My commenters are always a mixed bunch and I run a lively wall. It’s full of people who would never normally choose to spend any time reading what each other write… and that’s great. More people should be sharing more about their lives and getting an understanding of the sheer complexity of the human experience.

You have presumed I’m a man, indeed I may be, but I have committed to living my life on Medium as a sexless, ageless, genderless, race-free Penguin (see my pinned story) - but yes, it’s a little sad Ms Tepfenhart hit the block button. I have no control over that and I haven’t take it personally. People are complicated and I am not an easy bird most of the time.

That aside, the reality is that she’s blurred the legal line between sexual assault, coercive control and rape. This does the victims of these crimes no favours at all because aside from the trauma of experiencing such an event - the trauma of an adversarial legal system will be just as damaging.

I would rather see young women see perpetrators slammed with sexual assault charges and be placed on sex-offenders register. This would allow them to get ‘a win’ which would be cathartic and psychologically empowering. Such a position may garner attack as ‘letting rapists off the hook’ - but I think it’s got a better short term and indeed long term outcome for victims.

I can see why Ms Tepfenhart (and some other commenters) might see my pedantic ‘look at, converse about and learn the law’ approach as cold and uncaring - but I disagree. I think it’s necessary for every generation of young people coming to adulthood.

Thanks for dropping by and adding some nuance to the frosty collective. Don’t get too angry with others in the comments, there are things to be learned from everyone here - and it’s always better to keep talking than to cut and run. :o)