Post the Hollaback! viral video, the discussion over catcalling has blown up.
The message is clear: women don't like to be catcalled.
But the for some dudes, the concept that girls don't actually like to be objectified is a bit of a head-scratcher.
What's wrong with a compliment? They say. This 'feminism' shit is just a bunch of angry women. They say.
One such man is Steve Santagati, who suggested during a live segment on CNN on Sunday that if women don't like catcalling they shouldn't live in the city:
'No-one's holding a gun to your head telling you you have to live in New York City'.
Suggesting that the problem isn't with the catcallers. The problem isn't with the men or the sexism or murder cases... the problem is with all these bloody women moaning about it - if bitches don't like it get out of the city.
'There is nothing more a women likes to hear then how pretty she is...' Steve Santagati
The author of The MANual and Code of Honor, ironically doesn't seem to understand what honour is. Or what sexism is. Or what communication is. He doesn't understand women and I don't really think he understands what being a man is. He just happens to be a man. And have a penis and live in a fluffy parallel universe where everyone kisses his arse.
He shows no desire to address this very serious social problem and find resolution.
Cue total badass comedian - Amanda Seales who nailed it in her response addressing the problem head on:
'You as a man should be embracing to the fact that women are saying: hey we don't like this, not arguing why we shouldn't...'
And there it is: women are not speaking in code or asking you to read between the lines, we are saying we don't like it because WE WANT IT TO STOP.
'If women don't like it and we are demonstrating that, then you - as a man... should be saying well let's discuss how we can make you feel more comfortable'. Amanda Seales
Amen Amanda.
This is not Men v Women. This is about identifying a serious problem in society and changing attitudes.
I don't know about you, but the world right now... it's all getting a bit too The Handmaid's Tale for my liking.
The problem with Santagati's reaction was that it echoed a grumbling that I have heard from quite a few guys on my social media this week in response to the Hollaback! video. [However, I do acknowledge that not all men share this belief or attitude.]
Regardless of how it was filmed and what it was filmed for, the original viral showed a very real daily reality for many women - if you get caught up in all the fine print you are missing the bigger, wider issue here.
The difference between catcalling and complimenting someone is all down to one thing: how you intend to make a person feel.
It's not rocket science. It's just common sense.
Or maybe we girls should all follow Steve Santagati's advice and carry guns?