OMG! Shocking cartoon in today's Metro - serial rapists are fanicable apparantly

[Katiekitty]

Oh my god, I am unable to make any sense of this - in today's Metro, page 31, the This Life cartoon shows this:

Two women in a bar, one drinking wine, one says to the other: "I met him on the internet - he's not interested in football, games consoles, old cars or the history channel - who cares if he's a serial rapist?'

This is absolutely disgusting! Or am I missing the point here or something? It's on a page with horoscopes, puzzles and sudoku - a bit of lighthearted stuff, then a joke about serial rapists. Not funny. Or AIBU?

I've logged a complaint with the newspaper editor, I wonder if they'll have the gumption to explain how this slipped through and got into the newspaper?

Please feel free to tell me I'm experiencing a sense of humour bypass and showing unreasonableness, but I think I'm right here...

starbear - sort of my earlier point - i still think it's a joke about metro-men being feminised by the console age and the only way they can prove 'real' manhood is by being a serial rapist. as a 'what women want' story it asks a lot of questions about masculinity as well as women.

of course, that does lead to another argument as to in what sort of screwed up culture is it more acceptable to be influenced by violent sexual prowess to prove your masculinity rather than your (er) ability on 'tomb raider excel blah war dodger 10', and what paltry sort of choice women have actually got these days...

a bit 'crisis in masculinity' but hey ho.

i'm not getting the mcp angst here, but i see lots of different reactions, which is part of the point of these things i guess.

Eh? How is this cartoon WARNING people to watch out for rapists?

I think cartoons are meant ot make people laugh not spit with rage.

Muffle - but the cartoon woman is accepting of the fact he's a serial rapist.

Why didn't she say 'Well, he's a footy geek, but at least he's not a serial rapist?'

She's accepting the fact as if it's ok. Hey, she's got a date! So what if he rapes? It's ok isn't it? Men can rape and women can overlook it. Heck - why should they even worry about it?

Totally agree katiekitty.

Hedge -

'It happens and more often than you clearly realise'

please don't pretend you know anything about me.

My DH on saturday actully tried to talk to me about sport on Saturday by the fourth look at this man in a sport kit he's Balh, blah blah blah blah I want to let rip, get angry and shout 'I'M NOT INTERESTED!'
Some very good points should MN get this bloke in for a webchat

Cartoons are very frequently not funny. I'm not sure why just because they are doodles they are supposed to be.

"She's accepting the fact as if it's ok. Hey, she's got a date! So what if he rapes? It's ok isn't it? Men can rape and women can overlook it."
Yes, and that is completely and utterly wrong, ridiculous, shocking...which IMO is the point the cartoon is making - it's letting the lightbulb go off on the reader's head, which is what most of them do. Jokes, sitcoms and cartoons quite often rely on the reader's sensation of being more enlightened, having a clearer assessment of the situation than the 'people' involved to make their point.

Yes but we are not meant to agree with her! We are meant to find her a fool!!! The cartoonist is pointing out what preposterous attitudes some women have when it comes to dating and saying that is a BAD thing! He is pointing out that many women DO overlook appalling violence in men, as detailed on this thread, and focus on more trivial matters. It is asking WHY that should be. It is making us think about that terrible fact.

Nowadays people expect cartoons to make them laugh but historically that isnt what they did...they were a short and sharp satirical comment on current affairs.

I have a friend who frequently tells me her husband has smashed up the house/car, spent all the money on his hobbies so she cant pay the bills..but hey she's not single so its all hunky dory.

Have you seen this inoffensive cartoon [Gary Larson - Midvale School for the Gifted]. It's exactly the same idea - we know more, are a bit more savvy than the people involved, so can appreciate that the situation is ridiculous.

LOL - I knew it was going to be that cartoon...how VERY dare you (actually its one of my favourites!)

that's my favourite cartton stealth

Oi - wasn't just to make you laugh I was making a point [sulks]

I can relate to that cartoon even more now, I have an extremely bright child who has not an ounce of common sense!

muffle I agree. WilyWombat How shockingly sad. It should be part of everyone's education not to have anything to do with violent people male or female. I've been listening to the radio about DV. I hope and pray not only will my son not hit a woman, but will not associate with any person who is violent or provokes violence in others. Also if he is in a violent relationship he walks away taking the children with him. If I had a daughter more so.