# Gasp, Fearless Girl statue in NY latest social media outrage. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 12, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006 "2017-03-12T18:10:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/81 "2017-03-14T02:08:04Z")
> [@dofe](#): > > If the statue of the bull had been put in place to raise awareness of animal cruelty, then, yes, any outrage over tourists molesting the bull’s balls would be reasonable. But the the statue was not raised for that purpose, which is why you don’t see any outrage to such activities. > > On the other hand, the statue of the girl was put in place exactly to raise awareness of International Women’s Day, which at its core is meant to combat the exact type of dismissive behavior towards women that the guy was photographed doing. So if the statue hadn’t been of a girl who was a symbol of International Women’s Day, but still of a girl, the outrage would be less potent? (I’m not arguing here, simply curious). ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/82 "2017-03-14T03:12:19Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > So if the statue hadn’t been of a girl who was a symbol of International Women’s Day, but still of a girl, the outrage would be less potent? (I’m not arguing here, simply curious). Yeah probably. Had this guy stopped to molest a different statue on a different day he’d just be a douche bag. Since he decided to molest a symbol of feminism in conjunction with international women’s day he crossed the line into exceptional douche bag, which made it news worthy. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/83 "2017-03-14T03:29:36Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > I was about to mention him. I had never heard of him until some foreign girl asked me where his tomb was as I was visiting the cemetery. I found intriguing that a tourist would want to see the tomb of someone presumably so obscure that I had never heard his name. So I sought it, and one look at the statue and its shiny groin made me understand immediately what women were coming to do there. > > They eventually fenced the tomb some years ago, so no more pussy grinding there. His face is pretty shiny too. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/84 "2017-03-14T07:23:21Z")
[Here](https://medium.com/@janeruffino/fearless-girls-shouldnt-have-to-save-us-c35262f28442#.g1pyrkk42)’s a more interesting critique of the statue. > [@](#): > > The Fearless Girl sculpture was funded by State Street Global Advisors, the investment arm of State Street Corporation, the company my mother took to court for unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination and harassment in the 1990s. You can [read all about it in the case](http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/908/1019/1457495/), including details about the questions her superiors asked her about her sex life with my dad. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/85 "2017-03-14T08:12:08Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I would guess that such a reaction is coming from a fraction of a percent of people who see the photo. Whereas 99.x% rolls their eyes, sigh, post a sentence or two on a message board or Facebook then largely forget about it, etc. Not being on social media at all means I’m not able to gauge how widespread the reaction is. Of course even if it is only a fraction of a percent of facebook users alone that still means millions of “outraged” users and that is enough momentum to ensure it spills over into mainstream media, then I do get to see it and have the opportunity to not give a shit. > [@](#): > > Maybe you should stop being “outraged” about such minor numbers. I don’t think anything I’ve written could be considered “outrage” I’ve been measured and reasonable in my opinions and yet even here I’m suddenly painted as “outraged”. (but no, I’m not outraged by that either) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/86 "2017-03-14T13:21:45Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Not being on social media at all means I’m not able to gauge how widespread the reaction is. Of course even if it is only a fraction of a percent of facebook users alone that still means millions of “outraged” users and that is enough momentum to ensure it spills over into mainstream media, then I do get to see it and have the opportunity to not give a shit. There’s millions of people who believe the moon landing is a hoax. Millions of people who think that drops of colloidal silver will cure their diseases. If you cared about making a difference, you’d spent the outrage you’re wasting here on the tens of millions who won’t vaccinate their kids and help millions of children rather than going berserk over defending one grown adult who humps statues of children. See how easy it is to dismiss people’s feelings and opinions? > [@](#): > > I don’t think anything I’ve written could be considered “outrage” I don’t know if anything in this thread could count as “outrage” but that seems to be the word du jour for saying “I’ve arbitrarily decided you’re too emotional so I win, you lose”. