Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="billd91" data-source="post: 6868740" data-attributes="member: 3400">I think that there are other issues that might come in here other than selection bias, particularly in group situations like conventions, parties, or busy stores. One I can think of is situational awareness. A lot of people just haven't developed much of it and what they have is probably more focused on their own security and not in assessing threats to other people. Then there is the issue of crowds - the bigger the crowd, the more we focus on our own conversations and interactions, not the interactions going on or the needs being expressed around us. How can someone get away with groping or acting in a threatening manner toward a woman in an area with witnesses? Not just because nobody comes forward for whatever reason (assuming it's consensual, assuming that someone else will take care of it, not wanting to get involved, whatever), but because most people honestly don't really notice it. It's happening over there and not where their focus is.I think one step forward we could and take is to spend some time to actively watch for it and commit to reporting it. I don't mean to patrol for it like Batman through Gotham City, but with some downtime at a con, just sit back and people-watch. Observe how people act around cosplayers, around women, around people who give off a different vibe for any reason. You may not notice anything particularly serious or blatant - but you may still notice some unpleasant behaviors that aren't strictly harassing but could still make for an unwelcoming environment. I'll probably do a bit of this at the Madison ComicCon this weekend.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="billd91, post: 6868740, member: 3400"] I think that there are other issues that might come in here other than selection bias, particularly in group situations like conventions, parties, or busy stores. One I can think of is situational awareness. A lot of people just haven't developed much of it and what they have is probably more focused on their own security and not in assessing threats to other people. Then there is the issue of crowds - the bigger the crowd, the more we focus on our own conversations and interactions, not the interactions going on or the needs being expressed around us. How can someone get away with groping or acting in a threatening manner toward a woman in an area with witnesses? Not just because nobody comes forward for whatever reason (assuming it's consensual, assuming that someone else will take care of it, not wanting to get involved, whatever), but because most people honestly don't really notice it. It's happening over there and not where their focus is. I think one step forward we could and take is to spend some time to actively watch for it and commit to reporting it. I don't mean to patrol for it like Batman through Gotham City, but with some downtime at a con, just sit back and people-watch. Observe how people act around cosplayers, around women, around people who give off a different vibe for any reason. You may not notice anything particularly serious or blatant - but you may still notice some unpleasant behaviors that aren't strictly harassing but could still make for an unwelcoming environment. I'll probably do a bit of this at the Madison ComicCon this weekend. [/QUOTE]

Verification