You thought you did everything right. Maybe you should move, instead.

Later this week

People are completely allowed to do them, whether through ignorance or inattention. The fault always lies with the thief. I do wish cops and second guessers would learn this one fact.

That being said, I invested in a hefty u-lock that cost almost as much as the bike did. If there was nothing to lock it to, I took the front wheel off and locked it to the back. That was enough to get thieves to turn their attention to bikes that weren't as securely locked. I just didn't want to deal with the hassle of getting it stolen.

However, anyone who ever tried to victim blame me for anything got an earful. Victims of crime don't do anything wrong. They're not in the wrong place, they're not dressed the wrong way, and it's not the wrong time of day.

All the wrong belongs to the predators.

I recall after 9/11 that some in liberal circles brought up our past history in the ME - the idea was not that we deserved it (though some claim that is what we were saying, that we were blaming the victim) but that we should not have been surprised at what had happened because of our policies.

We blamed the perps and condemned them (although some here still believe there were no planes, etc) but pointed out that maybe, just maybe, things we have done in other countries might just affect others in a way that makes some in those countries want to do such things.

--- Right to the point here (and I agreed with you in the OP btw):

Where do we draw the line in all of this? US policy across the globe results in things like 9/11, etc, but that does not excuse those who do such actions. But we also say, from a liberal view, that if we stop doing things like sanctions, imperialism, etc and so on, we would see less of such things - and while I agree with that some could, and have, seen that as blaming the victim.

When an individual acts in certain ways do they 'invite' things? I don't personally feel they do - BUT one can see how others might well see their actions as doing such. Hence the people who, when a woman says she was raped, will question her as to why she was at such and such a party, why was she drinking when she was not old enough, etc and so on. Others might see things from a view that they are kept down by the wealthy and that stealing is OK and if wall street had not done the things they have done they wouldn't need to do what they do (and they could note that wall street stole and got away with it).

In both liberal and conservative spheres we see instances where people make excuses for the actions of others and blame the victims for what others have done (in a manner of speaking).

Within our sphere we apply that to countries and such. In the sphere of others they apply it to personal choices.

Until we drill down, and get others to, that being a victim is not an action from the victim we will have problems with everything from rape to terrorism to theft in that juries, families, etc will try to find a way to show that the victim somehow should have done something different.

Much bigger and more solidly built than the usual!

Congratulations!

Now take him out and play with him.

doesn't equate to knowing there are rapists there.

...naive kid. You, as an adult, are in a better position to understand the risks of your behavior than some inexperienced kid. Part of your understanding may even have come from your own prior experience, your peers experiences, near misses, or former victimization.