# what's the "anti-misogyny policy"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-anti-misogyny-policy/826085>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [December 14, 2018, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-anti-misogyny-policy/826085 "2018-12-14T00:31:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 246

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**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:** [December 17, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-anti-misogyny-policy/826085/246 "2018-12-17T17:56:31Z")

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> [@HurricaneDitka](#):
>
> I’d support this modification. If a Doper wants to share their recent weight-loss success, for example, and invite others to celebrate with them, or solicit opinions about their new hair style, those could be exceptions.

I want to note a caution on this modification. I should have posted it with the original post. The exception might not be desired.

I was thinking about [this post](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21370155&postcount=316) in the [#metoo backlash thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=21370155#post21370155) that got a lot of support.

> [@\#MeToo backlash is hurting women (Bloomberg article)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metoo-backlash-is-hurting-women-bloomberg-article/825626/316):
>
> It’s been my practice for 20 years to not comment about anyone’s physical appearance or manner of dress unless it violates policy in some way and I am their manager. Not in a work setting, not in a social setting where co-workers are present. It takes virtually zero effort to do this.
> 
> When someone makes a comment of this nature towards me, I acknowledge it and move on. I don’t consider it harassment personally, and a lot of times it’s just a nice gesture, but I appreciate how it can be inappropriate and bright lines are easier than grey areas so that’s how it goes.

Maybe a social message board is different enough from a workplace, but maybe not. If it’s not, then comments about anyone’s physical appearance might be fraught with potential inappropriateness. Even inviting comments on one’s own physical appearance might not be a good idea. It might be a good standard for everyone to follow, although **Bone** doesn’t enforce it on anyone else in that setting.

I agree with **Bone** in that post that bright lines are easier to navigate than gray areas.

Please also note that the modified rule of: **disallow any comments on another individual’s appearance without their explicit invitation** does away with disallowing comments about groups. I see less potential for offensiveness there because, as has been pointed out, it will largely get called out for bigotry.

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