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One thing I've noticed about American culture, versus the other countries I've been/worked in, is that it's highly litigious. I suspect that one of the reasons

One thing I've noticed about American culture, versus the other countries I've been/worked in, is that it's highly litigious. I suspect that one of the reasons people feel uncomfortable is the threat of lawsuit (or being buried in a corporate landslide triggered by policies designed to avoid lawsuit). This in addition to the finger-pointing at older Evangelical attitudes in the article...

mirimir 9y ago
Yes, highly litigious. And in the midst of a profound transformation in gender relations. Over perhaps the last century. Things are just chaotic. So the safest policy is avoiding potentially dangerous and/or compromising situations.
- ShannonAlther 9y ago
  Unfortunately, potentially compromising situations are the best way to get things done. If you want to avoid other people, you're going to be spending a lot of time at home by yourself, so to speak.
  - mirimir 9y ago
    The majority of survey respondents seemingly disagree. Also, you argue a false dichotomy.
    - ShannonAlther 9y ago
      Not at all. I'm just positing that to interact with someone means risking social interaction that you don't want – serial harassment, for example. The only surefire way to never be securely harassed is to never talk to anyone. You shouldn't do that, of course. But one-on-one meetings are extremely useful in many lines of work, and are also a time when you're likely to be accosted. This whole article is about how a ridiculous fraction of people polled think co-ed one-on-one meetings aren't kosher.
      - mirimir 9y ago
        Generalization here isn't very useful. One-on-one meetings are often very useful, regardless of gender. But there are risks. One party may fear assault, and another may fear false accusation of assault. And even without intentional assault or intentional false accusation, there's enormous potential for miscommunication. Self-awareness and prudence are the answer, I think. Don't meet one-on-one with someone until you know them well enough. Well enough to judge their intent. Well enough to get a sense of their communication style.
Simulacra 9y ago
I think Americans in general suffer from widespread righteous indignation. How dare you park in my space. How dare you disagree with me. How dare you say an inappropriate comment. Agreed that we are a very litigious society, but it's that righteous indignation that fuels it.

mirimir 9y ago

Yes, highly litigious. And in the midst of a profound transformation in gender relations. Over perhaps the last century. Things are just chaotic. So the safest policy is avoiding potentially dangerous and/or compromising situations.

ShannonAlther 9y ago
Unfortunately, potentially compromising situations are the best way to get things done. If you want to avoid other people, you're going to be spending a lot of time at home by yourself, so to speak.
- mirimir 9y ago
  The majority of survey respondents seemingly disagree. Also, you argue a false dichotomy.
  - ShannonAlther 9y ago
    Not at all. I'm just positing that to interact with someone means risking social interaction that you don't want – serial harassment, for example. The only surefire way to never be securely harassed is to never talk to anyone. You shouldn't do that, of course. But one-on-one meetings are extremely useful in many lines of work, and are also a time when you're likely to be accosted. This whole article is about how a ridiculous fraction of people polled think co-ed one-on-one meetings aren't kosher.
    - mirimir 9y ago
      Generalization here isn't very useful. One-on-one meetings are often very useful, regardless of gender. But there are risks. One party may fear assault, and another may fear false accusation of assault. And even without intentional assault or intentional false accusation, there's enormous potential for miscommunication. Self-awareness and prudence are the answer, I think. Don't meet one-on-one with someone until you know them well enough. Well enough to judge their intent. Well enough to get a sense of their communication style.

Simulacra 9y ago

I think Americans in general suffer from widespread righteous indignation. How dare you park in my space. How dare you disagree with me. How dare you say an inappropriate comment. Agreed that we are a very litigious society, but it's that righteous indignation that fuels it.