Rape Threats on Twitter

[BitBewildered]

I've just seen this story on the BBC news app. I've not been on Twitter very much lately and am off to have a look now, but at first glance, what the actual fuck?!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23477130

I disagree - cat calling is rooted in machismo and/or the need to reinforce a sense of camaraderie amongst fellow men (notice how its almost always done in groups and seldomly alone?). Could also be regarded as herd mentality a bit/one sheep seeking the assurance of the flock.

And you don't think the root for rape threats is similar? And what is machismo if it isn't a sense of entitlement to assert male domination?

I think machismo has much more to do with being the dominant male amongst (fellow male) peers.

So in that case why is it necessary to threaten women (and other oppressed groups) if it's all about the men?

cat calling is rooted in machismo and/or the need to reinforce a sense of camaraderie amongst fellow men (notice how its almost always done in groups and seldomly alone?). Could also be regarded as herd mentality a bit/one sheep seeking the assurance of the flock. that's possible MoistenedBint1, but I don't want to be used as a tool in that reinforcement of camaraderie, thanks. Nor do I agree that it has nothing to do with reinforcing men as the dominant gender in this already male-dominated society. Cat-calls are demeaning and objectifying the target.

I disagree with your very narrow definition of 'machismo'. You sound very male-centric.

redefine women in law as airports

anyone making a threat will be chucked in gitmo or subject to rendition

kablam- solved

As you say BitBewildered it doesn't matter whether this is some fucked up male camaraderie nonsense, the fact is it still involves misogyny, objectification of women and it is still posturing of male dominance over those deemed less than equal. In both cases.

I do take your point about how they tend to do it in groups but I think it is for different reasons (or for additional reasons) to you Moistenedbint1. It has more to do with safety in numbers and being more intimidating as a group with less chance of recourse from the victim. It is not a coincidence that these men are often in vans/cars driving past or halfway up a building or a safe distance away where the victim can't easily reach them. The keyboard abusers already have that mentality. They believe they are unreachable and there will be no recourse. It is also not uncommon for them to rally their friends and/or followers (on Twitter) should the victim start shouting back.

I am still not seeing much difference between cat calling and rape threats.

so in that case why is it necessary to threaten women (and other oppressed groups) if it's all about the men?

Cat calling is driven by machismo. Threats, be it violent/sexual are a separate entity. Men, women and even children are accountable for the latter. (Often motivated by a need to intimidate, break the will of another, control the outcome of a situation or merely source some attention for themselves.. Devil makes work for idle hands etc)

Yeah and you sound very gynocentric Bewildered. Hey, glad we got that established.

Mb, you don't see a continuum between, say, "look at the tits on that!" and "I'd like to get you in the back of my van, little lady" and "stop talking about banknotes or I'll rape you"?

Is the second one a cat call or a rape threat?

Cat calls are misogynist when used by men towards women. Rape threats, particularly when used as an intimidatory or silencing technique as in those being discussed on this thread are misogynist.

This is what i received on Twitter today.

""Sorry but lads mags reflect male desire they dont create it. Certain female body traits universally desired. See David Buss."

I replied that it is no excuse for abuse in the street. Abuse directed at women who dont meet that realm of desirability. And if that were true men would all be chasing the same woman.

His reply "no it doesnt It means men chase all women who to some extent meet those criteria. Doesnt justify abuse but its true"

And then tweeted me again with no other prompt from me.

"evolutionary psychology might be inconvienient to your world view but that doesnt mean it isnt entirely valid We are mammals.

This is just one example of the mansplaining ive been getting. Its nowhere near as bad as what others have experienced.
Typing it here ive realised how bloody condescending it is.

LOLOL @ ev psych being 'entirely valid'!

if cat calling was purely "machismo" and male place-marking the blokes would be doing it to each other

YY Any Fucker EXACTLY.

'we are mammals'
except for the ones that are reptiles

and the onesand the ones that are pondlife

(no offence to actual pondlife intended)

oops, typed soemthign twice...you get the gist

Yep that was the point I was trying to make AF. Where are all the random blokes being hollered at in the street by other men?

They don't exist

These threats are still happening. I understand that it's just words on a screen, but this is, as MNHQ would say, beyond the pale.

People send stuff like that because they know it will upset the recipient. Why does a woman having an opinion frighten some men so much? Why do they feel that it is justifiable to abuse another person so viciously? I know they're inadequate little bigots. However, I do believe that it has a lot to do with the general objectification of women in the media, and in society as a whole (get yer tits out). So many people seem to be blind to the misogyny displayed everyday in every walk of life.

If cat calling was purely "machismo" and male place-marking the blokes would be doing it to each other

Admiring the ripped pecks on your mate Bob isn't going to garner you any brownie points down the pub though, is it? Many men (esp insecure ones) seem to have this inate need to communicate how "hetero" they are and that often manifests itself in catcalling.

And this is precisely why they usually have an audience during a "cor look at the rack on that" episode. It's totally transparent behaviour.

Yes, I do understand that. I still wish they'd fuck off though, when it happens to me. I don't see why I must put up with having humiliating and degrading comments yelled at me from a passing white van. Just because some neandertal bloke has a vague insight into his own inadequacy? How is that fair or right. Anyway, that's another thread. Rape threats on twitter are connected to the same misogynist sense of entitlement.

i don't think its insecurity at all, i think that gives them a cop out tbh

Hi MB

Was the second phrase in my list a rape threat or a catcall, in your opinion?