Many posters blamed their victims for being intoxicated, "teasing," or not resisting physically enough.
Victims were frequently described as sexual objects rather than human beings, a tactic used to distance the perpetrator from the emotional weight of the crime. The Fallout and Public Outcry Ask A Rapist Thread Reddit
Some justified their actions by claiming a lack of control over their hormones, with one infamous commenter stating, "an erect dick has no conscience". Many posters blamed their victims for being intoxicated,
The thread began in July 2012 with a simple but provocative prompt: "Reddit’s had a few threads about sexual assault victims, but are there any redditors from the other side of the story? What were your motivations? Do you regret it?". The thread began in July 2012 with a
In 2012, Reddit became the centre of a massive internet firestorm when a thread titled appeared on the popular subreddit r/AskReddit . What was intended by some as a psychological inquiry into the "other side" of sexual assault quickly devolved into one of the most disturbing and controversial events in the site’s history.
Within 24 hours, the post amassed thousands of comments. While some users expressed horror, many others began sharing firsthand accounts of perpetrating sexual violence, often using clinical or casual language to describe their crimes. Key Themes and Content
The thread’s legacy is defined by its chilling content, the backlash it triggered, and the academic research it eventually inspired. The Origin of the "Ask A Rapist" Thread