Aug
10
Recently, I've spoken to a few people about an English tourist having his genitals set alight in Crete. Apparently he was exposing himself to a local girl and fondling her.
If so, his behaviour was just plain disgraceful, and regardless of the justice of the situation as defined by the law, a stern reminder to him and others that actions have consequences, no matter how fair those may or may not be.
But what interests me most is the almost universal mirthful reaction to this story. It reminds me of the furore around John Wayne Bobbit, which was also regarded as all but universally hilarious by both genders. That relationship was very abusive, and hardly hilarious in its own right. Bobbit seems to have a record of physical as well as other abuse doled out to his partners, but what really interests me is the gender polarity of the amusing violence.
Suppose a woman abused her husband in a relationship; and in turn, one night when she was drunk he took a scalpel and removed one of her breasts. Who's laughing now?
Suppose it was a British girl in Crete, annoying a man; again who laughs if he sets her on fire? It's interesting how we are programed to trivialise and laugh concerning violence against men that would be considered an utter disgrace and conversation stopper against a woman.
If so, his behaviour was just plain disgraceful, and regardless of the justice of the situation as defined by the law, a stern reminder to him and others that actions have consequences, no matter how fair those may or may not be.
But what interests me most is the almost universal mirthful reaction to this story. It reminds me of the furore around John Wayne Bobbit, which was also regarded as all but universally hilarious by both genders. That relationship was very abusive, and hardly hilarious in its own right. Bobbit seems to have a record of physical as well as other abuse doled out to his partners, but what really interests me is the gender polarity of the amusing violence.
Suppose a woman abused her husband in a relationship; and in turn, one night when she was drunk he took a scalpel and removed one of her breasts. Who's laughing now?
Suppose it was a British girl in Crete, annoying a man; again who laughs if he sets her on fire? It's interesting how we are programed to trivialise and laugh concerning violence against men that would be considered an utter disgrace and conversation stopper against a woman.
. I suppose it ties into why so many men accept domestic violence as normal (and I know it's shockingly common towards woman for anyone else reading).
