In your opinion did Bush sexually harass the PM of Germany

[WI_DEM]

When he began massaging her around the neck?

What say you?

[NYCGirl]

1. Inappropriate, embarassing, but not sexual harassment. NT

[jobycom]

5. Echoes my thoughts. nt.

[ixion]

8. There are people who, that, if you did this to them in an office place

that you might just find yourself with a sexual harassment lawsuit. I agree with you, but the corporate climate is otherwise. You simply shouldn't touch other people in a professional setting.

[NYCGirl]

22. Unless there's a pattern of behavior to her, it's not harassment. NT

[JuniperLea]

96. It's harassment...

but you have to tell the person you don't want that behavior... then if they do the same thing again, you have a case.

It's not professional. Every HR class on harassment I've ever taken says it's harassment the first time and every time. If it wasn't harassment the first time, you could take offense to someone whistling in the office, tell them not to, then claim harassment when it happened again.

You cannot touch another person, except for a handshake. Period.

[benddem]

51. UNWANTED

equals sexual harassment. It was definitely unwanted besides inappropriate and embarrassing. He should be ashamed.

[librechik]

54. exactly--there is no necessity for a pattern, one incident

can be harassment if it was unwanted!

[LostinVA]

78. It legally is, if the woman or even other women complain

I've written -- and fired -- people for sexual harassment. No pattern is needed, just an unwanted line crossed. Inappropriate touching, unwanted touching? That's sexual harassment.

You're thinking of sexual discrimination. That's way easier to prove if there is a pattern.

[NYCGirl]

91. No, I wasn't thinking of sexual discrimination. So if someone touches

you once, you can get them fired? I would think there would have to be more than one instance, because the first time one should say, "Don't do that."

Edited to add:

Legal definition of sexual harassment:

http://www.de2.psu.edu/harassment/legal/

[shanti]

106. bullshit

i've taken at least three company-mandated SH presentations over the past 15 years, and this DOES qualify as sexual harrasment.

[htuttle]

2. Clearly sexual harassment

Hey, we all took the course at my workplace. No question about it. Textbook sexual harassment.

I think the training video even had the same scenario illustrated in it.

[blonndee]

4. Yes, I agree because I think

it was an act of dominance, via inappropriate quasi-sexual touching.

[NYCGirl]

7. He's Merkel's boss? NT

[blonndee]

Well, I imagine he THINKS he is.

[htuttle]

11. Doesn't have to be a boss -- it can even concern a customer

That's what the city's training course told us, in any case.

[NYCGirl]

17. So what does dominance have to do with it? NT

[htuttle]

30. ?? In what context ??

All I know is that unrequested backrubs are a HUGE no-no. That's what our city's EEOC told us.

Here's what the Federal government says:

http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-sex.html
Sexual harassment can occur in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to the following:

• The victim as well as the harasser may be a woman or a man. The victim does not have to be of the opposite sex.
  
• The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, an agent of the employer, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or a non-employee.
  
• The victim does not have to be the person harassed but could be anyone affected by the offensive conduct.
  
• Unlawful sexual harassment may occur without economic injury to or discharge of the victim.
  
• The harasser's conduct must be unwelcome.
  

[NYCGirl]

38. The post I was answering said it was an "act of dominance".

Since they are equals and he cannot fire her or refuse to promote her, I disagreed. It also has not been proven to be a pattern.

[htuttle]

42. It doesn't have to be a pattern, according to the regulations I'm aware of

You might have a more narrow definition of sexual harassment personally, but any corporation that doesn't have it's head up it's butt nowdays is teaching 'hands off' in all cases. As I said, that's what our city's EEOC course taught, too.

[NYCGirl]

43. What corporation do they work for? She has every right to tell him to

keep his hands off. If he does it again and she's warned him, then there's a case.

[htuttle]

46. Obviously, the UN doesn't enforce sexual harassment regulations...

...but what I'm saying is that the same behavior at most corporations nowdays will easily and quickly get you fired.

[LostinVA]

80. It was unasked for touching

If the woman involved OR OTHER WOMEN IN THE BUSINESS make a complaint, that's it. Even if they don't make a complaint, but you observe it, you can file against them.

I sued to teach these classes. That's the law.

