are you on about?

That's a lot of unwarranted preemptive outrage.

[exboyfil]

4. The principal father should have gone to the police immediately

I sure would have. What kind of punishment did he expect the school to do? This is a criminal matter. You cannot punish sexual assault through the school system (worst that can be done is expulsion hardly an appropriate response to a sexual assault).

I am truly shocked how the other students reacted. Like the article says, it sounds like Lord of the Flies. No adults in that district at all.

[geek tragedy]

6. Norwood makes Steubenville look enlightened.

They really like rape there, apparently, so long as a jock does it.

[KansDem]

101. Damn, that's a frightening thought!

Wrestlers and footballers; footballers and wrestlers... My high school had a similar culture. Every yearbook had color photos of the football and wrestling teams with individual photos of each footballer/wrestler.

I was on the track team and all we had was one black and white photo of the entire squad...

As for rape culture, I never heard any stories about the footballers and wrestlers, but then, I was never "in" with the "in crowd." Besides, we didn't have the tubes then so it would have been much easier to keep such "events" quiet...

[Sheldon Cooper]

7. Unbelievable.

Sickening. What is wrong with those people?

[exboyfil]

8. A link to the original story

http://www.krextv.com/news/around-the-region/Norwood-HS-Students-Charged-in-Denver-Assault-Case-149337465.html

[IrishAyes]

15. Totally sickening

Those guilty should be severely punished, perhaps tried as adults for rape by a foreign object.

[marmar]

16. Words fail sometimes.

nt

[JohnnyLib2]

19. Tip of the iceberg in regard to team hazing in high schools.

And probably a very low percent of incidents are reported. No wonder.

[markiv]

29. yet people wonder why so many do not go to high school reunions

just leaving that world behind

[roamer65]

111. Damn straight.

I ignore or throw away any correspondence on reunions.

Not one smidgen of interest.

[BainsBane]

68. This is rape, not hazing

[JohnnyLib2]

106. Agreed. Yet condoned and accepted as 'hazing' in so many ways.

[closeupready]

91. Right. To the extent DU reflects American society, see

my post below. Sad and outrageous, IMO.

[Dash87]

22. There is no rape culture.

[TommyCelt]

23. Sickening

"Students protested against the victim at school, put “Go to Hell” stickers on his locker and wore T-shirts that supported the perpetrators."

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess all these kids who supported their criminal classmates did NOT fall over themselves making amends with the victim after the perpetrators pled guilty. This community at large ought to be ashamed of themselves.

[davidpdx]

24. This sounds so much like Steubenville

Except to make matters worse the dad lost his job. A misdemeanor charge is an insult. Bring on Anonymous!

[timdog44]

37. Problem is

in Steubenville the person who got the information on the criminals, is facing a 10 years sentence for his information gathering. Steubenville must be a pit _____________ (fill in the blank).

[davidpdx]

107. I heard that

My sister is involved in the protests and keeps me up to date.

[timdog44]

108. It is outrageous

to think an informer can get 10 years. And the kids who rolled over on the two rapists, get immunity. There was no need for the kids to roll over as plenty of evidence was present to convict.

I congratulate her on her protestation. I hope it comes to a good end.

[timdog44]

25. This goes to show

how "holy" sports are in a lot of towns about America. Sports trumps education and morality. It is disgusting. And it follows through to college sports and to professional sports. I do not have to cite all the incidents of college athletes who have been caught in these kinds of acts and not punished. Or if they are punished and kicked out of school, some other school "has it in their heart" to forgive them so they can get a better player for the team. The big stadiums at colleges are monuments to the unintelligent. Of course people will say "the college would not have as much money without our football or basketball", but so what. The waste of all this money on coaches, and scholarships to kids who have not the ability to even spell football keeps other deserving students the chanced they deserve. And in the professional sphere it only gets worse. After Katrina the first thing that was done was to rebuild the football stadium!! In Jacksonville the city is spending money on a stadium rejuvenation at a cost to taxpayers of almost $40 million and at the same time are closing about 6 libraries to save about $2.6 million.

The priorities of sports in America is pathetic. The above examples pale compared to the sexual assaults on women, and men, by these so called athletes. Morality, out the window. Ethics, out the window. Education, out the window. Gotta have the best jocks regardless of how they behave, especially if the jocks are related to important people. And then the cover ups start. Instigated by the adults and parents. And the victim blaming. Then when judicial hearings start, they plead down to lesser charges or get 15 to testify for immunity to convict one. I am so angry I have to stop before saying things I should not.

[historylovr]

27. Sports over all. Sickening. nt

[Ilsa]

31. Stupid headline. This Sodomy is RAPE, not hazing. nt

[libodem]

44. agree

And justice should be done for everyone's sake. The perpetrators are twisted already and need treatment. Not that it always works but if they aren't made to feel some empathy and regret, they may grow up to continue to molest and torment, younger and weaker victims.

I think we have a culture of secrecy, shame and abstinence only sex ed, that allows this sick shit to happen.

Young men have a tough time in recovery because some times they feel to blame or feel as if any arousal makes them culpable. The child needs lots of expert counseling to rebuid his self esteem and to be assured it was not his fault.

