Emma Arnold
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Emma Arnold

Your next comic is a girl

5/28/2015

55 Comments

 
(Note: this is a much shortened excerpt from my book "Notion Sickness", which is almost done, I swear to sweet Sassmouth Jesus.)

I used to run and host a comedic storytelling show at the VAC in Garden City. I booked an out of town comic one month, and in between sets, he kept smacking me on the ass as I walked by. Several times, I politely but firmly told him to please not touch me anymore, but he continued. I had a show to run, so I spent the evening avoiding him as best as I could. After the show, he hugged me and gave my ass a full on, deep tissue squeeze. I stepped back and told him, in no uncertain tones, to keep his fucking hands off of me. He laughed, and told me, sorry, it was just that I was so hot, ya know?


The next night, at an open mic that I also ran and hosted, the same comic called me over like he had a question. When I leaned in so he could whisper in my ear, he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me into a tight embrace. He stuck his other hand up my skirt from behind and fingered my genitals, like full puss contact, his fingers pushing against my underwear into my vagina. When I tried to pull away, he held me in place. “Come on,” he said in a low voice. “Can’t you take a joke?” I wrestled away and tried to yell at him, but unfortunately I was betrayed at that moment by Shaky Lady Voice, or SLV, which is where you want to be assertive and tough, but, instead, your stupid lady voice goes all high and quavering, and your stupid lady eyes go all watery, and you end up warbling “this is my body, you don’t have the right to touch me if I don’t want to be touched, I’m a person, I have boundaries” which has never stopped anyone from assaulting a person, ever.

I absolutely can take a joke. I once hosted a roast where the main theme seemed to be “Emma is fit and has sex a lot, she’s a witch! Get her!” I had a great time, even though my worst insult of the evening was saying I didn’t feel like it was fair to make fun of the other comedians when what they really needed was a little Good Will Hunting. (I hugged every comedian as they took the stage and told them it wasn’t their fault. I’m not good at shit-talking, it’s a problem, okay??) My good friend Brett made the best joke of the evening in which he implied that my husband left me because he finally decided personality was important. It was brutal, but so funny and personal, I loved it. I felt truly flattered that they cared about and knew me well enough to really hurt my feelings.

I just don’t find getting groped repeatedly all that funny. It’s not a joke, and I shouldn’t have to take it. The problem isn’t me, it isn’t my sensitivity or lack of humor. The out-of-town comic later called me to “apologize”, saying he was sorry that I “was so uptight” and didn’t know how to have fun. He explained that he only groped me so that I could feel like one of the guys. I told him that it was upsetting and dehumanizing, being touched like that, and, appealing to his empathy (hahahaha, Arnold, you so cute), asked how he would feel if something like that happened to him.

“I’d love it!” he responded. “You can grab my junk anytime.”

This is just one guy, and I’m just one female comedian. This happens over and over and over. I’m sorry to make generalizations, but you could FOR REALS be a bolo-tie-wearing youth pastor with sweaty meat hands, and still be
less creepy than 75% of male comics. (This statistic fluctuates depending on the city, obviously. In Portland, it's much lower, maybe 15%. In Toronto or LA, maybe 50%. Also, I should add I got a "D" in statistics, so...) Here’s a partial list of bullshit I’ve put up with in the last few years, to further prove my point:

-There was the road comic who argued that it was safe for me to sleep in my car at a rest area because the whole rape culture thing was “way overblown”. “Women exaggerate, you know that” he told me. When I explained that most of the women I know had been raped or sexually assaulted, he said, “You must know a lot of bitches”.

-There was the male comedian who asked me for nudes after I gave him my number to get on a show. I sent him pictures of myself making this face with the caption “Let me help you masturbate” every ten minutes until he asked me to please stop. (Seriously. Don’t ask me for nudes. If you want to see me naked, just close your eyes, and picture Jennifer Lawrence. If she gave birth three times and also maybe never had tits.)

-There was the gropey Midwest male comedian EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT who tried to kiss me, REPEATEDLY, even after I explained that I wasn’t interested or available.
He invited me over, under the pretense that a group of comics were hanging out, but when I showed up, it was just him. When I tried to leave, he wouldn't let me, first pinning me against the couch with a "hug", then blocking the door with his six foot plus frame. "Come on," he said. "I just want you to hold me, don't be so mean." Multiple women have told me similar stories about him since.

