Thanks DrPete, you are absolutely spot-on. I've been staying out of this because I'm just too run-down on the subject to get involved, I'm glad to see that there's some thoughtfulness and compassion here.

And BarracksSi and others who are feeling defensive about "men do this, men do that..." etc: if it's not about you, then it's not about you.

But of course, it IS about us. You hear about this because **** and sexual assault are things that men do to women. Period. Yes, there are cases where women abuse men, and these men need resources, but it is simply a drop in the bucket compared to the harassment, abuse and **** committed against women by men. When as many as 1 in 4 college-aged women have reported having had sexual contact to which they did not consent, you have a massive society-wide problem. This is why the most effective education is focused on men. Men are the perpetrators. And DrPete is very right to point out that the kind of attitudes commonly expressed on this board and in this thread are the kind of attitudes that enable this behavior, which is, not altogether inappropriately, described by some as a war against women.

So if you actively speak out against the attitude that women, no matter what it is they're doing, should be trying to please you, or the idea that men both lack self-control and that this is okay, or against the idea that women who get ***** or harassed are, somehow, more responsible for being ***** or harassed than the man who actually did it, then it doesn't apply to you.

But if not, you have something to think about. Don't get defensive. Do something about it. There's no doubt that awareness can lead to some painful introspection and even shame, but making the world safer and more fun for everyone is worth an occasional personal challenge. There's no need to wear a hairshirt about it, or anything.

Oh, right, what does this have to do with the board? As DrPete said, plenty. And if nothing else, it makes this one more place that isn't comfortable or safe to just exist and engage in a hobby for your own personal enjoyment and actualization. Lots of us cycle to get away from the worries of everyday life. What many women are hearing when they log onto this board is that, even when they're on a bike, the real reason that they're out there is to provide eye candy for male cyclists. In fact, lots of you won't let them ever forget it. And if that's the case, well damn - why ride? Why post here? Where's the fun when you're not taken seriously except as part of the scenery? What a crappy situation.