Catcalls and the Death of Chivalry

 

Savages around the globe are murdering young women, selling them into sex slavery, and tossing acid into their faces. But a new viral video wants to redirect our outrage to another battleground of the global war on women: catcalls.

The video appeared yesterday in my Facebook feed with an image of a female and the headline “This is what it’s like to be catcalled on the street 108 times in a single day.” At first I thought it a humblebrag, but soon discovered it was yet another campaign to make men feel guilty.

After a brief search on social media, the video was being shared by several flamboyantly contrite men and enraged women. “Wow!  I guess men still don’t get it.” “Men are disgusting animals.” “All you men should be ashamed of yourselves.”

I didn’t have the slightest shame watching the video, nor should any male with whom I associate. We don’t catcall. Of course some guys are boors as are some women. I don’t need a video to prove that human nature is a thing.

In the young woman’s 10-hour stroll through New York City, the video shows 20 incidents of harassment (two per hour), while text at the conclusion alleges more than 100. Some of the behavior is downright creepy while much isn’t disturbing at all.

Apologies to the video editor, but “how you doing today,” “how are you this morning,” and “have a nice evening” hardly count as harassment. If they do, I’m violated by polite tourists, panhandlers, and assertive shopkeepers every time I stroll along a busy city street.

All gentlemen agree that catcalling is a bad thing. In fact patriarchal Victorians were so disgusted by such rudeness, they enforced an elaborate public morality that elevated women with a higher level of respect. Thank goodness feminism and secularism drove a stake through chivalry’s heart.

Today’s Victorianism comes from the left. They too have an elaborate public morality, but one that is untethered to tradition or religion. Their guiding scripture is whatever trendy philosophy is coming out of gender studies departments and mass media in a given month. Men leering at Beyoncé on an awards show is celebrated; similar behavior on the street is anathema.

For better or worse, I’ve never followed fashion. Not only have I never catcalled, I still open doors for women, surrender my seat on public transport, and ensure that I treat them with an extra measure of kindness. I was notified by several liberal men on Twitter that this is A Bad Thing.

You see, it’s good that I oppose catcalling, but bad that I don’t oppose it for the “proper” reasons. While my outward acts of kindness are nice, they arise from a belief that gender differences exist. To these critics, my actions are unimportant; my ideology must be condemned.

Progressivism is about intentions, not results. Nevertheless, I will continue to practice chivalry even though it is unfashionable.

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  1. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    I think that’s very much a New York thing. I’ve never seen such behavior, even in Seattle where couth is anathema. (Side note, Google Chrome doesn’t know couth is a word, that may indicate an even bigger problem.)

    • #1
  2. user_339092 Member
    user_339092
    @PaulDougherty

    I am frankly surprised that some people can find the strength to pull themselves out of bed in the morning, what with all the patriarchical slings and arrows out there.

    Time will solve her problems.

    • #2
  3. Jon Gabriel, Ed. Contributor
    Jon Gabriel, Ed.
    @jon

    The King Prawn: I think that’s very much a New York thing. I’ve never seen such behavior, even in Seattle where couth is anathema.

    Walking down a street in Little Italy around dinner time, restauranteurs  called me every compliment in the book as I approached and every profanity as I kept walking.

    • #3
  4. 1967mustangman Inactive
    1967mustangman
    @1967mustangman

    Well darn John you beat me to it.  I had long post in the works about this, but you said it better.  Well said.

    slowclap

    • #4
  5. 1967mustangman Inactive
    1967mustangman
    @1967mustangman

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.:

    The King Prawn: I think that’s very much a New York thing. I’ve never seen such behavior, even in Seattle where couth is anathema.

    Walking down a street in Brooklyn’s Little Italy around dinner time, restauranteurs called me every compliment in the book as I approached and every profanity as I kept walking.

    I would say it is more of an east coast thing. I have never been called out to in Portland/Seattle/San Fran/San Diego/Denver.  Philly?  All the time.  The guy walking beside you asking for money,  they “lady” asking you if you “date”, panhandlers shouting from across the street.

    • #5
  6. aaronl@hotmail.com Inactive
    aaronl@hotmail.com
    @TheLopez

    I work at an amusement park on the beach. Each day in the summer there are scores of women strutting about with what god gifted them bound only within the confines of a swimsuit.

    I’ve learned, as have most civilized men, that you address them while looking at their eyes and with the utmost respect. You never know if that large tattooed man standing near them is a total stranger or her boyfriend. Lecherous, obscene, and creepy behavior in public is rude and uncalled for.

