Comments on: What it’s like when somebody sexually assaults you on the bus

By: Lillian

Lillian — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:01:16 +0000

While the whole ‘y chromosome’ thing could be debated (I don’t actually want to get in that debate), I was wondering something along the same lines myself.

By: Lillian

Lillian — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:48:23 +0000

Surprisingly, I’m not here to bring my bitter attitude (I’m trying to work on that) towards some perceived snooty tone in your story (which there wasn’t one this time anyways), but to offer my condolences in this situation. I can’t empathize on the loss of a device that I think is destroying society anyways, but I can most definitely empathize with this. I’ve been in more than one situation like this, and I applaud your courage in reporting the situation. Even when the piggie tried to discourage you so he could avoid the extra work load, you kept up your original plan. That’s something I never could have done myself. I read your follow up and I’m glad your original encounter with them was no indication of the work they put forward later. Good luck in all things to follow.

I would be mad at the comments I’m reading on this blog, but they’re just typical and I’d be a hypocrite.

By: la dee da

la dee da — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 05:42:17 +0000

In a perfect world, we should be able to walk around the city safely, HOWEVER this is the F*CKING city! Sorry this happened, city living requires situational awareness AT ALL TIMES!

By: Archana

Archana — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:53:47 +0000

There’s been times when I thought I was being attacked (non sexually) which elicited a tough city girl, fight or flight response within me.

But during Carnival, when some creepy smiling old guy smacked my ass, I was mostly shocked, disgusted, ashamed and felt violated. I ran into my work and couldn’t go outside for the next few hours. Why do you think that is?

So, I agree with you. This is a pretty disturbing reaction to have to sexual assault. Do you think if instead of robbery or assault, you were worried more about rape and sexual assault, you would have a different reaction to those shadows on the street?

P.S Your comment makes it sound like she was “asking for it”, that she wasn’t prepared enough. It really makes me uncomfortable.

By: Hoagie

Hoagie — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:32:09 +0000

When life hands you lemons, make pageviews…

http://brittneyg.typepad.com/sparkwood_21/2012/09/comments.html

By: human

human — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 05:46:07 +0000

Which is exactly why I’m not going to her site to read the rest of her harrowing tale…

By: Bilbo

Bilbo — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 22:52:23 +0000

Hahaha, Bill P., that was amazingly dumb.

By: Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable

Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 21:40:42 +0000

Grammar-nazi-fail. Anything-can-be-hyphenated-d00d.

By: Cranky Old Mission Guy

Cranky Old Mission Guy — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 21:37:24 +0000

So you know, GG, your own Flickr self-pics look pretty recognizable, too. You might want to restrict access to them if you’re that concerned.

By: Rebecca Buck

Rebecca Buck — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 21:06:00 +0000

Also, this was floating around Tumblr a few days ago. More about being harassed on public transit and the difficulty in trying to confront your attacker:
http://unwinona.tumblr.com/post/30861660109/i-debated-whether-or-not-to-share-this-story

By: Rebecca Buck

Rebecca Buck — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 20:57:47 +0000

I understand your reaction, I do. As a female-identified lady, I regularly plan out in my head what I would do if (really: when) I am sexually assaulted/sexually made uncomfortable in public. Every single time, I come to the same conclusion: I would break the fucker’s nose.

I think it, but when it happens, that’s never what I do. I shrink down into a little ball and pretend that the dude rubbing his leg up against mine (no matter how far I try and move away) in a crowded subway car is doing it unknowingly. That it’s in my head. Because that’s what I’ve been taught to think and do: to internalize it, that I’m overreacting, that it’s “not really a crime.”

By: Cranky Old Mission Guy

Cranky Old Mission Guy — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 20:55:47 +0000

Really, asshole? No apology? You call Brittney a pussy, and all you have to offer in response to my challenge is a bogus language correction? I think that pretty much seals the deal on who you are.

By: Bill P.

Bill P. — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 18:59:53 +0000

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. You crack me up, dude. Since you’re perfectly fulfilling the role of internet tough guy right now, allow me to be your grammer nazi and let you know that “piece of shit” isn’t hyphenated when used as a slur. Please note, however, that were you to use it as an compound adjective you WOULD want to hyphenate it. For example: your piece-of-shit brain generates stupid thoughts, you piece of shit.

By: GG

GG — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 18:18:07 +0000

Just one more bit of general feedback… I hope you have given a lot of thought to the potential consequences of having an easily-identifiable face pic on the blog. It’s fun to feel like people might recognize you, but especially when the picture is attached to a narrative about where you go and what you do each day, unfortunately the world we live in makes that a little risky. I used to write a relatively popular blog about a topic on which I had expertise, and even though my pictures were (I thought) not that recognizable (from weird angles, etc.), I got recognized more than once in a manner that was… disconcerting. I just want you to be as safe as possible.

By: Bilbo

Bilbo — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 18:14:51 +0000

This.