To think it ridiculous that wolf-whistling could become a criminal offence?

[Grag]

www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/08/sexist-comments-to-become-criminal-offence

This is stupid IMO. I don't want to live in a society where men are afraid to approach or talk to women for fear of being arrested.

It's good to see that plenty of Guardian readers agree that it is ridiculous.

It's scary to me that we seem to be becoming a more and more repressive country as regards to human contact and communication. I don't understand the purpose of it.

It should not be a criminal offense! [shocked]

Mind you, it does make me angry to see men wolf-whistling out of cars as they drive past groups of teenage girls wearing their school uniforms on their way home from school.

Jamie, you've missed my point. It's less risk free than approaching, but still needs confidence. Comprendez?

Nice to see the law will apply to both sexes.

LttleGnu - Au contraire, my point was that if there's little chance of anything worse than the woman doing saying feck off from 30 feet bellow, then it doesn't require a lot of confidence. Just as me shouting "wanker" from the safety of my car at someone who cuts me up, doesn't require much confidence

wow, I typed that badly. Try again:

Au contraire, my point was that if there's little chance of the woman doing anything worse than saying feck off from 30 feet below, then it doesn't require a lot of confidence. Just as me shouting "wanker" from the safety of my car at someone who cuts me up, doesn't require much confidence

Well I appreciate the compliment anyway, regardless. And a lot of men would be too scared to even whistle from 30 feet away...

Only someone rather unevolved and dim would think wolf-whistling is a great way to compliment women. Its rude and idiotic.

I can see why people think it's OTT, but how many of you get harassed if you ever walk anywhere? I made the mistake of parking not far from home last week and taking a short walk. Ten minutes later I knew I would never walk anywhere here again. Every driver, and passenger, who passed me and every man I passed whistled. Two of them repeatedly and aggressively when I ignored them. I've been whistled at while collecting my then 5 yr old DDs from school, and the builders were building the school at the time. It reminds me of growing up in London. And they weren't whistling because I'm some kind of beauty, it was because I wasn't in the car.

Well I like it flippinada, not that it happens much!

flippinada : It's like the evolution of man:

Neanderthal ...... .... club bum-squeezer .......wolf whistler....... man who approaches and talks to woman as equal

TBF - it happens v rarely to me anymore. I absolutely hated it when I was in my teens and twenties. Did not see it as a compliment at all, found it slightly threatening. Now I think it's a bit sad. Appreciate not everyone feels this way

chile - sorry to be personal - do you have large bosoms?

This is nuts. I wonder how its going to be policed....

"more law, less justice" - Cicero.

Whatme - it's not happening. OP was mistaken

Nice to see the law will apply to both sexes.
I'd hope that any legislation would be gender neutral - surely it would have to be? Its not clear to me from the report in the link what's intended.

Hmmm Chile, not sure I'd like it all the time, but would give it a try!

It's about bloody time. It should not be socially acceptable to harass someone in the street and get away with it, on any basis.

I've been wolf whistled at and while I have never found it threatening (more irritating - I've experienced much worse, unfortunately), I find it crass and idiotic.

I'd rather have more focus on actual crimes tbh

I agree with it. It doesn't happen to me now, but when i was in my early twenties and much slimmer, I found it very intimidating and inappropriate. I don't understand why anyone would want to be perved over!

Because people have different ideas about what "perving" and "expressing interest or attraction" are...

What will happen to Diet Cok eadvertsw?

From catgirl:

Former attorney general Baroness Scotland, who worked on the convention for four years under the Labour government, said the clause on sexual harassment was not intended to cover less serious incidents such as wolf-whistling and public teasing.

So the thread title is misleading and it is to cover serious and intimidating sexist remarks - not to make wolf whistling an offence

Yeah, but Baroness Scotland is probably just jealous because she doesn't get wolf-whistled. Or something.

Yeah, she's probably right old and ugly