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From: phil@amdcad.UUCP (Phil Ngai)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: non-sexual/denominational opinion on crossing streets
Message-ID: <437@amdcad.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Dec-84 00:56:36 EST
Article-I.D.: amdcad.437
Posted: Mon Dec 24 00:56:36 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Dec-84 02:37:42 EST
References: <526@dataio.UUCP>
Organization: AMDCAD, Sunnyvale, CA
Lines: 47

(this flame brought to you by the end of Phil's patience)

I can't believe the way this discussion has been going. Countless
women take the effort to say, oh so diplomatically, "Guys, it would
really ease our mind if you used the other side of the street when
there are just two of us on a dark street so we don't have to worry
if we're going to be attacked or not" and countless men react with
flames to the effect of
1) how dare you accuse me of being a rapist, I'm not the type and
it should be obvious to anyone.
2) well, ladies, if you want equality you should act just like a
man and not worry about being raped.
3) if it bothers you why don't *you* cross the street?

I'd like to go on record as a man who would be happy to cross the
street under the above circumstances, if I were ever in such a
situation. (see, I live in California, and walking is, you know,
grody to the max, besides, you don't find that many sidewalks here. :-)

> of airs). It is not the responsibility of any person to expend any
> effort anticipating other peoples' insecurities (with the possible

This sounds like something a hermit would say. I would hope no
responsible member of a community would believe this.

(rest of quote follows)
> ***** Well try this on for size:
> 
> I wish to treat a woman as an equal, in fact to make no delineation
> between wo/men other than (obviously) sexually and the personal
> relationships that might result between interested parties.
> 
> Now, after the above, there are only people in the world. When a person
> feels uncomfortable in a situation involving another person, it is
> their responsibility to determine whether to avoid the situation (like
> crossing the street), or to confront it (like putting on whatever kind
> of airs). It is not the responsibility of any person to expend any
> effort anticipating other peoples' insecurities (with the possible
> exception of people in an alien culture). This is not only a waste of
> effort (more often than not), but can even be construed as insulting,
> demeaning, etc.
-- 
 AMD assumes no responsibility for anything I may say here.

 Phil Ngai (408) 749-5790
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