[Virginia Dare]

19. I see where you're going with this...

and I agree, it wouldn't stand up in a courtroom, but it was extremely disrespectful IMO. Maybe he goes around slapping men on the back, and it was his equivalent maneuver for a woman. Whatever it was, it was a crude and embarassing thing for him to do to her.

[NYCGirl]

25. Exactly. Crude and embarassing, but not harassment. NT

[LostinVA]

81. Wrong -- legally harassment

Call your local government office -- they'll agree with me. Call your HR office, they will, too. It's considered sexual harassment. And, as a coworker of the woman touched, I could also complain about it, although it gets a little harder then.

[LostinVA]

79. You do not have to be someone's boss for sexual harassment

You can even be someone's subordinate. OR, even a salesman/vendor. The last actually happened at a company I worked at. Both our company and the salesman's company was cited for sexual harassment.

You are confusing harassment and discrimination, I think.

[Retrograde]

36. that's the opposite of what I was taught

The lawyer who taught my Law for Dummies, uh, I mean Managers, said that to be sexual harrassment three things were necessary:

1. The incident must be sexual in nature. Generally, touching within the "Strike Zone" (roughly shoulders to knees for you non-baseball fans) counts as sexual. Bush is borderline here

2. The act must be unwelcome. Definitely the case

3. The act must be repeated. As far as I know, this is the first time Bush did this to Merkel.

Therefore, it's technically not a sexual harassment case. Just damned poor manners.

[htuttle]

44. How long ago was that?

The municipal training courses we all took gave a MUCH broader definition of harassment that you describe. That was about 5 years ago, IIRC.

[Retrograde]

58. about 5 years ago as well

IIRC, the 3 conditions meant yes, absolutely sex harassment, no arguments about it, call HR immediately.

That doesn't mean a particular group can't set higher standards of conduct, as long as it applies them consistently and the employees know about it. Then again, I expect people with any functioning brain cells who have reached adulthood to have picked up basic polite social behavior along the way. It's surprising how many don't.

BTW, I'm not a lawyer.

[Nay]

56. Hmm, in our workplace it's a bit different. The harasser basically

gets a pass on his first offense because the person offended (which may be the person touched or an observer who is disgusted) is required to tell the offender to back off and never do such a thing again.

This is ostensibly to allow a friendly backslapping simpleton who doesn't know any better to wise up and not offend again. I see this as reasonable, although I know people will take advantage of this. I hasten to add that this "first offense" policy would not be valid if, say, the offender is a man and he throws a coworker down on a desk and dry-humps her or something. That's automatic firing, and probably arrest for assault.

With us, there is no "strike zone" test -- if you don't want to be touched anywhere on your body, repeat offenses are pretty much called harassment. Whether it's sexual or some other kind, I couldn't say, but you'd be guilty of something and be subject to the penalties. That also seems reasonable to me, esp since perverts could be after your toes, for example (as in the Dutch and Australian cases), and esp since I think everyone has the right to not be mauled in any way or on any body part. It's a way for the offender to attempt to "own" you, and it stinks.

To answer the "dominance" question above: I believe most who have seen Bush's action as a gesture of dominance do not regard it as a "boss and employee" type of dominance gesture, but a male-to-female one, or at least an "alpha male to the pack" gesture. It's an animal thing, and women are pretty goddamned sensitive to it, since men have pulled this shit on us for our whole lives. That aspect leapt out and bit me immediately.

Bush's neck rub, in American law, wouldn't be sexual harassment, but only because he hasn't done it again after the Chancellor grimaced her displeasure. I do hope she sent him a chilly memo telling him to keep his fucking hands to himself.

The whole episode just leaves me speechless and depressed -- none of us out here would ever think of mauling someone in public like that; nor would we chomp food with our mouths open, saying "shit" for the cameras. We were brought up with manners and a sense of decorum, esp with respect to our work, our comportment with others in a very public venue, etc., etc. That Chimpboy acts like this with impunity merely indicates he has no class, no class at all. But we knew that.

[LostinVA]

82. They were wrong

All supervisors have to go to a diversity class once a year, taught b y the attorney. We just had ours two weeks ago. THIS is sexual harassment. One incident. And, it doesn't have to be within any "strike zone." It's your BODY.

[marions ghost]

98. if that's the law

then it should be changed re. having to be repeated.