    Though, I’ve never heard the phrase “Hey beautiful” described as catcalling.

    • #6
  7. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    I’ve tried catcalling, but he usually ignores me. I’ll try “here, pussy” next and see if that works.

    • #7
  8. EThompson Member
    EThompson
    @

    Pfft … This girl wouldn’t have received a second glance from any group of self-respecting construction workers in my old NYC neighborhood!

    May I add she needs to borrow both a sense of humor and some joie de vivre.

    • #8
  9. Palaeologus Inactive
    Palaeologus
    @Palaeologus

    I’d be curious to see a similar video of a man walking through a densely populated area for ten hours refusing to respond to anyone who said “Hi” or “How you doing?”

    I suspect there is a non-trivial chance that being impolite in such fashion would result in a scrap, probably it would result in insults.

    Of course, the boorish behavior of several of those guys is much worse than her seeming rudeness (I’ve never lived in any area as populous as Manhattan, perhaps her aloofness is the norm).

    • #9
  10. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    At least she didn’t do it wearing yoga pants, or as I like to call them camel toe pants. (Don’t click the link if you’re easily offended by morning drive time DJs.)

    • #10
  11. Fake John Galt Coolidge
    Fake John Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    Womyn want to be considered equal and get equal treatment. Well the fact is that men do not treat each other well. So now womyn are not getting treated as well as they want. Wish they would make up their mind.

    • #11
  12. user_1938 Inactive
    user_1938
    @AaronMiller

    There’s nothing wrong with rehashing a topic. But here is the last conversation we had about this.

    • #12
  13. Mike H Inactive
    Mike H
    @MikeH

    Chivalry implies Conservatism. I’ve learned today that this is what all the left wing complaints about “general” culture really are (from a liberal!). I’m planning on making a post on it soon. It’s not about chivalry, it’s about distancing yourself from the outgroup.

    • #13
  14. EThompson Member
    EThompson
    @

    I re-watched this video and concluded she wasn’t exactly walking around Sutton Place. Let’s get a perspective on the socio-economic flavor of the neighborhoods through which she insists upon making the march of the *grim reaper.*

    Sorry I can’t be more empathetic, but I ran around NYC in all neighborhoods at all hours of the night and day both above and below ground and was rarely frightened, annoyed, or even intimidated. Once somebody tugged at my purse and took off down the street with it in broad daylight but even then I couldn’t complain, because eleven bystanders took off after the thief and retrieved it.

    • #14
  15. Funeral Guy Inactive
    Funeral Guy
    @FuneralGuy

    She’s a little bottom heavy for my personal taste. I’d give it a second look, but I’d keep it silent. As to her motives, put me down as a cupful of humblebrag with a dash of angry feminism.

    • #15
  16. Misthiocracy Member
    Misthiocracy
    @Misthiocracy

    Two Observations I’ve Made About This Video On Other Sites:

    1. Am I allowed to point out how the vast majority of the men in this video come from the same cultural background, and appear to have nothing better to do in the middle of a work day but loiter on the street, or would that be racist?
    2. Why don’t any of the other young, single women in this video seem to be attracting any catcalls?
    • #16
  17. wmartin Member
    wmartin
    @

    On twitter and on some of the leftish news.opinion sites, it seems that this is becoming a racial controversy since about 80% of the catcallers are non-Asian minorities.

    • #17
  18. DrewInWisconsin Member
    DrewInWisconsin
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Insta-Glenn calls it “a racist production about white women not wanting attention from black and Latino men,” and links to an article by Slate’s Hanna Rosin, questioning why the producer edited out all the white men.

    Is it just me, or is there a lot of joy to be had watching feminists attack other feminists for being racist? Because I’m praying for some mutually-assured destruction, there.

    • #18
  19. user_997034 Member
    user_997034
    @jonb60173

    Nothing like a hot looking chick to perk up your interest.  That said, never, ever, saw any success in the cat-calling technique or going to McDonalds to pick up chicks, therefore I never cat-called or successfully picked up chicks at McDonalds.  I doubt if there is any sincerity in the catcallers catcalling, and since in Chicago I’ve rarely/never observed any catcalling, I’m inclined to believe it is indigenous to the East Coast.

    • #19
  20. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    It’s not dead.  It’s not even sick.

    There are those who will behave as they were raised and as they think proper.  There is a line, and most of these guys don’t seem to be aware of it, but “good day” or “good morning” or even “God bless you” are not over that line, unless the tone of your voice implies that you mean something more than that which was stated.  Clearly, some of these twerps need a lesson in manners – I am not apologizing for boors – but we have abandoned all pretense at teaching manners anymore.

