Fire down below
Sir: The letter from the news editor of Cosmopolitan, Eleni Kyriacou, speaking up for the victims of alleged 'date rape' (13 July), in fact does their cause no good. It would appear from Ms Kyriacou's prob- ably truthful account that they are fun- loving young women, natural Cosmopoli- tan readers, who indulge in 'an enjoyable, flirtations evening', maybe complete with `a few cuddles and kisses', only to find that their male companions take this all a little more seriously than is convenient to them. In other words, they are irresponsible triflers, and two-faced to boot, playing with fire and then crying `Fire! Fire!' as soon as they get their fingers burned.
`Just when is it safe to believe a man?' demands Ms Kyriacou, only a sentence or two after insisting that a woman on a 'date' owes the man 'absolutely nothing at all' (her emphasis). On the contrary, she at least owes him enough consideration not to inflame feelings and desires that she has no intention of gratifying. Unless he be a psychopath, it is very much up to her whether she can trust him or not. A
LETTERS
parallel query about the credibility of women would be just as pertinent. For every 'date rapist', there must be a number of other, milder-mannered men who have been undeservedly hurt and frustrated by the sort of young women whom Ms Kyriacou is anxious to defend.
Thank God, at any rate, if, as she complains, 'date rape' is not taken serious- ly in this country as in femino-fascist America.
T.S. Stewart
Meadow End, Cold Ash Hill, Newbury, Berkshire
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