# Shoshana Roberts, a street walker (10 hours,) films herself being "harassed." **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 29, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930 "2014-10-29T20:25:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/481 "2014-11-01T01:48:00Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Which is an inarguable social good. > > Common courtesies are part of social communication, bonding us together as a species, reducing barriers, and making the world a better place. In this I absolutely agree with **Bricker**. Helping someone pick up something they dropped. Holding a door. Asking little old ladies if they’d like help crossing the street. Asking a harried mom if you can help her with her groceries while she wrangles her kids. Shoveling the neighbor’s walk. A simple greeting, wave, nod. > > Those are all important things and beneficial to this social body we’ve constructed out of our troop-based ancestry. > > **Not** asking a woman to smile. **Not** holding a door for a woman just _because_ she’s a woman. **Not** providing “help” without asking. **Not** commenting on someone’s appearance, clothing, hair, or facial expression. **Not** leering, ogling, whistling, or offering mustache rides. **Not** walking next to someone you don’t know in an effort to make conversation. **Not** a lot of other shitty, microaggressive, objectifying things that we’ve tried in the past to convince women are acceptable. > > They aren’t, and they do **not** contribute to social well-being. How about incorrectly solving binomials, juggling chainsaws, and trying to count leaves on sycamore trees? Which are OTHER things I never mentioned, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/482 "2014-11-01T02:03:52Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Yes, that’s true – but I did not attempt, in those earlier posts, to craft my hypothetical with razor-edge precision. I merely laid a non-exhaustive set of examples that served as indicators. The further you move away from your hypothetical of saying hi to strangers on a public street, the less your point has to do with the topic of the thread. The topic of the thread is the video of a woman who was told things on her walk on a public street. Your point of saying hi to someone on public street is slightly related. If you’re now expanding that to doing anything you consider nice for anyone in public, you’ve changed the topic of conversation. Is that what you’re now claiming to be discussing? > [@Bricker](#): > > Do they? Would it be fair to say that New Yorkers feel the same ease and comfort in their walk on the street as do residents of my Northern Virginia community? Do Northern Virginian women feel ease and comfort when men say hi to them on a public street? > [@Bricker](#): > > General uplifting of the mood of people. Which people? There have been women in this thread who have claimed that they don’t like it when people say hi to them on the street. It does not uplift their mood. It does the opposite for them. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/483 "2014-11-01T02:58:58Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > The further you move away from your hypothetical of saying hi to strangers on a public street, the less your point has to do with the topic of the thread. > > The topic of the thread is the video of a woman who was told things on her walk on a public street. > > Your point of saying hi to someone on public street is slightly related. If you’re now expanding that to doing anything you consider nice for anyone in public, you’ve changed the topic of conversation. Is that what you’re now claiming to be discussing? I am saying that nodding politely and saying some short greeting, with “Hi,” or “Morning!” being examples thereof, is what I am discussing. Mentions of other nice things were examples of general social niceties responsive to a specific inquiry. > [@](#): > > Do Northern Virginian women feel ease and comfort when men say hi to them on a public street? If the “Hi,” is in the manner i describe? Yes, I’d say so. > [@](#): > > Which people? There have been women in this thread who have claimed that they don’t like it when people say hi to them on the street. It does not uplift their mood. It does the opposite for them. Sure. But in my view, they represent a small fraction of the pedestrian community. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/484 "2014-11-01T02:59:27Z")
More and more the thread title bugs me, it would be like she went into a Starbucks and the thread was. “Shoshana Roberts enters drug den to purchase addictive drug” Idioms mean things and have context, to call someone walking on the street a “street walker” yea kstarnes you’re an ass. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/485 "2014-11-01T03:16:19Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I am saying that nodding politely and saying some short greeting, with “Hi,” or “Morning!” being examples thereof, is what I am discussing. Mentions of other nice things were examples of general social niceties responsive to a specific inquiry. > > If the “Hi,” is in the manner i describe? Yes, I’d say so. > > Sure. But in my view, they represent a small fraction of the pedestrian community. OK, great. What’s your evidence that women find ease and comfort in men saying hi to them on the street? On just this hypothetical of saying hi to people passing on the street, what’s the benefit to society that outweighs the feelings of that portion of the pedestrian community? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/486 "2014-11-01T03:34:53Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > How about incorrectly solving binomials, juggling chainsaws, and trying to count leaves on sycamore trees? > > Which are OTHER things I never mentioned, by the way. Never said you did. Never meant to suggest you did. Was not attacking you in any way, nor indeed disagreeing with you. If the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/487 "2014-11-01T03:44:10Z")
Someone should pit the Boy Scouts of America for allowing misguided scouts to approach older women and offer to help them cross the street. Imagine the potential harm these women face from those overbearing, Intermeddleing ruffians in scout uniforms doing those dastardly good deeds. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/488 "2014-11-01T04:23:06Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Someone should pit the Boy Scouts of America for allowing misguided scouts to approach older women and offer to help them cross the street. Imagine the potential harm these women face from those overbearing, Intermeddleing ruffians in scout uniforms doing those dastardly good deeds. Do you imagine there is a difference between boyscouts approaching an elderly woman, and young men approaching young women? One time when my son was two he went up to a woman with both her legs tattooed and he tried to wipe off her tattoos, I grabbed him and apologized and she laughed it off. Now can you think of why her response would have been different if I touched up her legs? A puzzler. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/489 "2014-11-01T04:41:32Z")
