Perpetrators often relied on societal myths, such as the belief that "no" actually means "yes" if the person doesn't physically fight back.
In 2012, Reddit became the centre of a massive internet firestorm when a thread titled appeared on the popular subreddit r/AskReddit . What was intended by some as a psychological inquiry into the "other side" of sexual assault quickly devolved into one of the most disturbing and controversial events in the site’s history. Ask A Rapist Thread Reddit
The study found that the majority of respondents did not view themselves as "rapists" because their actions did not fit the Hollywood trope of a "stranger in a dark alley". Instead, most knew their victims—as friends, wives, or acquaintances—and used that familiarity to minimize the severity of the assault. Current Status Perpetrators often relied on societal myths, such as
The thread began in July 2012 with a simple but provocative prompt: "Reddit’s had a few threads about sexual assault victims, but are there any redditors from the other side of the story? What were your motivations? Do you regret it?". The study found that the majority of respondents
Some justified their actions by claiming a lack of control over their hormones, with one infamous commenter stating, "an erect dick has no conscience".
Many posters blamed their victims for being intoxicated, "teasing," or not resisting physically enough.