Some of the worst acts of sexual harassment happen the first time. A woman (esp if young) may be so surprised and humiliated that she doesn't respond. So the harasser gets the idea that it's OK to continue. But it was still harassment when it happened.

[baldguy]

3. Thats the first thing I thought of.

[longship]

6. In other words, "Is the President a misogynist, or a massagenist?"

:evilgrin:

[AndyA]

9. I chose "Undecided" because I'm not sure what women in Germany

consider to be sexually harassing. In other countries, one should always err on the side of caution, since what is acceptable in one country or region may not be in another. I would certainly expect that Bush would have asked her if she'd like a massage before just doing it.

Knowing what an asshole Bush is, though, I would guess he just did it to show her who's boss. Women to Bush are not as valued as men, as evidenced by his stance on abortion.

[wryter2000]

49. I'm pretty sure it's considered more invasive in Germany

Germans don't even use first names with each other without specific agreement.

[Karenina]

65. It was a BLATANT signal of DOMINANCE.

I attended a concert tonight where Joe Zawinul played and had the opportunity to watch his interaction with his FEMALE manager of decades.
They "Sie" each other. It is a sign of !!!RESPECT!!!. I do realize that many Americans will have NO IDEA what I speak of as in the English language
there is no differetiation. I do hope that some readers here who have had some exposure to "foreign" languages will recognize the subtleties in my second sentence.

[wryter2000]

72. Sie -- formal; du - informal

I believe dutzen is the verb for formally agreeing to use the du form with each other. At least, when I was in high school, that's what our German teacher told us. You'd never walk up to a German adult stranger and call her du.

[Benhurst]

10. His only "defense" is

that he was obviously drunk out of his mind.

I predict it won't be long before Bush is checked into Bethesda for "the flu." He's either an out of control druggie or crazy.

[ladjf]

12. That's a close call. In the place where I have worked, that might

have been considered OK if the massager knew the recipient well enough to know that it wouldn't be taken as a sexual overture. Otherwise, men and women were expected to keep their hands to themselves.

[The Deacon]

13. Naw

You have to have a penis to sexually harass a female colleague - and Cheney didn't let him take it this trip.

[cspanlovr]

14. Yes indeed. I doubt he would have tried that on a male Chancellor

of Germany. What an embarrassment! I showed this to my husband last night, but it was not in any newspaper this AM. :shrug:

[Lerkfish]

15. does he do it to blair or putin?

if not, then you have your answer.

[Mandate My Ass]

16. technically yes

but I think he did it as a sign of dominance rather than sexual interest. Whether it's by lecturing or calling of demeaning nicknames, he does this all the time because he's monumentally insecure.

Still, if it's inappropriate in the workplace, it's much moreso at an international summit.

[Demit]

18. That was not a massage. And yes, it was a display of contempt.

How anyone can look at that video and characterize that as some kind of "backrub" is beyond me. It was over in a flash, and there was nothing friendly about it. Look at Bush's face as he does it.

It's like all the public commentators are trying to convince us that what we are seeing is something different from what we are seeing. It's a disgrace.

[blogslut]

20. Where's the third option?

He was being an asshole.

BTW, that weren't no massage. That was a nerve pinch he gave her. I wouldn't care if it came from a man or woman, it's an act of violence.

[npincus]

21. Definitely condescension

if not harrassment. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww.

If a co-worker ever put his paws on me, I'd slap his face!

[The Deacon]

28. Even if

We'd shared a pig together? (Ah, that wonderful roast pig!)

[Catherine Vincent]

23. It was close to it.

She didn't give him that come hither look did she?

[mopinko]

unwanted is the key word in law

that is what the statutes that i am aware of call outlaw- UNWANTED contact. and you had only to look on her face to see that it was unwanted.
and clearly he thinks it is fine to walk up to a woman he barely knows and put his hands on her. not like that is a surprise.

[liberal N proud]

24. Would he have done that to Vladimir?

If not then it was sexual.

[reichstag911]

32. Vladimir would kick GW's ass!

Morally, he's probably no better than Bush*, but he is demonstrably smarter and certainly tougher than that dumbass, 60-year-old Texas punk.

[mtnsnake]

26. Not sure what it was, other than it was simply WRONG

and very unpresidential, but what else is new with this imbecile.

[Turbineguy]

27. He was probably just doing what he does a lot

not thinking.