[Ilsa]

48. This child and any other man,

whether a teen or adult, that has been assaulted. I think too many people are willing to ignore the real pain and long term hurt of the male population that is sexually assaulted, whether by sodomy or forced intercourse. Unfortunately, I don't think women can expect to have real understanding as victims unless men are treated equally when they are victimized.

[libodem]

51. I worked in adolescent treatment

And boys have a really tough time. By the time we got them it was usually because they had become offenders, themselves. These acts really destroy moral and ethical social constraints. The treatment center had some pretty barbaric methods too.

The facility had a PPG, penile plathesmograph (I'm sounding out the spelling) that was similar in function to a lie detector. The boys had a band wrapped around their penis that hooked up to a machine that measured arousal. Then they showed them pictures to see if they were pedophileor homosexuals. I'm not kidding.

I hope this stupid technique has lost favor in the treatment community. Boys and men may react to any stimuli that is sexual in nature. It can be beyond conscious control.
Women too. I think a similar gadget exists to calculate excitement in females. As I said barbaric.

[Ilsa]

52. I've heard of that.

One of the most instinctive feelings after a rape is revulsion from feeling like your body has betrayed you. For women, lubrication during rape is critical to help prevent additional physical trauma. Yet many people still that this state of arousal is voluntary.

Yeah, I hope they've gotten rid of those arousal-detecting machines. They don't serve any real purpose.

[libodem]

54. It seemed barbaric then

And now. Talk therapy, and maybe long term residential housing to keep young offenders from victimizing, until they can trust themselves. But this horrific stuff happens world wide, say in Africa with all the child soldiers. They turn them into killers and they are often abused in other ways. All the world wide refuge camps. All the internal displacment in Iraq and kids whose parents were killed or imprisoned. I fear many children have been sold into slavery for labor and sex.

Oprah, did a show on sex trafficking before she left the network, that was shocking in the pervasive extent of human trafficking. I have the most dreaded feeling about private contractors, having access to displaced vulnerable, disparate, people, they could buy and sell for profit.

Lebanon and Jordan are probably still full of Iraqi refugees, who are illegal aliens and unable to find legitimate work.
This world is filled with deprivation and depravity. It is not just a little slice of certain American men's attitudes and behaviors, that we an call "rape culture", like it is a special membership club, it is a world wide power and poverty asymmetrical problem where the disenfranchised are trampled.

[TNNurse]

32. How many more

How many more of these stories come out before we take sports out of public schools? My thoughts are that those who have character and sanity better get control before the criminals (which is what they are) ruin it for the others. So much for thinking that Colorado was a more enlightened state.

[timdog44]

36. Sports do not

belong in institutions of learning. If parents want sports for their children, there need be private clubs after hours. Then the gymnasiums would be for all students as a part of their education by staying physically fit.

[Pelican]

39. Because there is no reason....

... to remove something that millions of kids benefit and would provide zero benefit.

Pretty broad brush there.. athletes and the residents of Colorado represented by these sickos.

[City Lights]

33. Lots of sick people in that town.

How utterly disgusting.

[Lunacee_2013]

38. That poor boy.

I wonder how many other younger kids they did that to. And how is sodomizing someone with a pencil considered just a misdemeanor?

[Hydra]

42. Scary stuff

I grew up near there too, so a little too close to home. This part was especially noteworthy/bad:

“I got bullied as a kid because I had long hair and earrings,” said Eilmann, a 45-year-old carpenter. “I played football, baseball and soccer and the older kids bullied me. But we always shook hands and it would be over with. But today, you can get prosecuted. It has all gone too far.”

I doubt the boys sodomizing other boys are looking for handshakes and "we're still friends, right?"

[d_r]

43. wow, the community

“When I was in school there might have been bullying, but there was none of this crap about telling the school,” said Jennifer Long, a waitress at the Hitchin’ Post Cowboy Bar, a popular eatery on the town’s main street. “How you going to be tough if you don’t get bullied sometimes?” she said.

Long’s husband James Eilmann agreed.

“I got bullied as a kid because I had long hair and earrings,” said Eilmann, a 45-year-old carpenter. “I played football, baseball and soccer and the older kids bullied me. But we always shook hands and it would be over with. But today, you can get prosecuted. It has all gone too far.”

[redqueen]

61. People have always defended bullying.

It's rare now but that kind of sentiment was even posted on DU back before bullying became an issue that lots of people decided was important. Not about sodomy of course, but the idea that bullying builds character, isn't a big deal, etc.

[d_r]

103. wow

I just never knew that, I'm blown away.

[stevenleser]

45. K&R & Bookmarked

Disgusting

[SamKnause]

46. Rape

This was not bullying !

This was not hazing !

This was assault !

This was rape with a foreign object !

The reaction of those who live in the town is alarming to say the least.

They recall they were bullied as school children, but I didn't hear any of them admit that they were assaulted and raped.

The principle (the victim's father) should have went straight to the police and reported the incident !!!!

I am pleased that he and his family have moved and the victim is doing well.

