Concealing the Names of Alleged Rape Victims

Re “The Internet Is Reshaping Bryant Story,” July 26: The Kobe Bryant case raises again the question of whether rape should be singled out among crimes by not publishing the names of victims. Here’s a possible solution: Don’t publish the names of any crime victims without appropriate consent. It’s bad enough to be victimized and have millions of people devour the story with their morning cornflakes; it’s even worse to be identified by name for the titillation of the multitudes.

Eric Holman

Los Angeles

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The policy of not identifying a rape victim seems, at best, questionable. But, OK, it’s The Times’ policy. However, since the question of the alleged rape is the whole purpose of the upcoming trial, doesn’t that negate the young woman’s status as victim? She is merely the accuser. And, as such, shouldn’t she be subject to the same treatment as the accused?

Paul Kneipp

Tarzana

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The policy of The Times in not publishing information about Bryant’s accuser appears to me to be censorship. Furthermore, since information is widely available in other newspapers in San Diego, Orange County, Denver, etc., and even more information is widely available on the Internet, one can only ask the question: What else is The Times not publishing regarding other matters and daily events?

Why read The Times with the knowledge that widely available information is not being published? With the widespread availability of information regarding Bryant’s accuser, it is bizarre to see that the only “information” in The Times is a self-justifying story explaining why it is not publishing this information.

The Times risks being an irrelevant source of information.

David Holmes

Woodland Hills