To have reported these builders ?

[beanieb]

At lunch time I walked to the nearest shops to work and passed a site where there are retirement homes being built. As I walked by a couple of builders whistled and shouted 'oy' . I noticed a sign outside the site saying something about 'considerate construction' so rang it immediately! I wasn't rude but I did point out that shouting at people walking by was hardly considerate.

Why do I feel so guilty then!? MEH!

Onegar said "Beanieb, who gets to decide what is sophisticated enough? clearly your opinion overides the builders - because they are men?"

sorry! Perhaps you are confusing me with someone who hates all men!?

Had it been a bunch of women builders shouting at me I would have done the same in these circumstances. Has very little to do with the fact they were men, much more to do with the fact that I dislike it, I think it's unprofessional and for a moment it intruded my space.

I am not comparing it to the harrassment and stalking which is covered by the law, I am reacting to the way it made me feel and giving answers to people who think I am accusing them of some kind of rape. I am not.

I reported them because there was a huge sign (Which may or may not have applied to considerate construction) which claimed the site was considerate to the surroundings.

Have I ever said women don't do it? Have I ever said that women should be able to do it when men shouldn't?

NB - in my first post I didn't even say what sex the builders were!

"I am a bit of a hypocrite though as the other week a buider type said something to me quite quietly as I walked past. I had not had much sleep (new baby) and have not lost all the weight yet, but had done my hair nicely and put on a little make up. I did feel much better and it made my small effort feel appreciated - that is so not feminist I know! Maybe that is the answer; men should only be allowed to say these things quietly and not holler them across crowded streets! "

Why can't you be a feminist, beautiful and accept comments thus - if it made you feel good about yourself that is fantastic, you probably because of this, gave them a smile and brightened their day too.

dinny you crack me up lol.

Sorry OP yabu they were only whistling its hardly like they should OI! Fat arse or Fugly I would of smiled and waved and continued with my business.

2shoes said "glad the op only has this little thing to complain about.
as for bankers. I doubt if she would have reported them as their wouldn't have been a big sign up. "

Jesus - chill out!

I have absolutely loads of stuff I could complain about but this just happened, I came back to work, I posted. SORREEEEE!

If they had been bankers, in the bank, who whistled and shouted at me as I walked into the bank then DAMN right I would have reported them!

onager your post is just silly
it was a whistle and an oy.

The considerate builder scheme is for exactly this reason - so in all fairness the guys should have known better, or at least their site agent should have made damned sure they did, so he will most likely be the one who gets it in the neck. I really can't see them being sacked though. I don't actually think that OP wants that

Beanie, i would probably feel quite uncomfortable if a bunch of women started wolfwhistling at me though

" wants to know if OP has filed a formal complaint."

No. All I did was call the number and explain why I thought it was a very bad advertisement for their company. He offered to get the site manager to call me back but I declined.

I asked dh and he recons they will be sacked

How the blooming heck is it a compliment?!

Okay all of you, imagine you walk into your new GPs surgery and as you do, the doctor wolf whistles and looks you up and down before giving you your examination. Would you think this too was acceptable. Because I'd run out of there damn fast and file any number of official complaints about him.

Frankly, why are we patronising these men by basically saying it's alright for builders to act in a derogatory manner, when you know full well you wouldn't accept it from most other proffessions.

2shoeshissbangwhoosh - I think you may hae missed Onegar's point

2shoeshissbangwhoosh, I was being sarky about someone who had tried to make it sound worse than it was by saying "ohhh but what if...."

It WAS just a whistle. No one was injured.

"I asked dh and he recons they will be sacked"

is it the fact that they are part of the considerate construction scheme that is likely to mean they are sacked or does your Dh think all builders get sacked if this kind of call is made?

oops your right

firstontheway - Naturally I agree.

I'd love to know, 2shoes, if you went to apply for a loan or to have a smear, or to see the school your kids were going to go to and an employee started wolf whistling you - would that be ok too?

Thank you for spotting that Beanieb

And Beanieb, I did say you were a BIT unreasonable. Not entirely unreasonable.

See I don't actually approve of it myself. I wouldn't do it. I just post in these things when some try and make it a hanging offense. I'm sure they didn't come to any real harm from your phone call.

Being shouted at by strange men in the street/going by in cars was one of the aspects of British life I found odd when I moved here many years ago. Do men honestly think women are going to fancy them or something if they do this?

2shoes you keep going on about these builders losing thbeir job.

Don't you believe that people should be responsible for their actions?`

Or are women responsible for men's actions?

Onegars point was stupid of course it would not be ok.

But a couple of guys whistling is hardly the same as rape is it.

TBH I have the same problem as you beanieB but not just from builders men in the street holla at me but I do live in London and thats what its like.

I hope them builders don't get the sack for a joke and it seems they might as I asked my uncle who is a site manager and he thinks because of the number of builders needing work at the moment its very easy to replace them and the big firms don't like to get compliants.

I suppose - had that sign not been there - I might not have complained.

I do tend to complain to companies for dangerous driving and stuff like that though.

pingping - think you have also missed Onegar's point

Grapefruitmoon - "Do men honestly think women are going to fancy them or something if they do this? "

this is what confuses me. Who teaches them this is an appropriate wooing technique?

Really in society in general we should have moved on from this.They won't lose their jobs unless they have done it before and been reported in which case they deserve it