I remember how my father and mother always stood up for and protected me and my siblings.

I shudder to think of the reaction my father would have had if this had happened to me, or my siblings.

There is a growing group of individuals in this country that are certifiably insane.

When a child is assaulted and raped as a prerequisite to participate in sports, there is something deeply wrong with the system and the country that allows these heinous actions.

[Blue Diadem]

47. Sickening that the towns people & school district would minimize it and not stand up for the victim.

What in the world is wrong with the people of Norwood Co, that they can't see it is sexual assault?

[Douglas Carpenter]

49. almost 10 percent of high school males reported being victims of rape, forced oral sex or other

other forms of sexual assault by their peers, according to a 2009 study in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence.

As word spread about the incident, townspeople turned against the principal and his family.

“When I was in school there might have been bullying, but there was none of this crap about telling the school,” said Jennifer Long, a waitress at the Hitchin’ Post Cowboy Bar, a popular eatery on the town’s main street. “How you going to be tough if you don’t get bullied sometimes?” she said.

Long’s husband James Eilmann agreed.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-20/sodomy-hazing-leaves-13-year-old-victim-outcast-in-colorado-town.html


I think when things like this are done by "good kids" from "good families" that play sports and enjoy an elevated place in the community's social structure - they are simply not taken seriously. It's not even consciously seen as a sexual assault at all. It's just boys being boys and horsing around. I think the attitude of the community is like Rush Limbaugh's attitude over sexual abuse at Abu Graib, "You are going to ruin people's lives over THIS!?"

[cyberswede]

50. “How you going to be tough if you don’t get bullied sometimes?”

Are you fucking kidding me? Good lord.

[giftedgirl77]

53. What a bunch of twisted ass ppl

How can you ever equate what happened to that kid to bullying is beyond me? It sounds to me that every person that made a comment condoning the behavior shouldl be looked into, especially if they have or around kids since they have nooo idea what acceptable behavior is.

[SoCalDem]

55. That's felony assault ..n/t

[redqueen]

57. "Sodomy Hazing"? It's RAPE.

Journalists MUST stop whitewashing rape and sexual assault!

[salin]

113. Echo what you say.

[Initech]

60. WTF is wrong with some people???

[suffragette]

67. "Harris was reappointed Norwood’s wrestling coach. He was given a letter of reprimand for leaving

students unsupervised on the bus, Crews told police."

This after:

The father sought out his son, who told him what had happened. He then confronted Harris, the head coach, who at first said nothing had occurred, according to the father. In subsequent conversations, Harris said: “This happens 1,000 times a day around the U.S.,” the principal recalled.

[Dawson Leery]

77. Football and Wrestling, the sport of rape performed by apes.

It is time to take sports out of the schools.

This is another Stuebenville. The ignorant people are defending their sacred athletes.

Athlete worship is a relic of the ancient tribes.

[closeupready]

86. Time and time again here on DU, male-on-male rape is ignored,

it seems - there have been quite a few discussions where the topic has been introduced and it goes undiscussed, or else it's been said that discussion of homosexual rape takes away from female rape victims.

I can imagine there are discussions where that is true, but sometimes it seems as if the homophobes on board here are more uncomfortable with the absence of opposite sex parties to the assault rather than the violence of the assault.

So I've kind of given up on rape discussions here, as with gun discussions. K&R for exposure though.

[redqueen]

92. This...

sometimes it seems as if the homophobes on board here are more uncomfortable with the absence of opposite sex parties to the assault rather than the violence of the assault

[closeupready]

93. Right? All kinds of psychological areas of speculation that

make one feel queasy and disappointed in those who SHOULD be categorically opposed to sexual assault, and would, naturally, speak out against it, every time, everywhere, regardless of gender of the victim - but don't, oddly.

[redqueen]

99. Queasy and disappointed, yes...

exactly.

[duuser5822]

102. what a horrible crime

I hope the scum who did this face swift and harsh justice. Truly evil.

[LostOne4Ever]

105. The only thing sicker than what happened to this poor boy

Is how the town is treating him and rallying around the perpetrators.

[roamer65]

109. A town full of sick scumbags.

However, I can say that not all incidents of sexual assault or harassment are screwed up like this one. I was being harassed along with a few other kids in our locker room and the PE coach put a stop to it right away by monitoring the locker room closely, without attracting attention to any of us. The counselor told me if they ask if you talked to me, lie to them and say no...as they were not worthy of honesty. He was a good guy and so was the coach.

The principal dad needs to sue their fucking asses off...go for millions.

[salin]

112. Horrific.

I have worked with the victim of sexual hazing on a high school sports team. In the aftermath the student had to change schools - when the backlash against him for reporting was so public and harsh. Exceptionally traumatic for the victim.

But. One of the attackers (it was also a sodomy situations) - was the son of a big college sports hero several decades before - and much of the vitriol was centered on the victim ... and the frame (in many conversations) were about the victimization of the abusers. Victims - because they were being held to account for horrific actions.

One more public example of how strong the 'rape culture' (or culture of minimizing the seriousness of sexual assault) - is live and well in our culture.