Student opposes sex consent lessons

[marriedfilingjoint]

www.independent.co.uk/student/news/warwick-university-student-george-lawlor-divides-opinion-after-opposing-union-s-sex-consent-lessons-a6694781.html

A student at the University of Warwick has divided opinion online after speaking out against being invited to sex consent training lessons – a move, he says, was ‘the biggest insult I’ve received in a good few years’.

Writing in online student publication The Tab, politics and sociology student George Lawlor described how he was excited to receive an invite to what he thought was a social event, but says his crushing disappointment quickly melted away to be overcome by anger when he realised what he was being invited to.

Having acknowledged how people should only interact with mutual agreement, he said he still found the invitation to be loathsome, adding: “It implies I have an insufficient understanding of what does and does not constitute consent and that’s incredibly hurtful. I can’t stress that enough.”

The communications secretary for Warwick’s Conservative Association continued how he felt he was taking the ‘wrong’ side by speaking out and continued: “But someone has to say it – I don’t have to be taught to not be a rapist. That much comes naturally to me, as I am sure it does to the overwhelming majority of people you and I know. Brand me a bigot, a misogynist, a rape apologist, I don’t care. I stand by that.”

However, the student’s piece didn’t go down well with a lot of people who took to Twitter to blast him for his outlook, with one male user writing: “George Lawlor, you are a f*****g idiot, and your article is offensive to women and an embarrassment to men.” And the tweets didn’t stop there:

[see link for tweets]

Another user, on reddit, wrote: “This kid is so right on. The people holding these sessions are just trying to make themselves feel good, while making no real difference in their echo chamber. It’s about time university students like him started speaking up. Hope more are inspired to follow his example.”

Shortly after Lawlor’s article surfaced, Warwick’s women’s officer and one of the organisers of the ‘I Heart Consent’ workshops, Josie Throup, also took to The Tab to write how she was angry at reading Lawlor’s piece, adding how she was not sorry her workshop made him feel uncomfortable.

She explained: “The first time I was confronted with the statistic that 80 per cent of rape survivors know their attacker, I felt the same.”

Making reference to the sign Lawlor held up in his picture which accompanied the article – and counteracting with a similar one of her own – Throup added: “He took a picture with a sign, proclaiming ‘This is not what a rapist looks like’, when the truth is, it is.

“I’m not saying this writer himself has sexually assaulted someone but he seems to believe there is a particular profile of person that would, who’s too busy lurking in the shadows somewhere to attend a consent workshop.”

Lawlor was not immediately available for comment, however, addressing the criticism he drew with Metro.co.uk, Lawlor said he felt he didn’t need to go to the event, and people he knows didn’t need to either.

[LeggsBenedict]

oh, cry me a fucking river.

[waffletime]

Edmonton ran an ad campaign a little while back aimed at educating people about consent and the number of (reported) sexual assaults fell by 10%; the first time it'd dropped in several years. So evidently, yes, people do need to be told not to rape.

[elleblue]

If this isn't white male privilege, I don't know what is:

[summer]

Oct 19, 2015 16:30:48 GMT -5 elleblue said:

If this isn't white male privilege, I don't know what is:

What does this mean? Of course rapists look like this. What does he think they look like? 

[BlondeSpiders]

But you guuuuuuuyyyyys, he can't stress enough how HURTFUL it was to be asked.

This guy doesn't know what pain is. Wish I could show him.

[elleblue]

Oct 19, 2015 16:48:27 GMT -5 summer said:

Oct 19, 2015 16:30:48 GMT -5 elleblue said:

If this isn't white male privilege, I don't know what is:

What does this mean? Of course rapists look like this. What does he think they look like? 

Men of color I'm sure. hth 

And seriously, the more I think about this dude and his "protest", the angrier I get. 

[LeggsBenedict]

[miniroller]

This is not about his looks, which I'm not lowering myself to insult. But given his responses, I would guess George might struggle with establishing consent before making a move.

It is beyond self-absorbed that he didn't know how he was opening himself to similar critiques/ insults with this ridiculousness. I want to punch that smarmy face (& I'm a calm, not normally violent woman).

[ESF]

Now he will live on in internet infamy as the entitled shithead who couldn't deign to take time from his important life of being an 18 year old white guy to sit in a room where he might be exposed to some information about being a respectful, decent human being while playing on his iPhone.

The only job this dude will be getting is a hand job.

[elleblue]

Oct 19, 2015 17:10:19 GMT -5 ESF said:

Now he will live on in internet infamy as the entitled shithead who couldn't deign to take time from his important life of being an 18 year old white guy to sit in a room where he might be exposed to some information about being a respectful, decent human being while playing on his iPhone.

The only job this dude will be getting is a hand job.

From his own hand.

[jojoandleo]

Look, I get that he is 18 and dumb. I could probably forgive his whole, "I am not a rapist! I know what consent is!" drivel. But that picture with that sign? FUCK OFF ASSWIPE. I hope one day you pull your head out of your ass and realize what an entitled shitstain you are.

[josieposy]

Cue the entire female student body shunning him for the next 4 years.

[penguingrrl]

Oct 19, 2015 16:30:48 GMT -5 elleblue said:

If this isn't white male privilege, I don't know what is:

Funny. I would venture to guess that most men think that's the case and yet women somehow are still being raped with alarming frequency. I guess he assumes it's only scary looking minorities wearing black hoodies hiding in alleys who are rapists? And yet all the stories that come out about fraternities with men who look exactly like him...

[mouse]

How does he know that the content of the workshop is irrelevant and not useful without, you know, attending? He's offering a critique based on the title.

[omgzombies]

Funny, that's exactly what I imagine the typical college rapist to look like.

ETA:  I just scrolled up and read through your response penguingrrl, so I guess just ditto that!

[Deleted]

Why do people feel the need to run online and complain every time they feel "offended" or "get their feelers hurt". You didn't like the invitation? Throw it away. Don't go to the event. Move on. You are not special.

[orangeblossom]

He's exactly the type of person that needs the class.

[BlondeSpiders]

I found this story via ThinkProgress this morning, and posted the following highlight on my FB page:


"One-third of college men said they would “force a woman to sexual intercourse” if no one found out and there were no consequences. That number dropped substantially to 13.6 percent when researchers actually used the word “rape” in their question."


THIS is why we need to teach what consent looks like.

[marriedfilingjoint]

Oct 19, 2015 17:18:06 GMT -5 toledo said:

I saw this this morning. Someone should show this young fucktard a picture of Ted Bundy.

Doesn't look like a rapist, my ass.

Well ...

Attachments:

[elleblue]

Oct 19, 2015 19:01:03 GMT -5 marriedfilingjoint said:

Oct 19, 2015 17:18:06 GMT -5 toledo said:

I saw this this morning. Someone should show this young fucktard a picture of Ted Bundy.

Doesn't look like a rapist, my ass.

Well ...

Oh wow, there really is a resemblance. 

[gibbinator]

Oh for heavens sakes. Who takes an invitation to a seminar this personally? What a self righteous ass

[gibbinator]

Oct 19, 2015 17:52:56 GMT -5 BlondeSpiders said:

I found this story via ThinkProgress this morning, and posted the following highlight on my FB page:


"One-third of college men said they would “force a woman to sexual intercourse” if no one found out and there were no consequences. That number dropped substantially to 13.6 percent when researchers actually used the word “rape” in their question."


THIS is why we need to teach what consent looks like.

I'm horrified by this. More than any other statistic I've read on the subject I think.