Once again be careful what you say.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph....ial-rape-comment.html

Was this an inappropriate piece of advice, that Eamonn gave out, or are some women groups a little touchy.

It reminds me of the time on Answerbank that I was lampooned by some for innocently saying at least a mother of a baby which had just died, was at least young enough to have another child, in which to somehow take it's place.

I was in no way being insensitive, I was just trying to console someone, since I had experienced a similar personal experience to that of the couples sad loss.

But try telling that to some.

[sp1814]

No, no, no, no, no...

I have to totally disagree. What? Are we now in a situation where every woman in the entire country should take taxis whenever they step out after the street lights come on?

What if she'd been at home and realised she'd run out of tomato ketchup? Should she be taking a taxi to Tescos up the high street?

There are millions of women who go out on a Friday night, have a few drinks with their mates and get home safely. What Holmes is saying is that for the 0.0001% chance of a violent assault, you should always take a taxi after dark.

[Messi_Ten]

This should have been shown after 9pm. In fact, why was it ever shown at all?

[anotheoldgit]

DrFilth

/// no one should have to fear walking alone on the streets ///

Couldn't agree more, but you are only stating what is perfectly obvious to everyone, that is of course in a perfect world.

But I am afraid we do not live in a perfect world, and until we do perhaps we should exercise caution in our daily lives.

[DrFilth]

if we all got the same salary as what Holmes is getting paid then we could all afford to get taxis

[Messi_Ten]

Holmes is known to stagger home at night without a taxi!

[DrFilth]

aog how any times have you read in the past , person murdered 60 detectives are working round the clock to catch the killer(s)

if they had more policemen/ policewomen walking the streets there probably would not be as many crimes

the only time we see police near me is when they are driving down the lane at 50-70 mph going to another crime or the helicopter flying overhead

[Zeuhl]

I don't watch this programme but from i know of this case the girl has shown courage in how she has dealt with the attack and the aftermath.

Therefore it might have been better (and less egotistical) if Holmes or a researcher had set up a point in the interview when Holmes could have asked 'and do you have any advice to women'.

Cant could have addressed the taxi issue herself then (I believe she would now at least consider using a cab) - and if her advice had conflicted with Holmes' view he could have reasonably debated that with her.

I think Mr Holmes has an inflated idea of the value of his own opinions over the experiences of his guests.

[anotheoldgit]

ummmm

/// I'm not sure I agree with the 'In this day and age' comment, like we are producing more and more rapists as time goes on...///

And you actually don't believe we are, do you?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2146077.stm

[Zeuhl]

Old Git

That link is irrelevant to the point.

So far as i can see at no point does it provide historical data or make any claim that the frequency or volume of rapes is changing one way or another.

[anotheoldgit]

DrFilth

Just as I said "we don't live in a perfect world" or perhaps we would all have our own bodyguard to escort us home.

[ummmm]

Also, they are only guessing on the figures of unreported rape.

They have tried to make it much easier for a woman to report a rape. How good were they in the past?

[anotheoldgit]

Messi_Ten

/// This should have been shown after 9pm. In fact, why was it ever shown at all? ///

Have you witnessed the recent story lines in the TV soaps, thaty are shown before 9pm?

And these are visual scenes not just words in conversation.

[boxtops]

Pixi, the headline IS spelled wrong, well spotted - perhaps it should be "circumcised"...

[notasyoungasiwas]

Even though I personally would never walk alone after dark, I have read in today's Mirror about a woman in her early 50's who went shopping to her local supermarket in broad daylight and was raped at knifepoint by a 17 year old youth. Rapists don't just come out at night time it seems.

[anotheoldgit]

"I hope you take taxis now."

That's all he said, is it any different to what most of us inadvertently say when anything happens to others?

[emmie]

Notsoyoung, that was my point, she could have been raped at any time of the day or night, so a crass remark all in all. The police have had a poor record in regard to women who have been raped, sexually assaulted. Nowadays there are at least rape counsellors.

[cathfromsaron]

very good point zuehl x

[Zeuhl]

<<is it any different to what most of us inadvertently say>>

Perhaps not, but then mostly we don't prepare for conversations with planning meetings and teams of researchers one of whom will have already had the important parts of the conversation with the interviewee so we can discuss and think in advance about what we are going to say.

It probably wasn't 'inadvertent' and if it was, it was clumsy.

[jackthehat]

Got to agree with zeuhl on this......

[notasyoungasiwas]

I agree em, but I personally didn't think he meant his comment in a derogatory way - at least I hope he didn't.