OMG Booooooobs!

[pt_tangles]

While I take exception the attitude that anyone who doesn't want some random stranger walking up to her and asking to grab her boobs is a selfish prude (which, I might add is the precisely the attitude that caused such things as OSBP to go terribly wrong), I also think that there are certain things that can bring people together in a good way. Personally, I think that the OSBP is akin to taking the Free Hugs Campaign and twisting it into a high school boy's anime-esque wet dream, but I'm not interested in ranting about it because everything that I could say has already been said.

Except maybe that you don't need to be a sexual abuse survivor to find random guys asking to grab your breasts indescribably rude. Anyway, I only bring it up because the whole issue (as blown out of proportion as these things get on the internet) has made me want to post something that really is a beautiful idea (and it isn't 'adult only'):

Comments

[dbmyrrha.livejournal.com]

I wasn't reading all those comments...however OSBP sounds fine, for a con, and under the circumstances he outlined.

However, the Free Hug Project...how beautiful! How profound! How lovely! How healthy! I love it.

[pt_tangles]

I've never been to a sci-fi con, but I've heard about them, and the whole deal just isn't my scene. It was the idea that it was a good thing to spread and that there was something wrong with people who disagreed that really bothered me.

It sounded like one of those 'paved with good intentions' sort of things. I have some sympathy for Ferret, but there is just an inherent 'Men are Masters of All' attitude that I can't ignore in order to feel bad for his internet mishap.

But, I don't know the man, and in my corner of the world, most people know what is socially acceptable and what is likely to get you slapped, so my interest is limited. I know that an idea like that won't fly outside of its original setting, and that there is no worry of 'Can I grab your boobs?' being a question that I have to hear as I walk down the street.

That said, I love the Free Hugs Campaign. I watch it whenever I start to lose faith in people, and it always makes me smile :)

--Phae

[dbmyrrha.livejournal.com]

I've been to many sci-fi cons, and that sort of event is refreshingly tame compared to some of the stuff that goes on.
I agree that it would be inappropriate for other contexts.

*HUGS* for all!!

[gessatrude.livejournal.com]

I think I'd have to agree, that under controlled circumstances, the OSBP might not be such a bad thing (is it any different after all, than the Beltane event I go to with people wearing ribbons (green, yes; yellow maybe; red no way; blue I like boys, pink I like girls)...except with buttons...

Anyway..I think the free hugs thing was/is very touching...but to me, getting a hug from a total stranger isn't any different than getting my boobs touched. Maybe I'm just weird. Either way the person touching/hugging is invading my personal space, at my invitation...so what's the harm I suppose. But that's just me.

[pt_tangles]

I think that the difference I see (besides the fact that someone coming up to me and asking to touch my boobs is demeaning in the extreme) is that Free Hugs is about offering to give - where as OSBP is asking to take.

YMMV, of course.

--Phae

[dbmyrrha.livejournal.com]

I don't really find it demeaning, as long as I have the power to say no. It's mostly just sort of presumptuous, or intrusive, I guess. A boundary violation.

[chiska.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for posting that. I needed something today to lift my spirits, and that did it. Free Hugs - sometimes we just need that.

[pt_tangles]

You are very welcome :) {{{Free Cyber-Hugs}}}

--Phae