Salem Moreau

Re: this article  https://www.polygon.com/stranger-things/2017/11/8/16625606/stranger-things-max-duffer-brothers I find the response of the creators of the show to be completely terrifying. To recap: a child was joking told that they would be forced to kiss another actor with no warning. The creators REVELED in the terror they caused, and so they wrote a kiss for those actors. They then LITERALLY told the child that it was their fault for freaking out about it so much.

“You reacted so strongly to this — I was just joking — and you were so freaked out that I was like, ‘Well, I gotta make her do it now,” Ross said. “That’s what happened, that’s why I’m saying it’s your fault.”

It’s easy for these men to play it off as “kids having fun” which makes absolutely no sense to me. Any person expressing discomfort is not having “fun” The only people who were having fun were these disgusting men, who think forcing children to kiss one another is a delightful game. 

Bodily autonomy is an issue that is often brought up in industries where people perform with their bodies. The question of who, when, and how people should have access to performers bodies is often debated. The way people feel on this issue is often a reflection of how our current culture feels about consent in general.

We don’t. We don’t think about it, we don’t teach it, we don’t practice it, and we don’t care apparently. That’s how we got to a point where grown men think this is funny. That’s how we got to the point where a news article could be written about the thousands of women on the internet who see this as a violation of consent, and how those dudes choose to ignore their voices.

If you are ever in a situation where you can end up touching another person in any capacity, you should ASK before doing so.  “Do you want a hug?” “Is it ok if I kiss you?” “Would you like to ___?”

Told Janet Mock to stop hocking Tess Holliday’s book, Tess immediately tried to quiet me down and keep her “reputation” intact.  Check out my twitter I guess!!!