Cablegate, the Game

An anonymous reader writes "Cablegate: The Game is a game where players can read, tag and summarize the recently released US Embassy Cables. Points are awarded for finding the most tags in a cable." I wish this game were extended to more news sources generally — automated scans are nice, but can't (yet) make all the connections humans can.

Comments

What about tags in Assange's arrest records?

[Anonymous Coward]

Lawyers cry foul over leak of Julian Assange sex-case papers

Incriminating police files were published in the British newspaper that has used him as its source for hundreds of leaked US embassy cables.

In a move that surprised many of Mr Assange's closest supporters on Saturday, The Guardian newspaper published previously unseen police documents that accused Mr Assange in graphic detail of sexually assaulting two Swedish women. One witness is said to have stated: "Not only had it been the world's worst screw, it had also been violent."

Oh, the irony.

Re:What about tags in Assange's arrest records?

[ObsessiveMathsFreak]

One witness is said to have stated: "Not only had it been the world's worst screw, it had also been violent."

It's clear to me that this statement and others like it made by the alleged victim are an insult to actual rape victims everywhere. It gets worse:

According to her statement she "tried to put on some articles of clothing as it was going too quickly and uncomfortably but Assange ripped them off again". Miss A told police that she didn't want to go any further "but that it was too late to stop Assange as she had gone along with it so far", and so she allowed him to undress her.

Too late to stop because she had gone along with it so far? And later she goes to lunch with him, and afterwards complains only that he was "the world's worst screw". Unbelievable.

Without exaggeration: this statement reads like a stereotypical straw man argument trotted out by misogynists who deride and demean rape allegations. This woman did not even have the decency to simply add a line stating at the very least "I told him to stop and he didn't". Today alone, there are women who have arrived bruised and bloody into rape crisis centres, who have had their integrity questioned in court, who have to live with their attackers not only going free, but re-offending; I can't imagine how those women must feel about these patently ridiculous allegations being taken seriously.

The impact of these farcical complaints in such a high profile sex-offence case is going to set back rape victims' rights by a decade or more. Expect to see the Sweedish Assange case trotted out in every sexual assault legislation debate for twenty years, as the foremost example of how rape allegations can be trivial and how rape victims' testimony is unreliable. I suspect quite a few "mens' rights" groups have made a song and dance over this already.

Unfortunately, the biggest fallout from the entire Cablegate scandal is going to be in justice for rape victims the world over. So congratulations Miss A.; your actions have changed the world. I hope you're proud of yourself.

Re:What about tags in Assange's arrest records?

[Shauni]

There is no "victim script" someone follows after a rape. Never. You watch too many Lifetime movies if you think that is so.

They may turn up at a crisis center bloody. They may throw a party for their attacker. They may just cover their bruises and pretend it never happened. They may make a joke about it later. They may call it "bad sex" afterward. They may participate during the event, or stop resisting. They may have even agreed until a point, before withdrawing consent. They may do everything "right," and find out that it doesn't even matter.

That is the nature of sexual abuse of all forms. Often there is an attempt to deny the assault after it happened, because admitting it happened would compel them to act on it. To go to a complete stranger, and relive the event, who more often than not will deride them, blame them, or mishandle their case.

Then the second they stray from the Lifetime account, it provides a reason to take the man's side.

The only way to escape the circle of injustice, just understand: no means no.

Today alone, there are women who have arrived bruised and bloody into rape crisis centres, who have had their integrity questioned in court, who have to live with their attackers not only going free, but re-offending; I can't imagine how those women must feel about these patently ridiculous allegations being taken seriously.

I would imagine what they feel is something like, "Hey, Glenn Beck sounds just like that asshole defense attorney, or my 'friend' who told me it wasn't a big deal." Alternatively, if they know a little more about the situation, "As usual, the only time a complaint gets taken seriously is when there's a bigger political motive."

In fact, I don't have to imagine, as I have talked to several, including one about this very event.

Re:What about tags in Assange's arrest records?

[JumperCable]

The only way to escape the circle of injustice, just understand: no means no.

It usually helps if the woman actually says no instead of bitching about it later after she discovers he has slept with another woman.