Back to the hermitage! Back I say!

[sinsense]

Before I scurry back to my internet-free hole: this post at Racialicious has a fascinating discussion and collection of links related to the game "Hey Baby." Hey Baby was designed by a woman in response to street harassment. In it, you mow down an array of men who call out typical lines (from "Hey baby" to much more invasive and offensive lines

Comments

[juliandahling]

I love Racialicious hardcore.

[ext_63023]

The gameplay keeps getting stuck and I can't move and they surround me. That's an awful feeling.

[littlerhymes]

Thanks for the link! Really, really interesting reading. There goes my morning.

[pers1stence]

There's also a site called Holla Back (with different subsets for different cities).

On a positive note, the other night, it was late and I was walking back to my car from the subway. I saw a flicker of movement behind me and to my left, and since I was still in a brightly lit space with people nearby, but was about to enter a reasonably-lit but more isolated stairwell, I stepped aside and paused to identify the motion.

A gentleman stepped up and past me to go up the stairwell, and as he did so, he looked over and apologized if he'd discomfited me and hastened to assure me that he wasn't trying to sneak up on me. And further said that, as a retired cop, he wouldn't be wild about letting someone sneak up on him either.

His recognition that I might be uncomfortable, even though he wasn't doing anything wrong, and that it wasn't unreasonable of me, was very nice. He then proceeded to give me lots of space as we walked in the same general direction to get to our cards.

[ecentipede]

i do like the wisdom in that schiesel reaction... but there's one tiny sticking point for me--in the game it is possible to know that one can't be hurt. in the street this is not so. that said, his comments were far closer to understanding street harassment than the blather usually encountered. also, this game, hilarious. i don't tend to like run/drive around and shoot games, but appreciate that this is out there.