Ok..lots of back and forth. So I’m going to attempt to mediate. It’s evident y’all are discussing two things. Universally agreed “creepy” behavior, and normal “awkward” teenage interactions.
From my perspective (which is biased), JBotAlan raised this thread to discuss “creepy” behavior
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBotAlan
People of ChiefDelphi, On one of the teams I have mentored, I watched one of my (female) students get sufficiently creeped out by a (male) student's behavior towards her that she was physically hiding from him at the competition.
|
To which it was responded:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sperkowsky
Lets keep in mind that this is natural
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Philip Arola
As far as I can tell, he was saying that hormonal boys will act stupidly, and that this is natural.
|
Those posts, did in effect try to lump in “creepy” behavior with “awkward” teenage interactions, which effectively did trivialize the “Creepy” behavior, eliciting this post:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amanda Morrison
- trivializing seriously disturbing behavior toward women
|
I think I agree with Amanda here, although I can see how she was a little aggressive (rightfully so). The two posts above hers kind of de-value the “creepy” behavior that girls say they experience by implying what JBotAlan said may not be creepy. Whether intentional or not, approaching what OP was saying and initially responding with “not all behavior is harassment” as below:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Philip Arola
We also are pointing to the trend of people within this thread equivocating social awkwardness to harassment.
|
is not a good initial response because (again whether intentional or not) you’re effectively saying “between-the-lines” that what OP’s student and other girls/women are saying may not be justifiably “creepy”. That’s not being said point-blank, not written out in words, but jumping on the defense “not all behavior is creepy” implies that.
Katie gives good advice here:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katie_UPS
If you want to help women in STEM, start by listening to women in STEM and not arguing against what they say. If a girl says someone creeped her out, don't argue that it wasn't creepy.
|
There should never have been a discussion of “what is creepy” and “what is not”. We are here looking for solutions to “creepy” behavior. If someone comes to us and says something is a problem for him/her....it's a problem.