[Lars39]

29. I would also consider it 'assault'.

[Spazito]

31. No question about it, imo

It is obvious, at least to me, that bush felt he was free to treat the Chancellor of Germany in a demeaning, contemptuous way and he felt free simply because she is a woman. Sexual harassment is not about sex, it is about power, trying to exert power over another through inappropriate touching, inappropriate language, etc. The "I can do/say anything I want to you because...." behavior.

[Missy M]

35. I agree with you 100%!!

What if Putin came up behind Laura Bush and started giving her a massage? What do you think the reaction would be. It is harassment and inappropriate. I guess the Office of Protocol hasn't been briefing Bush and he obviously isn't smart enough to know better. I wonder if he would do that to the Queen of England.

[pitohui]

40. good post, spazito

this my experience also

[Spazito]

50. As it has been mine....

I have worked in what may be termed the traditional workplace and in the political sphere, and, interestingly enough, my experience within the political sphere was much worse re sexual harassment than that of the traditional workplace. It seemed, in my experience, many politicians believe in the "do as I say, not as I do" philosophy. While espousing rhetoric supporting banning sexual harassment in the workplace, their behavior often is stereotypical of the examples in the training videos of what NOT to do.

[WI_DEM]

69. I agree

[ramblin_dave]

33. Check out this link - head patting, shoulder massage

are explicit examples of sexual harassment.

http://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/policies/m-files/m-sexhar.htm

[TheCowsCameHome]

34. She should have massaged his nuts with her foot.

[pitohui]

37. sure he did unless he would do the same to a man

it's a way to cut her down to size and remind her that he's the man and she's the woman, isn't it?

that said, i doubt it's worth her time to angst abt it, all germany already knows * is an idiot and a drunk who can't behave properly in public

[lumberjack_jeff]

89. But he does do the same thing to men

The rubbing of bald heads and the "pet names" are all bullying behavior, intended to diminish the people around him.

It's stupid, arrogant and bullying but IMHO it's not sexual harassment. If it is, it's only because he chose a different form of bullying for a female.

[Cobalt Violet]

39. It looked like an unwanted and unprovoked advance to me.

[RB TexLa]

41. He certainly created a hostile work environment, he didn't massage Tony

or any of the other male leaders there did he? There are ways to behave, I hate when a female in a business situation tries to hug me instead of shaking hands. You have to step back and reach out to the side to shake their hands as they come at you.

[marions ghost]

97. totally agree

in a business or professional situation, it is NOT cool to get huggy.

Interesting. That's something I didn't know was so much a problem. Women need to be taught to shake hands only it looks like. That's what I've always done so I didn't know there were people who go in for hugging business associates. It would not occur to me to hug anyone, male or female, in such a context.

[misternormal]

45. Any Unsolicited touching...

... is sexual harassment at some level.

Some good ole boys think that women want to be touched by any man that wants to touch them.

And the chimpinator is definitely one of those good ole boys.

[davidwparker]

47. He minimized her.

[Jade Fox]

60. Good way to put it. No sense of her sovereignty....

and assuming he has access to her body without asking.

[Swamp Rat]

48. Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment
n.
The making of unwanted and offensive sexual advances or of sexually offensive remarks or acts, especially by one in a superior or supervisory position or when acquiescence to such behavior is a condition of continued employment, promotion, or satisfactory evaluation.

(snip)

A key part of the definition is the use of the word unwelcome. Unwelcome or uninvited conduct or communication of a sexual nature is prohibited; welcome or invited actions or words are not unlawful. Sexual or romantic interaction between consenting people at work may be offensive to observers or may violate company policy, but it is not sexual harassment.

The courts have generally concluded that a victim need not say or do a particular thing to indicate unwelcomeness. Instead, a court will review all of the circumstances to determine whether it was reasonably clear to the harasser that the conduct was unwelcome. The courts have recognized that victims may be afraid to express their discomfort if the harasser is their boss or is physically intimidating. Victims may be coerced into going along with sexual talk or activities because they believe they will be pun ished or fired if they protest. Consent can be given to a relationship and then withdrawn when the relationship ends. Once it is withdrawn, continued romantic or sexual words or actions are not protected by the past relationship and may be sexual harassment.

