'link' | Ask A Rapist Thread Reddit

Interspersed with the perpetrators’ "sob stories" were the haunting reflections of those who had stumbled upon the thread while it was still live. Aris found a comment from a survivor who described the physical nausea of realizing her own attacker might be on this very site, being "patted on the back" by hundreds of anonymous users for his "honesty". The Conclusion of a Dark Study

Proponents of the thread argue that it provides a unique opportunity for users to engage with individuals who have committed serious crimes, gaining insight into their thoughts, motivations, and behaviors. By doing so, the thread aims to:

The thread quickly spread outside of r/AskReddit. Victims of sexual assault who logged onto the website were suddenly confronted with graphic, unfiltered accounts of assault on the front page. Mental health advocates pointed out that reading these unremorseful justifications caused severe psychological distress and flashbacks for survivors. The Doxxing Attempts Ask A Rapist Thread Reddit

The thread detailed how perpetrators often gain a victim's trust first, using grooming tactics to ensure compliance or fear.

Some key takeaways from this incident include: Interspersed with the perpetrators’ "sob stories" were the

In July 2012, a user posted a prompt on the popular r/AskReddit subreddit, titled: "Rapists of Reddit, what is your side of the story? / How do you justify what you did?"

For every survivor who stumbles into that digital abyss looking for answers, the thread offers only more pain. For every aspiring predator looking for a how-to guide, the thread is a blueprint for devastation. By doing so, the thread aims to: The

Because the thread is from 2013, direct access to the original post on Reddit can be challenging due to platform archiving and moderation changes. However, extensive analysis, screenshots, and breakdowns of the thread are available via:

Many perpetrators used the space to argue that their actions did not constitute "real" rape. They blamed alcohol, misread signals, or accused the victims of regret rather than a lack of consent.