A Rape in Cyberspace?

http://www.juliandibbell.com/articles/a-rape-in-cyberspace/

What is cyber rape? This is the question that first presented itself to me after reading the above article, describing the LamdaMOO incident with the infamous Mr. Bungle years ago. It was a very interesting and thought provoking piece to read. It was one that certainly caused a lot of back-and-forth for me as well as outright disgust that people like exist. The main issue came down to whether or not Mr. Bungle's actions should be classified as legitimate rape.
To try and answer the question I guess it would be necessary to determine what "cyber rape" actually is. after looking at various websites, the most common answer I could find is the very blunt "a rape that takes place on the internet." What it boils down to is any time sexual advances are made towards someone online who does not wish for those advances to be made. This was certainly the case on LambdaMOO in the late 90's where this case takes place. By Mr. Bungle subjecting these other players to demeaning sexual behavior on the internet without them having any control, he was very clearly cyber raping them. A similar case took place in Douglas County, Georgia last year when a man was on trial for cyber rape of his ex girlfriend. He had released multiple intimate pictures of his ex girlfriend online in an attempt to humiliate her. The judge ruled it as an act of cyber rape and granted a warrant for his arrest (http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/judge-issues-warrant-man-accused-cyber-rape/27306268).
My struggle comes when deciding whether or not cyber rape is equal to real life rape. I certainly think they are on two different levels. Of course cyber rape is harmful and scarring and there is no place for it on the internet. However, real life rape is a much different animal. It is both a mentally AND physically painful experience. I don't personally think the two compare very closely. Again, cyber rape is utterly disturbing and feral in its own way and should certainly not be taken lightly. I just happen to think physical rape is a much different, more vile form.
What added to the despicable nature of the case was that Mr. Bungle was actually owned by multiple people. It's just horrifying to think that a group of people would work together on such a disturbing act against various people. It's important to know that just because they did it from behind a computer screen, they are not less innocent than someone who commits a crime in person. There is no place for physical rape in real life and there should be no tolerating of rape in the cyber realm either.