# Women (over)react to catcalling **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 20, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120 "2009-08-20T20:36:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/61 "2009-08-21T13:28:29Z")
> [@Obsidian](#): > > If someone wants to holler a compliment at me, I don’t mind. But that’s never how it goes. Because half the time if you don’t respond to them (or respond negatively), it quickly becomes and angry, “Bitch! You too good to say hi to me?” Sometimes, they’ll even follow you a little like angry panhandlers, calling you a bitch (or a fat bitch, even if you’re not fat) and demanding you say hello (or thank you). The nearly instantaneous way it became threatening was very scary. Yes. What the fuck is wrong with these people? I was walking to work this morning, minding my own damn business, when some fuckwad proceeded to scream “Hey girl” at me repeatedly. I ignored him because I don’t have time for that kind of crap, until he started following me. I turned around and screamed, “WILL YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP?!” Of course, as he informed me, such vulgarity meant that _I_ have an attitude. Yes, _me_, and not the douche nozzle who followed a complete stranger for half a city block to scream at her. > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I suppose asking you for the time merits at least an open-hand slap, then? > > How about “nice weather?” Should I protect my privates? Depends on how you say it. > [@Baffle](#): > > Remain clam, people. When you’re out in public, _people are allowed to talk to you_. This is not talking. It’s hollering at people, and degrading them. I suppose that is still allowed, but doing so makes you a shithead. Regarding this: > [@EvilTOJ](#): > > I’ve never understood the allure of catcalling. Has it ever ever worked? I mean, has some guys yelled out “hey baby you got some fries to go with that shake?” and the woman ravished them as if they were in an Axe commercial? No. No it’s never happened ever. Nonetheless, beating the catcaller is still out of line, even if they’d gotten the right guy. > > **MeanOldLady** , your nick is quite appropriate. You only get catcalled because they haven’t heard you speak yet. This is your answer: > [@madmonk28](#): > > **EvilTOJ** I don’t think the purpose of catcalling is to attract a mate, I think it is to exert power over random women. If you look at the kind of guys who do it, they generally don’t look like they have control over a lot of factors in their lives, by intimidating/controlling a random woman, they’re empowering themselves a tiny little bit. Yes. And yes to everyone else who commented similarly. I had to stop multi-quoting because I ended up quoting damn near the entire thread. > [@msmith537](#): > > Can I bitch-slap the next ho who be frontin’? Because it sounds like bitched be running wild up in here. What’s this? You think I’m cute? Thanks, I agree. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/62 "2009-08-21T13:32:59Z")
**MeanOldLady** , I get that you don’t like to be harassed. I get that there are right ways and wrong ways to give a compliment or approach a woman. I get that you don’t want to degraded and humiliated. What I don’t get is this: Do you REALLY think that it’s OK to beat up a guy who DIDN’T whistle at you? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/63 "2009-08-21T13:33:34Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > Well, _yeah_. I mean, bitch had it comin. > > Yes, that’s sarcasm. But an alarming number of posts have responded with a “bitch had it coming” attitude that, if the situation were reversed, they’d probably be up in arms about. > > Anyone in this thread or anywhere advocating a violent response for being \*whistled \*at needs counseling. Oh please! This is a 10-foot-high crock of shit. Where is this widespread phenomenon of women harassing men daily on the street, screaming at them, whistling at them, following them in their cars, demanding their phone numbers, name-calling when ignored or rebuffed, making threats, both veiled and unveiled? Where is this town you seem to live in where it is common and somehow accepted that women routinely publicly demean men this way? If this were typical behavior, then yes, I’d be happy if one day a man snapped and just slapped one of the crazy bitches who did this to them. > [@tdn](#): > > **MeanOldLady** , I get that you don’t like to be harassed. I get that there are right ways and wrong ways to give a compliment or approach a woman. I get that you don’t want to degraded and humiliated. > > What I don’t get is this: Do you REALLY think that it’s OK to beat up a guy who DIDN’T whistle at you? The guy who didn’t? No. The guy who did? Until he’s dead. The fucker. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/64 "2009-08-21T13:35:54Z")
I don’t think catcalls are about the subjugation of women. That seems like some bullshit feminist newspeak to me. **Caveat:** That being said, I am not arguing that it cannot be used that way, nor that it is not often used that way, only that not every catcall is meant to be demeaning. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/65 "2009-08-21T13:39:21Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > The guy who didn’t? No. The guy who did? Until he’s dead. The fucker. Wow. Do me a favor and stay the fuck out of Boston, then. Or at least get some therapy first. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/66 "2009-08-21T13:41:47Z")
Boston? I’ll do myself a favor and stay away. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/67 "2009-08-21T13:50:42Z")
Win/win. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/68 "2009-08-21T14:07:46Z")
Not so fast there, ya mean to say there are no MOL’s in Boston? Come on go outside and catcall one and report back. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/69 "2009-08-21T14:10:18Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Not so fast there, ya mean to say there are no MOL’s in Boston? Come on go outside and catcall one and report back. All I seemed able to do was attract some cats. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/70 "2009-08-21T14:17:33Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > The guy who didn’t? No. The guy who did? Until he’s dead. The fucker. Wait a minute- you seriously would support beating a guy to death for doing nothing more than whistling at you? You’re certifiably insane. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/71 "2009-08-21T14:33:24Z")
