Wolf whistling

Gemini, What if I was Whistling and Singing,'Hungry Like The Wolf' ?, would that Constitute a Trip to San Quentin!!.:WINK1:.

 

I think its a sad thing when 1) A compliment is taken as an insult and 2) Governments feel it necessary to intervene in people's lives to such an extent that they they must pass laws banning public expressions of compliment.

As an aside, a feminist woman (should that be person? her gender is of course no concern of mine) very vocally disapproved of the fact that I was so arrogant as to hold the door for her as we entered the building where we both worked. I'd gone through, and just as had been drummed into me as a child, I did a quick check over my shoulder before letting the door go, so as to ensure it didn't slam in anybody's face. Somebody was behind, so I held the door. After her very vocal disapproval there was only one logical course of action as I passed through the next door. I let my self through, and then simply let the door go. I didn't bother to check if she managed to put her hands up in time to catch the heavy door as it swung shut.

 

You are more tolerant of rudeness than I am Dave.

 

Similar has been going on for years, its just not been that well publicised.
I recall reading in a newspaper many years ago, this English bloke on his hols in California nearly got arrested because he was not wearing a shirt, it was said that as women are not allowed to be topless, neither can men. I think he was walking from the beach area.
That said some folk should cover up, like this lady I saw today, I wished I hadn't seen.

 

This reminds me of a TV ad I once saw on, I think, Tarrant on TV. It featured two lads on a beach in America, drooling over a very attractive lady coming out of the sea. One says to the other something like 'you know in Europe the ladies can go topless at the beach'. Then it cuts to an entirely different beach where two lads are sunbathing. A, shall we say, slightly less aethetically pleasing lady emerges from the sea, topless, causing the two blokes to cringe. The subtitles say something like 'You know in America at least they make them wear bikini tops'.

 

It started with a Cyst, never thought it would come to this Hunch back of Notre-Dame

Or Hot Chocolate :-)

Jack McH

 

Years ago a girl wrote into a radio station saying that she had just walked past a particularly rowdy group of builders. After they had completed a chorus of wolf whistles and issued a volley of saucy remarks about her vital statistics, they noticed that she was carrying a cat basket containing a kitten. One of the builders then shouted: 'I wish I woz that kitten, darlin'.' 'So do I', she replied. 'I'm taking him to be neutered.'

 

It might not be a compliment, it might be harrassment. It might not be a pleasure to be on the receiving end, it might feel like it was an invasion of privacy, especially if a woman had to face a barrage of this as she walked down the road. When I walk down the street I just want to be myself, not be sexualised by the unwanted attentions of some complete stranger.

A true compliment would be delivered in a personal, private and appropriate fashion, no?

Honestly, I thought we went through all of this back in the 70s.

But then, it's all individual and a lot depends on context. Maybe it's fine if you're up for flirting, but what if you're not?

 

I'm always flattered by the compliments I get on Gardeners Corner

You lot are the best & i'd never take it the wrong way even from *Dim*

 

I remember that ad Clueless

Chance'd be a fine thing, it's many years since I've been wolf whistled

I believe in equality but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate old fashioned manners, which are sadly lacking in some of today's youth. At work I often find that men hold the door for you, but they are usually the 40+ ones. I think it depends how they were brought up.

 

Just to throw one controversial point into the mix, I must point out that this isn't all one sided. In pubs and clubs it is not unusual for a woman to randomly grab some bloke's butt and give it a squeeze (yep, happened to me many times when I was in my prime, and I'm not the only one). Now that is clearly a compliment, but it is not exactly appropriate, and unlike a wolf whistle which is a harmless gesture from afar, it is not something that can be completely ignored if the recipient so chooses.

I hear what you all say, women grabbing you in clubs and pubs, sounds great. Sometimes yes. Sometimes the woman is a battle hardened nicotine stained hag. Oh, and try carrying four pints of beer back from the bar without spilling any when a group of obnoxious ladies from the notorious factory up the road start grabbing at you as you go past.

 

How would you know if the gesture was harmless unless you asked each individual? I think most women would find facing a barrage of whistles embarrassing and intrusive, just as you would find having your bum squeezed in a pub. As a well-meaning person, is that the effect you'd want to have?

As you point out, it's not really great, and it's inappropriate behaviour, no matter what the sex or attractiveness rating of the person doing it.

That's what these women wanted, so that's absolutely fine. But random approaches on the street can't be justified in the same way.

Best stick to safe, polite and universally acceptable forms of behaviour, then. Most of us can manage that most of the time without considering it too much of an infringement on our personal liberty.

I'm not bothered about having doors opened - it's what polite people do for each other, and I'm just as likely to do it for a man as a man is for me.