"A Rape in Cyberspace"

*Did Mr. Bungle commit rape?
Obviously, Mr. Bungle is not guilty of committing rape in the traditional sense of the word. But I tend to agree with the view of Julian Dibbell, that Mr. Bungle did, indeed, commit rape. According to Dibbell, "since rape can occur without any physical pain or damage...then it must be classified as a crime against the mind." The seriousness of "cyber"rape is not something can be lightly brushed aside, since its emotional and psychological ramifications are obvious very real. Perhaps the more accurate terminology in describing Mr. Bungle's crime would follow more along the lines of verbal sexual assault. Regardless of the manner in viewing the issue (whether as rape or sexual harassment), however, the fact remains that the act itself remains that words and actions are too closely linked to be considered disparate entities, and thus the verbal and physical act of rape may have the same psychological consequences.