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From: dae@psuvax1.UUCP (Daemon)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: More on crossing streets
Message-ID: <1590@psuvax1.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 28-Dec-84 17:37:00 EST
Article-I.D.: psuvax1.1590
Posted: Fri Dec 28 17:37:00 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 29-Dec-84 09:01:33 EST
References: <611@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ.
Lines: 85

Please keep in mind that the obviously racial remarks
below are *not* my own opinion.  Thank you.

west@utcsrgv (can you type that ten times fast?) writes:

>    This bantering is getting a little overlong.  Might we face some facts?

Perhaps it should (ideally) last until the problem is resolved, no?

> (1)  A fair number of women *do* view a strange male as a *potential* threat.
>    There is *nothing* that can be done about it in the short run.  Whether it
>    can be construed as paranoia, natural caution, or whatever is totally
>    irrelevant.  The fact is that in certain settings, (eg deserted streets)
>    we males DO cause fear in a large number of women by our very appearance.
>    This is fact.

A fair number of "white" people view blacks in their school systems
as a threat to their children (NOT ME).  Whether or not is can be
construed as paranoia, natural caution, or whatever is totally
irrelevant.  The fact is ... This is fact.

> (2)  There is no way that we can allay this fear with a smile or
>    phrase.  Our physical presence is the cause of fear, and in fact, a
>    smile or phrase is likely to *increase* what fear exists.  This is
>    fact.

There is no way we can allay this fear with integration of the schools
(let alone smiling).  It's been tried.  Note the lack of lack of racial
tension in the South.

> (3)  The only means of relieving the fear is to remove ourselves from the
>    close physical proximity.  This usually entails crossing a street.
>    This (appears to be) fact.  (Nobody has come up with an acceptable
>    (to the women) alternative.)

The only means of relieving this fear is segregated school systems.
This (appears to be) fact.  Nobody has come up with an acceptable
(to some whites) alternative.

>      Given these facts, the outrage of various males about being viewed
>  as *potential* assailants is pretty pathetic.  They ARE viewed a
>  potential assailants and there is nothing that can be done about it (in
>  the short term).  They can rant all they like, it's NOT going to change
>  the fact.

Here's the real cutter.  "Given these facts, the outrage of various
blacks about being viewed as potentially detrimental to white education
is pretty pathetic...They can rant all they like, it's NOT going to
change the fact."

>      What it comes down to is this.  In the face of these facts, we are
>  *requested* to cross the road.  NOT demanded. NOT expected.  Just
>  requested.

Julia Harper (jdh@hou5g.uucp -- where *did* that article go?)
asked very nicely.  Patty (pardon me if I don't go look you up?)
said (tell me if I'm wrong) that she didn't feel it incumbent upon
men to cater to her (possible) paranoia.  There are quite a few
others (won't mention by name, and will *not* say "the rest")
who *have* been demanding, expecting, and downright rude.
I might add that it's not just a request if, when you answer
"no", you are berated.

>       The original posting was well merited.  I was unaware of this fear
>  that existed (yes, and dismayed that it exists).  I thank the poster
>  for the (albeit unpleasant) insight into one aspect of women's lives.

I do, too.  It bothers me that I (I am told I look somewhat more
fearsome than the norm) am likely to be feared by random women I meet
on the street.  I'd like to dispell whatever of this feeling I can, and
that is why I'm so bothered that Tom feels that I should just accept
that I'm terrifying instead of trying to do something about it.
Women:  is there anything I *can* do?  I'll adopt street-crossing
if there's not, but I don't see that as a permanent solution.

[I'm not quite sure I believe I'm
posting this...maybe you won't, either]
-- 

 
 \ / \/
  \  / From the furnace of Daemon ( ...{psuvax1,gondor,shire}!dae )
   \/  (814) 237-1901 "I will have no covenants but proximities" [Emerson]

When the going gets tough, the weird turn pro.