Question

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David Blomstrom

"She dressed provocatively - i.e. she "asked for it"

A woman dons a bikini and visits a bar full of marines. She is sexually assaulted.

Most people would agree she did something unwise, but they would also agree that her behavior didn't justify the crime.

However, some people (mostly men) will inevitably say "She was asking for it."

Is this a fallacy, or is it just an opinion or trash talk?

To put it in the form of an argument, a person might say, "She dressed provocatively and went somewhere she shouldn't have gone, therefore, she deserved to be assaulted."
asked on Sunday, Oct 27, 2019 12:09:11 AM by David Blomstrom

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Answers

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skips777
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Nobody deserves to be assaulted, that conclusion is a non sequitur.
Dressed "provocatively" ....technically this is ambiguous. (fallacy of ambiguity) Different people are provoked by different things so this standard could be tight blue jeans or loosely fit sundress.
answered on Sunday, Oct 27, 2019 02:25:06 AM by skips777

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Bo Bennett, PhD
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I wrote two full chapters on this in my book, Reason Books 1 & 2 . Clearly, I have a lot to say :) However, let's stick with the fallacies:

She dressed provocatively and went somewhere she shouldn't have gone, therefore, she deserved to be assaulted.



A non-sequitur according to those who don't accept that "dressing provocatively" warrants assault. Those who DO believe that "dressing provocatively" warrants assault are not being fallacious; they are being assholes.
answered on Sunday, Oct 27, 2019 06:11:46 AM by Bo Bennett, PhD

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mchasewalker
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Firstly, what does deserve imply? The definition of deserve requires doing something or exhibiting qualities worthy of reward or punishment. Secondly, it is proposed that the woman presents herself in a bar full of Marines. It seems to me the worst place a sexual predator would want to assault anyone no matter how scantily dressed would be in a room full of Marines.
answered on Sunday, Oct 27, 2019 11:17:29 AM by mchasewalker

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