This really tweaks me.

[saffronhare]

Accidentally heard a bit of a report on NPR this morning (you know, before I switched the station to something less aggravating) that's got me angry. So angry, in fact, that I wondered if I'd heard correctly and looked it up before getting pissy about it in public.



Morning Edition, May 9, 2005 · Japanese authorities are responding to the legendary overcrowding on Tokyo commuter trains. Railway officials say they can't actually relieve the crowding, but they can make it easier on women. In a survey, almost two-thirds of women between age 20 and 40 said they'd been groped by men in the crowded train cars. So the railroads are increasing the number of women-only cars. This protective measure has drawn protests from men, who call it discrimination.

Sure, it's discrimination. What's got me angry, however, is the growing movement I've seen in so many "developed" countries to restrict freedom by saying it's for somebody's protection. It short-changes everyboy, and not just those who are considered prey that needs protecting. In the words of the new Jack Johnson song, "Where have all the good people gone?" Why is there no effort being expended to require people to Behave Decently, for chrissakes?

I could go on and on, but now I need to raise some more money for the Evangelical Christians. My network passwords are becoming more and more like little prayers for the prosperity of the new business, so that I can leave my day job. ::sigh::

Comments

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

How does one require someone to behave decently?

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

I don't even know how to express it right now, and was probably too ticked off to form words. I just don't think consequences ought to land on the people who are getting groped here. Limiting the places where they can expect to be safe is unacceptable. The women-only cars cultivate an ecology of fear, where the prey begin to stay away from the areas where predators lurk, because heaven forbit we should expect the gropers to stop being asshats.

Yeah, still too ticked off to form reasonable words about this.

[diermuid.livejournal.com]

Even worse, I have seen videos of women in the female-only cars being attacked by gangs of women. They call it 'groping', but that is only the first quarter of the assaults I've seen. Granted, the hardcore stuff that hits the internet is probably just a small precentage of the total number of attacks on women in those trains.

There is a definate cultural problem though, in most grope-videos I've seem (granted, they are teasers off some site like consumption junction) the surrounding passengers are simply ignoring the assault. Like the images of New Yorkers simply walking by muggings.

The videos on the Usenet are linked to websites which archive such videos... it is annoying that the Japanese officials cannot go after the producers of the videos (which propagate the attacks by popularizing the fetish) but instead just make more gender-biased trains.

I want to believe that this is just a matter of international law making prosecution of the video purveyors too difficult... but given what I have read of Japanse culture and implications of tradition and Yakusa influence, I wonder if this isn't just a blind eye turned. These are crimes againse the Japanese, committed by Japanese. I find it hard to believe that as good as the JPs were are catching people in Okinawa, that they can't do anything about this in the Mainland. 8-/

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

I agree that this is not the correct response. Just wondering in a general sense.

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

I understand. Just continuing to poke at it in my own brain. Like ya do.

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

This is my ultimate classroom management fantasy: Some kid is being a total asshat, and without saying a word, I whip out my crossbow and impale him on a bulletin board in the back of room. The rest of class falls silent and is well behaved and on task for the remainder of the period. In fact, as the next class files in past the bulletin board, they, too, give me no problems for the entire period. I mentally relive this fantasy several times a day, but have managed from refraining from living it out. But only just barely some days.

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

Make that "managed to refrain." A very different concept altogether.

[kittenpants.livejournal.com]

I knew I'd seen a picture of the "Beware of Perverts" Japanese subway sign somewhere -- on JList they've even made it into a hoodie.

Let's see if I can get the image to work:

[kittenpants.livejournal.com]

Damn. Well, try clicking this.

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

It makes me wish for some sort of apparatus that could go under one's skirt and crush the fingers of anyone trying get up under there.

My fantasies are running heavily to the violent side today.

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

Reason #610 why we love you so.

[matchgirl42.livejournal.com]

I'm picturing that icon triadruid made, with the teeth. triadruid? :D

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

Can't picture it. Grope = death?

You did ask

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

Re: You did ask

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

oh. ew.

Re: You did ask

[matchgirl42.livejournal.com]

Oh come on, it's funny, in context.

Imagine a pervert groping a strange woman and getting his hand bitten off....*evil maniacal grin*

Or, even better, and less ew! factor, finding a penis under that skirt. ;D

Re: You did ask

[matchgirl42.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie. :) *saves photo to hardrive for future reference*

Re: You did ask

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

I've still got the icon-sized file too, though I'll send that directly to your journal rather than terrorize saffronhare with it, if you like.

Re: You did ask

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

Yes, please. Thank you.

Re: You did ask

[matchgirl42.livejournal.com]

What she said. ;)

Ya know

[opaljax.livejournal.com]

It pisses me off as well. It's all about punishing the victim. However, the thoughts of what could possibly happen if someone gropes me on a crowded subway calm me down a bit. I might get arrested for assault, but I guarantee that the groper will never even come close to me again. I guess violent thoughts may be catching. Now, if I could just get those lovely thoughts out of my head about the ex. :D (Just in case you're wondering there is lots of blood and screaming involved. ::sigh::)

Re: Ya know

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

Wanna borrow my crossbow?

Re: Ya know

[opaljax.livejournal.com]

ooooh, crossbow, that would be lovely. No guns involved. I like the way you think!!

[kittenpants.livejournal.com]

Clearly, this calls for a Hello Kitty Taser. Or a Keroppi Castration Knife. Or a Chococat Razor Garter. I'm sure Sanrio has something in the works that is inventive, effective, and oh-so kawaii!

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

Every so often, for a pacifist, you really scare me. ;)