Since the show makes the exact nature of Damon's compulsion of Caroline ambiguous, I think it can be read in more than one way.  People who do not view it as literal rape are not apologists for rape — they have a different interpretation of events and can find textual support for that interpretation in the show.

Since the show makes the exact nature of Damon's compulsion of Caroline ambiguous, I think it can be read in more than one way.  People who do not view it as literal rape are not apologists for rape — they have a different interpretation of events and can find textual support for that interpretation in the show.

I think there is a pretty thick line between compelling not to dislike and compelling to like.  To not dislike covers a broad range of potential emotions — you could love, like, feel neutral towards, feel drawn to, feel bored with, etc.  To compel not to fear opens up even more possibilities.

I think there is a pretty thick line between compelling not to dislike and compelling to like.  To not dislike covers a broad range of potential emotions — you could love, like, feel neutral towards, feel drawn to, feel bored with, etc.  To compel not to fear opens up even more possibilities.

This is Buffy Season Six, complete with lots of sex with an inappropriate love object.  Elena has been depressed since her parents death, and experienced even more loss over the past year (or whatever it is in show time).  Now she's a vampire (a monster, like Buffy back from the dead) and she doesn't have to restrain…

This is Buffy Season Six, complete with lots of sex with an inappropriate love object.  Elena has been depressed since her parents death, and experienced even more loss over the past year (or whatever it is in show time).  Now she's a vampire (a monster, like Buffy back from the dead) and she doesn't have to restrain…

Not to downplay the issue of rape or Damon's track record of being an evil vampire, but I just don't think that Caroline thinks she was raped, so I don't know why we should.  She remembers everything, and has never made the accusation, including tonight when the issue was brought up again.  The show seems to treat it…

Not to downplay the issue of rape or Damon's track record of being an evil vampire, but I just don't think that Caroline thinks she was raped, so I don't know why we should.  She remembers everything, and has never made the accusation, including tonight when the issue was brought up again.  The show seems to treat it…

I don't think that the show, or many of the viewers, think that Caroline was raped by Damon.  The way the show set up both Caroline and Andie's relationships with Damon, he took away their fear of what he was, but didn't compel them to have sex with him.  They did that on their own.  Since Caroline doesn't seem to…

I don't think that the show, or many of the viewers, think that Caroline was raped by Damon.  The way the show set up both Caroline and Andie's relationships with Damon, he took away their fear of what he was, but didn't compel them to have sex with him.  They did that on their own.  Since Caroline doesn't seem to…

I understand why people consistently reference Damon's treatment of Caroline (and to a lesser extent, Andie) as evidence for why he is an unacceptable love interest.  And I can see why people are frustrated that the show doesn't reference this itself.  However, I think that Caroline's ability to make this critique was…

I understand why people consistently reference Damon's treatment of Caroline (and to a lesser extent, Andie) as evidence for why he is an unacceptable love interest.  And I can see why people are frustrated that the show doesn't reference this itself.  However, I think that Caroline's ability to make this critique was…