If I misread, and what you meant was simply that it is too easily possible that all men are *not* potential rapists until proven otherwise: All parrots are potentially sweethearts, cuddly and affectionate to every human being that comes along. I'm still going to observe them cautiously, and check with knowledgeable sources about this particular bird (i.e., the person who feeds him and pets him most often), before I get my fingers anywhere near that beak. I will walk in a circle around the bird, of no less than my own body-length in radius, rather than get close enough to get bit without a chance to defend myself. If the strange bird insists on approaching me for friendship or handouts or anything at all, I'm going to get ready to drive it away; if it refuses to be driven away when I'm gentle about it, I'm going to tell its human to get it RIGHT NOW, and then I'm going to upgrade my efforts until it is no longer anywhere near me.
This isn't paranoia. This is common sense.
Men are more versatile and intelligent than parrots. Probably stronger than I am, too; I'm a physical weakling, and I have a low pain threshold. Why would I treat a strange man with less caution than I would a strange parrot?
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Re: My perspective as a hippy broad
Date: 2009-10-15 07:57 pm (UTC)All parrots are potentially sweethearts, cuddly and affectionate to every human being that comes along. I'm still going to observe them cautiously, and check with knowledgeable sources about this particular bird (i.e., the person who feeds him and pets him most often), before I get my fingers anywhere near that beak. I will walk in a circle around the bird, of no less than my own body-length in radius, rather than get close enough to get bit without a chance to defend myself. If the strange bird insists on approaching me for friendship or handouts or anything at all, I'm going to get ready to drive it away; if it refuses to be driven away when I'm gentle about it, I'm going to tell its human to get it RIGHT NOW, and then I'm going to upgrade my efforts until it is no longer anywhere near me.
This isn't paranoia. This is common sense.
Men are more versatile and intelligent than parrots. Probably stronger than I am, too; I'm a physical weakling, and I have a low pain threshold. Why would I treat a strange man with less caution than I would a strange parrot?