[AusNOG] Common Sense needs to prevail

[Ross Wheeler]

On Tue, 9 Oct 2018, Tim Raphael wrote:

> There is also the difference between appropriate interaction and 
> inappropriate interaction.Appropriate interaction is okay and makes 
> socialising fun but as soon as the line is crossed, it's no longer 'fun' 
> anymore.

I really wasn't going to wade into this, but the above is getting right to 
the root of the problem. Knowing the difference between appropriate and 
inappropriate interaction is something many of us learned as kids. There 
is no handbook, people are not fitted with status displays to let YOU know 
how THEY are feeling - because not everyone reacts the same way. 
Experience usually gives us a good guide to interpreting where an 
individuals "line" is, but again, it's learned.

How do the young people of today (who've never been told "no", who are 
part of the "you get a trophy just for participating" generation) ever 
going to learn? The first time they step OVER the invisible line is likely 
to be a career-ending sexual harrassment charge and a criminal record!

The older of us who learned respect and trust, limits and bounds (and 
learned them by pushing until we found them) probably find it easier to 
navigate, but I am genuinely concerned for the young, who don't have that 
environment any more.