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Culture War Roundup for the week of October 5, 2026

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If necessary/possible, otherwise at least plead in her favor and defend her from accusations and insinuations.

I see where you're coming from, and it does seem relevant here but "kissing can be fine, but kissing and telling is rape" is not, IMHO, a viable legal standard. Especially since I'm not aware of it being codified anywhere relevant here. It's dangerously close to ex post facto to criminalize actions based on words separated by months or years, unless it was considered a separate crime.

And if this was truly the standard, going on a nationwide media court-of-public-opinion press tour as part of your civil litigation strategy is, uh, not a good look either.

Of course, rape accusations are way beyond the pale as retaliation, and absolutely the law should be blind to the social games being played here. I'm just talking about why she was wronged which explains (but not excuse) why she reached for rape accusations.

Don't you think that there is too high a bar for this level of conspiracy and coordination in this particular social setting?

It's their duty not to spread rumors, to attempt to smother the rumor if they hear it being spread, to downplay it ("we were all so high we barely were aware of what was happening so it's not like she just puts out for anyone") and plead her case to the frat and sorority leadership. If none of it worked, I would have considered Male 1 to be pretty much honorbound to get in a serious longterm relationship with her at least until they're out of education, to shield her from social consequences.

Of course, her deserving such consideration went out the window when the rape accusations went in. But it's fun to imagine a world where people aren't all scumbags.