RomanDavis comments on How to deal with someone in a LessWrong meeting being creepy - Less Wrong

16 Post author: Douglas_Reay 09 September 2012 04:41AM

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Comment author: hairyfigment 08 September 2012 02:30:42AM 0 points [-]

Let me be clear: the scenario you present almost never happens.

How do you figure? Also, what do you mean? 'Only a small fraction of men do this,' or 'This almost never happens to women as described'? And are you taking 'creepy' to mean deliberately malicious, or more like what you just said you used to do?

Comment author: RomanDavis 08 September 2012 02:35:46AM 10 points [-]

I mean, women almost never react to being creeped out with an unambiguous response that makes a socially inept person know what's going on with no room for denial.

I really wished they did, but I can understand why they don't.

Comment author: hairyfigment 08 September 2012 02:49:19AM 5 points [-]

Sure, I think we agree on all that. Do you see why "no room for denial" might seem deeply creepy, and not a requirement that an inept adult could possibly be applying consistently?

The parens note pauses (very short or, where a number is given, in seconds or tenths thereof); the “.hh indicates a short inhale.

Example 3

Mark: We were wondering if you wanted to come over Saturday, f ’r dinner.

(0.4)

Jane: Well (.) .hh it’d be great but we promised Carol already.

(Potter and Wetherell, 1987: 86)

Comment author: RomanDavis 08 September 2012 02:53:54AM *  4 points [-]

I suspect the denial doesn't come so much from "determined to do things despite consent" as much as "determined to preserve one's own self esteem." But it comes off creepy anyway.

They're totally applying it inconsistently. But they don't know that. Hence, the social ineptitude.

Comment author: MixedNuts 08 September 2012 11:25:00AM *  5 points [-]

This says that people understand indirect refusals the same in sexual and non-sexual contexts. It doesn't say that everyone understands them.

A person who never thinks "Shit, are they bored, or are they just making sure I'm not bored?" will never think "Shit, are they turning down sex, or are they just making sure I really want it?". A person who has trouble with the former may well run into the latter. (Still not an excuse though.)

Comment author: Alicorn 08 September 2012 03:50:27AM 4 points [-]

It doesn't always work anyway.

Comment author: RomanDavis 08 September 2012 05:08:04AM 3 points [-]

Of course. But it destroys excuses, which I've found to be the best motivation for action, both in myself and others