Dickhead of the day
by Laura Woodhouse // 11 April 2008, 13:13
With apologies to dicks and heads everywhere.
Union electioneering is in full swing at Sheffield Uni, and as ever, there is one "funny" candidate. Said "funny" candidate has today placed a board in a prominent position on the Union concourse which reads "[funny candidate's name]: never successfully charged with molestation".
Molestation! Ha! The widespread failure to bring abusers and rapists to justice! Guffaw!
I told Mr Funny that a large proportion of the women walking across the concourse will have been molested or similar. That most of them wouldn't have seen the perpetrator brought to justice. And that when I saw his sign I was reminded of the time I was (to use his term) molested and now feel pretty damn upset.
Now, Mr Funny understands this, but you see his dilemma is that loads of people - men and women - have been coming up to him and telling him just how funny his sign is.
What to do, what to do...
He assures me that he's going to write a new sign. I even went and got him paint and a brush. But he's just too busy right now.
Meanwhile, I'm back on that platform in Barcelona.
EDIT: He later added "of birds of prey" to the bottom of the sign. Hopefully the message got through for next time.
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Liz // Posted 11 April 2008 at 14:22
How about affixing a note to his sign that reads "If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in [Mr Funny]'s campaign slogan, please see the following for help and advice:" and then just give a list of feminist and rape awareness websites.
Willow // Posted 11 April 2008 at 15:09
I had a similar discussion with a male friend who thinks that it is appropriate for people to make comments such as 'I'm going to rape you' when referring to beating them in a game. He was surprised by the fact that I took offence repeatedly saying that it had no connection at all to the realities of raping someone. I was shocked that he didn't see how using the word in such a way trivialised and normalised an issue that is so significant.
Aplogoies if this has been discussed elsewhere but I have only just discovered this site.
rose hasty // Posted 11 April 2008 at 16:36
That's a good idea. I would prefer to break sign over [Mr Funny]'s head before throwing contents of paint tin in his face. Such a shame that people do find this funny. Waaaaay lads on tour, rape on campus, it's all such frat boy fun! Yuck.
Amy // Posted 11 April 2008 at 17:04
He seems to be totally oblivious to the possibility that a lot of the women who have been, using his term,molested would not feel confident enough to challenge him about the poster.
EBaezaChavez // Posted 11 April 2008 at 18:24
Truly a dickhead, with the sensitivity of a teaspoon. I feel the need to bust open a can of spray paint and get creative......!