[Ninastar]

Brilliantly said, TS...

[Tom4784]

If Fedoras had a smell this topic would reek of them.

Women are a lot more likely to suffer a sexual attack in their lifetimes then men which can make these catcalls a lot more intimidating for them. Granted most of them are innocent but it's still could be intimidating for the person involved. Victims of rape are often vilified too and are forced to fight for justice and, when they do seek justice, they'll be put on trial just as much as their rapist. When you look at pretty much all walks of life, women have it harder then men, women are often villainised while men are glorified for the same actions.

People who spout crap like 'lol women's rights WHAT ABOUT MEN'S RIGHTS?!' remind me very much of people in America who say 'If there's a black history month then why isn't there a white history month?' It's ignorant and self-entitled. As men, we are are lucky because we'll never have to deal with half the **** a woman has to deal with in their lifetimes.

[swinearefine]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

If Fedoras had a smell this topic would reek of them.

Women are a lot more likely to suffer a sexual attack in their lifetimes then men which can make these catcalls a lot more intimidating for them. Granted most of them are innocent but it's still could be intimidating for the person involved. Victims of rape are often vilified too and are forced to fight for justice and, when they do seek justice, they'll be put on trial just as much as their rapist. When you look at pretty much all walks of life, women have it harder then men, women are often villainised while men are glorified for the same actions.

People who spout crap like 'lol women's rights WHAT ABOUT MEN'S RIGHTS?!' remind me very much of people in America who say 'If there's a black history month then why isn't there a white history month?' It's ignorant and self-entitled. As men, we are are lucky because we'll never have to deal with half the **** a woman has to deal with in their lifetimes.

this

[lily.]

Interesting reading through the opinions in this thread so far. I'm of the same opinion at TS .

[Liam-]

I can't even deal with some of the **** i have read in this thread.. i should have stopped reading when i saw Alex join in and mention concentration camps for straight men, why do i do this to myself?

[lily.]

lol Liam... sometimes you have to just step away from the thread and count to ten... Trust me, I've been doing this since 2005

[Liam-]

Originally Posted by lily.

lol Liam... sometimes you have to just step away from the thread and count to ten... Trust me, I've been doing this since 2005

It's just ridiculous, in one breath equality is the main goal and in the next, mens worries or dangers are less than that of a woman, it's ridiculous and frankly, insulting.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by LiamPRW

It's just ridiculous, in one breath equality is the main goal and in the next, mens worries or dangers are less than that of a woman, it's ridiculous and frankly, insulting.

Men are in danger for some crimes less than women statistically, that is one good reason it's not intended to be insulting.
Nobody is saying that there shouldn't be equality.

[lily.]

Originally Posted by LiamPRW

It's just ridiculous, in one breath equality is the main goal and in the next, mens worries or dangers are less than that of a woman, it's ridiculous and frankly, insulting.

Men and women will never be equal any more than cats and dogs will be equal, but it is wrong for people to think that it is okay to treat men a certain way but not okay to treat women the same way.

[Ninastar]

Originally Posted by lily.

Men and women will never be equal any more than cats and dogs will be equal, but it is wrong for people to think that it is okay to treat men a certain way but not okay to treat women the same way.

and there we go.

there will never EVER be equality between anyone. Someone will ALWAYS be better off than another. it has absolutely nothing to do with 'society hate BLAH BLAHBLAH', its just life.

[lily.]

Originally Posted by Ninastar

and there we go.

there will never EVER be equality between anyone. Someone will ALWAYS be better off than another. it has absolutely nothing to do with 'society hate BLAH BLAHBLAH', its just life.

Ever get the feeling you're in the minority though Cait? lol

[Northern Monkey]

TS for PM TBH

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by EyeballPaul

TS for PM TBH

And Kizzy for PMS.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

And Kizzy for PMS.

What's PMS?

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

What's PMS?

Premenstrual syndrome.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Premenstrual syndrome.

Ok. I'm not stupid .... I just ... sometimes... er, ...periodically forget things.


Ok I am stupid - I thought it stood for; Prime Ministers Secretary.

But at least there's only us two know I dropped a goolie Marsh - Our little secret eh?

[Crimson Dynamo]

i would never pass comment on a woman in the street, no gentleman would

[Livia]

I find a firm "F... off" works quite well.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Livia

I find a firm "F... off" works quite well.

That tends to be my response to the random 'smile, it might never happen' comments(wehich by the way, I have had from both men and women)

I would never respond like that to someone complimenting me though

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Livia

I find a firm "F... off" works quite well.

That just turns some blokes on,They like it when you talk dirty.lol

[Brother Leon]

Originally Posted by Livia

I find a firm "F... off" works quite well.

Looking beautiful today,Livia.