The law prohibits unwelcome "sexual" conduct and words or actions "of a sexual nature." Some conduct, such as hugging, may be sexual or nonsexual and must be evaluated in context. Sexual harassment may be physical, such as kissing, hugging, pinching, patting, grabbing, blocking the victim's path, leering or staring, or standing very close to the victim. It may also be verbal, which may be oral or written and could include requests or demands for dates or sex, sexual jokes, comments about the victim's body or clothing, whistles, catcalls, or comments or questions about the victim's or harasser's social life or sexual life. Sexual harassment may also be visual, such as cartoons, pictures, or objects of a sexual nature.

(snip)

http://www.answers.com/topic/sexual-harassment

[fearthem]

52. Any inappropriate touching, of a woman by a man is sexual in nature...

the fact that it was unsolicited, inappropriate and served as a "statement" makes it harassment. It would be construed to be that if in the work environment.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

64. It's not like tapping a woman on the shoulder to get her attention

A massage is an intimate act. It involves squeezing the muscles and rubbing the skin. My Daddy raised me never to touch a woman without an invitation.

[China_cat]

53. Abso-fuckin'-lutely

[coda]

55. The irony is they need Barb to get * , to stop doing this shit....nt

[napi21]

57. YES, because THAT's the standard used in any business in the US!

ANY UNWANTED touching!

If some iniot in the business world did the smae thing to another female employee, it would be termed Sexual Harrassment! Believe me, I've seen the charge made for much less than Shrub did yesterday!

I don't give him any breaks on this just because he's the Prez and she's a peer head of State!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

59. Oh God No. Awkward And Embarrassing? Absolutely.

[Quixote1818]

66. I agree, he just used bad judgment

He said Condi lets him do it to her all the time. He probably just got so use to Condi thinking it was great that he did that to her and offering him gratitude, Bush thought it would go over completely different than it did. I am sure he didn't mean it in a sexual way but a friendly way. He still looked like a complete boob when he did it and her body language said "GET THE FUCK AWAY YOU FREAK!!!!!!!!"

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

God, when I think how the Germans are getting such a kick out of this! They must think Bush is the biggest idiot on the face of the earth! He is such an embaresment to our country. Ugh!!!

[catzies]

102. Did he really say Condi lets him do that to her all the time? That's his

defense?

[shimmergal]

61. Crude and a dominance attempt, but

all the arguments referencing business practice in the U.S. are irrelevant. I don't think
American sexual harassment laws apply at international summit meetings!

I also find the couple of posts mentioning hugs and "any touch" in certain body areas a bit curious. Certainly after the Peace in our church people sometimes greet each other with hugs. Handshakes are more common, but the choice is up to the person offering it, and nobody ever thinks of it as a sexual gesture, much less sexual harassment. It would be a bit crazy if such standards designed for a completely different situation were brought in, and a gesture that's given to acknowledge each person as a valued individual was defined as an insult.

[MrSlayer]

62. Come on. He just has no social graces.

He didn't grab her ass or anything. He just thought he was being friendly. He is clumsy and boorish but he did not sexually harass her. Sometimes we make too big a deal out of every little thing this jackass does.

[Quixote1818]

84. Yep

I actually think it's more embarrassing to Bush that he probably wasn't trying to make a move on her but was just a total boob. He is an embarrassment to our country! What a dip!

[Darkhawk32]

63. Sexual harrassment? Nah. Completely stupid? You bet! n/t

[kitty1]

67. What if German PM had massaged Bush. She would have...

been labelled as some easy man hungry woman with no scruples. interesting how the perspective changes the other way around. The world media would have torn her apart.(Not to mention Laura)
Bush is the poster boy for everything inappropriate of course.
He has the class of a spam sandwich.

[spacelady]

68. This is definitely a pattern on * part - I have seen numerous instances

when * has grabbed Laura and others by the back of the neck, in an obviously dominant "I'm the boss" manner. For once, the victim (who happens to be a FEMALE world leader) vigorously repelled this sicko behavior.

[stop the bleeding]

70. Not sure - but I feel violated and dirty n/t

[truebrit71]

71. No. Completely and totally inappropriate and monumentally embarrassing....

...in other words, par for the course for this particular man-monkey...but not sexual harassment...

