The Rock Test: A Hack for Men Who Dont Want To Be Accused of Sexual Harassment

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://medium.com/annevictoriaclark/the-rock-test-a-hack-for-men-who-dont-want-to-be-accused-of-sexual-harassment-73c45e0b49af

Are you a man confused on how to treat the women you work with? Do you feel like if you can’t say or do *anything* you don’t know what to say or do at all? Well stress no more! This life hack will have you treating women like people in no time.

From Harvey Weinstein to like all of Uber, it seems each day a wealthy and powerful man is being brought down by accusations of sexual harassment or assault. And just today the New York Times reported that men are becoming less likely to mentor females out of fear.

(snip)

While navigating professional relationships can often require that dreaded thing known as “any amount of work at all”, there is hope. You see, by following this one simple rule, you too can interact with women as people.

It’s as clear cut as this: Treat all women like you would treat Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

I cackled. Having seen and heard sentiments along the lines of "It's gotten so you can't ________ anymore!" here and in other progressive circles, I thought this might be helpful to some.

[Wednesdays]

1. So, statements like "Nice dress" are out.

[Pacifist Patriot]

7. Oh no, I think we're still good there.

[TexasBushwhacker]

44. Dunno. How do you feel if a man tells you "Nice tie"?

Do you compliment male coworkers on their clothing or appearance?

[Jim Lane]

45. That actually happened to me and I was fine with it.

I think the difference is that we were both straight so there was no implication beyond his liking that particular tie. He was even my boss and that didn't matter.

On the other hand, if a man (at least one who's straight or a closeted gay) compliments a woman's clothing, she has to consider whether he's making a sexual overture. The further complication is that he might actually be making a sexual overture, or, to put it another way, flirting. If he wants to ask her out but doesn't want to risk rejection, he might make a remark like that to see how she reacts. As a result, if the exchange occurs between co-workers, and especially if she reports to him, there are problems that didn't arise when my boss complimented my tie.

[TexasBushwhacker]

46. I think it would matter how often the compliments come also

An occassional compliment is nice, but if someone was complimenting me on my appearance on a regular basis, it would seem like flirting to me.

[ProfessorGAC]

2. That Was Funny!

Nice piece of well placed humor by the author.

[Major Nikon]

3. So what if the Rock flirts with you?

[bettyellen]

34. Still having issues figuring out what sexual harassment is? How sad for you

[Major Nikon]

38. You have my vote for the non-sequitur award

[bettyellen]

39. Feigning confusion as to what sexual harassment is an ugly slippery slope and you're on it.

Nothing to be proud of. Just more "boys will be boys" poison.

[Major Nikon]

40. You seem to be quite proud of your non-sequiturs

You already have my vote, so not sure why you'd want to continue, but feel free to do so without me. I generally just ignore your posts anyway, which is why it's always you initiating replies to me and not the other way around. At least I can rely on you to always read mine.

Cheers!

[bettyellen]

41. I think it's on all of us to call out this "how will I know I'm harassing" bullshit because it's

Insidious and it's tiresome watching men - purported "progressives" among them too- play at being stupid. Congrats! it actually works- makes you look stupid.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. Kick if you SMEEEEEELLLLL WHAT THIS LADY IS.....cooking! nt

[snooper2]

5. Somebody, Like, needs to not write like they talk..

Like, Really


"From Harvey Weinstein to like all of Uber"

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. Welcome to the Internet!

It's a melting pot of writing tones and techniques. One person's hip, breezy tone is another person's evidence that kids these days are the worst.

[Drahthaardogs]

19. I sat next to a young woman and man in the airport

She said "like" 45 times in five minutes (I was bored so I counted)

How can this be hip? Valley Girls started talking like that 35 years ago...

[WhiskeyGrinder]

20. That sounds different than using it once in a humor column to make a hyperbolic point.

[Drahthaardogs]

21. Sure. But again, this is old

How is this hip?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

24. The breezy, ironically detached tone implied by the judicious use of "like" as well as other

literary tricks is a popular one now, especially in pieces such as this one. Just because it's old doesn't mean it's not useful or popular. The longevity of "like" as a modifier is an interesting one for linguists, as it can convey how we say things and not just what we say, without using adverbs or another sentence about our internal monologue. Its overuse can grate, as does overuse of any dialect.

[Crunchy Frog]

37. That's, like, a really fascinating analysis. n/t

[kcr]

12. Forerynel leahtrian!

Dæghwîl...

[Weekend Warrior]

30. I posted below before reading replies.

I didn't get what they meant in one of their sentences. Now I get it.

[Exultant Democracy]

6. Hum bad call, the Rock is groped all the time

It doesn’t appear like he minds but if you watch video of the Rock interacting with people 90% of the time they end up feeling his arms or chest (more men than women) I would say about 40% of the people ask permission to touch him. Most just get a dazed look on their faces and reach out and then go, oh sorry is it ok after they already have.

[mopinko]

11. um, yeah, grope a woman like you would grope the rock-

ask first. if you can ask first, say sorry after. in the mean time, dont be too surprised if you get punched in the nose. if you do get punched in the nose, realize you had it coming.

see? not so hard.

[Merlot]

14. Not really the same thing

Big difference between a star struck fan touching a star (who probably has body guards close by) and someone who is in a position of power makes unwanted advances.

[Exultant Democracy]

27. Taylor Swift would disagree.

[Wounded Bear]

8. Good one!

And would probably work.

[whathehell]

10. 'This... will have you treating women like people in no time"

Good one.

[DetlefK]

13. "Handman's Tale"

[WhiskeyGrinder]

15. Bwahahaha! A classic!

[Merlot]

16. That was awsome! Thanks for posting!

[mythology]

17. You mean not sexually harassing people makes you less likely

To be accused of it? And even better it's so easy it's like you don't even have to do anything.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

18. Right? It's incredible. Who knew?

[maxrandb]

22. I prefer holding an aspirin between my legs

[mitch96]

23. After working in a matriarchy for over 45 years it was simple

Just don't say or do anything that could be alluded to sexually. Use non gender specific terms.
You look nice, not you look pretty etc.. Kinda sucks but with the world we live in today it worked for me!!
m

[Weekend Warrior]

29. I can't imagine why not calling women "pretty" at work sucks so bad for you. nt.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

31. Or why they feel they need to comment on co-workers' appearances at all.

[Weekend Warrior]

32. Because it's a great conversation starter before asking them out on a date. Duh.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

33. Hee!

I mean, WHAT ELSE are you going to talk about?

[mitch96]

35. That's what happens when you worked

With many strong willed upwardly mobile women... I did not have a problem with it. They did their thing and I did mine.. Retired now so it's all good.
m

[Weekend Warrior]

36. I can't imagine how bad it bothered you.

Retired and still commenting on it. Damn "upwardly mobile women." I'm sure the others were smitten at your personal comments about their appearance. Not those uppit.... I mean "upwardly mobile women."

[mitch96]

43. " I'm sure the others were smitten at your personal comments about their appearance."

Ouch!
Feel better now bunky?
m

[IronLionZion]

25. "card carrying Sephora shoppers"

[AtheistCrusader]

26. This doesn't work.

I'd be trying to get him to do the eyebrow thing.

[Weekend Warrior]

28. I don't understand this sentence.

"From Harvey Weinstein to like all of Uber, it seems each day a wealthy and powerful man is being brought down by accusations of sexual harassment or assault."

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

42. Do a couple of commas help?

"From Harvey Weinstein to, like, all of Uber, it seems each day a wealthy and powerful man is being brought down by accusations of sexual harassment or assault."

(If it was the "like" that threw you.)