Charleston is a city certainly full of treats on Halloween: packed bars, parties and creative costumes. Then Chucktown also gets the tricks that nobody wants: really offensive costumes.
An anonymous man walked into Cutty’s bar on Halloween wearing a homemade costume made to look like a bottle of Rohypnol, a seriously problematic date-rape drug. This man definitely took time on his costume, calling himself “Joe Blow Horny” and scribing intricate directions on how to use the drug. The front says:
1. Give two tablets to attractive unaware girl.
2. Await drooling, drowsiness or unconsciousness.
3. Take home, bring friends. Enjoy show
Not only did the front have absolutely, lovely, elaborate directions, but the back also had the same, except as a "caution:"
1. No more than 15 guys per girl
2. Exceeding 165 lbs recommended dosage 4 tablets or more
3. Not for use near video equipment
4. NO means YES
Jim Lohmar, an SB news reporter captured these photos Monday night at the bar, tweeting them with the caption “Strong Stuff From Guy Who Thinks This Is Funny."
Eventually, this anonymous man and regular at Cutty's was escorted out after many of the bar-goers, especially women, became uncomfortable with his costume. And what will happen from here? We still are not sure. All we know is that this story is going viral.
Just three months ago, I stepped into my residence hall with my mind full of advice I had received all my life from my loved ones: stay on top of school work, be kind to others and don't ever take your drink out of your sight. And why shouldn't we place our drinks out of sight? Because approximately 1 in 6 of my fellow college freshmen all over the country will be raped while incapacitated. Because in 2009, over 15,000 men and woman (2/3 being women) were sent to the E.R. for being intentionally drugged by others. Add that to all of the unknown cases that we don't know about.
I am offended and disgusted that this man took a serious date-rape drug and turned it into a joke, and obviously has been for the past three years, since his bottle is labeled "10/31/13." Women are not living, breathing, inferior, materials that are at any guy's (or 15 guys, as said by the costume) to be raped or gang raped. Too many women are scarred each year physically and mentally from this form of violence, but only 994 of every 1,000 rapist is punished for their wrongdoings.
In about 30 years or so, I will most likely have a freshman in college of my own. Knowing that he or she could commit rape or be a victim to it absolutely devastates my heart, as I know it does and will do for many parents across this country.
Drugging others is illegal. Rape is illegal. If it happens, report it for yourself and for others. If you are a victim , do not ever think that it is your fault for taking your eye off of your drink for a second. Let's reduce the rate of date-rape drugs in our country, and most definitely, let's get rid of jokes and costumes that highlight this disgusting issue.