    Fake John Galt:Womyn want to be considered equal and get equal treatment.Well the fact is that men do not treat each other well.So now womyn are not getting treated as well as they want.Wish they would make up their mind.

    Yup.

    • #20
  21. EThompson Member
    EThompson
    @

    Misthiocracy:Two Observations I’ve Made About This Video On Other Sites:

    1. Am I allowed to point out how the vast majority of the men in this video come from the same cultural background, and appear to have nothing better to do in the middle of a work day but loiter on the street, or would that be racist?
    1. Why don’t any of the other young, single women in this video seem to be attracting any catcalls?

    You are not only allowed but are encouraged to make such observations. :)

    • #21
  22. Dietlbomb Inactive
    Dietlbomb
    @Dietlbomb

    Something tells me that the guys who loiter on the streets of New York City and catcall moderately attractive women aren’t the type of guys who seek self-improvement from internet opinion journalism.

    • #22
  23. Misthiocracy Member
    Misthiocracy
    @Misthiocracy

    jonb60173: That said, never, ever, saw any success in the cat-calling technique or going to McDonalds to pick up chicks, therefore I never cat-called or successfully picked up chicks at McDonalds.

    I once got a girl’s phone number at Subway.

    She ended up cheating on me with a friend of mine.

    I’m sure those two sentences are completely coincidental.

    • #23
  24. user_44643 Inactive
    user_44643
    @MikeLaRoche

    EThompson:Misthiocracy:Two Observations I’ve Made About This Video On Other Sites:

    1. Am I allowed to point out how the vast majority of the men in this video come from the same cultural background, and appear to have nothing better to do in the middle of a work day but loiter on the street, or would that be racist?
    1. Why don’t any of the other young, single women in this video seem to be attracting any catcalls?

    You are not only allowed but are encouraged to make such observations. :)

    Now that the obvious has been pointed out, expect the video to disappear posthaste from the internet.

    • #24
  25. user_82762 Inactive
    user_82762
    @JamesGawron

    Jon,

    You’ve heard of looking for love in all the wrong places.  Perhaps the lady’s problem is that she is looking for respect in all the wrong places.

    Quasimodo doesn’t get out much but he is very chivalrous.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #25
  26. user_44643 Inactive
    user_44643
    @MikeLaRoche

    Misthiocracy:

    jonb60173: That said, never, ever, saw any success in the cat-calling technique or going to McDonalds to pick up chicks, therefore I never cat-called or successfully picked up chicks at McDonalds.

    I once got a girl’s phone number at Subway.

    She ended up cheating on me with a friend of mine.

    I’m sure those two sentences are completely coincidental.

    Should’ve tried Hooters.

    • #26
  27. Misthiocracy Member
    Misthiocracy
    @Misthiocracy

    Mike LaRoche:

    Misthiocracy:

    jonb60173: That said, never, ever, saw any success in the cat-calling technique or going to McDonalds to pick up chicks, therefore I never cat-called or successfully picked up chicks at McDonalds.

    I once got a girl’s phone number at Subway.

    She ended up cheating on me with a friend of mine.

    I’m sure those two sentences are completely coincidental.

    Should’ve tried Hooters.

    I was thinking Chick-Fil-A…

    • #27
  28. user_44643 Inactive
    user_44643
    @MikeLaRoche

    Misthiocracy:

    Mike LaRoche:

    Misthiocracy:

    jonb60173: That said, never, ever, saw any success in the cat-calling technique or going to McDonalds to pick up chicks, therefore I never cat-called or successfully picked up chicks at McDonalds.

    I once got a girl’s phone number at Subway.

    She ended up cheating on me with a friend of mine.

    I’m sure those two sentences are completely coincidental.

    Should’ve tried Hooters.

    I was thinking Chick-Fil-A…

    Dang, I shoulda thought of that one!

    • #28
  29. user_28714 Thatcher
    user_28714
    @BarbaraDuran

    Oh please.  In 30 or 40 years when people look straight through her as if she were invisible she will yearn for the good old days.

    • #29
  30. Misthiocracy Member
    Misthiocracy
    @Misthiocracy

    Barbara Duran:Oh please. In 30 or 40 years when people look straight through her as if she were invisible she will yearn for the good old days.

    It’s a bummer we’ll have to wait that long to see it.

    • #30
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