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A couple of days ago I made a post (NSFW thanks to the subject of this post) pointing at some interesting discussion on religion. Being tired at the time I mostly wanted to show people so if I had something to say later they would be familiar, or leave their on thoughts on the subject.
Instead, what I found the next morning was this comment, titled 'Silly':
I do not know this person. I do not know how he came across my journal or what the point of this comment was except apparently to belittle me. I do not even know how he came to the conclusion I am female as I am not in the habit of claiming a gender (userpics perhaps?). I do know he self-describes as a misogynistic, would-be pornstar (speaking of which, the userpic used to make the comment is pornographic).
The comment itself does not particularly bother me except as a driveby whose author I do not get to dismember; what infuriates me is what it signifies. People do not get to live their lives without being harassed. There is no formula women can follow but good fortune to avoid being belittled or worse by strangers who think one fact about them undermines the entire worth of their existence.
And they should not have to. People should not have to take special steps to avoid being victimised by others. It ought to be a rare and shocking occurrence, if it must be one at all. This enrages me. This disgusts me. This is unacceptable. People should not have to fear violence and violation on the basis of who they are. People should not have to worry that others will treat them as less of a person because of the kind of person they are. And people should not have their voices silenced or dismissed just because the matter at hand affects them personally and they are therefore biased.
Instead, what I found the next morning was this comment, titled 'Silly':
You're a silly little skirt, aren't you?
This is why we shouldn't let the girls in.
I do not know this person. I do not know how he came across my journal or what the point of this comment was except apparently to belittle me. I do not even know how he came to the conclusion I am female as I am not in the habit of claiming a gender (userpics perhaps?). I do know he self-describes as a misogynistic, would-be pornstar (speaking of which, the userpic used to make the comment is pornographic).
The comment itself does not particularly bother me except as a driveby whose author I do not get to dismember; what infuriates me is what it signifies. People do not get to live their lives without being harassed. There is no formula women can follow but good fortune to avoid being belittled or worse by strangers who think one fact about them undermines the entire worth of their existence.
And they should not have to. People should not have to take special steps to avoid being victimised by others. It ought to be a rare and shocking occurrence, if it must be one at all. This enrages me. This disgusts me. This is unacceptable. People should not have to fear violence and violation on the basis of who they are. People should not have to worry that others will treat them as less of a person because of the kind of person they are. And people should not have their voices silenced or dismissed just because the matter at hand affects them personally and they are therefore biased.
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no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 12:39 (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2008-07-18 03:17 (UTC)From:Let's see, a brief inspection of tags on that user's page brings up:
Surely this tells you something about where they're at, and why you shouldn't pay much importance to anything they say.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-18 03:18 (UTC)From: