#MeToo

[El Dingo]

So I have been fascinated by the #METOO movement. I probably have a low testosterone level which made me uncomfortable in locker room conversations and a general lack of competitiveness. I've had several close female friends over the years and never felt the need to 'check someone out' or say 'I'd hit that'.

Women have always been the same as men to me. If they love video games, D&D, Pink Floyd and craft beer, I'm interested,. Otherwise they are just friends, coworkers, whatever.

None of you guys fall into the 'Predator' category, but I worked with a few who did. Some of those were in management positions. It's weird to put on the 'MeToo" spectacles and revisit music, movies and events (Miss America Pageant, anyone) and feel uncomfortable. It's like listening to old "Amos and Andy" radio shows.

Anyway, I'm just sharing a new perspective (a good one) that makes me think we are living through an "interesting time".

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Agreed. Your “Amos & Andy” metaphor is a good one.

[Drunk Monk]

On Wednesday, the night before leaving to So Cal, I took a sexual assault adovacte training course through Monarch. It’s something that me and a few of my psych team have been wanting to do in response to the increase of sexual assaults at music festivals. 

Over my past 3 decades of this kind of work, I’ve done a lot post assault counseling but it’s definitly on the upswing because there’s more festivals now. The course was informative, but frankly, I haven’t been able to digest it. What stuck with me was the anagram CSEC (commercial sexual exploited children) and how they had to mobilize for superbowl 50 because it was such a trafficking hub.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Because of the scandals in sports, I have to take a “SafeSport” course every couple years. A depressing necessity.

[Drunk Monk]

Because of the scandals in sports, I have to take a “SafeSport” course every couple years. A depressing necessity.

I wish this was required in the martial arts industry.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Since you showed me the thread on your forum about abusive instructors, I agree with you. 10 years ago I thought that other sports had a problem, but fencing was (mostly) cleaner. Now I know differently. Abuse of all kinds is everywhere.

[Drunk Monk]

What regulatory body requires you to do this course? 

Martial arts is completely unregulated.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

The USOC requires all sports under the Olympic umbrella to comply with SafeSport. THe scandals that came out in US Swimming, later in gymnastics, then freakin’ *Everywhere* made them take notice.

I’m on the fencing Hall of Fame committee and one candidate was mooted and a former national team member wrote a letter to us about his behavior (and the immediate whitewashing of the whole thing by the then fencing powers-that-be) and now he has been booted.