Submission + - Torchwood: Is rape acceptable?
dltaylor writes: In the premier episode of "Torchwood", a "Doctor Who" spin-off from the BBC, one of the regular supporting characters, "Owen Harper" is shown to be a serial rapist, yet he receives no punishment, ironic comeuppance, or even approbation. He uses a "foreign" substance as a date-rape chemical to cause uncontrollable lust toward himself, on both a disinterested female and a hostile male, and the behavior is serial because he packs it to the pub, anticipating the chemical's effect. This is not a prank. Rape destroys lives. Picture yourself as either of the victims, unable to understand why you acted so completely outside of your normal character. There will be no sympathy or support from anyone, since you will be assumed to have been a willing participant, either trying to excuse yourself or having had your inhibitions reduced by a bit of alcohol.
Has rape become such a common occurrence that it is now acceptable in the supposed "good guys" of television? If so, why should we cheer for our species in the "us vs. them"?
