A non-apology - and he's quite right, IMHO

Matt Walsh is unapologetic about his views on the #MeToo brouhaha.

I was invited on Fox this morning to discuss that now infamous Gillette ad. During the course of that brief discussion, I criticized MeToo and said that I learned nothing from the movement because I already knew, and have always known, that it's not okay to abuse or harass women. I also pointed out that women would be pretty upset if some company released an advertisement lecturing them for bad stereotypical female behavior like gossiping, nagging, and shopping too much.

These comments were picked up by Media Matters and The Daily Beast, and I have since received a number of messages and emails from angry people — readers of those sites, I assume — who are upset and demand that I apologize. The bit about having learned nothing from Me Too seems to be the biggest sticking point. And it is for all of my comments on this issue, but that one comment in particular, that, after careful reflection, I have decided to officially and formally not apologize. I'm not sorry at all, even slightly.

. . .

It's not just that I learned nothing from MeToo, it's that nobody learned anything from MeToo. Men who don't harrass and abuse women already knew that they shouldn't (which is why they don't). Men who do or did harass and abuse women also already knew that they shouldn't. They did it anyway, because, in our flawed human nature, we often do things we know we aren't supposed to do. Very bad people do very bad things they know they shouldn't do. Sometimes those things are the worst sorts of things, like rape and murder. Rapists and murderers do not lack information. They are not confused. They are not short on awareness. Rather, they are short on morality and restraint and compassion and humanity and probably a dozen other things that an awareness campaign cannot provide them.

. . .

MeToo lumps every allegation of sexual misdeeds together and does not allow them to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This detracts from the seriousness of the really bad misdeeds and lends undue seriousness to minor misdeeds, and makes it difficult to distinguish between the two. Also, MeToo categorically prohibits any discussion of a woman's potential role in creating sexually inappropriate situations. Even less does it allow discussion of false allegations, which is a real and serious problem. Also, MeToo simplifies a complex issue, making innocent damsels out of women and cartoonish villains out of men. Sometimes women really are innocent and men really are villains. There can be grey areas, though, and there can be situations where the roles are entirely reversed. MeToo will not acknowledge that fact or make any allowances for it. There are other problems I could highlight, but you get the point.

There's more at the link.

I don't always agree with Matt Walsh's perspective, but in this case I think he's absolutely right.  We've demonized so many things under the #MeToo hashtag that it's become effectively meaningless.  Man opens door for a woman?  #MeToo!  Man invites woman to lunch?  #MeToo!  Man tries to kiss his date at the end of a pleasant evening together?  #MeToo!  I could go on, but you get the idea.

This has become a politically correct nightmare for far too many people, both male and female.  I don't intend to humor it - or those who proclaim it the loudest - to even the slightest extent.  I have better things to do with my time.  Deal with serious issues of sexual predation and harassment?  Sure.  I'll back those all the way.  Describe any and every male-female interaction in the same terms?  Get knotted.

Peter