This idea popped into my head as I read some facebook backlash against Akin's 'legitimate rape' remarks.
It occurred to me that it always helps to translate a concept into language that the intended audience will understand. so I'm thinking, what will a middle-aged white guy audience relate to, that I can use as a metaphor for rape. Well obviously. Fantasy football.
If you look at football players as genetic material, the metaphor gets going like this:
Say there's a change to the way fantasy football works. If you want to play, you have to have a partner. You get to pick half the players for your team, and your partner gets to pick the other half. You can select a partner who you think has a really good set of players they like to pick. Which players actually play in each game from this combined pool of players is determined at random for each game, all season.
Then, the season starts, and you put a lot of time and energy into following your team. You bet money on them, too. Its a big investment. Your partner, though, gets to walk away. you spend all the time, energy, and money - your partner contributes their players to the team, and thats it. If its a good partner, they help you out, and watch with you, and keep up with the progress of your team as the season progresses.
Now lets say the government wants to regulate your fantasy football. They say that once you create a team and start a season, there is no quitting. You still have to put all the time, energy, and money behind the team, and your partner still doesn't, but now there is no way to back out once you start. You can't quit - its illegal to abort your team halfway through the season. Some people argue that if the expense of time and energy and money is causing you health problems, you can quit. Some people argue that you can quit up to the point where you've played 6 games, but not after that.
Here's where I like this metaphor, though: what if someone forces a team on you? They start the team with you, but without your consent. You are still responsible for the time, energy, and money of keeping up with the team all season, but you didn't get to pick your partner. You have no say in half the players on your team, and you have no support from your partner all season. but some people in government still think that you maybe shouldn't be allowed to quit this team. You should have to give your resources for a whole season to this team that you didn't want, with no help.
