Today in Rape Culture

No means no.

The absence of a yes also means no.

The absence of a no does not mean yes.

The only thing that means yes is yes.

And if you are privileged enough to be a neurotypical person who hasn't any problems interpreting non-verbal communication in a long-term relationship with another neurotypical person who hasn't any problems interpreting non-verbal communication, and the two of you have managed to define and maintain good boundaries around sexual activity, have ongoing conversations and negotiations about consent as your relationship grows and changes, and have developed an intimate shorthand of verbal and non-verbal cues to communicate consent that would almost look like "implicit consent" if there were such a thing, congratulations to you! You are very lucky!

But that doesn't change the fact that you're saying yes. And it really, really doesn't change the fact that the only thing that means yes is yes.

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