John Keyes

It will do you know harm
Once was lucky twice a charm

Don’t sit back.
Don’t waste time.
Don’t moan.
Don’t whine.
Don’t say “what if”.
Don’t say “but everybody else”
Don’t stay silent.
Don’t praise yourself.
Don’t sulk.
Don’t be “that” person.
Don’t lose control.
Don’t go off the rails.
Find happy.

Kickstarter messed up. They didn’t kick the Rape Manual project out, but they have made a proper apology. No wishy washy language. No mention of “if we cause offence” or it’s like. Simple to the point and the right thing to do. Kudos.

1. Don’t let anyone fool you, This Book Is A Rape Manual
I heard a lot of people telling me that I was taking some of those quotes out of context or that “JEEZE when he said take your dick out she was already making out with you!” Well, fuck you. Because acquaintence rape is a real thing. Because a girl kissing you or letting you do SOMETHING does not mean you get to do ANYTHING. And by creating a book whose leitmotif (YEAH FUCK YOU PRETENSION I WENT TO FILM SCHOOL FOR A FEW MONTHS) is “be aggressive, and do what you want because women like that,” you are telling people to rape. Not everyone who’s going to read the book is going to be a rapist, but I promise you - someone who read this book will rape someone. And they might not even know they did it, because you told them the woman wanted it that way, you human nightmare. The whole thing is a boiling cauldron of rape culture, and you are not going to convince me otherwise any more than you could convince me the sun has been replaced by a bran muffin.

Source: Casey Malone

The book Casey refers to is a Kickstarter project to fund a book that can teach nerds to pick up women. There’s no emotional aspect to this, just how to get your end away.

To get an idea of some of the dangerous content read Casey’s other post – This Is Not Fucking Harmless.

I honestly didn’t understand the cries about a “rape culture” existing but given my recent reading of the Everyday Sexism Project’s tweets and yesterday’s article by Colette Browne I am flabbergasted. I honestly didn’t know a world like this existed to the extent that it does.

I don’t know anything about the current sex education curriculum in Ireland. Is it still the case that there isn’t any? We need to educate our youth about this, it’s important.

Update 10:45am Immediately after posting this I read a Guardian article about Serena Williams comments regarding the Steubenville rape. Everyone needs to be (re-)educated.

It’s been proven in numerous academic studies that cyclists and runners who fail to return waves have shorter life spans, sadder weekends, and terrible taste in music.

That line in this WSJ article made me laugh.

Waving when running is a bit weird, as you’re passing within a meter or two of the other runner. I mutter “How’s it going?” and move on. A personal greeting.

On the bike, normally the other cyclist is on the opposite side of the road, so a wave or nod is more appropriate. Greeting at a distance.

When approaching a runner/cyclist from behind is trickier. Do I say something and it might come off as smug in a “Quake at my awesome speed fellow earthling”, or nothing which could be interpreted as “I’m so good I don’t even acknowledge you”. I don’t think I can win (if there’s something there to be won) so I still mutter “How’s it going” and keep the head down.