Just Smith.

permutationofninjas:

heavyweaponsgirl:

tooyoungforthelivingdead:

When you approach me in public, you are Schrödinger’s Rapist. You may or may not be a man who would commit rape. I won’t know for sure unless you start sexually assaulting me. I can’t see inside your head, and I don’t know your intentions. If you expect me to trust you—to accept you at face value as a nice sort of guy—you are not only failing to respect my reasonable caution, you are being cavalier about my personal safety.

really good article for male feminists/men that identify with feminism.

the comments are pretty banging too! interesting discussion of profiling and stuff.

This is a brilliant and well written article.

I’ve seen quite a lot of genuinely beautifully written commentary that utterly destroys this article.  Unfortunately, I don’t have it in front of me, but I’ll go have a look for it.  If anybody who follows me has seen it, a link would be great.

The easiest way to do it is to take a trip to RacistVille. I’m a white guy living in Rapistville, and I’m getting kinda edgy when black guys talk to me. I mean, I carry valuables. So, black guys:

When you approach me in public, you are Schrödinger’s Mugger. You may or may not be a black man who would commit assault. I won’t know for sure unless you start mugging me. I can’t see inside your head, and I don’t know your intentions. If you expect me to trust you—to accept you at face value as a nice sort of black guy —you are not only failing to respect my reasonable caution, you are being cavalier about my personal safety.

See? Black people shouldn’t talk to me, or even look at me funny, because it makes me feel unsafe. If you do expect me to trust you (like a non-racist), or give you the benefit of the doubt, you’re not respecting my personal safety. 

You want to say Hi to the white guy at the pub. How will he react? Fortunately, I can tell you with some certainty, because he’s already sending messages to you. Looking out the window, having a drink, watching the football, arms folded across chest, body away from you = do not disturb. So, y’know, don’t disturb him. Really. Even to ask about the game. Friendliness is not always a reason for white men to smile and reply. You are a threat, remember? You are Schrödinger’s Mugger. Don’t assume that whatever you have to say will win him over with charm or flattery. Believe what he’s signalling, and back off.

Still not offensive? You could write another one from the perspective of the typical homophobic straight guy, who is afraid that all gays are potential rapists. Using the same quotations:

When you approach me in public, you are Schrödinger’s Rapist. You may or may not be a gay who would commit rape. I won’t know for sure unless you start sexually assaulting me. I can’t see inside your head, and I don’t know your intentions. If you expect me to trust you—to accept you at face value as a nice sort of gay—you are not only failing to respect my reasonable caution, you are being cavalier about my personal safety.

and

You want to say Hi to me on the subway. How will I react? Fortunately, you can tell with some certainty, because I’m already sending messages to you. Looking out the window, reading a book, working on a computer, arms folded across chest, body away from you = do not disturb. So, y’know, don’t disturb me. Really. Even to say that you like my hair, shoes, or book. A compliment is not always a reason for me to smile and say thank you. You are a threat, remember? You are Schrödinger’s Rapist. Don’t assume that whatever you have to say will win me over with charm or flattery. Believe what I’m signaling, and back off.

Those seem pretty homophobic and intolerant, don’t they? Or, of course, there is Schrodinger’s Terrorist. Aimed at anyone from the Middle-East:

When you approach me in public, you are Schrödinger’s Terrorist. You may or may not be the Arab who would blow himself up. I won’t know for sure unless you start ticking. I can’t see inside your head, and I don’t know your intentions. If you expect me to trust you—to accept you at face value as a nice sort of Arab, who doesn’t want to kill us all—you are not only failing to respect my reasonable caution, you are being cavalier about my personal safety.

and

You want to say Hi to the guy next to you on the subway. How will he react? Fortunately, I can tell you with some certainty, because he’s already sending messages to you. Looking out the window, reading a book, working on a computer, arms folded across chest, body away from you = do not disturb. So, y’know, don’t disturb him. Really. Even to say that you like her hair, shoes, or book. A compliment is not always a reason for Western men to smile and say thank you. You are a threat, remember? You might be about to blow up the train. You are Schrödinger’s Terrorist. Don’t assume that whatever you have to say will make him like you. Believe what he’s signaling, and back off.

It is absolutely awful. Gay people, don’t talk to me, because you’re probably just checking me out and want to touch me. Muslims, don’t talk to me, because I don’t want you near me when your bomb goes off. Black people, don’t talk to me, because I know you’re just distracting me so that you can pick my pockets. 

Even just saying ‘I feel uneasy around Blacks/Gays/Muslims’ is offensive, so adding in these horrific generalisations and accusations is too much bigotry for words. Yet this is being triumphed as something beautiful in the equality movement?

The post goes on to say that ugly men should never speak to women in their lives, and other terrible things. But even without the casual misandry, the suggestions that men shouldn’t dress or act a certain way to avoid being the subject of sexist stereotypes, are hypocritical victim blaming. “If you haven’t washed today, then it is your fault that my misandry leads me to call you a rapist”.

Seriously?

(Source: maxdesign.com.au)