This has been written about in great pieces by various SOD & SW writers, but I need to vent watching this. I know the show is capable of writing compelling stories revolving around the rape of a character. Emily & Elizabeth, for example. The stories were emotional & heartfelt & the stories radiated outward & affected other characters. The after affects in both of those stories were felt for months & Liz's case, are still affecting her life in a compelling way.

If they could do that with the rapes of female characters, why can't they when they have that happen to a male character? Why is it that they feel compelled to make a joke out of violence toward men?

When Jax was raped, there were graphic images implying she used force to get him to comply. He had to be tied down so he wouldn't fight back, yet we saw him pop right back into his life as if nothing happened, other than Carly acting as though he cheated on her. He suffered no ill affects at all. He had a normal sex life, no flashbacks, no mood swings. No lasting damage.

Then, there's Dante's near rape that was played for laughs & in the process ruined 2 strong, interesting female characters. Carly (a onetime victim of sexual abuse) ordered Brooke (a woman who was stalked & drugged, stripped naked & was photographed) to "get Dante into bed by any means necessary & I want pictures". Brooke proceeded to drug & attempt to coerce a completely stoned Dante into having sex with her, i.e. she tried to rape him. Then, "hilaritiy" ensued when Lulu had to rip her off of the still drugged cop & later deal with him in that condition. They sunk even lower by making the victim apologize for being victimized.

Learning nothing from our response to the Dante story, they make it obvious to the viewers that Michael was probably raped in jail & proceed to make him walk in on several sexual encounters in more "hilarious" & contrived situations, mortifying the already traumatized character. They make it worse by having Sam, who probably knows what really happened to Michael, decide that the best way to fix his problem is to set him up with a hooker. Yes, all you sexual abuse/rape victims who wasted all that money on therapy, all you had to do was go out & rent a hooker. Nice message, GH.

The last gripe I have about this is the show has made a point in the past of pointing out that victims of this type of violence are usually able to spot it in others who've been through it. So, why hasn't Jax stepped up to the plate & quietly spoken to Michael about his ordeal? The show has an opportunity here to use IR in a real story with meaning & to finally get him to prove to Carly & viewers that he does love Michael the same as he loves Morgan & Josslyn. It would also be a small, but meaningful sign that the show understands what they did wrong.