While some advocates hoped the thread could lead to prosecutions, legal experts noted the extreme difficulty of identifying anonymous posters or prosecuting non-reported crimes through internet comments alone.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, there are resources available to help: Ask A Rapist Thread Reddit
As one survivor wrote on a mental health subreddit after the 2012 incident: "I came to Reddit to laugh at cat pictures. Instead, I read a man describe how he chose me—quiet, drunk, trusting—as if I were a coupon he clipped. I vomited. Then I deleted my account for two years." While some advocates hoped the thread could lead