Uh-oh. The JayCat's dander is all up

My panties are in a knot. Whatever.

Listening to Maj Nelson's podcast about enforcement activites on XBL. The panel did a great job until the last question. The question was: is there any way for a user to identify sexual harrassment on XBL. The answer was "We would love to have more granularity for all different types of offences: racist, homophobic or sexual harrasment, but can't right now."

Now I get it. The question was REALLY a two parter: First: can we identify sexual harrassment on XBL? (answer: nope) The second (unsaid) part was "If we can identify sexual harrassment, will XBL take this into account in any enforcement action?" (answer: we don't identify sexual harrassment, so we can't do anything about it). And I also get XBL's answer: the UI is too tough already, let's not complicate things.

But I am POd for a few reasons. 1. The answer was brushed off. Sexual harrassment was lumped in with racism and homophobia. And we can't do anything. So PFO. 2. It seems to me that much of the time racist and homophobic remarks are not actually thrown at minorities or homosexuals. But I could be wrong.  It's tough to identify someone as being from a different race or sexual orientation by a tag and a voice. Whereas as soon as I open my mouth: everyone knows I'm a chick. I not only get the BS, but it IS personal.

And some of the sexual harrasssment is beyond the pale. It's guys asking underage girls to perform sex acts. It's guys sending pictures of their junk. It's guys stalking you from tag to tag. Along with the stupid remarks. And the not so stupid remarks. Telling a girl you want to hold them down and rape them means something to a female.

Maybe it's tough for guys to understand. Examples: I was told to never enter an elevator with a lone male. Were you guys ever told that? I remember being a kid and my Mom stopping us from going into an elevator with a single guy. It stuck with me. I don't like to answer the door at night. And I won't do it if I'm alone. That one got me an odd look from my man last night. He had to answer the door and accept the flowers meant for me. (oops). Now: don't get me wrong. I am not afraid of men. I went to Lan all by my big girl self. But once I left that bottle of rum open on the lan table: I didn't drink from it: more out of habit than out of fear. One guy asked me why and I said "I just don't drink from open bottles" he thought for a moment and nodded. "Never thought of that."

And maybe that 's the thing. Maybe guys don't think of that. Women don't live in fear: but we do have to think of things differently. And I just don't think XBL cares.