Reply #54: I don't typically run with misogynists.

[CarbonDate]

I can recognize the type of behaviors you're talking about. And if the dominant/aggressive behavior is the indicator that I need to watch for, then I'd guess that I was a little generous in my assessment of how many of us are not rapists. I've always been a bit of a social outcast and generally have to find other misfits to run with as a result of that. Perhaps the inherent nature of how our social circles are defined is why I don't see it going on around me.

Honestly, I've never seen aggression toward women as being acceptable. It's not how I was raised, and I've always viewed people who exhibit those tendencies as deplorable people. No matter how many times I hear it, it's always a little surprising to learn that my attitude is in the minority.

I'm sure a certain amount of the denial among the population comes from a guilty conscience as much as anything else. Sort of a "he who lives in glass houses" type of thing. "Well, geez; I remember that one time when I got pretty ripped..." and the reported rape gets dropped.

I can only promise that if one of my troops comes to me about having been sexually assaulted that I'll be dogged in my pursuit of the matter, but I don't know how to make myself inherently more approachable on that issue than I am; I already make myself known as one of the more progressive guys out there on issues like gender equality.