For the record: I am opposed to the Open Source Boob Project because the entitlement principles that underpin it, and the attitudes that seek to validate a view women are property or code are reprehensible, wrongheaded, and thoroughly counter to my belief as a feminist.
I have a moderate suggestion.
Let’s put our male entitled view of women’s bodies as our property to use, modify, open source and otherwise interact with into a neatly closed source wrapper, bundle it in DRM, load it on an iPod and repeatedly strike our narrow minded selves in the face until the bleeding starts, and continue until the ability to stand upright stops. Then let’s have a good hard consideration of the idea that what we’re suggesting is utterly unacceptable conduct, and then let’s retrace our steps, say “Fuck, that was stupid”, apologize for the mindset that lent itself to believing that we have any rights to touch another person, or to request it of strangers, and then learn, evolve as a species and move forward.
That goes double for the first one of you to tell me that I’m taking this too seriously. You know why I take this seriously? Because it’s serious. If you don’t think it’s serious, you’ve not been on the receiving end, or you’ve not thought through the consequences of being on the receiving end.
Accosting a random stranger to ask for a grope is an utterly fucking reprehensibly aggresive and hostile action. It is a validation of the belief that women are property, then men are graced with some right to ask a women, and that there’s some form of magical mystical power dynamic off-switch that means if you asked, then hey, none of the rest of society’s pressure on women to conform apply. Let’s not forget the various dynamics of social pressure, group dynamics, and the need for conformity and belonging, and how there’s a long long history of that being used to put pressure on women. Particularly if the women would be made to feel outsiders in the first place.
As for the fundamental idea that it’s okay if you ask, and that asking isn’t a threat? That has been dealt with by society, listed as workplace harassment if they’re employed at the same place as you.
So, repeat after me
Women are not code.
Breasts are not open source.
Verbal harassment is not harmless
This is not acceptable.
If you can’t follow the logic, I’d recommend reading around the experiences of people who have been sexual harassed, bullied, forced to leave their jobs, threatened for the crime of having breasts, and generally treated as disposable playtoys for overentitled men. Then ask yourself if you’re willing to support the consequences of those actions by supporting this particular movement. If you don’t like those consequences happening, then here’s where a stand can be taken, opposition mustered, voiced and raised.
It’s not acceptable, I do not support it, and I will not support it.
ETA: There has been a retraction and apology posted on the original post. Someone want to tell me that shouting doesn’t have a place? Guess what convinced the change of heart – loud, obvious vocal dissent.
For the record, if that thing had included “and then we let them grope our butts and it was really special” and also excluded “”My breasts,” they asked shyly, having heard about the project. “Are they… are they good enough to be touched?”" I would really not have a problem with it. I mean, if you want to ask random strangers if you can touch them that’s surely your prerogative, just as it is theirs to slap you in the face if they so choose. All the validation stuff is pretty much bullshit, though, and frankly true open source principles would have declared open season on men too. More so, even, since it’s a rare situation where a man is in any way threatened by a woman touching his ass.
@Maggie
I noted the original post was very carefully worded to be absolutely “Oh, of course we let male selves be open sourced” with no details whatsoever.
I struggle to figure out a corresponding position to the breast grope that can be effected onto a male
Also, I don’t see that the slap in the face is a valid counterpoint. As a male, I can ask, the woman can slap, and I can claim assault. Or worse, I can claim provocation and get away with much worse reprisals because the power structure is in my favour.
I see he’s backed off the original position, and that’s one promising aspect – it brought sunlight onto something that didn’t hold up well when held to the light.
While I find the whole project highly objectionable, what gets to me more than anything else is right there in the name: women’s bodies are “open source,” free and available for anyone to take and do whatever they want to with. That’s just disgusting. No one’s body is open source. We all deserve control of our bodies.
I do respect that originator of the idea has backed down, and that he seems sincere and honestly repentant. But that may be my rose-colored reading.
I write a piece of code. Its mine to do with as I please.
Theres no law out there making me give it to others.
The project was opt in. So it wasn’t making all boobs open source but only those who wanted them to be.
don’t get me wrong the project had a lot of issues. but I don’t think it should be demoniEd because of its name.
[...] Designated Sidekick (@ girl-wonder.org): Closed Source Misogyny Let’s put our male entitled view of women’s bodies as our property to use, modify, open source and otherwise interact with into a neatly closed source wrapper, bundle it in DRM, load it on an iPod and repeatedly strike our narrow minded selves in the face until the bleeding starts, and continue until the ability to stand upright stops. Then let’s have a good hard consideration of the idea that what we’re suggesting is utterly unacceptable conduct, and then let’s retrace our steps, say “Fuck, that was stupid”, apologize for the mindset that lent itself to believing that we have any rights to touch another person, or to request it of strangers, and then learn, evolve as a species and move forward. [...]
@David
Two things. One, if I assumed by default, all code you wrote was mine to do with what I liked unless you repeated said no, and even then, I could override your no decision under various situations, you’d not be call it it open source. Given the treatment women have faced over time where they’re not given the opt-out function, and it’s not a safe space environment, and random strangers feel they have a right to treat women as their person property, what may have been a contextual opt-in event within a close circle of people who knew each other escalates out of that context very easily.
