This is an excellent response and I like it very much. The difficulty comes with the ongoing redefinition of what is ‘acceptable’. Human beings muddle through as best they can. As an example of what I mean, a friend of mine posted a picture of herself on Instagram — she was delighted when a guy whom she was attracted to (but didn’t know) liked the picture. The following day she complained about a ‘creepy man’ who had liked it. When I inquired about what made this man creepy, it turned out that he was older

This is subjectivity in its rawest form. The action of the two men was observably the same (they liked the picture) — her interpretation of the behaviour was different based only on her level of attraction (and ego boost) from the dopamine hit of a social media like. I mockingly called her out on her ageism. Defining someone creepy and another guy not, when the only difference is their age/looks is by default ageist.

But this facile example underlines a more complicated and nuanced point. We are getting to the stage where what someone believes to be inappropriate is enough to have your life altered in the court of public opinion. Your definition of what constitutes friendliness and my definition of what constitutes friendliness must be in line. Whilst you and I could happily chat at a supermarket because you can’t reach the cereal and I can’t either (I’m 5"8')— there’s nothing to stop someone else classing my behaviour as threatening. That might not hold any legal sway, but it could cause problems for me on a personal level and on social media.

You and I are on the same page, human beings muddle through and find commonality, but that is becoming more and more difficult in the current climate. Rather than moving towards a central ground of equality with an understanding of our underlying humanity we now have two different factions prepared to hold their ground to the death. Ultra-men won’t be happy until all women are objectified commodities who need to be taught their place, ultra-feminists won’t be happy until anything anybody with a penis does is seen for the threatening manipulative and devious powerplay it obviously is.

It’s amazing the species is continuing at all. Thanks for commenting on my comment and carrying on the discussion — and let’s find someone at least six foot three to reach the cereal in our subjunctive supermarket. :o)