Everybody keep your pants on. I may be exaggerating ever so slightly when I advocate MURDER, but I am 100% serious when I say if a woman beats the crap out of a guy for heckling her on the street, I’d like to buy that woman a drink, and wouldn’t feel bad for the guy at all. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/72 "2009-08-21T14:34:36Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Truly, it’s disturbing how many threads there have been lately about how testosterone is evil and how all men need to be chemically castrated. Come on guys, let’s fess up. The vast majority of us are pricks. We get emotionally involved in guys proving how testosterone-loaded they are in a variety of inconsequential sports, we think about sex and how little we are getting, once every 60 seconds - on average - and we think the world wouldn’t run properly if we ever gave up our toe-hold on the balance of power. I could go on, but I don’t want to be accused of becoming a race traitor. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/73 "2009-08-21T14:50:37Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Come on guys, let’s fess up. The vast majority of us are pricks. We get emotionally involved in guys proving how testosterone-loaded they are in a variety of inconsequential sports, we think about sex and how little we are getting, once every 60 seconds - on average - and we think the world wouldn’t run properly if we ever gave up our toe-hold on the balance of power. I could go on, but I don’t want to be accused of becoming a race traitor. So what you are saying is that being a man is in and of itself a bad thing? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/74 "2009-08-21T15:03:19Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Everybody keep your pants on. I may be exaggerating ever so slightly when I advocate MURDER, but I am 100% serious when I say if a woman beats the crap out of a guy for heckling her on the street, I’d like to buy that woman a drink, and wouldn’t feel bad for the guy at all. I guess it depends on your definition of heckling. Guy gets a rebuff, follows the woman around calling her a stuck up bitch? I’m right there with you buying that drink. A wolf-whistle? Not the guy’s best behavior, but hardly deserves a beating. What if a guy walked up to you, smiled, and said hi? How much physical violence would you inflict on him? ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/75 "2009-08-21T15:06:08Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Everybody keep your pants on. I may be exaggerating ever so slightly when I advocate MURDER, but I am 100% serious when I say if a woman beats the crap out of a guy for heckling her on the street, I’d like to buy that woman a drink, and wouldn’t feel bad for the guy at all. Like I said, bitch had it coming. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/76 "2009-08-21T15:19:39Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Man hating is ok. There are certain groups that it’s kosher to hate among the liberal literati. Half of the human race is one, all white people is another, and any Christian. Oh, what a load of shit. Hating James Dobson and Fred Phelps does not count as hating all white Christian men. But that’s okay, you don’t need facts. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/77 "2009-08-21T15:25:34Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > So what you are saying is that being a man is in and of itself a bad thing? No, just that we are far from the enlightened species we should be in this day and age, and that most are selling themselves short. Females have had a lot less time in the driving seat, so I’m giving them a pass. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/78 "2009-08-21T15:30:01Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Oh, what a load of shit. Hating James Dobson and Fred Phelps does not count as hating all white Christian men. But that’s okay, you don’t need facts. Apparently neither do you considering you pulled those names from wherever. > [@](#): > > No, just that we are far from the enlightened species we should be in this day and age, and that most are selling themselves short. Females have had a lot less time in the driving seat, so I’m giving them a pass. Nonsense. Women are responsible for their own subjugation. Wherever women stand up to claim their rights they get them. Men are just men acting like men and getting trashed for it, nevermind that the patriarchal society that we have recently discarded had many rules governing the appropriately polite ways to approach women, etiquette that has largely been lost. Men like to fuck women, and there is nothing wrong with that. Some men are uncultivated swine, but so are women by an equal measure. I am just sick of hearing how men are so awful and women should get a pass, what a load of bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/79 "2009-08-21T15:32:41Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I guess it depends on your definition of heckling. > > Guy gets a rebuff, follows the woman around calling her a stuck up bitch? I’m right there with you buying that drink. > > A wolf-whistle? Not the guy’s best behavior, but hardly deserves a beating. > > What if a guy walked up to you, smiled, and said hi? How much physical violence would you inflict on him? If a woman is wolf-whistled at after a long day of being followed around and screamed at by strangers, I can see how the last demeaning howl would piss her off enough to want to beat the man senseless. If a guy says Hi to me, I’ll probably say Hi back… or set his crotch on fire, whichever. I feel like I have to make disclaimers around here, so Disclaimer: I would not set someone’s crotch on fire for saying Hi. > [@Turek](#): > > Like I said, bitch had it coming. :rolleyes: Since you like to repeat yourself, I’ll repeat myself in response: Oh please! This is a 10-foot-high crock of shit. Where is this widespread phenomenon of women harassing men daily on the street, screaming at them, whistling at them, following them in their cars, demanding their phone numbers, name-calling when ignored or rebuffed, making threats, both veiled and unveiled? Where is this town you seem to live in where it is common and somehow accepted that women routinely publicly demean men this way? If this were typical behavior, then yes, I’d be happy if one day a man snapped and just slapped one of the crazy bitches who did this to them. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120/80 "2009-08-21T15:32:55Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Oh, what a load of shit. Hating James Dobson and Fred Phelps does not count as hating all white Christian men. But that’s okay, you don’t need facts. Equating James Dobson & Fred Phelps is some looney shit right there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-over-react-to-catcalling/507120.md?page=5)