Dietzel tells Besedo that some of the behaviors are so normalized that they're almost viewed as normal in our society. "Online, these behaviors are evident in how some people communicate about sex and violence.
In fact, in some cases, people might not even be aware that they’re condoning it because certain terms, phrases, and behaviors have become normalized in mainstream cultures,” the expert says.
#22 I Told Him That I Felt Uncomfortable Because Some Guy Was Hitting On Me. His Solution - Hitting On Me
#23 I Listed A Dress For Sale On Facebook Marketplace. The Only Messages I’ve Received Are From Men With No Intention Of Buying Said Dress. These Are Just Two Of Many Others Like This
#24 My Friend Barely Met This Guy Last Week. Real Men Don't Get Turned Down
It's no surprise then that women become desensitized to inappropriate behavior exhibited by men online. According to Dietzel, they're "simply resigned to the fact that they are likely to experience some form of sexual harassment when they join an online dating service." The fact that they will receive inappropriate images or propositions is what's almost expected.
#25 I Got This Text From A Friend's Dad After My Mom Told His Wife He Was Hitting On Me. Apparently, I Would Be Lucky To Have Him
#26 Texts My Wife Got From The Food Delivery Guy Who Has Her Number And Knows Where She Lives
So what can we do about it? It's not just up to the people themselves, Dietzel tells Besedo. Technology companies behind the social platforms that we see this harassment happen on have a responsibility. Dietzel says that establishing community guidelines is important. Most companies only have Terms & Conditions, but they only apply to behaviors between the app and the users. Having community standards that define what's appropriate and what's not between users would definitely help.
#28 Chase Banker Saved My Girlfriend's Phone Number When She Went In To Open An Account
#29 A Random Person, Who I've Never Met Before, Sent Me A Message, Thinking That I Was A Girl And I Don't Blame Him
#30 An Old Man Hit On One Of My Friends While She Was Posting A Complaint To A Walmart Facebook Page
What can the users do? It's crucial not to normalize this kind of behavior. "We are all responsible for what we tolerate as individuals," Dietzel told Besedo. "Shaming one person won’t necessarily change behavior but getting a group of people to reflect on their actions will."
#31 Delivered Lunch To A Guy At His Workplace Today Who Had Trouble Taking A Hint
#36 This Guy Has Created Multiple Profiles To Send All The Women In My Mom's Meetup Group The Exact Same Message
#37 The Time The Guy From IKEA Who Put My Bedframe Together Took My Phone Number From The Receipt And Tried To Hit On Me
#39 Friend Just Called Off Their Relationship. This Man Wasted No Time And Obviously Played At The Top Of His Game
#40 I’ve Never Talked To This Kid Before And He Just Randomly Messages Me
