The stupidity, it burns (OSBP)

[owl]

So, apparently some idiots at a con decided that Open Source Public Groping would be a great idea. In theory I'm right behind the reciprocal Open Source Boot to the Crotch Project, although in practice it would probably come down to the Open Source Yelling "Keep Your Hands Off Me or I'm Calling the Police, You Pathetic Sleazebag" Project.

Honestly, is the difference between software and women's bodies that foreign a concept, really?

Still, at least we got this Harriet Vane fic from nineveh_uk on the topic.

Comments

[bulky-monster.livejournal.com]

Hm, did something happen?

I'm weird about that stuff, or maybe atypical is more the word. Other than considering it rude and obnoxious, groping doesn't really bother me. I'd potentially slap a guy who caught me off guard, but I wouldn't think much about it. As long as someone isn't stealing my valuables (which happened to me Monday) or injuring my person, I don't particularly notice them.

[owl]

Here's a pretty good account.

[violaswamp.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the fic rec--I really liked it.

The equation of software and women's bodies is a product of masculine geek culture, I'm thinking.

[bulky-monster.livejournal.com]

That's... odd, and kind of dumb really. But all consensual, I guess. And I would suspect that even though women were the only "gropees" to use their word, you could have done the same thing with guy's arses and get very few complaints.

Unless something is being done against something else's will, I don't understand the problem. I don't mean to be argumentative or anything. I just honestly don't understand (and would be willing to listen to an explanation). I mean, if I don't want to be touched, whether it's my breasts or my left pinky toe, I'll let that be known. But then again, I don't consider a boob-grab a whole lot different than a hug or handshake as long as I've given my permission.

Gender is kind of irrelevant to me, too. I guess I don't understand the sexual part of feminism; to me, what matters is equal rights for everyone under the law, and I see no violation of human rights here.

[owl]

As theferrett said himself, the wider the thing spreads, the more likely it is to be abused. I'm sure there are plenty of women at cons for whom the experience of a total stranger coming up and asking to touch their breasts would be traumatic in itself. It's, you know, you'd like to think there a space where you DON'T have to put up with that sort of thing.

[bulky-monster.livejournal.com]

I don't know, I can understand it being offensive, but "traumatic" seems like a stretch. If a woman is traumatized just by someone approaching her in a rude or immature way, I'd think maybe she had problems already - past traumas, insecurities, what have you- that weren't that person's fault. Most people I know would find it somewhere between annoying and amusing. I feel like anything beyond that is a bit of an extreme reaction to what is essentially a silly game. I don't think anyone meant any harm with the whole thing.

You mention having a space where you don't have to put up with "that sort of thing." But what's inherently so wrong with "that sort of thing"? Sex and sexually motivated behavior, even when immature and obnoxious, is still an inherent part of social interaction.

[owl]

But if you go up to a stranger you don't know whether she'll find it amusing or offensive or traumatic, and I think that's an excellent reason not to do it at all. The fact that some women felt the need for a 'don't even ask' badge is kind of telling IMO. This post does a better job of explaining than I am.

You mention having a space where you don't have to put up with "that sort of thing." But what's inherently so wrong with "that sort of thing"? Sex and sexually motivated behavior, even when immature and obnoxious, is still an inherent part of social interaction.

Yeah, but a grope-fest in a public corridor is tacky. And it would have bothered me if I'd been at that con and people were coming and asking me. If I want you touching me, I'll let you know. Don't bother asking.

[owl]

She does great a great Harriet, yes.

The equation of software and women's bodies is a product of masculine geek culture, I'm thinking.

Sigh. The thing about open source is that you can do whatever you like with your copy, it doesn't affect mine. Whereas, women? Not interchangeable.

[bulky-monster.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I would agree with you it's tacky. I just am seeing this whole thing as something a bunch of dumb kids are doing, though, and not a big serious issue, that's all.