-There was the male comedian who told me, “You realize it doesn't matter what you say up there, people only laugh because they want to fuck you”. Or the one who said all he could think about when I was performing was what noises I make during sex. (Note: I’m completely silent during sex. Like “Nosferatu”.) Or the guy who told me he thought that "Cosby only raped like 20% of those women" and that some of them were clearly lying. THAT'S STILL 12 WOMEN HOLY CHRIST! Do we have to be a baker's dozen to fucking matter??

That’s just comics, the guys I work with. I still have to deal with the audience, too. And they feel perfectly fine coming up and telling me they want to fuck me, or critiquing my appearance and weight, or scolding me for using dirty language. I had a guy come up to me after a show and tell me that he wanted to paddle me and wash my mouth out with soap for saying the f-word too much. (Note: under different circumstances, when not suggested by a comb-overed septuagenarian, that sounds like a fantastic way to spend one’s Saturday night.) I have to deal with guys following me out to my car, sending me unsolicited dick pics online, and heckling me during shows with catcalls, come ons, and even threats of rape.

After I was upskirt-groped, I walked out onto the patio of the comedy club, rattled and shaking. There was a group of male comedians sitting at a table, and I told them what had occurred. One of them, a man I count as a friend who has otherwise been extremely supportive and kind to me, laughed and said, “Yeah, well, can you blame him? Dressed like that, what did you expect?” This minimizing and normalizing of sexual harassment is also an unfortunate part of my job. When something gross happens to me, far too often, my male peers are all too eager to point out how I contributed to the harassment OR why I should be “flattered” by the attention. “I wish I got hit on as much as you.” No. No, you really don’t.

It just doesn’t fucking end.

I try really hard to focus on the good men I know. Comedy is a boys club--I sometimes feel like I’m playing Wendy to the Lost Boys, except instead of teaching me to fly, Peter Pan’s always trying to give me chlamydia. And I’m like, no thank you, Dan Soder! (Jk, I would totally let Dan Soder give me chlamydia, he’s lovely.)--but I also know some amazing, wonderful men who have always treated me like a person. They don’t stick their hands up my skirt, or minimize the bullshit I deal with on a daily basis, or tell me to get a thicker skin. They don’t treat my unwillingness to be harassed as the problem, they understand that I shouldn’t have to be a walking callous to do my job. They have welcomed me with closed arms, waiting for me to initiate physical contact when and if I feel comfortable. To them, I say thank you. And also, sorry about your premature ejaculation problem.  

To my fellow funny ladies, keep fighting the good fight. It’s important and it is working. We’re almost there. In ten years, maybe we’ll just be “comedians”, and no one will ever bring us up to “our next comic is a guuuuurl”. Maybe the conversation will shift from “sexual harassment will never go away, just deal with it” to “how do we stop sexual harassment, it sucks”. And maybe, when a disgusting person sticks his/her hand up the gender-neutral skort of a professional joke-making person, the reaction will be swift and judicious, and no one will even think of saying, “Well, dressed like that, what did you expect?”

Update: I've had a lot of people ask about why I didn't name the comedian who sexually assaulted me here. It's a good question, and one I have struggled with. I won't name him here, but please know that I warn every booker, club, and touring female comedian I meet about him, and he already has a rep for being a creep and isn't allowed in many places even without my input. 
55 Comments
Belinda link
5/28/2015 05:07:15 am

SO MUCH THIS. Every female comedian I know has at LEAST one story about just this kind of thing. I'm personally lucky because live in the egalitarian mecca of Portland, which doesn't mean it doesn't happen, just maybe not as often between comedians. But yeah, it's a huge problem. I would have been tempted to call the cops on genital fingering guy. Fuck that guy. Sorry that even happened.

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Devin
5/28/2015 02:40:47 pm

If I were at that table, I would've gone into the bar, laid the dude out, then asked him what his opinion was on non-consensual touching afterwards.

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Blast
5/29/2015 11:07:21 pm

Calm your Fedora dude. Physical violence isn't exactly a moral high ground in that scenario. Call the cops, it's their fucking job to sort this shit out.

Mr Delicious
6/10/2015 06:46:01 pm

Calling the cops wouldn't amount to shit, and even if it did, people have a moral right (not necessarily legal, but those are two different things) to settle matters like this on their own. Police and the law are necessities in any society, but sometimes the best course of action is just to beat the shit out of someone.

