On Sun, Feb 11, 2001 at 12:54:52PM -0600, Chris Russo wrote:
>
> At 17:01 +0000 2/11/01, Charlie Stross wrote:
> >On Sat, Feb 10, 2001 at 12:11:05PM -0600, Chris Russo wrote:
> > > So men should be able to grope women whenever they want to, since
> >> they're not even generating a dry-cleaning bill.
> >
> >Out of curiosity, what prevents them from doing so where *you* live?
>
> Oh, god... do I have to explain about how most people are happy
> living with mere social constraints, but some push the law? Do I
> really have to explain that if you take away everyone's right to
> expect not to be assaulted that you invite assault from people on the
> fringe who aren't bound by social constraints?
No. I think you're generalizing American political correctness to the rest
of the world. Seriously, you guys are so up-tight about trivia -- like
assholes who cop an unwanted feel, or six-year-old's who point their fingers
at a teacher and say "bang" in school -- that I fear you've lost all sense
of proportion. There is a *qualitative* difference between minor offenses
-- such as a pie in the face, or an anonymous grope on a crowded train --
and major ones -- like armed robbery or rape. Whatever happened to the ability
of the law to turn a blind eye to minor insults? Is your society so
automated and inflexible that you can't see this?
-- Charlie
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