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Caught in a Woke Romance
“May I hold your hand?”
He’d been going with her for a couple of months now, but familiarity doesn’t imply consent, and so he was as usual careful to ask her permission before initiating any sort of intimate contact. For a brief moment, he felt the old relief that she chose to go with the conventional pronouns, but he manfully shoved aside such a transphobic thought.
“You may.”
That was the expected response, but something seemed wrong. Her tone of voice seemed flat, and maybe he detected a bit of eye-roll. He grabbed her hand and held it; limply, as if unsure what to do with it now that he had it. She sighed, miffed about something.
He was about to ask, when he stopped himself. As a man of privilege it was his duty to examine that privilege. As usual he didn’t like what he saw; a man about to tell a woman how she’s feeling. If she feels the need to let him know then he’ll sit there, listen, and be supportive, but he’s got no right to intrude.
She’s been discontented more and more often lately, he reflected. He supported her being a strong, independent woman, and he’d be the first to acknowledge that she didn’t need a man to make her happy. Even so, he would be sad to see her go. He quietly resolved to be even more supportive, if that’s what it takes to keep her.
“May I continue to hold your hand?”
Published in Group Writing
Haha!
I’m so glad this crap didn’t exist when I was young.
I think its existence is overstated now. As Dooley Wilson would have it, the fundamental things apply. But for the people who do get trapped by this stuff, man, it must be miserable.
It existed when I was in university in the mid-1990s.
You calling her old? Brave man.
Not enough info to come to that conclusion. Might have taken him decades to get a degree…
ha.
Again, the idea of obtaining written consent was already being discussed when I was a university student (Class of 1997). That being said, I remember it being promoted by men who were afraid of false accusations, rather than being promoted by the Womyn’s Centre or other feminist groups on campus.
For Cod’s sake, man, just rip her clothes off and have your way with her. That’s obviously what she wants.
That actually is what we want. The feminists and the fake rape-criers have ruined it for everyone. As usual.
Contract void if female is
A. intoxicated, even if male is equally intoxicated.
B. has post coital remorse.
I remember being mortified at going to a dance where men (well, boys) wore white gloves and requested permission for a dance (slow dancing) with a slight bow. Somehow, that seems rather quaint now, but was done out of respect for young women. This is done out of subservience.
What, Hank, you didn’t want to kick off your Contributor-ship by taking a woke-ish article straight to the main feed?
… in the moment, but not necessarily the next morning, which is precisely why written consent is a thing, at least in theory.
I’m not aware of any cases where written consent has been tested in court, so it’s difficult to predict how a judge would rule.
Waivers have more holes than Swiss cheese. But in the unfortunate event of a criminal prosecution, it could have relevance.
< devil’s advocate mode = on >
Throughout all of human history, the line between respect and subservience has often been very blurry. e.g. Mafia culture. Honor culture. Feudal culture. Etc.
Heck, in some jurisdictions of the anglosphere one could be charged with a crime for “addressing a lady disrespectfully” right up until the 20th century, and even when those laws were removed from the books one could still be lynched for it.
< devil’s advocate mode = off >
Hmmm… the way this ended I hope this isn’t the start of a serial. I don’t think I could take it.
What if the consent-o-meter was just over the line? Do you have to make it quick?
Hank is using it as a segue tie in with his How to build a Computer series, getting us to understand the brilliance of building your own female AI robot…. with enhanced features.
Wow has anyone ever told you you look exactly like Scalia? It’s amazing!
@larry3435 has the solution to this in another thread.
It didn’t exist when I was in school in the 70’s; but that was practically the dark ages.
You’ll be upset in the morning when you have to mend your clothes back together.
“May I continue to hold your hand?”
“You may.”
A feeling came to him. With the hand that was engaged, he pulled her close to him and attempted to give her a peck on the cheek. He knew it would be daring but he risked it.
She recoiled. She reared back with her free hand and smacked across the face just as he was puckering his lips.
“Did I give you permission to do that?” she said, voice as cold as steel. “I can call the police on you right now if you dare do that again.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “May I continue to hold your hand?”
“You may, but only for another 1.5 minutes. After that, your hormones may go into over drive, and I can’t allow that.”
“OK.”
And there was no AIDS either! There were feminists but people mostly laughed at them and told them to go home.
This short story is on its way to belonging in the dystopian company of “Harrison Bergeron.”
This conversation is part of our Group Writing Series under the April 2019 Group Writing Theme: Men and Women. We still have room for one or two more contributions. Tell us about your favorite couple, witty or tragic observations between the sexes, or perhaps the battles and truces. Or do something entirely different. Maybe a musical or dance post! Our schedule and sign-up sheet awaits.
May’s theme is now up, and the days are being rapidly filled: May 2019 Group Writing Theme: Blooming Ideas.
He would be flattered.
Actually, Scalia=the one true Hoyacon.
Don’t worry; I don’t think I could take writing it either.