Actually what is rather silly is the gross inconsistency of your position.
You wrote; ‘I don´t really think that men should react on this subject because they really have no idea what it feels like to be a woman…’
Then you concluded by posing the question; ‘Do you justify female circumsion (sp) with that comment?’ According to your logic men should not react to the practice of female circumcision for precisely the same reason.
Like it or not we live in a country which permits and promotes the exchange of ideas irrespective of gender. Perhaps you would feel more comfortable in a society fashioned after the beliefs and practices of Pol Pot. Old brother Pol sure had a knack for squashing the exchange of opposing ideas. His focus was on exterminating intellectual thought and was not based on gender so perhaps not.
It is through the exchange of ideas that we learn and improve as a society and as individuals. I make a point of talking to people who have a different point of view providing the point of view has even a little basis in logic and some element of consistency. Even when the consistency is lacking, knowledge can still be garnered from the exchange. (see below)
It seems, at least in a theoretical context, you do not have an issue with men reacting to the heinous practice of female circumcision-which is something a man could not know anything about. Believe it or not, men, like women, are beings capable of empathy. Following your flawed logic, men should not react to totalitarian governments/leaders that violently enforce such policies as not permitting women basic education (reading and writing) in parts of Afghanistan for example. Should women not react to forced military conscription of men? Should women not react to medical articles written about prostate health? Of course not. Just like men, women have the ability to empathize and forward worthy ideas.
On a more consolatory note:
‘All women react differently to this apparently "culturally-accepted" behavior, some find it um...flattering.’
I have never had a women tell me that she was ‘flattered’ by such behavior. And here is where I was able to learn something worthwhile from you in spite of the inconsistencies of your premise. I ABSOULUTELY BELIVE YOU when you say that SOME women find it flattering. I have been living under the false assumption that ALL women felt offended, demeaned, harassed, frightened, angry, etc. Thank you for this.
This practice is not part of my culture or personality. I will smile at a woman in public, and if she seems amenable I will attempt to engage her in conversation. Last week I told the lady behind the counter at a confeteria how beautiful her hair was. She smiled and thanked me. A pleasant conversation followed. The woman was well into her seventies, and I am sure she has heard it all during her life, yet she smiled at me with her mouth and her eyes, and maybe-maybe she blushed just a little. I am confident that both of us enjoyed our exchange.
I have stopped hanging with a few Argentines who practice cat calling. I do not want to be associated with in any way. When I asked why they did it the most common response was, ‘because it is funny’. So some men think it is funny to offend, demean, harass, frighten, and anger women. How could anyone take men like this seriously on any level? I pointedly asked these men; Did she smile? No. Did she agree to meet you later? No. Did you get a phone number or a mail? No. Did she thank you for your ‘compliments’? No. What would you do if you were introduced to her at social gathering next week? I dunno. Don’t you recognize that she is a person? A sister? A mother? A human being who deserves to be respected? I guess you are right. This is usually said without much enthusiasm or conviction. Again, how would any person take a man like that seriously about anything?
Buenos Aires is tough, dangerous, and charming city. Throughout my life, in all of the cities I have lived I am consciously aware of my physical proximity to women. If I am walking on a deserted street and I am catching up to a woman ahead of me, I will cross the street and continue on my way. If it is not possible to cross the street in that moment I lessen my pace and maintain an appropriate distance. It seems like a basic courtesy to me.
Finally regarding your comment that. ‘...they are obliviously rather weak if they can´t keep their minds out of the gutter when a woman crosses their path.’ I think your assertion is correct to a point. However, based on my conversations with such men I have concluded that many of them are essentially losers. They rarely connect with any women, let alone the women they harass. They are quite pathetic.
Regarding LEE’S post: ‘Actually what is rather silly is the gross inconsistency of your position.
You wrote; ‘I don´t really think that men should react on this subject because they really have no idea what it feels like to be a woman…’
Then you concluded by posing the question; ‘Do you justify female circumsion (sp) with that comment?’ According to your logic men should not react to the practice of female circumcision for precisely the same reason.
Like it or not we live in a country which permits and promotes the exchange of ideas irrespective of gender. Perhaps you would feel more comfortable in a society fashioned after the beliefs and practices of Pol Pot. Old brother Pol sure had a knack for squashing the exchange of opposing ideas. His focus was on exterminating intellectual thought and was not based on gender so perhaps not.
It is through the exchange of ideas that we learn and improve as a society and as individuals. I make a point of talking to people who have a different point of view providing the point of view has even a little basis in logic and some element of consistency. Even when the consistency is lacking, knowledge can still be garnered from the exchange. (see below)
It seems, at least in a theoretical context, you do not have an issue with men reacting to the heinous practice of female circumcision-which is something a man could not know anything about. Believe it or not, men, like women, are beings capable of empathy. Following your flawed logic, men should not react to totalitarian governments/leaders that violently enforce such policies as not permitting women basic education (reading and writing) in parts of Afghanistan for example. Should women not react to forced military conscription of men? Should women not react to medical articles written about prostate health? Of course not. Just like men, women have the ability to empathize and forward worthy ideas.
On a more consolatory note:
‘All women react differently to this apparently "culturally-accepted" behavior, some find it um...flattering.’
I have never had a women tell me that she was ‘flattered’ by such behavior. And here is where I was able to learn something worthwhile from you in spite of the inconsistencies of your premise. I ABSOULUTELY BELIVE YOU when you say that SOME women find it flattering. I have been living under the false assumption that ALL women felt offended, demeaned, harassed, frightened, angry, etc. Thank you for this.