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/87 "2017-03-14T15:12:24Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > There’s millions of people who believe the moon landing is a hoax. Millions of people who think that drops of colloidal silver will cure their diseases. If you cared about making a difference, you’d spent the outrage you’re wasting here on the tens of millions who won’t vaccinate their kids and help millions of children rather than going berserk over defending one grown adult who humps statues of children. > > See how easy it is to dismiss people’s feelings and opinions? I don’t know about dismissive but it certainly is completely inaccurate and utterly irrelevant to the points I made. Specifically, I’ve not gone “berserk” and I haven’t the defended the statue-humper. (in fact I have spoken out against him). > [@](#): > > I don’t know if anything in this thread could count as “outrage” but that seems to be the word du jour for saying “I’ve arbitrarily decided you’re too emotional so I win, you lose”. There were a couple of outspoken posts but nothing too major, my disdain is for the twitterati who cook up a storm and make minor incidents into something more than they need to be. FWIW, if someone does get too emotional I will stop the discussion because nothing much will result from continuing. I don’t think that’s a win/lose scenario but on the other hand someone incapable of rational discussion is always going to find it hard to make their point. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/88 "2017-03-14T15:20:24Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I don’t know about dismissive but it certainly is completely inaccurate and utterly irrelevant to the points I made. Specifically, I’ve not gone “berserk” and I haven’t the defended the statue-humper. (in fact I have spoken out against him). And others haven’t really been “outraged” and failing to fight true misogyny, etc as is being presented here. Seems like you’re missing the point. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Sanchez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@Rick\_Sanchez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Sanchez)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/89 "2017-03-14T16:38:50Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > There’s millions of people who believe the moon landing is a hoax. Millions of people who think that drops of colloidal silver will cure their diseases. If you cared about making a difference, you’d spent the outrage you’re wasting here on the tens of millions who won’t vaccinate their kids and help millions of children rather than going berserk over defending one grown adult who humps statues of children. > > See how easy it is to dismiss people’s feelings and opinions? Firstly, nobody is defending this guy. Secondly, trying to convince moon hoaxers and anti-vaxxers that they’re wrong is a total waste of time, as studies have shown that debating them just makes them dig their heels in even more. Thirdly, Novelty Bobble isn’t, by any definition “going berserk” and your mischaracterisation is dishonest. Fourthly, although perhaps not necessarily entirely accurate, it would definitely be _more_ accurate to describe the reaction of certain offendees in this thread as “berserk”. Elbows has called for the guy’s job. Silenus said he should hang from a lamp post (he may have said that sarcastically, but it’s so hard to tell these days). And Manda Jo seems to think this is some kind of symbolic attack on all women. These are all ridiculous overreactions to a photo of some drunk pretending to hump a statue. > [@Jophiel](#): > > I don’t know if anything in this thread could count as “outrage” but that seems to be the word du jour for saying “I’ve arbitrarily decided you’re too emotional so I win, you lose”. Sometimes people _are_ too emotional. At such times, it’s not insensitive to point that out. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/90 "2017-03-14T16:46:01Z")
> [@Rick\_Sanchez](#): > > Thirdly, Novelty Bobble isn’t, by any definition “going berserk” and your mischaracterisation is dishonest. You know, I thought the constant use of quotes around “outrage” previously would have made my intent obvious but I guess the fault is on me there. > [@](#): > > Elbows has called for the guy’s job. Really? Is Elbows hunting down the guy’s place of employment right now and blowing up their phone? Or did Elbows made a comment on a message board that we’re calling “outrage” to suit our argument? > [@](#): > > Silenus said he should hang from a lamp post (he may have said that sarcastically, but it’s so hard to tell these days). No, when using common sense, it really isn’t. > [@](#): > > And Manda Jo seems to think this is some kind of symbolic attack on all women. So? Is Manda Jo running around with a pitchfork or rolling over police cars? Funny how much the “get a grip” people can’t seem to, well, get a grip. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/91 "2017-03-14T17:00:02Z")
We live in a new century, in an age of social media. If you’re so tone deaf to the times you live in, that you douchebag away for the internet to see, I have no sympathy when you lose your gig because of it. Not exactly a call to lynch the guy, in my eyes. He’s a privileged white, Wall Street wanker, he’s not going to go hungry, he’ll have another job inside a month. But he won’t lose his job, will he? No, all the other bros at the law firm most assuredly got his back. Probably high fived him, when they saw it, is my bet. