[Question_Assumptions]

Odd then that sexual assault rates are down substantially over the past few decades.

The problem with sexual assault statistics is that some percentage of sexual assults is never reported, thus a reduction in the rate could be real or could be a change in the percent that are reported. Of course it's also entirely possible that easy access to pornography allows men who might otherwise attack and rape a non-violent outlet for their sexual urges. I'm not saying your point is wrong. I'm saying that it's not a slam-dunk statistic.

[ThinkDifferent]

The problem with sexual assault statistics is that some percentage of sexual assults is never reported, thus a reduction in the rate could be real or could be a change in the percent that are reported.

Valid point. I would guess that sexual assaults would be more frequently reported today given the increased attention in the media, but I have no proof of that.

Of course it's also entirely possible that easy access to pornography allows men who might otherwise attack and rape a non-violent outlet for their sexual urges.

That seems likely to me, the same way that video games may act as an outlet for potentially violent kids and young adults. (Violent crime of all types is down over the last 20 years, but again that's hardly proof).

I'm not saying your point is wrong. I'm saying that it's not a slam-dunk statistic.

Quite true.

[steve-b]

The problem with sexual assault statistics is that some percentage of sexual assults is never reported, thus a reduction in the rate could be real or could be a change in the percent that are reported.

If anything, that real rate of sexual assault has declined more than the statistics indicate. The view that (for example) a rape victim is "damaged goods" was clearly far more prevalent in 1956 than in 2006.