Anteing up on the Boobie project

[firecat]

I was intending to give this idea the attention I thought it deserved (none) but so many folks on my flist are talking about it that I feel pressured to put in two cents.

(See how easy it is for some people to feel social pressure? No one is even standing over me asking me to wear a button or asking to feel my boobs. People are just writing about it.)

So:

It's fun to break social rules when you're among friends and people you trust in a relatively safe space. Sounds like the original incident was like that, and that's great.

I object to the "Project" aspect of it. I don't want entire SF cons to become spaces where I feel pressured to walk around advertising my willingness, or lack thereof, to be felt up.

I have some more personal reactions that I may put into a flocked post.

Comments

[ona-tangent.livejournal.com]

My problem with it is the attitude that you don't have to participate if you are unwilling. If I'm walking down a hall and someone asks if they can feel me up or if I have to walk past the "project", bam. Then you've already made me participate even if the answer is no or that my involvement was minimal.

[ETA: I agree with the first part. It was a group of friends and a safe space. That's great. And if were just friends and a safe space I might even participate. It's the people who aren't going to get the friends/safe space thing that can potentially make this "project" uncomfortable.]

[sistercoyote.livejournal.com]

Yes yes yes!

[firecat]

I wouldn't have a problem with an "open source boob project" room party, because you don't have to attend such a party and it doesn't make the whole con into a space where you have to contend with groping in some way or another.

(Watch, or avert your eyes from, or advertise your availability for or lack thereof.)

[ona-tangent.livejournal.com]

I could get behind a room party. Ferrett just posted an update on his original post. I'm in the middle of reading it now, but it seems like he might get it, which is good because I usually like his posts.

[firecat]

Thanks, it sounds like he and I agree on the appropriate scope for boob handling.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Your description of walking down a hall reminds me of working in my first companies. I once seriously injured a guy after he groped me for the third time (I'd told him seriously no the first two, and figured I should act on the third).