Holy fuck.

[conuly]

This is some sort of belated April Fool's joke, right?

"Now there you go, trying to twist that too. And I don't mind you trying. It's not the woman's fault, it's not blaming the victim, but tell me what self respecting person is going back around someone who beats them?"

Please tell me that people really aren't that stupid. I was under the impression that a lot of this sort of abuse centers around eroding a person's self-respect. So, um, yeah?

And then, on top of that: Let's say you have your self-respect. You don't go back. Where do you live? How do you eat? What about the kids/pets?

Assault is a crime. Domestic violence kills. Humans, not chickens. Some sense, please?

(That's not even the worst of it, but I couldn't take that crap on my journal)

Comments

[moggymania.livejournal.com]

Just so you know, in case you ever want to share links on it -- Helsinki Syndrome is a common misnomer for Stockholm Syndrome. The actual event that prompted the name was a bank robbery during 1973 in Stockholm; people often mix it up with the terrorist kidnappings in Helsinki during the 1972 Olympics.

(I only know this because I Googled it when I saw your comment, as I was wondering if Helsinki Syndrome was the same as Stockholm Syndrome. :)

[leora.livejournal.com]

I looked this information up recently. Some of the stuff on Helsinki effect claims the reverse. Especially as the Stockholm incident may not have actually been a case of the "Stockholm effect".

Also, throwing either term at the phenomenon doesn't add anything to it than saying that victims of abuse often love and protect their abusors and that's just human nature.

However, I have serious problems with a US Republican telling people that if they are abused they can just leave their relationships while shaping tax and welfare laws to punish those who aren't married and reward those who are.

[moggymania.livejournal.com]

Where I looked up Helsinki Syndrome, what it said was simply that it's a misnomer -- not a separate disorder at all.

One of the reasons it's important to have a name for things like this (and have full explanations) is specifically so idiots like that senator can be educated about it in the first place. You can't even tell them what it is, let alone begin to explain how it works, if there are no words for it so you can find out in the first place. Just telling them "oh, it's human nature" (it's actually mammalian nature as other species do it as well) will not even begin helping them understand or accept it.

I agree that the guy is a stupid jerk that needs a clue-by-four to the head, I'm not denying that. I'm not going to waste energy flipping out over a specific situation I have no personal power to alter, however -- whenever possible, I prefer to focus my energy where it will have a chance of improving things.