This practice is not part of my culture or personality. I will smile at a woman in public, and if she seems amenable I will attempt to engage her in conversation. Last week I told the lady behind the counter at a confeteria how beautiful her hair was. She smiled and thanked me. A pleasant conversation followed. The woman was well into her seventies, and I am sure she has heard it all during her life, yet she smiled at me with her mouth and her eyes, and maybe-maybe she blushed just a little. I am confident that both of us enjoyed our exchange.
I have stopped hanging with a few Argentines who practice cat calling. I do not want to be associated with in any way. When I asked why they did it the most common response was, ‘because it is funny’. So some men think it is funny to offend, demean, harass, frighten, and anger women. How could anyone take men like this seriously on any level? I pointedly asked these men; Did she smile? No. Did she agree to meet you later? No. Did you get a phone number or a mail? No. Did she thank you for your ‘compliments’? No. What would you do if you were introduced to her at social gathering next week? I dunno. Don’t you recognize that she is a person? A sister? A mother? A human being who deserves to be respected? I guess you are right. This is usually said without much enthusiasm or conviction. Again, how would any person take a man like that seriously about anything?
Buenos Aires is tough, dangerous, and charming city. Throughout my life, in all of the cities I have lived I am consciously aware of my physical proximity to women. If I am walking on a deserted street and I am catching up to a woman ahead of me, I will cross the street and continue on my way. If it is not possible to cross the street in that moment I lessen my pace and maintain an appropriate distance. It seems like a basic courtesy to me.
Finally regarding your comment that. ‘...they are obliviously rather weak if they can´t keep their minds out of the gutter when a woman crosses their path.’ I think your assertion is correct to a point. However, based on my conversations with such men I have concluded that many of them are essentially losers. They rarely connect with any women, let alone the women they harass. They are quite pathetic.
Regarding LEE’S post: Actually what is rather silly is the gross inconsistency of your position.
You wrote; ‘I don´t really think that men should react on this subject because they really have no idea what it feels like to be a woman…’
Then you concluded by posing the question; ‘Do you justify female circumsion (sp) with that comment?’ According to your logic men should not react to the practice of female circumcision for precisely the same reason.
Like it or not we live in a country which permits and promotes the exchange of ideas irrespective of gender. Perhaps you would feel more comfortable in a society fashioned after the beliefs and practices of Pol Pot. Old brother Pol sure had a knack for squashing the exchange of opposing ideas. His focus was on exterminating intellectual thought and was not based on gender so perhaps not.
It is through the exchange of ideas that we learn and improve as a society and as individuals. I make a point of talking to people who have a different point of view providing the point of view has even a little basis in logic and some element of consistency. Even when the consistency is lacking, knowledge can still be garnered from the exchange. (see below)
It seems, at least in a theoretical context, you do not have an issue with men reacting to the heinous practice of female circumcision-which is something a man could not know anything about. Believe it or not, men, like women, are beings capable of empathy. Following your flawed logic, men should not react to totalitarian governments/leaders that violently enforce such policies as not permitting women basic education (reading and writing) in parts of Afghanistan for example. Should women not react to forced military conscription of men? Should women not react to medical articles written about prostate health? Of course not. Just like men, women have the ability to empathize and forward worthy ideas.
On a more consolatory note:
‘All women react differently to this apparently "culturally-accepted" behavior, some find it um...flattering.’
I have never had a women tell me that she was ‘flattered’ by such behavior. And here is where I was able to learn something worthwhile from you in spite of the inconsistencies of your premise. I ABSOULUTELY BELIVE YOU when you say that SOME women find it flattering. I have been living under the false assumption that ALL women felt offended, demeaned, harassed, frightened, angry, etc. Thank you for this.
This practice is not part of my culture or personality. I will smile at a woman in public, and if she seems amenable I will attempt to engage her in conversation. Last week I told the lady behind the counter at a confeteria how beautiful her hair was. She smiled and thanked me. A pleasant conversation followed. The woman was well into her seventies, and I am sure she has heard it all during her life, yet she smiled at me with her mouth and her eyes, and maybe-maybe she blushed just a little. I am confident that both of us enjoyed our exchange.
I have stopped hanging with a few Argentines who practice cat calling. I do not want to be associated with in any way. When I asked why they did it the most common response was, ‘because it is funny’. So some men think it is funny to offend, demean, harass, frighten, and anger women. How could anyone take men like this seriously on any level? I pointedly asked these men; Did she smile? No. Did she agree to meet you later? No. Did you get a phone number or a mail? No. Did she thank you for your ‘compliments’? No. What would you do if you were introduced to her at social gathering next week? I dunno. Don’t you recognize that she is a person? A sister? A mother? A human being who deserves to be respected? I guess you are right. This is usually said without much enthusiasm or conviction. Again, how would any person take a man like that seriously about anything?
Buenos Aires is tough, dangerous, and charming city. Throughout my life, in all of the cities I have lived I am consciously aware of my physical proximity to women. If I am walking on a deserted street and I am catching up to a woman ahead of me, I will cross the street and continue on my way. If it is not possible to cross the street in that moment I lessen my pace and maintain an appropriate distance. It seems like a basic courtesy to me.
Finally regarding your comment that. ‘...they are obliviously rather weak if they can´t keep their minds out of the gutter when a woman crosses their path.’ I think your assertion is correct to a point. However, based on my conversations with such men I have concluded that many of them are essentially losers. They rarely connect with any women, let alone the women they harass. They are quite pathetic.
LEE’S post: ‘It actually IS cultural and if you can't deal with it then well...don't know what to say except move.’
Hmm………how about you don’t move kellymp? How about you stay and think and continue to care enough to share your opinion?