howsteepisit

Personally, I see a world of difference between a hand on the shoulder and a slap on the ass. How about if the waitress slapped your ass?

FBinNY 

I'd tip her double.

JoeyBike

+1 even if she was unattractive. But I think this attitude comes as standard equipment with a pair of testicles. Does not work the other way around (so I have heard).
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howsteepisit

FB, I'd be inclined to agree with you, but there is world of difference between how men perceive such a slap and how women do. I'll stand with the breaking the arm. It's better than having a lifelong record as a sexual predator in this case. OR simple assault works OK I guess, but I believe that women so treated feel its worse than a simple assault.

KD5NRH

The Y chromosome's most important function is to give one the ability to properly appreciate an honest compliment, even when it's non-verbal.

asmac

You're being far too reasonable. STOP IT RIGHT NOW.

Chris0516

Typical. Not justifiable on his part. But typical on her part.

I know that sounds sexist.

But, If the roles were reversed, the reaction should be the same. But an equal action, does not get an equal reaction.

gregf83 

Break both her arms?

kevindsingleton 

Dang. Even women are turning into p*ssies. The whole world is a bunch of crybabies.

ypsetihw

I read the dialogue and honestly this just sounds like a cyclist flirting with someone who just happens to be on a bike, but is not a cyclist. roadies tend to have a wry sense of humor that may not translate well with a feminist francophone.

Camilo

I don't think it's "feminist" to not like to be slapped on the ass or touched in any unwanted way. And I don't think it's "feminist" to protest and report such unwanted touching.

I really don't think "feminism" has caused men to behave this way.

On the other hand, to me, a slap on the ass is not sexual assault. Yea, it might be a low level misdemeanor regular assault (depending on severity) and should be followed up as such. Then there's progressive degrees of assault. And a slap on the ass is different than groping of other body parts which would be a crossed line for sure.

Having said that it might surprise you to hear that I agree with those who say people are just too damn sensitive these days and over-react the offense they feel on things.

MixedRider

What was her goal of confronting him? To explain that she was offended? What did she want, an apology? I understand she may have felt threatened or harassed at the time, but it seems his response of not listening to her after she chased him down made her more upset. So she then went to the police and also to the media???

This seems like a case of road-bike-rage on her part. She responded in a manner to elevate the situation beyond the initial confrontation. I am not saying it is OK for any person riding a bike to physically touch another rider, but don't put yourself in more danger. Just report what happened if it was truly a situation when someone was harassed, threatened, or assaulted.

GravelMN

What the hell has happened to basic respect for others?

There is a big difference between accepted social contact and assault. While it may vary among cultures, here in the USA and from what I know of central Canada (I'm from ND and MN and have been north of the border many times) shaking hands, touching of the arms or shoulders, and the upper back in a typical social fashion are not considered assault unless there is reason to believe that the intent was to harm, intimidate, or molest the individual. Touching of the buttocks, genital region, thighs, or the chest/breasts is out of bounds without some kind of consent. Of course, if the person has expressed that he/she does not want to be touched, any touching is an assault.

A pat on the back is socially acceptable, a pat on the boob can land you in the back of a squad car. Slapping someone on the butt, especially a stranger of the opposite sex, could definitely be considered an assault.

If that had been my daughter or my wife and I had witnessed the slap on the butt, Mr. Handy might well have received a touch he wouldn't soon forget.

KingCat

by people like you

asmac

I think we're on the same wavelength except, in these parts, if you pat a dude on the chest he'll probably take umbrage. Is it different across the border?

ypsetihw

is it socially acceptable that ALL of the advertising on this page is Subarus and camping equipment?! the internets are a misogynist pig now. I heard them called "lesbarus" once . . . for the record I own one.



this is going to come back to haunt me, i'm sure.

howsteepisit

The ads are targeted to the individual - I get Microsoft ads. I like Subarus too.

gregf83 

In this case a slap on the back was not intended to harm, intimidate or molest either.

Seems like an over-reaction.

bakes1

Let us not forget that she also stated that she 'could not comprehend' it and was 'in shock'
Assaulted, in shock and not comprehending yet she was taking pics of him and chasing him? Pretty deliberate actions imo.
Ridiculous.
Either way though the guy was a jerkoff and deserved a punch in the face.

jon c. 

OTOH, there has never really been a time when one man could lay an unwanted hand on another man without significant risk of retaliation. Have men always been too sensitive?

CB HI

Which demonstrates the difference between this cyclist and you. She would never consider assaulting another unknown cyclist, while you just think it is all good fun.

bakes1

The fact that he was a cyclist would be irrelevant to a normal person.

GravelMN

Not really, just doesn't have the sexual connotation, though that is up for interpretation too.

If we are talking about the original incident, it was a slap on the butt, not a pat on the back. Merriam-Webster defines "molestation" as "to touch someone in a sexual and improper way" and "to make annoying sexual advances to; especially : to force physical and usually sexual contact". How would you react if some strange guy put his hand on your ass? Also, to those who don't think it's an assault: If I walked up to you on the street and slapped your face, you would call it assault, so why is it any different if someone randomly slaps a woman on a different part of her body?

Over-reaction or not, slapping a stranger on a semi-private portion of their anatomy is inappropriate and deserving of consequences. No real man would do it and if you do, don't be a ***** when you get called on it.

I'm not a lawyer, so correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that in MN there is a category of misdemeanor sexual imposition for cases like this that does not automatically put one on the sex offender registry.

wphamilton

What if it were an armed female cop, who has stopped you on "suspicion" and groped you? One might imagine that he'd like it, but in the actual situation it's not pleasant. The action tells you that the other person can and will do whatever he or she wants, and the physical ability to carry it out makes it threatening. Literally, criminal assault.

That's the difference between the flirty waitress and the stranger slapping the girl's butt, and everyone minimizing the incident needs to understand it. Males are typically more powerful physically. The woman may not be capable of resisting well enough to escape. She doesn't know this man, what he's capable of or what he intends. Of course it's threatening to her.

Why did she chase him down - I don't know, I'm not insider her head. But it wouldn't be an unusual reaction to fear. What happens the next time she's on that road? Does she look over her shoulder, in case he sneaks up on her again, assaulting her again, forever? Or suck it up and accept that every man passing her has the right to do the same thing and maybe will?

gregf83 

Definitely not molestation. It's debateable whether it's even possible to slap someone on the ass while their sitting on a bike. I think he tapped her on her lower back and she over-reacted. Cyclists do it all the time while riding in groups with no sexual connotations. For all we know she could have been swerving into his path and he put a hand on her to let her know he was there.