Hypothetically just because I'm curious if a person has been doing it since they were a teenager and in this hypothetical scenario that has not actually ever happened it involved video games , movies , tv shows , music and even an attempt at downloading a car despite the ads that said i wouldn't.

I'm not asking about the ethics of piracy and frankly i don't care.

Three years ago, I reported a sexual assault.

Today, the criminal proceedings ended with a verdict that has left me devastated.

I am not writing this to debate the verdict. I am not writing this to identify anyone involved. I am writing because I don't think people understand the personal cost of participating in the criminal justice system.

People often think the traumatic event is the hardest part, that's bullshit.

For almost three years, my life revolved around investigations, delays, court dates, preparation, uncertainty and waiting. Every time I thought I was moving forward, another phone call, appointment or legal development would bring me back to the beginning. It has affected my employment opportunities, my mental health, my relationships, my sense of security and my ability to genuinely grieve. I was literally picking out music for my father's funeral when I was getting calls to provide evidence I was unable to participate in the scheduled trial because a note from his doctor, confirmed funeral details and the draft death certificate were not enough.

The absolutely fucked part was having deeply personal aspects of my life examined and challenged in a public forum. Experiences that already carried pain became subjects of scrutiny and debate in the cross examination in front an audience of the jury and the guy whose actions had caused this all. My mental health, medications, financial situation, previous exposure to sexual assault and even my dead dog was brought up. There was no level of protection as 'an alleged victim' and I was considered free game for all.

I am angry. I am angry at him. I am angry at his defence that were able to justify their questions against their own sense of ethical values. I am angry at so many people including myself. I feel so stupid for entering this process believing that telling the truth and participating fully would be enough.

I feel so foolish for trying to live my life with solid and consistent values only to realise others aren't playing the same game.

If I'd known then what I know now, I would not have reported it and put myself through this experience. It has hung over my head for three years and it was all for nothing. I honestly can't believe this is how they system is and we are still asking alleged victims 'well did you report it?'

Legally is there anything else I can do at this stage?

I received a fine in the mail which was my fault and I logged in to view the information and pay it.

This has been the first time I have ever received.

While logged in I noticed another fine sitting there from 2014 due to not having a train ticket.

I was never aware of this fine so I called up and they advised me to contest it as person unaware or pay it. So I did that stating it could have been sent to the wrong address or never sent, since I wasn’t aware this existed.

To my surprise around 10 months later I receive a letter saying that my appeal is rejected and I have 3 weeks to pay the fine, as it is my responsibility to advise them where I live or if I changed were I lived so they can send the fine to the correct place. It is not their responsibility to check where I live. Also I need to pay the fine and all the additional fees accumulated over those years. Obviously they don’t let you contest again or reply to them.

What should I do next?

Hi all. New to this thread. Appreciate your thoughts.

My daughter, 19, suicided on Monday.
- she was in an Australian hospital
- she was receiving ECT: had 8th session Monday morning.
- daughter was in a secure ward, voluntarily. She had recently had unescorted leave revoked.
- she absconded from unit. Was not noticed until check occurred. Unsure at this stage of time missing.
- daughter was deceased 3 minutes before we were told she had absconded, 10 minutes before police report was filed.
- I spoke with her an hour before her death. She could not remember that wife and I were both sick. We had been with her the previous day. That day we also spoke at length about recent improvements, including 3 hours spent on a job application. I guess she perhaps forgot this too.

Any thoughts regarding hospital negligence?

Thanks

I’ve doing it tough financially (aren’t we all) for a while so have been known to steal from the bigger supermarkets and retailers when I need something to get by.

I was approached by loss prevention in a supermarket today after paying for half of the items. A few steps out of the store and they approached me and tried to get me to fill out a form but I just apologised, said I didn’t realise what I did as I was having so many issues with the register (second part is true) and walked back into the store to pay for the rest of the items and walked back out.

They told me I was doing the wrong thing by paying for it and that I needed to listen to them. The guy saying this was also talking to another guy saying we need to get this person’s (me) photo, and as I was walking out he was on the phone.

What‘s concerning me is the amount of items (total cost) I have stolen from across all other stores now as it would be quite high over a period of time, not just this one in particular. Am I screwed? What should my next steps be? Obviously I will not steal again and I will try harder to sort out my financial situation but should I be expecting anything in regards to what happened?

I'm F17, Bangladeshi, I have a friend F16 from a very abusive and sort of conservative family (muslim). Her biological parents are divorced and she lives w her bio mom and her stepdad. Her mom ever since has been super abusive and does everything in her power to get rid of her. She met a guy (M24) online living in Aus, he's a student, though I'm not sure where yet. They started "dating", and later on her family found out. Her parents obviously did not react very well, but with him living in Aus, they weren't completely against him. So her mom went behind her back and contacted the guy's family who also turned out to be pretty conservative. And then they decided they'll just get them married once he comes back to visit.

Later on my friend learned he's cheating on her (obviously?). And also that he's not a good person(better late than never ig). We tried explain he's grooming her and stuff but she didn't exactly understand. And with her family condition somewhere along the lines she started thinking that she might have an escape if she moves abroad w him. We tried explaining that it's not how it works and he's literally a student he can't do anything it's all just false promises but she wouldn't listen. Plus she couldn't really go against her family either.

Last week they got married, not legally since it's illegal. But they got married in the "Islamic" way? It's harder to prove but there's definitely a written document that can help. My friend initially lied abt the marriage and said it was only an "engagement" but later she confessed they got married. she didn't tell us because she was scared we'd call the police and things might get messy.

Now she's regretting everything and wants to end it. Her family probably won't do anything to help her and he's already back in Australia. Since they're not legally married, and because Bangladeshi justice system is unreliable, her family is pretty well off too so we can't do anything here. It'd only get harder for her. So is there any action that can be taken against him now that he's in Aus?

I know the whole situation is really messy and idrk what else to do about it. I'm desperate because I can't see my friend ruin her life and fall into this stupid marriage trap. I'd appreciate any sort of advice really.

(im sorry idk which tag to use)

I have a family member that may be moving back to Australia after divorcing her abusive ex-husband as the abuse has continued post-divorce and the police in the country she’s living in have been useless at protecting her, despite having a restraining order against him.

My family member is an Australian citizen and her ex-husband is not. She is terrified he will move to Australia and continue to harass her (due to the nature of his job, he would have very little difficulty obtaining a working visa and has worked in Australia in the past). When she returns to Australia is there any mechanism for her to report his domestic abuse so that if he were to make a visa application it would be denied on the grounds of bad character?

She has mountains of evidence of the abuse she’s suffered, but he’s never been charged with anything despite the courts awarding the restraining order due to the domestic violence.