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Sanchez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@Rick\_Sanchez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Sanchez)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/92 "2017-03-14T17:01:39Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > You know, I thought the constant use of quotes around “outrage” previously would have made my intent obvious but I guess the fault is on me there. You didn’t put those quotes around berserk so…yeah. It is. > [@](#): > > Really? Is Elbows hunting down the guy’s place of employment right now and blowing up their phone? Or did Elbows made a comment on a message board that we’re calling “outrage” to suit our argument? Read her comment. I’ve no doubt whatsoever that if she could complain directly to his company, she would. If you doubt this, please quote the relevant sections of her post which cause you to doubt this. > [@](#): > > No, when using common sense, it really isn’t. This thread represents a wholesale abdication of common sense by all parties involved. > [@](#): > > So? Is Manda Jo running around with a pitchfork or rolling over police cars? > > Funny how much the “get a grip” people can’t seem to, well, get a grip. She’s overreacting over a load of stupid internet nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/93 "2017-03-14T17:46:10Z")
> [@Rick\_Sanchez](#): > > You didn’t put those quotes around berserk so…yeah. It is. True, I only followed the paragraph with: _See how easy it is to dismiss people’s feelings and opinions?_ I can see the problem there – I didn’t bold it and maybe use underlines. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/94 "2017-03-14T18:00:11Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > And others haven’t really been “outraged” and failing to fight true misogyny, etc as is being presented here. Seems like you’re missing the point. It seems like we are at the point where we start debating the meaning of words. That’s always a good point to step away from the keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Sanchez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@Rick\_Sanchez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Sanchez)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/95 "2017-03-14T18:06:01Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > It seems like we are at the point where we start debating the meaning of words. > > That’s always a good point to step away from the keyboard. Agreed. I’m out, too. Life’s too short. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/96 "2017-03-14T18:51:13Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > He’s a privileged white, What his skin colour has to do with anything? ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/97 "2017-04-12T16:18:50Z")
While I agree with the artist, the irony makes the story fun: Wall Street bull sculptor says ‘Fearless Girl’ statue violates his rights > [@](#): > > NEW YORK — The sculptor of Wall Street’s ‘‘Charging Bull’’ statue is accusing New York City of violating his legal rights by allowing the ‘‘Fearless Girl’’ statue to be installed facing the bronze beast, without his permission. > **[Wall Street bull sculptor says ‘Fearless Girl’ statue violates his rights -...](https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/04/11/wall-street-bull-sculptor-says-fearless-girl-statue-violates-his-rights/rq50XePov3u5fB9Q2oBWCM/story.html)** > > The statue, installed last month by Boston-based State Street Global Advisors, was put in place next to the famous bull. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/98 "2017-04-12T19:23:44Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > While I agree with the artist, the irony makes the story fun: > > Wall Street bull sculptor says ‘Fearless Girl’ statue violates his rights > [https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/04/11/wall-street-bull-sculptor-says-fearless-girl-statue-violates-his-rights/rq50XePov3u5fB9Q2oBWCM/story.html](https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/04/11/wall-street-bull-sculptor-says-fearless-girl-statue-violates-his-rights/rq50XePov3u5fB9Q2oBWCM/story.html) > > > [@](#): > > > > NEW YORK — The sculptor of Wall Street’s ‘‘Charging Bull’’ statue is accusing New York City of violating his legal rights by allowing the ‘‘Fearless Girl’’ statue to be installed facing the bronze beast, without his permission. The irony (for anybody who didn’t notice this part of the story): > [@](#): > > Di Modica had installed the massive bronze [bull] in front of the New York Stock Exchange after the 1987 stock market crash, without a permit in the middle of the night ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/99 "2017-04-12T19:27:46Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Next time use some common sense and put railings around statues that require protection and a guard. Or better yet don’t use kids as model for public statues that will get rediculed by drunks. Have you been there? A railing would be absolutely the wrong statement for that spot - And is completely unnecessary. Simple community controls - like the average New Yorker’s contempt for stupid yahoos - and the occasional wandering monster - um, policeman - is more than sufficcient. Really, this is a complete tempest in a teapot. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006/100 "2017-04-12T23:26:47Z")
Irony (and tempest) aside, does the claim that the Fearless Girl violates the trademark and copyright of Di Modica (artist of the bull) have any legal foundation? It seems to me that it’s not all that different than a newspaper publishing a contradictory response to someone’s letter to the editor. And that certainly doesn’t violate the original letter writer’s rights. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasp-fearless-girl-statue-in-ny-latest-social-media-outrage/782006.md?page=6)