I have a bit of a hate-on for fearmongering email forwards. This one, in particular, is about how to not get raped.

I prefer the marmot’s response:

1. If you’re walking to your car late at night in a dark alley, make sure you reconsider. Car accidents much more likely to kill you than anyone lurking in a dark alley. Walk home instead, statistically you are doing the smart thing to stay safe!

2. Serial rapists could be lurking anywhere. However, if you’re seriously worried about being raped, stay away from the people most likely to rape you - your husband, boyfriend, and male friends and family members.

3. Avoid dangerous places. The most dangerous place for a woman, where she is most likely to be attacked, is in her own house, so stay out of that. And this isn’t because of break-ins - it’s because of the people who live with you, or who you invite in. So, stay at Starbucks or something.

4. If you’re thinking about jogging alone in a park, and are concerned about safety, think about this - far, far more people die from heart disease that was preventable with exercise and sensible food choices than random attacks.
 

Of course, now I’ve gotten all infuriated about the subject. I’d write more, but this article goes over it better than I could. Don’t rape. There’s an idea.

On the topic of office politics:
"Mom, you have to tell them what they want to hear."
- Carol Ann, age 6

 

I wonder if it will be friends with me?