First, it reinforced the statistic that the vast majority of rapists are not strangers lurking in dark alleys, but people known to the victim. states that approximately two-thirds of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim, and 73 percent of sexual assaults are perpetrated by a non-stranger—a reality starkly reflected in the Reddit confessions.
The thread was framed as an attempt to explore the criminal mind, similar to interviews with serial killers or bank robbers. Ask A Rapist Thread Reddit
The "Ask A Rapist" thread was a turning point for Reddit and the broader internet ecosystem. Its legacy can be seen in several key areas: 1. The Myth of the "Stranger in the Bushes" First, it reinforced the statistic that the vast