Cramer
3/22/2016 01:45:18 pm

You'd have to get out of the basement first but yeah she shouldn't have to put up with that shit

Sideways Shrink
6/11/2015 06:25:59 pm

I took a comedy workshop here in Seattle and asked the male comedian teacher why it was that so few women were doing stand up (he certainly didn't talk about any women comedians). He said that women weren't interested in comedy because they "didn't want to spend their time on the road sleeping in hotel rooms with 3 guys". Really? Was that why? I didn't believe that. Why aren't half of all comics women who can just sleep together 4 to a room--if that is an issue? Ah, no, I knew that it was because men don't want to laugh at women's jokes. They want us to laugh at theirs and they want to parlay that into sexual conquest whenever they can. I don't think I'm that funny--except to myself and my family--but in my 5 minute showcase bit I talked about my profession and made fun of it. However, the guy who everyone in the audience here in Seattle, in the University District, thought the funniest was a young white guy who made fun of his girlfriend , other women and made some racially based jokes. I wouldn't want to sleep in a hotel room with that guy.

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Dan Zimmer link
1/18/2016 09:06:01 pm

Female comedienne is not the only victims of sexual harassment I guess most of them experience same kind of awkward situations. You cannot stop the crowd, most of them are already drunk. It is up to you to control the crowd, interacting with them is part of the shows. If you feel harass, don't hesitate to talk to your local lawyer or with your superior on how to avoid the uncomfortable situation for you.

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Me
8/10/2017 09:34:47 pm

You are 100 percent ignorant.

Joe Hill link
5/28/2015 05:42:15 am

If I ever see a man do that to a lady, whether its in a club or anywhere else, I would take great pleasure in opening a can of whoop ass on the disgusting freak!

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Patrick Higgins link
5/28/2015 06:30:18 am

Emma, I'm very sorry that this happened to you. I'm glad you recognize that you did not deserve this treatment. It is foul, it is sexist and it is wrong on every level. I know you don't want to, but can you please name these people?

Firstly, any man who would put his hands on you in that way is doing this still and he's been doing it for a long time and needs to be stopped.

Second, any person who would tell you that you DESERVE to be treated in that way clearly doesn't regard you as a person and also may think that the behavior and treatment you received is acceptable because he behaves like that.

So, please help me. I want to be as supportive as possible. But I find that I'm frustrated in the lack of naming of names when it comes to accusations.

The people who act so inexcusably should be called out, otherwise it feels like we're creating a boogey man. Instead I feel as though we should excommunicate these people publicly.

So, what I want to know is: How can I help?

Unless I see the behavior or hear about it, I can do nothing to actively stop this from happening or help to protect my friends which makes me personally feel powerless to do anything.

I know that as a comedian, booker and comedy festival producer, I do not want to have anyone like this on one of my shows

EDIT: To be clear, if I'm being insensitive in any way, please tell me in a kind way. I'm not trying to trigger, hurt or pain anyone in any fashion.

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Sarah
6/11/2015 12:28:14 pm

Thanks so much for writing this. It rings 100 percent true. I'm not a comic, but I dated one, and was… embroiled in a local comedy scene for a moment. God bless you for being funny and wonderful, and thank you for being a beacon of hope to young female comics. Women love you!

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Paul Holsinger
5/28/2015 06:44:06 am

Geeze, so I'm not a lawyer but it sounds to me that what you are describing is even more then sexual harassment. That's sexual assault. That's the kinda thing that should put a person behind bars for a few years to think about just how not funny what he did is and if you went down to the local police station I'd bet the officer's there would agree with me.

I'm very sorry that happened. With all due respect to the guys mentioning hurting the guy, no woman should have to rely on a guy to protect her. I teach community martial arts classes that are completely to anyone in Boise. I'm also happy to give women's self defense training to anyone interested. If you or any one else is please let me know.

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Jenny Smith
5/28/2015 05:19:19 pm

This is actually a fairly common occurance and unlikely to generate much interest from the police. I have had fingers put into my vagina in public without warning or consent more than once (on time quite agressively). I know of multiple occurrances of this from friends. However, without very direct third-party witnessesses and a willingness to have yourself put

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Jenny Smith
5/28/2015 05:23:38 pm

a grilling about whether you did anything to cause it (suggestive clothing, flirting, etc.) it is nearly unprosecutable.

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Gary Mitchell
5/28/2015 07:38:09 am

The "walking callous" line really puts everything into context. Having a thick skin when being critiqued is not quite the same thing as being sexually assaulted and then having the expectation to "roll with the punches." No one should fucking have to put up with that.

Here's a life pro-tip to the guy (or others) who wouldn't mind you grabbing his junk: think about it with someone you're not only not attracted to but a bit repulsed by. See how comfortable you are with it then. And if you get a bit hard by it would you want to be forced to accept whatever they want to do to you. It's not that difficult of a concept.

