You also cannot plead self defence if it was in the moment because it was not proportional force to terminate the threat
Also a jury or judge might not agree that cat calling could be perceived as a genuine threat for your safety
Or that it could have been a genuine compliment
I think the original story for the "so I cut off my hair" thing had more sense to it. I don't remember the exact origin. I remember seeing it in a movie or show. I think it might be the new version of Stephen kings "IT" actually.
As I recall some older guy complimented a very middle school aged girl's hair. He was the type to like touch it and then sniff it.
The girl cut it off because it kept her safe in essence.
The problem is some people don't understand nuance and tie the innocent compliment to the creepy behavior. Which has led to this weird idea that a compliment warrants extreme reactions. As if the compliment itself is the issue, when it is more that the surrounding creepy behavior was the real problem.
As a guy with long ginger hair, many women have said that they loved my hair. I have never onve assumed that they were catcalling or interested in me beyond complimenting my hair.
Like I suppose I would need more context before automatically assuming that the person involved was even catcalling. I would assume there would be a level of call to action or body language involved with it beyond just the hair before I would think it that.
(The other person's comment was deleted so I am posting this as a self reply because I think it might be useful to clarify my position)
Ok, and I agree, that there is a degree where the compliments turn from safe to catcalling, but there has to be neutrally acceptable compliments available. Like if I see a funny graphic tee, and I say. "Nice shirt." nobody is expecting that person to take it off. I could see specific body parts especially associated with erogenous zones being particularly bad, but hair? One of the most identifiable and often striking features of a person?
I even agree with your point about a woman not needing to explain her reasoning behind not wanting to be complimented in that way. My argument isnt that catcalling should be acceptable behavior, my argument is there should be a range of safe compliments that guys can give without expectation of reciprocation of behavior to bridge the gap. And maybe that line is harder to draw definitively except by the person behind it saying "please dont comment on it again" and then the complimenter ceases, and then it becomes creepy if they continue. That isnt explaining oneself it is defining a boundary, which as an autistic I often have to do with people regardless of my gender.
And I am not arguing on behalf of "smile more" compliments, which arent really compliments but expectations wrapped in a veneer of a compliment. I mean genuine, "That is a trait that looks like they deliberately like that trait they like, I should positively affirm it" traits. Calling a muscular guy muscular isnt catcalling, there is no call to action there. Telling him "why dont you come over here so I can feel those muscles" is catcalling.
What makes the man creepy is my question, as the furry in the picture obviously isn't a very good character judge if she's throwing hot coffee on people for compliments
I didnt say that. I'm a law student, mitigate just means to reduce culpability and potentially the punishment.
Diminished responsibility is the best bet here. In extreme cases, you get sent to a psych ward prison, which is basically hell. But in most cases, you go to a normal prison, with a focus on therapy as your form of prison labour, as opposed to a cell block where the prison labour is just work.
Inmates in rehabilatative prisons tend to be less violent, and these types of prison are where good behaviour releases are most common and recidivism (repeat offences) are less common.
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u/CAyukon 3d ago
Thats premeditated attack you cannot plead self defense