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written by bummer , July 05, 2009 (08:35:27 PM)

Every day I take my dog into Wilson Park, I expect to find a body. This is because of all the activity that is going on there.

Luckily, nothing deadly happened over the years. There were sexual assaults (not to say that they weren’t major in trauma), the suspect in the jogging outfit who assaulted a woman and the suspect who knocked a woman unconscious (domestic?) are in my memory. I have seen drunken teenagers fight with their girl friends and I intervened.

Over the years, I have learned to look after myself. There are places I do not frequent at certain times. There are times where I do not frequent certain places.

For a female to walk alone in a park in the middle of the night is always risqué. Luckily, she escaped without injury. But where is common sense?

The term “sexual assault” is a blanket accusation of misconduct. It does not differentiate between touching or, most serious, rape. I know, no is no, but I remember a case where a person was publicly charged with sexual assault and a year later was fined $300 for slapping somebody’s behind.

Common sense or good lawyer?

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written by bb23 , July 08, 2009 (03:27:25 PM)

Regarding the last comment "bummer" you have absolutly no right to judge, concidering you have not the slightest clue to why she may have been out walking alone at that time. To ask where someones common sence is, without understanding the situation is pretty ridiculous. Shes a 17 year old girl, if you haven't understood the fact that teenagers make mistakes and eventually learn from them than I am sorry for having to bring this up. I pray, this girl does not ever have to read that comment and blame her self for what had happen. Just for information with situations like these most girls already put all the blame on thereselves as is. If you yourself had common sence you would keep a comment like that to yourself and not post it over the internet, where people are capable of seeing this.

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written by Katie McLeod , July 08, 2009 (06:28:01 PM)

I didn't see any judgement. Only statements. And it was too late for that young woman to be alone anywhere but at home. Not to say she was "asking" for it but I hope she learned a valuable lesson. The cream of the crop are not hanging around parks at 1am, period.

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written by bb23 , July 08, 2009 (10:48:46 PM)

Okay. Notice the words NEAR wilson park, she wasnt in Wilson park and I know this because I know her, and know exactly what happened. First of all she was trying to find her dog and was simply going around her block, I don't know about you but If my dog had gotten out id do the same. And for your information she did learn a lesson cleary, but there is know right for people to ask where her common sence is. I think a girl who is attending University should be able to look for her dog that she cares about, without getting comments that are making her feel like its her fault even more so then she already does. Before commenting on something you have no idea about, and only read a portion of what happened i think you should keep it to yourself. "period."

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written by White Eyes , July 09, 2009 (07:52:59 AM)

That's funny!! Attending University makes a person smart, or at least able to look after a dog... Was that funny deliberate?

Sounds like bb23 is down on the kid as well.

As for the bigger picture, you often see people risk their lives for some mutt. No one seems to question the sense of it, and who knows, maybe the risk taker is educted at university and is smart! What a hero!

Hope they catch those three ugly boys though. But then anyone that is friends with those pukes won't care about a young girl being attacked. And if the little boys were caught, the courts won't touch them or scare them. That's why we need a punishment that gets someones attention besides the UN, like a 5 tickles with a cane and then let go with a smile and "I'll see you again next time" and a can of ointment.

Nah, society would rather say it was the girls fault. It's easier on the thugs that way. Can't have our thugs tramatized, that would be inhuman. Oh wait a minite, are they human and are they entitled?

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written by Reality , July 09, 2009 (08:17:13 AM)

No one deserves to be attacked and I dont' think anyone was insinuating that this girl deserved it or was "asking" for it. I think the point was that there is an inherent risk to women (actually, any gender these days) when walking around alone at night and that people need to be aware of these risks and act accordingly. Are they ultimatley responsible? No, I dont' believe so, but they do need to behave in a responsible manner and try to avoid putting themselves in potentially dangerous situations. I teach this to my teenage daughters: this is what is out there, this is what could happen, this is how you can avoid it. There are far too many women out there who think they are invincible and it could never happen to them, but it can and it will to many of them and if they want to be safe, they need to take steps at their end to make sure they are safe - don't walk around alone at night and if you are out at night, stay in a group, always keep an eye on your drink, don't get into a car with someone who is drinking, etc etc etc. It's common sense.
A woman out looking for her dog in her neighborhood should be able to feel safe. I do this many times and my only big concern has been encountering a bear - it never really occured to me that there would be a group of idiots out there waiting to pounce. It's very sad that it just isn't possible to feel safe in your own neighborhood.

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written by Katie McLeod , July 09, 2009 (08:27:30 AM)

The trouble is that whether you're looking for your dog or going for a walk at 1 a.m. you'll not meet the kind of people you'd invite home to momma. She was so lucky the police were there in time to save her from something she'd have to live with forever and feel very violated. Women and elderly are always targets to the low life because they are more vulnerable. I'm so glad she is fine. I'm so glad she learned a lesson. Poor kid must feel terrible.

bb23
written by bummer , July 09, 2009 (09:03:11 AM)

First of all, I wish your friend well and hope that she found her dog.

Secondly, I was commenting on a story in the Citizen that read: “... the female was WALKING HOME FROM WILSON PARK ...”
The version in the Free Press read: “... Police say that the girl was WALKING HOME FROM WILSON PARK when she was attacked on a footpath. ...”

You would assume that the police report would have mentioned the girl’s statement that she was attacked while looking for her dog near Wilson Park.

I think you should direct your verbal outburst towards the local papers and/or your local police and demand accurate reporting.
-30-

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written by bb23 , July 09, 2009 (10:21:05 AM)

Okay, "white eyes" first of all there is nothing funny about this situation, at all. You obviously didn't understand my point, I didn't mean for it to sound that make her smart, but since shes at the age of being on her own I think she should be able to feel safe and go around looking for her dog. Anyways, So maybe the papers messed up I don't know. This girl is so upset about comments being posted all over the internet, I'm not just talking about this one but for example opinion250. Its terrible. It's hard enough for her as is, and now as she is just asking for help to find these people she has to deal with the people calling her an idiot, or that she is making it up and that its her fault. If people could just see how much this girl has changed from what has happened, then maybe you'd understand why im so upset about this. She was probably the happiest girl, and all I wont is her to be that girl again.
Sorry if you felt I was having an outburst, but it's a hard situation and things are taken very personally.

17 and walking around at 1am,,,
written by Vogel , July 09, 2009 (12:06:29 PM)

So where were the parents at this time 17 alone at 1am,,,I guess too much book learnin makes you lose your common sense,,,

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written by bb23 , July 09, 2009 (01:13:53 PM)

Okay, her parents were out of town people do stay home alone at that age but apparently your just not fit in with reality, and haven't learned that yet. Keep your stupid comments to yourself know one wants to here them. Its amazing the disrespect people have towards situation so traumatizing. If you haven't realized yet disrespecting people is not the cool thing to do. Why don't you think about someone else other than yourself, and try and put yourself in her position right now. No matter what the circumstance is there is absolutly no right for people to do what they did. Get over yourself, if this happened to you or someone you cared about your opinion would change completly and im positive you would not leave comments, this isn't a god dam please to be joking around, I hope you the best in finding a way to grow up. LAY OFF!