[Ammi]

..this was the same/similar reactions from females when the did the same experiment with an attractive male, I think he was a model so is it a sexist thing as such or more to do with that person being perceived as attractive..?...and then surely there would be some who would maybe feel complimented and others who would feel uncomfortable ..?..I think though generally that I agree with LT when he said he wouldn't comment because you don't know that person at all so don't know how they would feel about it and anyway, it is an invasion of their privacy and space if they're just walking down a street or something...I mean really if it was the opposite and someone was deemed to be 'unattractive' physically and people/strangers felt they had the right to make negative comments/insults...then that wouldn't be acceptable/we would be saying 'idiots'...so is it any more acceptable because the comments are sometimes 'positive'..I put that in single quotations because it's up to the person receiving them as to whether they feel they're positive....imagine if that wasn't staged though, that guy who followed her for 5 minutes...that was seriously creepy and would have been very scary....

[kirklancaster]

There are some really well thought out, well written, valid posts on here from both sides.

However, I always chat to strangers and when I was younger, used to always pay compliments to pretty girls. I've never had a problem, because I believe that it's not only what you say, but also the way in which you say it.

No intelligent, decent, self-assured woman is going to respond to a "You're worth one love" or a "Nice arse" type of remarks from boorish morons - unless it's with a well deserved 'Livia-style' "FK Off creep" retort, and the less confident type of woman has a right to be, and will be, intimidated by such offensive intrusions.

I do not think though, that on an overcast day, if a man smiles at an approaching pretty girl and says; "Morning beautiful - you've just brightened up my day" - or suchlike - that there is anything wrong with this. It is polite, cheery, inoffensive, and not even 'flirty', and in my opinion should be accepted as such by the recipient of the compliment - invited or not.

I truly believe that a man who is armed with a great sense of humour and can make a woman laugh - I mean really laugh - has a great advantage over other men who haven't such a quality when it comes to captivating women.

Obviously this is not applicable if the guy with the humour has the 'head of a crab and the body of a Social Worker' - to quote Woody Allen (who is a classic case in point - look at the beautiful women he's dated) but generally, I hold with my tenet.

I for one, would not have met some of the memorable loves of my life had I not took the first step and paid such 'uninvited' compliments to 'beautiful strangers'.

Just as with 'street peddlers', 'Big Issue' hawkers and 'Survey Takers' - all of whom make uninvited 'intrusions' into a passer by's 'personal space' - a female recipient of a good natured but 'uninvited' compliment from a smiling male, always has several options open to her, including totally ignoring, rudely retorting, or graciously acknowledging the compliment with a smile.

Insulting and offensive remarks to women by dimwitted sexist morons, or all degrees of persistent following or even 'stalking' by sexually inadequate social misfits, will always occur - whether ordinary males make innocuous compliments to passing women or not.

When I was a child, 'our street' had a character - an ageing ex WW2 seaman - who used to get pissed as a newt every payday and would roll up the cobbled street throwing sweets to all the 'urchin' kids from a huge bag of mixed sweets he'd buy from the corner shop on his way home from his dinnertime session at the local pub. He'd do this because he loved children and had lost his own young son during the war. Today this poor innocent, kind-hearted man would probably be stoned as a paedophile.

Why? Because society is fecked up (thank's for that word Arista). Because of our growing awareness now of the -admitted - existence of paedophilia, we tend to overreact and 'tar everyone with the same brush'.

It is a shame, but this same 'sad reality' is just as existent in the subject under discussion, but just because there are a minority of weirdos and sexist creeps out there, we should not censure normal males who just happen to indulge in the 'time-honoured' tradition of paying passing pretty girls compliments.

As for 'ugly girls', then I say that not only is 'beauty' subjective, but also, that I am as likely to say a cheery "Good Morning" or some other 'ice-breaking' comment to a passing 'non-beautiful' female stranger as I am to a passing beautiful one (or to a male for that matter) but - obviously - I am not going to say: "Morning beautiful" if she looks like Ann Widdicombe and her beard needs trimming, because then she will be offended, because she will think I am taking the piss.

Anyway, while I am not trivialising the very real issue of females being 'accosted' or cat-called by loutish cretins, I make an appeal not to confuse that issue with friendly guys making innocuous compliments or other good-natured remarks -- Sometimes; "good morning beautiful, you have just brightened my day" delivered with a smile, can mean just that, and sometimes, any 'sub-textual' meaning, or 'sinister' undertone, is surely in the mind of the recipient.

[Nedusa]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

There are some really well thought out, well written, valid posts on here from both sides.

However, I always chat to strangers and when I was younger, used to always pay compliments to pretty girls. I've never had a problem, because I believe that it's not only what you say, but also the way in which you say it.

No intelligent, decent, self-assured woman is going to respond to a "You're worth one love" or a "Nice arse" type of remarks from boorish morons - unless it's with a well deserved 'Livia-style' "FK Off creep" retort, and the less confident type of woman has a right to be, and will be, intimidated by such offensive intrusions.