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Belinda
5/28/2015 08:21:59 am

Or a dude. Guys, imagine a dude grabbing your junk. I find a lot of men have the 'gay panic' reaction, precisely because they are panicked about being treated like women.

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Brandon Hahn in Vegas link
5/28/2015 09:16:03 am

Out this scumbag. If he did what you're saying he did, he needs to be put on blast!

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Jenna
5/29/2015 12:02:49 pm

"If he did what you're saying he did".

Why did that line even need to exist in your comment. Of course thats what happened. That's why she took the time to write about it.

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Donn Miller
6/11/2015 01:26:47 am

I think that Brandon was alluding to the fact that he had not been present at the offense and therefore cannot personally attest to its truth. For example, you cannot expect that a non-witness to a crime is going to risk perjuring himself at trial by attesting to the victim's version of events just because he likes or sympathizes with the victim.

Dave LaRoche
5/28/2015 10:30:03 am

Assuming your piece is the truth - some do sensationalize for the sake of the story - I suggest you grab his balls the next time he invites and turn them into the junk he's described.

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bryan wilkens
5/28/2015 11:56:53 am

"Assuming your piece is the truth"

Just stop talking. Stop talking every time your sentence starts with accusing someone of lying about being assaulted or discriminated against in any way. Stop. Talking. This is why women don't come forward with sexual assault, it's why people don't come forward when being abused by a spouse or a family member, it's why this behavior is perpetuated. Your first instinct is not to be angry on this woman's behalf, to empathize, to want to change... it's to question the validity of her experiences. You're bottom of the barrel, dude.

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Sara
5/29/2015 01:29:01 am

Bingo, Bryan.

landon
6/2/2015 03:38:39 pm

+1

Cheryl Van De Grift
5/28/2015 01:52:48 pm

What shit treatment. Thanks for this. I think it's funny that the perp said, he thought you'd want to be treated like "one of the guys." Do they really grab each other's assess and junk? Pretty interesting that he and his male comedian friends do that to each other. What a maggot.

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Devin
5/28/2015 03:07:08 pm

I realize this might be taken the wrong way, and that violence isn't the optimal answer, but men have to be more than just supportive here. We have to be aggressive towards predators. Women can call the cops, but us men, we gotta take these predators behind a dumpster, and make sure the punishment is worse than the crime instead of just making snide jokes to try to defuse the tension of the situation.

I know violent vigilante justice doesn't mesh well with gentle conflict resolution theories, but some folks only get the message through hands on learning. I realize this post isn't politically correct, but I have a sister, so any violence against women is violence against her in my mind. I apologize if this reinforces the myth that women need men to protect them, but predators must be removed like the tumors they are, by whatever means available.

In summation, the actions of the predators are despicable, but the inactions of other men are disgraceful. Women shouldn't have to practice constant vigilance in order to express their art.

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Sara
5/29/2015 01:43:27 am

It's a fine balance. Bystander intervention is absolutely key, and men and women alike should be encouraged to speak up and stand up when they see something that they know is wrong, when they feel safe doing so. I think it is especially important for men to speak up and stand up, because frankly, the kind of scumbags who do these types of things are precisely the kind of scumbags who will completely brush off any comments made by women - unfortunately, if we want these guys to even hear the criticism of their behaviour, it has to come from men.

Do women need men to protect us and take care of us? We shouldn't, but I don't think that it makes us weak or incapable or anything else to acknowledge that in the current climate, we DO need men to stick up for us in many circumstances. When it comes to changing social attitudes about our bodies, we DO need you to stand up for us - not because we are weak, or victims by nature, or any of that other BS, but because the people perpetrating these crimes against us will simply not give weight to what we have to say. Sticking up for ourselves (which we absolutely must do and continue to do with fervor!) is like punching a brick wall and expecting to make a dent - it's just not gonna happen, and all it's gonna do is cause us more discomfort... what we need is someone with a sledgehammer to come help us out...

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Carissa Blades
5/28/2015 03:26:00 pm

For the love of God, put his name out there so he can't ever get on any good show ever again.

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Peter Austin link
5/29/2015 11:29:03 am

As a male comic, you should definitely put his name out there. It may be a boys club most of the time, but don't forget there are a few John Waynes still left, or Clint Eastwoods, or even Barney Fifes. If you don't, he will read this, laugh about how awesome he is, and keep up the assaults.

