Is the "Billy Graham Rule" sexist or just old fashioned?

TheunderdogofNY · 2019-07-11T13:35:14-04:00

Politics - Is the "Billy Graham Rule" sexist or just old fashioned? Story: Robert Foster, the Republican... (32 replies).

Poll - Total Votes: 5

It's Sexist

It's Old Fashioned

It's wise to protect yourself in this manner

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You can only vote on one answer.

Story:

Robert Foster, the Republican state lawmaker running for governor of Mississippi, turned down a journalist’s request to shadow him on the campaign trail because he said he refuses to be alone with a woman other than his wife. (Rogelio V. Solis/AP)

Source:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Graham_rule

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-billy-graham-rule-doesnt-honor-your-wife-it-demeans-her--and-all-women/2019/07/11/c1ac14e6-a380-11e9-bd56-eac6bb02d01d_story.html?utm_term=.d4eafd36696a

My input:

Is Robert wrong for making this request?
More and more men nowadays are feeling uncomfortable being alone with women especially in professional settings. Are these feelings justified or are they merely overreactions?

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CopperCicada · M

I think it's a disturbing and repressively pathetic self-imposed social rule.

One. My late wife would have HATED getting dragged around to various functions.

Two. If I can't be professional with women-- then I don't deserve a profession or a political office.

Three. Sure. I'll be honest. I generally keep the door to my office open when speaking with female students and colleagues. I guess that's "protecting myself".

But I've also gotten baked at the bar with female colleagues and have had deeply personal conversations with female students and colleagues behind closed doors. So that's the fourth point-- if you can't discern when discretion is useful versus a burden, then you're sort of fucked up.

Scenario #1. Discussing politics with a female journalist in her hotel room while you fold the panties in her suitcase-- problem.

Scenario #2. Discussing politics with a female journalist in the lobby of said hotel-- sounds reasonable.

MethDozer · M

@CopperCicada The BS rumors by the third parties are the real variable.

Ynotisay · M

@CopperCicada If I can't be professional with women-- then I don't deserve a profession or a political office.
BOOM.
Nailed it.

CopperCicada · M

@Ynotisay It really is that simple, right?

Ynotisay · M

@CopperCicada It's amazing how simple so many things are.
When I'm King of the World my first edict will be "Don't be a dick." That alone will make the world a better place.

MethDozer · M

@CopperCicada It is what it is. When a man and women are frequently together and often behind closed doors people start to talk and make up rumors. It's always been that way. What people believe and assume is often more influential than the truth and the facts.

CopperCicada · M

@Ynotisay That was how I felt when the Southern Baptist Convention had their annual meeting and on the docket was what to do about pastoral abuse.

Like. OK. The pastors shouldn't fuck their congregation.

See. Did I do good? I solved that one pretty fast.

CopperCicada · M

@MethDozer Well, I think there's ways around that.

Like I said above-- don't close the doors. Meet in public. Have other people around. Weigh the value of privacy carefully. Most of the time it's just not valuable. I have little to say in my work that requires a closed door.

There's also picking who you spend time with carefully.

I have a female colleague that I regularly meet with privately. I also have female friends (platonic). They are solid. And what people believe-- fuck them.

Seems the most moralistic people are often the people with the most perverted minds. I'll overhear people talking. Two old ladies grabbing a beer. Must be dykes. Two regular dudes with a baby. Must be gay. Older guy and a younger woman-- must be fucking her.

MethDozer · M

@CopperCicada I don't disagree with anything there.

Ynotisay · M

@CopperCicada Doesn't take much to get certain things right.

MarkPaul · 26-30, M

@CopperCicada The female reporter was requesting to drive along with the candidate in his pick-up truck where it would only be the two of them as he criss-crosses the state in what he described as 16-hour days.

I think the candidate, who describes himself as an underdog, was hoping for some free public attention. But, the concern he is claiming is not without merit. It seems there is an element of risk for any two people (or any gender or persuasion) to necessarily be alone if they don't know each other, regardless of professional credentials. Sadly, that's just what social interaction has become.