Being Too shy To Try

I WAS NEVER much of a ladies' man, although I sometimes thought I wanted to be. When I was young I was shy, and the older I get, the more paranoid. Aggressive sexual behavior on the part of men is evidently increasing in America, according to surveys which might not be entirely accurate. I've always been afraid to smile, wink, wave, whistle, or touch a stranger, particularly an attractive lady, for fear of possible consequences, like a slap in the face, or a visit from the police or an attorney at law. Altogether, a rather reasonable approach. That's one reason why that recording of Donald Trump, released late in the election campaign, in which he talks about how often he has and does touch women in sexually aggressive ways, without permission, which can only be classified as sexual assault, so very totally freaks me out. Freaks me out that anybody could behave like that. Freaks me out that somebody who does behave like that would talk about it on a recording, and then brag about being so famous and important as to never experience any negative consequences from this type of behavior. What freaks me out even more is that this is quite evidently perfectly true. In fact, if anything, Donald Trump seems to be experiencing good consequences, being rewarded, for sexually molesting women, or at least saying he does. He certainly has not paid any price yet, that I know of. Guys who cat call and whistle at women, or smile, wink, blow kisses or pat asses all seem to think that there's nothing wrong with it, that they are actually being complimentary, flattering the target, and that rarely do women object to that sort but behavior, but, quite the contrary, are usually quite flattered by it. That's all nonsense, of course. Nearly all women fear and abhor being flirted with and treated in this manner, surveys clearly reveal. But you'll never convince any male sexual predator of that. They tend to see nothing wrong with a little harmless sexual aggression and molestation. They will defend their behavior without hesitation. Even the slightest trace of a positive response from a victim is enough to give encouragement for further wolfishness, further mashing, as it used to be called. Ultimately, its probably better to be shy and paranoid, and out of jail.