While I understand why you don't want to pursue this further, you should definitely NAME HIM PUBLICLY. It takes it out of his hands from winning, to being the known loser that he is. You need people to know you can win, Emma.

Bill Cosby did foul things for YEARS, and no woman had the audacity/credibility to challenge him. So 35 years later, Hannibal Burress, another male comic, totally called him to the carpet for his numerous assaults and violations. All of the sudden, it was ok to tell your story about it. Rooting for you Emma, say who he is, and end it! 40-60 female comics in the future will thank you profusely.
PS..
Mr. Finger comedy man, come to Honolulu, and try that. We'll give you the "Captain Cook Experience"
Peter Austin, Honolulu HI

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Chris Thompson link
5/28/2015 10:53:44 pm

This was a great essay, and sadly, I've heard too many similar stories from too many of my woman colleagues, and we're in a small city! Fortunately, most of the male hosts in town are good for bouncing people who are out of line, but again, we're a small city. It doesn't help much in the larger comic world.

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Sara
5/29/2015 01:46:06 am

I understand that you do not want to name names publicly, and it is your choice whether you want to or not, but I do think it would be a good idea for you to at least tell the booker's asking here and any bookers you work with so that they can use that information in determining whether they want to provide opportunities for that person or not going forward.

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Jared Richard
5/29/2015 01:57:11 am

Emma, this makes me so sad to read and yet so proud to have met you and see how funny of a person you are. You have always been nothing but a shining example of what comedy and a comedian should be.

I hate the idea that people are still fighting the stigma of "women aren't funny" - I wish people could realize that comedy shouldn't apply to someone's sex but simply that there are funny people out there and there are not funny people out there.

I just want you to know that you are most definitely one of the funny people and I hope you receive all the success in the world - because you deserve it

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Ken Steele
5/29/2015 09:49:51 am

It's always the nonfunny female comedians that have these problems though. You never hear about the funny ones.

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Amy
5/29/2015 04:52:28 pm

You shouldn't be allowed on the internet.

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Chris link
5/29/2015 11:44:25 pm

It's always the untalented who make claims about people's funniness.

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Ken Steele
6/2/2015 12:17:21 am

Me being funny isn't a question . But you rarely if ever hear these stories from either FUNNY or SUCCESSFUL female comedians.

Chris link
6/2/2015 02:00:55 am

You're right. This isn't about you being funny. This is about you being completely ignorant of a real problem that happens to nearly all women in the industry at one point another. Stay in your bubble though. You obviously enjoy it there.

Woody Battaglia
5/30/2015 12:50:26 am

Ken, I wish I had a potential sexual predator watch list to put you on.

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Once
5/30/2015 07:25:07 pm

Yeah, like I always say... unfunny women are to blame for being sexually assaulted! If only they were funny... then pseudo-men like Ken and other rapists in potential would never feel that uncontrollable urge to assault them.

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Ian Webb
5/29/2015 03:21:31 pm

Jee Zuss!! Sorry to hear about what is basically a litany of sexual assault & harassment at the hands of guys who should & more than likely do know better.
Come on down to Perth, Western Australia & do some shows Emma. Of the full-time comics I've met there you wouldn't find a nicer bunch of guys. On stage some may push the boundaries of polite society (but that's comedy) but off stage/back stage they are gentlemen to a fault.
I hope we see you in Perth someday & you'll be able to do your thing wearing whatever blows your hair back & feel safe 👍.

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Junior
5/30/2015 03:37:54 am

I have worked the road a ton over the last five years and I have never heard such a terrible story, I would blast his name every set I do, and the male comics I know would have beat his ass in the back lot that night. I'm sorry for your experience, nobody should go through that.

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Mike Castleberry
5/30/2015 07:33:18 am

As an aspiring comic myself, I can say there really is a scary amount of creepy as fuck dudes. All I can do is act right and call out the creepers when I can. I feel for the ladies, because it can be an uphill battle between creepy comics, bookers and audience members. Just keep on keepin' on though... I like to think there are enough allies to slowly kill off the culture of creepiness in stand up over time.

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Robin link
5/30/2015 10:55:36 pm

After experiencing the culture of male-dominated open mic nights we immediately started an all female comedy night five years ago. The female comics you perform with us are able to bring their best self forward because of the supportive and safe environment we provide not to mention a full audience made up of real people not just other comedians.if anyone wants to start One another city we would be happy to share our model with them and Emma you're more than welcome to perform with us. We totally agree that you should name the perpetrator if he was so comfortable doing what he did to you publicly imagine what he does to Women when he gets them alone.