I do not think though, that on an overcast day, if a man smiles at an approaching pretty girl and says; "Morning beautiful - you've just brightened up my day" - or suchlike - that there is anything wrong with this. It is polite, cheery, inoffensive, and not even 'flirty', and in my opinion should be accepted as such by the recipient of the compliment - invited or not.

I truly believe that a man who is armed with a great sense of humour and can make a woman laugh - I mean really laugh - has a great advantage over other men who haven't such a quality when it comes to captivating women.

Obviously this is not applicable if the guy with the humour has the 'head of a crab and the body of a Social Worker' - to quote Woody Allen (who is a classic case in point - look at the beautiful women he's dated) but generally, I hold with my tenet.

I for one, would not have met some of the memorable loves of my life had I not took the first step and paid such 'uninvited' compliments to 'beautiful strangers'.

Just as with 'street peddlers', 'Big Issue' hawkers and 'Survey Takers' - all of whom make uninvited 'intrusions' into a passer by's 'personal space' - a female recipient of a good natured but 'uninvited' compliment from a smiling male, always has several options open to her, including totally ignoring, rudely retorting, or graciously acknowledging the compliment with a smile.

Insulting and offensive remarks to women by dimwitted sexist morons, or all degrees of persistent following or even 'stalking' by sexually inadequate social misfits, will always occur - whether ordinary males make innocuous compliments to passing women or not.

When I was a child, 'our street' had a character - an ageing ex WW2 seaman - who used to get pissed as a newt every payday and would roll up the cobbled street throwing sweets to all the 'urchin' kids from a huge bag of mixed sweets he'd buy from the corner shop on his way home from his dinnertime session at the local pub. He'd do this because he loved children and had lost his own young son during the war. Today this poor innocent, kind-hearted man would probably be stoned as a paedophile.

Why? Because society is fecked up (thank's for that word Arista). Because of our growing awareness now of the -admitted - existence of paedophilia, we tend to overreact and 'tar everyone with the same brush'.

It is a shame, but this same 'sad reality' is just as existent in the subject under discussion, but just because there are a minority of weirdos and sexist creeps out there, we should not censure normal males who just happen to indulge in the 'time-honoured' tradition of paying passing pretty girls compliments.

As for 'ugly girls', then I say that not only is 'beauty' subjective, but also, that I am as likely to say a cheery "Good Morning" or some other 'ice-breaking' comment to a passing 'non-beautiful' female stranger as I am to a passing beautiful one (or to a male for that matter) but - obviously - I am not going to say: "Morning beautiful" if she looks like Ann Widdicombe and her beard needs trimming, because then she will be offended, because she will think I am taking the piss.

Anyway, while I am not trivialising the very real issue of females being 'accosted' or cat-called by loutish cretins, I make an appeal not to confuse that issue with friendly guys making innocuous compliments or other good-natured remarks -- Sometimes; "good morning beautiful, you have just brightened my day" delivered with a smile, can mean just that, and sometimes, any 'sub-textual' meaning, or 'sinister' undertone, is surely in the mind of the recipient.

Good Post Kirk..... but the mindset of the actions you describe ie "morning beautiful" or "you've brightened up my day" is one ingrained in a western,christian, liberal democracy and these comments are acceptable under that mindset.

But today in the UK we are far more multi-cultural and have large numbers of differing religions and cultures. These approaches/comments to say an Asian lady or a Muslim lady may not be welcomed in the same way they would be with an independent, Christian,Liberal woman.

So what was acceptable in earlier times may not be acceptable now, I mean look at the way men in the past used to treat women wrt groping and bottom pinching etc..

I think we have to measure our behaviour against the ruling mindset of the day and if in doubt just say nothing and go on about your business.




.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

Good Post Kirk..... but the mindset of the actions you describe ie "morning beautiful" or "you've brightened up my day" is one ingrained in a western,christian, liberal democracy and these comments are acceptable under that mindset.

But today in the UK we are far more multi-cultural and have large numbers of differing religions and cultures. These approaches/comments to say an Asian lady or a Muslim lady may not be welcomed in the same way they would be with an independent, Christian,Liberal woman.

So what was acceptable in earlier times may not be acceptable now, I mean look at the way men in the past used to treat women wrt groping and bottom pinching etc..

I think we have to measure our behaviour against the ruling mindset of the day and if in doubt just say nothing and go on about your business.

.

Valid points Nedusa, but in my heyday, the UK wasn't as multicultural, and I had (and still have) a certain charm about me when dealing with people in real life, and I was never offensive or insulting, so I never had any problems at all and had only positive reactions - from a smile, to actual conversations ensuing - some of which led to dating.

I stopped wearing denim jeans when I reached 35 years of age, removed my gold sleeper earrings, and stopped chatting to passing women, and there's no way that I would attempt to pay even the most innocuous of compliments to any woman who was not obviously British - even then.