it’s like trying to tell someone who is in a cult that they aren’t thinking for themselves. They may actually be much more comfortable not thinking for themselves, and when confronted with the possibility that such a dynamic may be unhealthy for them in the long run, they are very likely to accuse the person making the suggestion as manipulating them, seeing the tip as a malicious attempt at coercion. I’m guessing this happens as a protection mechanism so that they don’t have an ego implosion at the recognition of the number of ways they have been manipulated as they have allowed themselves to be initiated and embedded into the cult.

This doesn’t imply that informed consent is less important than following our best judgements for ourselves and others. I am not defending assailants here, and I can understand how trauma could rightfully impact one’s reading of the comic above, since there are many folks out there who attempt to negotiate their way into relationships, which I think is probably an extremely unhealthy way of initiating intamacy if those involved are wishing for the engagement to be as impactful or meaningful as it could, should, or otherwise would be.