Park signs update

[khalinche]

So, a few days ago I found the wording on some signs in a park annoying. There had been an attempted rape and the park managers' response was to put up notices warning women not to walk by themselves in the park. Since I object to being told where I can and cannot go, and being implicitly blamed for being attacked if I don't follow someone else's

Comments

[blue_mai]

"BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER" wins.

perhaps more realistically, i think i would favour something along the lines of those yellow police incident signs you often see. This happened at This time, if you have any information call... etc. Even if they don't want people to call with information, it tells people what's happened, then they can make up their own minds what to do about it.

going back to your signs, i think i 'get' why it was worded they way it was, and addressed to 'men walking alone' as a direct rebuttal to the original sign, but i think it's counter-productive. it's supposed to grate, right, to cause indignation - showing people look, this how how it feels. but i had to post-rationalise it myself, to be able to stomach it i suppose, i had to work out why it was worded the way it was, which isn't too difficult to me. but i don't think most people would. they would be annoyed, but not any more informed. venting is all well and good, but education better.

[khalinche]

I would welcome a police incident-type sign too.

I see your point about why my original signs might have been alienating to men - as you say, educating is better than venting. But sometimes it takes an itch of indignation to actually get people to think. I suppose I could have put up a post saying, 'I find 'women not advised to walk here' signs problematic for the following reasons, and not pissed off some men who felt stereotyped, but it probably wouldn't have captured people's imaginations in the same way either.

[blue_mai]

yah, i know, the "excuse me, but... " approach doesn't work in this instance.

[balarza]

One of the things I've enjoyed in the UK is being able to walk on my own without fear. One can't do that in South Africa, and certainly one wouldn't dream of walking alone at night. I run on my own (during the day) in my neighbourhood, in protest to the "Joburg, capital of violent crime! You can't run on your own!". If I can't run in one of the wealthiest and most heavily protected areas of the city (private security: CCTV cameras, electric fences, patrolling guards), where can I run?

So well done for voicing that it is not OK for criminals to take away the freedom of everyone else.

[pplfichi]

Just wow at the result :D

I think you wins the awesome!

[khalinche]

Thanks! Also, look here, why aren't you on my flist? That makes no sense. *adds*

[pplfichi]

*Adds back* Hi and stuff!

[obandsoller]

Brilliant!

[strangederby2]

Fantastic Result!