The fact they had opt-out buttons indicated that neutral was capable of being assumed opt-in. If you didn’t expressly say “red-button, no”, there was an element of doubt which wasn’t default to NO, because male privilege has allowed men (myself included) the benefit of the doubt that it’s not our fault for our actions. Women are frequently blamed for the actions of men – see the news article blaming the relationship with the girlfriend for one man punching another man on a football field. Autoblaming the female for the male’s actions annoys the hell out of me because I am rather fond of being sentient, self-aware, and culpable for my actions. It separates me from the poorly coded automata of the world.
2. It’s not open source anyway. It fails the first test – free redistribution. This isn’t even CC licence attribute share-alike. I cannot replicate and redistribute the body parts of another person. Second, I can’t view the source code – that wouldn’t be a naked body part either, it would be the genetic code plus the social conditioning and thought processes that underpinned the decision to allow open access to the body parts. We’ve barely mapped the genes, and as a consumer behaviour researcher, I know we haven’t broken the encryption on the decision making. DVDJon has miles to go before that DRM is cracked.
That’s before we start exploring the series of ramifications that come from the conceptual parameters associated with licencing an aspect of the human body under an agreement that includes
5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups
6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor
9. License Must Not Restrict Other Software
Admittedly, there’s 4. Integrity of The Author’s Source Code, but how would this translate to the open sourcing of physical elements of a human body?
In short, bad idea, worse use of a name, clear demonstration of cluelessness on the original author’s part, not the fault of Open Source, but sure as hell not open source. Which is why I called my response *Closed Source*
Accosting a random stranger to ask for a grope is an utterly fucking reprehensibly aggressive and hostile action.
EXACTLY.
[...] “a category mistake of the ugliest kind” *designated sidekick at girl-wonder.org extends the metaphor to “closed source misogyny” and suggests “Let’s put our male entitled view of [...]
David:
Rivkat, an IP lawyer, notes:
This was just such an appropriate response to the whole issue I feel the need to reference it here. I’m unaffiliated with misia and hope they do not mind the reference.
http://misia.livejournal.com/1055120.html
it was supposedly reciprocal but they kept hedging about it and really …Where could you touch a guy other than his dick or balls that compares to the objectified nature of mammal glands on a human female… ass on a male?? Hell no! Only if another guy is doing the touching and I can bet these Boob people only allowed girl-on-girl action!!
So women ended up feeling-up each other. LoL! It really is so sad it’s funny!!
“Excuse me,” the first, very brave girl asked. “You’re very beautiful. I’d like to touch your breasts. Would you mind if I did?”
I for one will want to hear about boy on boy action!!! I demand equality!!
A pinup button for – yes you can ask to grab my breast- and another one to say – no you cannot…-
Very well, if you are at a swingers’ party or any gathering of people who know what it’s all about and are ready and seeking sexual interaction. But an all ages convention???? Hello underage little people???
Stuff like this: ‘That exchange of happiness where one person are told with gropes and touches that they are desirable and the other is someone who’s allowed to desire’ … Boob guy point of view. That is all so soo funny!
What do you think the female point of view was now really? Because the boob on the other end of your hand is attached to a brain you know??…us women, being human and all. Naaa… really? Yeah Boob guy! 50% of the peeps in the world! Can you believe that?
…Having individuality, emotions and could be experiencing everything veeery differently than mister romantico over there. I will hazard a few guesses …since I am a female human after all and can do these things sometimes.
Example of what the Boob would think if it had a woman attached to it:
“magical… yeah,yes, right, sure… whatever floats your boat. Nghhh.. keep going you idiot! This is the most fun I’ve had since…” while keeping a straight face
“Well isn’t this nice lol… “ giggling like a loon.
“Ooh, sex! I’m gonna get me some tonight! Good thing boyfriend and I are not exclusive… hey where you going? I thought…!! Ah well… next guy, maybe.” Shinny eyes you thought meant gratitude.
“Why do I do this?! …and here comes another one. Smile and remember they like you and that’s what it’s all about.”
“Everybody is doing it” the girl in the high heels and short dress looking at a point behind your ear.
“I thought it was going to be fun… but this is just weird and this guy is old enough to be my father! What do I do now?” The cute one you thought was shyly hitting on you.
“What do I say when he’s finished?” the one that looked empowered.
“Are my friends watching?” the adventurous blond.
“I SAID NO YOU CREEP!” the one with the glassy eyes…
“I’m so stoned…” couldn’t you tell?
“Wonder if he would still touch me if he knew they are fakes… and I am a guy.” guess…
“Will he get mad if I pull back? Crap got to wait it out…” she said yes and wears a green button.
“Shit, forgot to feed the dog… “… Could be anybody.
”…my mom is going to kill me if I’m late again, what time is it?” she looked hot (young).
So yeah, I know people are people …no matter where their adipose tissue hangs so keep that in mind when you see a pretty face and well placed fat. Interest varies and dignity does not abound …but we should stick up for sexual freedom, not sexual wares.