I reported the thread to request that “street walker” be changed to “pedestrian” as it’s more accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/490 "2014-11-01T05:59:15Z")
> [@BrightNShiny](#): > > I bought some candy for Halloween, but then I got invited to a party at the last minute. Since i wasn’t going to be home, and I didn’t want to waste the candy, I drove around this afternoon offering kids the candy. A lot of people apparently got upset. WTF? :rolleyes: > > Oh, and **Kimstu** , before you respond to me with your lame-o “under the roof” lecture, just note that my minivan has a roof. Hm. When I was 5 my Pre-K teacher read us a book entitled, “Never talk to strangers”. When I was 8 I attended an assembly where we were told that sometimes Bad Men would entice kids with candy and treats, then physically _force them into their car_. As an adult I learned that while compliance has a role in self defense, you should very much avoid being taken from point A to point B, even if you are staring at a gun. Approach a house with a group of kids and even if 1 is grabbed, the rest can run away and report the location. Not so with a mobile car. Anyway, you triggered people’s spider sense: their thoughts may have been less detailed. Now you know. Then again, we also feared razor blades in apples: those concerns were overblown, as snopes has established. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/491 "2014-11-01T06:17:34Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Do you imagine there is a difference between boyscouts approaching an elderly woman, and young men approaching young women? > > A puzzler. Ah, age is another criteria in this now? So it’s okay for a 17 year old Boy Scout to ask a 40 (ancient to him) year old lady if he can guide her across the street, but if he smiles and says “hi”, \*in passing \*,to another _younger_ lady it’s inappropriate? ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/492 "2014-11-01T06:57:13Z")
> [@BrightNShiny](#): > > I bought some candy for Halloween, but then I got invited to a party at the last minute. Since i wasn’t going to be home, and I didn’t want to waste the candy, I drove around this afternoon offering kids the candy. A lot of people apparently got upset. WTF? :rolleyes: > > Oh, and **Kimstu** , before you respond to me with your lame-o “under the roof” lecture, just note that my minivan has a roof. The problem is that you made it too easy. You should have left it in a guillotine on your front porch with a sign saying “Free candy!” to get their guard down. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/493 "2014-11-01T10:16:07Z")
Ok guys. If it’s so damn important to you, we will give you the damn “hi.” Now, will you please stop yelling anything else at us? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/494 "2014-11-01T11:47:56Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Sure. But in my view, they represent a small fraction of the pedestrian community. This may be correct in your city, but it’s not correct in my city. Or do you claim to know my city better than I do? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/495 "2014-11-01T11:57:38Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Ah, age is another criteria in this now? So it’s okay for a 17 year old Boy Scout to ask a 40 (ancient to him) year old lady if he can guide her across the street, but if he smiles and says “hi”, \*in passing \*,to another _younger_ lady it’s inappropriate? Absolutely. I help people on in public all the time - old people, disabled people, mothers with baby carriages, lost tourists, what have you. I engage other people when there is a _reason_ for the engagement. There is no reason for me to say “hi” to random passersby, other than “politeness” and a rather pathetic desire for people to notice me. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/496 "2014-11-01T12:44:52Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Do you imagine there is a difference between boyscouts approaching an elderly woman, and young men approaching young women? Yes. Older women generally aren’t as paranoid and repay kindness with gratitude instead of hostility. That same younger woman would probably see those helpful boyscouts as a potential rape gang or murderers. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/497 "2014-11-01T13:03:37Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Yes. Older women generally aren’t as paranoid and repay kindness with gratitude instead of hostility. That same younger woman would probably see those helpful boyscouts as a potential rape gang or murderers. Is this a joke? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/498 "2014-11-01T13:03:54Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Yes. Older women generally aren’t as paranoid and repay kindness with gratitude instead of hostility. That same younger woman would probably see those helpful boyscouts as a potential rape gang or murderers. Or at the very least, future hate-driven subjugators of pregnant women or evil American soldiers who slaughter Muslim babies just for the sheer joy of bathing in their blood. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/499 "2014-11-01T13:07:29Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Or at the very least, future hate-driven subjugators of pregnant women or evil American soldiers who slaughter Muslim babies just for the sheer joy of bathing in their blood. Or even worse - _**[Mormons](https://www.lds.org/callings/aaronic-priesthood/leader-resources/scouting?lang=eng).**_ Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930/500 "2014-11-01T14:21:32Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > This may be correct in your city, but it’s not correct in my city. Or do you claim to know my city better than I do? No, but I’d say your city is not representative of the whole country. And in this particular instance, mine is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoshana-roberts-a-street-walker-10-hours-films-herself-being-harassed/702930.md?page=26)