A video game that simulates rape and torture? Really?

CAUTION: THIS ARTICLE IS OF A SENSITIVE NATURE

When I was little I played video games like Pong and Pac-man. Times have definately changed, now we have video games like Rapelay. Rapelay is a 3D rape simulator, in which the player takes the role of a rapist who stalks a mother and her two daughters, raping them repeatly until their wills break and they become his slaves. The events of the video game range from groping to gang rape to forced abortions. HOW SICK! I have to ask myself "What's wrong with this world, when violence and torture against women and children are so socially acceptable?". I think there has to be a serious change in the way our society thinks, especially for the sake of our young generation.

New Year's Resolution

Greetings Readers,

Another year has gone by; it’s hard to believe it went by so fast, but the New Year comes with fresh resolutions and promises to ourselves that we hope we can keep. Do these sound familiar: be in better shape, take better care of ourselves, be better organized, lose weight or things like that?

I wonder if anybody thinks about being better prepared to defend themselves in the New Year.

It may sound a bit off, but I think this should be one of the things at the top of our list and somehow it isn’t. All or most of us have the subconscious idea that bad things are not going to happen to us, and we really hope that they don’t, but hoping in and of itself doesn’t take care of the reality.

The reality is - we are living in a dangerous world, one in which there are people that are looking to harm others. We don’t know the reasons; those could vary significantly, and we can’t change people’s minds, but we can change the way we respond to these actions.

Self Defense however, is more than just knowing how to respond to a physical attack. As a friend of mine likes to say, "Self Defense is a state of mind…." It starts with the mental decision and determination to stand up for ourselves, not only in a physical manner - but with a psychological mindset as well.

Just like there are different forms of abuse (e.g. physical abuse, domestic abuse, emotional and psychological abuse), our responses should be varied yet fitting according to whatever circumstances we may find ourselves in.

It all starts with believing that we deserve not to be abused. Whether it comes from the people we love (who most of the time are the abusers), from acquaintances, or ultimately strangers, we have to be firm in our minds not to tolerate abuse of any kind. Sometimes the abuse is subtle, so subtle in fact that we don’t consider it a big deal, but it is amazing on how damaging to our souls this is. It drains us of our energy, and little by little it eats away at our hopes and dreams, sometimes to the point where we have nothing left to sustain ourselves. The worst part of it all is that we become so used to it, we don’t even recognize it.

And then there is physical abuse, which is usually violent, having no merit or value whatsoever. In the most tragic cases, it has the power to take our life or the lives of our loved ones, and if we are lucky enough to stay alive, the psychological effects are devastating. It could take a lifetime to overcome these effects as well.

So, why not make a New Year’s Resolution? Why not set real goals and strive to keep and meet them?

Let’s start by believing that we all have a purpose in life, and that we deserve respect, no matter how we look, what we believe, and no one has the right to take our dreams away; no one has the right to destroy what has been given to us at birth.

And then let’s decide to be prepared in case something happens to us or our loved ones.

The phrase my sound a little intimidating, but "Self Defense" is not just for an elite group of people; it is for everyone regardless of race, gender, financial status, language, culture, physical ability – you name it. It helps us become more confident; it provides us with knowledge that empowers us and helps us to believe in ourselves and our own capacity to take care of ourselves and our loved ones if ever needed.

So why not? Why not make a fresh and unique New Year’s resolution right here and now? This year, let’s make sure we are better prepared - no matter what!

Guest Writer: Dulce Werner, co-founder: Enuff Self Defense: Chicagoland's Premier Women's Self Defense Training http://www.enuffselfdefense.com/

The Self Defense Challenge

The other day I was having dinner with a friend of mine. While we were dining, the conversation drifted to the topic of self-defense. My friend asked me a very good question: "Sue, what would you do if you were attacked while you were in the shower, while you are in a very vulnerable state?" This struck me as a very good question, and got me thinking, "What WOULD I do if I was in this situation?" Thinking about self-defense in these situations helps one develop countermeasures that can be used in many different situations. Having a set of defensive measures in mind that are applicable in many different situations helps one be better prepared. While you can never be 100% prepared in all situations, by having an awareness mindset you are better equipped than most people.

