Medline News reports:
A 30-year-old woman has become Britain’s first victim of a rape that was preceded by having the victim smoke cigarettes dipped in embalming fluid, the Daily Mail reported Wednesday.
You already knew not to accept drinks; don’t accept cigarettes either.
From what I understand, smoking marijuana soaked in embalming fluid is a practice that’s been around a long time, and yes, it will incapacitate the user. What the point of getting so high you can’t move is I couldn’t tell you.
ok, so things you shouldn’t take from strangers:
candy
drinks
cigarettes
drugs (both painkillers and the illicit kind)
ummm… I guess it’s still ok to hand strangers money, bus passes, and umbrellas, right?
you know, the society of paranoia in general really makes it difficult to be a helpful, nice person.
Stories like these make my blood boil, but for a different reason than plain moral outrage at rape.
When women excersize caution and decline offers of drinks, cigs, food, etc. we think every man is out to hurt us. We are cold and standoffish, mean feminists who hate all men.
If we do show some trust and are then raped, assaulted, or killed, we were asking for it because we were careless or irresponsible.
Pfah.
I’m suprised this is only now being publicized. This has been an issue for a very long time.
To sheelzebub, I don’t really understand? Is this personal to you? Do people think you’re cold and stand offish? You should really do what best for yourself, but if you refuse the things men offer you they will assume you aren’t interested and ignore you unless you give some other indication that you are. It really shouldn’t be such a big deal, unless someones up to no good. It’s not likely that we’ll look at you as some evil, man-hating banshee just for refusing some drinks. I don’t generally trust anyone I don’t know and I don’t expect people I don’t know to trust me. Just explain why you don’t want a drink if you’re interested in the guy or don’t accept it at all if you aren’t. Unless you ARE some evil, man-hating banshee you wouldn’t be taking drinks from men you weren’t interested in anyway.
No Soul. That’s the attitude we get when we show caution.
Soul,
I have to guess you’ve never had the experience of being called a “stuck up bitch” because you declined an offer of a drink from a stranger.
It’s not likely that we’ll look at you as some evil, man-hating banshee just for refusing some drinks.
As with all things human, the reaction varies from man to man. Some men react like normal human beings when you turn down a drink– ignoring you as Soul describes. (Ignoring you and going away is often what you hope the drink offerer will do anyway.)
Some seem to feel turning down their offer is an implied insult and show it. Let me assure you what follows would not be characterized as “ignoring”.
Heck, some decide the fact that you didn’t spit in their face while turning down the drink is encouragement. So, they sit down at your table! Getting them to leave requires assistance from the management.
from the context, pseu, I’m guessing Soul is a guy.
guys don’t get offered drinks by strangers, and when we refuse, the first guess anyone makes is “he must be the designated driver”
so no, I doubt that experience has come up.
I for one just wish there was a little more trust in the world. I like being nice and helping people, and when you can’t even offer to help someone who is OBVIOUSLY struggling with a whole mess of packages, because of fears or rape/theft/child poisoning/kidnapping, well, it becomes difficult to be a nice guy.
and don’t get me started on how no one appriciates a good host anymore…
I turn down drinks and cigarettes because I’m a stuck-up bitch. It saves me the trouble of being offended when I’m called one.
I can’t recall ever being offered a drink or smoke at a bar while unaccompanied. Now I feel bad because I’d really like to try a little experiment. When the guy offers me something, I’d like to smile sweetly, flutter my eyelashes and say, “Sure, but let me see YOU take a sip/puff from it first.” :p
karpad, of course you can politely OFFER to, say, help someone who is struggling, as long as you’re willing to take the first “no” graciously.
I really don’t see how it’s so darn difficult to be a nice guy. Just, y’know, be nice. “Nice” includes accepting a refusal.