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Jaime Kilstein
5/31/2015 03:32:41 am

If you wanna come over and talk about it, I have vegan food and wine. I'll even show you some Brazilian ju-jitsu. <3<3<3

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Ryan Zombi
5/31/2015 06:03:04 am

Shut the fuck up

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James Rambo link
11/12/2015 12:25:39 pm

Kilstein is another comic and chances are good they know each other. This is likely a case of a comment, out of context, being taken as inappropriate.

Nic
5/31/2015 07:21:57 pm

good work.

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Ana link
6/9/2015 04:33:53 am

I carry a pepper spray keychain in my pocket at all times. A dude crosses the line and I spray the living crap out of him. it's a B.C.A. pink can, for added irony.

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Kevin
6/10/2015 02:46:59 pm

...and as the shitwhistle writhes on the floor clawing at his eyes, I hope you holler at him "what's the matter sweetheart? Can't you take a joke?"

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Tina
6/10/2015 03:57:44 pm

This happens everywhere and all the time to women. The first time it happened to me on a train when I was 10 y old, well, one friend of my parents felt me up when I was 6 a number of times, since then: a teacher, on a bus, at least 10 times on a train, the last time I was 45! it never ends, men think it's ok (not all men) that we ask for it, that we enjoy it! We don't have a right to walk alone in most cities after dark, we get judged if we go to a restaurant or bar on our own but it's totally ok for a man..it will never change and I'm glad I don't have a daughter! If you do, look after her and the odds are she will be harassed in someway before she turns 18! and look out for your male friends and relatives, they love feeling up your little daughters...

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Johnny North
6/11/2015 12:44:58 am

On behalf of my gender, I am so, so sorry Emma. I want to become your friend just to follow you around like an overprotective brother dispensing vigilante justice.

Until recently I was actually planning to move from Washington State to Boise to teach women and children's self-protection training there. Instead, if all things go as intended, I'll be moving to the Seattle area to help my brother and his girlfriend open and run a network of self-protection schools. They're doing some pretty progressive things in that arena, which include seminars to college and high school girls that she designed under the guidance of experts on the psychology of sexual violence. My brother has three black belt students in Boise running a school there, and I'll hopefully be in your town again in the future to help him teach seminars at that school. If you are interested in training, I will happily teach you for free.

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Moi
12/5/2015 10:28:34 am

This is an excellent idea. I was thinking about self defense the entire article. As a female who has trained in two martial arts, escaped a rape situation (without being raped) and a separate random attempt of kidnapping off the street, it is only because of training I escaped without being harmed. Yes, it's scary to think you might need to use it, but even scarier to feel or be helpless. No, it may not "work" in every situation, but it will increase the odds of getting away safely.

It's not necessary to learn to hurt another permanently- many are uncomfortable with that, but it's possible to learn to get out of grabs & holds pretty easily for most situations.

Just like stand up, the training will become part of you.

The body is the only thing we truly own and we all have a right to defend it.

I hope this never happens to you again and if it does, you're able to remove their hands in a way they'll never consider touching you without permission again.

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Collin
6/11/2015 11:34:23 am

I think naming him in this particular instance would be useful. It's not slanderous or opinionated while you describe the actual situation, just "this is what happened" and "this is who did it." Public shaming is the only action these Opie and Anthony motherfuckers will take to heart, being that fame and worship is their ultimate vision of happiness. I say let the public have him, see if he makes it out of that.

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Jamie
11/21/2015 10:30:09 pm

You are brave and strong! Keep at it for those who are not.

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Larry Wright
1/29/2016 10:37:06 am

Should anyone doubt that the comedy world is backwards as fuck on this matter, just check out the "Kill Tony" podcast. On that show, young comics are given one minute to do their material followed by criticism from the hosts and guest(s). Unless they've got a vagina, then producer and co-host Brian Redban tells them, without subterfuge or irony, that he wants to fuck them; and somehow, in this sometimes overly PC world, nobody but his harassment victims ever calls him on it, which just gets them labeled crazy and ungrateful. I found it as shocking and infuriating as watching a cop murder a black man without consequence.

I'm sorry that this happened to you, Emma. I hope that you'll take it further than this blog post. I think it's time for a shit-stirring documentary. Your ace in the hole is that you work in the one industry where women are most willing speak out.

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Carl Johnson link
2/6/2018 03:04:43 pm

Your writing is just incredible. Hope you get to return to blogging at some point.

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