Back to my friend's hypothetical scenario: When you are in the shower, you still most likely have access to everyday items which could easily be used as weapons. For example, shower bottles, razors, combs, or anything else that is reasonably solid can be used to strike an attacker in vulnerable areas such as the eyes, nose, and throat. The key is to be aware of your surroundings and to always consider that you can almost, in all situations, easily arm yourself to improve your chances of successfully defending against an attacker.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month!

Last weekend I attended a Take Back the Night march/ rally and candle light vigil in support of raising awareness of violence against women and children: domestic violence, sexual assault and rape. I believe it’s extremely important to support organizations and events like these that draw attention to these violent acts. People need to become aware of the high prevalence of these crimes. I’m placing the link to Take Back the Night on my recommended site list. In addition to that link I’m also placing the link for Silent Witness National Initiative, an organization that is dedicated to reducing domestic violence in turn reducing domestic murders. Ladies, domestic violence affects people of all ages, races, cultures, religions, sexual and educational backgrounds. Many women and children have had their lives taken by men that they loved and trusted: husbands, boyfriends, sons, brothers. Remember…Your husband may not always be your husband. Your boyfriend may not always be your boyfriend. As women we need to take responsibility for our own safety. We need to educate ourselves so that we are our own protectors.

Men Can Stop Rape Too!

A couple of days ago I stumbled across a couple of websites one called: Men Can Stop Rape and Men Stopping Rape. Both are organizations that provide resources and education to men to create a world free of violence against women. Interesting. Why should all the burden of violence and rape prevention solely fall on the woman? Men need to start taking ownership of their behaviors and actions. Not just the men that commit rape, but all men. Men need to start working with women to end violence and create effective communication between the sexes. Our society has somehow developed a culture that supports sexism, harassment, violence and sexual assault against women, in many overt and subtle ways.
Men: Your mission if you choose to accept it. Be proactive in the fight against violence and sexual assault against women. Don’t use words that degrade women like bitch, whore etc., it sends a message to our society that women aren’t equal. Speak out when you hear other men saying derogatory comments about women. Respect women’s boundaries. Finally, teach your sons to do the same. If we don’t change how our society views women, then the violence, sexual assaults, rape, and domestic violence will continue.
Remember every women is someone’s mother, someone’s wife, someone’s daughter or someone’s sister. How would you feel if that “someone” was you?

Beware of Date Rape Drugs, A.K.A. “Predator Drugs”

We have all heard it before, on TV and in the papers, a drug slipped into the drink of an unsuspecting victim. The victim later awakes unable to recall any events of the past several hours or longer and believes a sexual assault was committed against them. Sounds frightening, but the reality of it is that the use of date rape drugs are becoming an epidemic.

Don’t place yourself into a situation you don’t deserve. Follow some tips to protect yourselves. For example: never accept a drink from someone you don’t trust. Never leave your drink unattended or turn away from your drink (remember it only takes a second for someone to put something in it). Do not drink from open sources such as punch bowls or pitchers, because it might already be spiked. Don’t drink anything that tastes or smells strange and always have a trusted non-drinking friend with you. Also, if for any reason you believe you or a friend have been drugged- seek help immediately.

Padded Assailant Training

When choosing a women's self defense class, choose one that incorporates padded assailant training. This training allows you to give full force strikes to key areas i.e. head, neck, torso and groin to a mock attacker. This attacker wears protective head, chest and groin gear to prevent/minimize injury to him or herself. Training/fighting back under pressure is essential, because it accustoms the student to the rush of emotions and physical symptoms brought on by the adrenaline rush/adrenaline dumping. By simulating real attacks, women can better prepare themselves for real life situations.