[LostinVA]

83. Not under US Federal laws n/t

[truebrit71]

86. That may be the case, but it was asking for my opinion...

...I don't think it was sexual harassment, but it was definitely unwelcome physical contact. I always find that with "unwelcome physical contact" a swift kick in the 'nads is an adaquate response...

[johnaries]

73. According to our class at work,

It was unsolicited and unwanted inappropriate physical contact. Yes.

[Nikki Stone 1]

74. Was there any comment about this in German newspapers?

They are less likely to think of it as sexual harassment, but they might consider all that touching a political insult. When Junior rubbed McKean's head in public,a lot of us saw it as a political dominance thing with sexual undertones.

[hyphenate]

75. Definitely sexua harassment

He wouldn't have done it if "she" had been a "he," would he? And that's what makes it sexual harassment--he obviously did it because it WAS a woman, and not a man. And it's quite obvious that she was not only pissed off royally, but was stunned that he would even try it.

[LostinVA]

76. In an office environment, he would so be in trouble over this

I've seen men fired for less.

[gulliver]

77. Simple question: Has he massaged any men?

[Skittles]

85. I think bush is asexual

he's just a f***ing moron

[KingFlorez]

87. I wouldn't call it harrasment

I do think it was inappropriate for him to put his hands on somebody.

[ecstatic]

88. Yes, but there's a catch. Law states you have to warn the offender

at least once before you can make such accusations. That doesn't diminish what Bush did because he was totally in the wrong, but in the States I think at least one warning is required.

[LostinVA]

90. Not necessarily n/t

[SeattleGirl]

92. I say yes.

He touched her inappropriately, regardless of where he touched her. Sexual harassment is about turning another into an object, about treating them in a way that is disrespectufl, that is designed to put the harassed in a "one-down" situation.

[KAT119]

93. YES-male-female hands- on unwanted boundary invasion....

[Haole Girl]

94. Anybody have a link to the video?

All the ones I've tried from work show "unauthorized", so far.

[KansDem]

103. Try this one...

http://www.bild.t-online.de/BTO/news/aktuell/2006/07/18/merkel-bush-liebes-attacke/merkel-bush-liebes-attacke.html

[Haole Girl]

116. Thanks

[JuniperLea]

95. Absolutely! It was sexual harrassment...

But in the workplace, you would have to tell the person you don't want physical contact and then if they do it again, you can prosecute. It is harassment the first time and the second time.

[marions ghost]

99. yeah this is sexual harassment

obviously more women will see it this way than men, but if there are any men around who think this is NOT sexual harassment, then you might want to read up on it. Yes it is also crude, boorish, condescending, demeaning, funky monkey behavior--as sexual harassment usually is.

Men who believe this was not sexual harassment...how would you like it if some man snuck up behind you and began massaging your shoulders at a business-oriented public function? Just how would you like that? Would you not see it as a sleazy, demeaning gesture? We are not talking about a backyard bbq here. Put yourself in the shoes of the recipient.

[ourbluenation]

100. NO - No pattern of harassment. one time only doesn't count per law

A supervisor stuck his tongue down my assistants throat. I shit you not. It was not wanted, trust me - he was a gross old man. According to the law it's not harassment unless it happens more than once, creating a pattern of harassment, which in turn creates a hostile work environment. The burdon then falls on the victim to tell the person to stop. As much as I'd love to say otherwise, this was just mostly stupid on the decider's part.

You can thank the RW courts for this...your boss can grab you tits...once...and that's ok with the courts.

[marions ghost]

101. this law is absurd

how would a man feel if women (or another man for that matter) started grabbing or invading their body parts in the workplace? Once would be enough.

[ourbluenation]

104. not according to many right wing courts...

if the grabee tells the grabber to stop and they do it again, then there's a problem for the grabber, legally. A pattern has been established of harassment. One time only grab, the courts have determined is just a dumb mistake. One grab is not harassment.

And how they think a hostile work environment doesn't exist after your boss grabs you is beyond absurd. It can never be the same.

[Beelzebud]

105. Nope. Not even close to sexual harrassment.

It's just the actions of a fucking idiot, that doesn't even have enough empathy to know when he isn't liked by someone.

[BringEmOn]

107. Rush Limbaugh was accussed of sexual harassment, but was later acquitted..

because the evidence wouldn't stand up in court.

[Dervill Crow]

108. Most definitely yes.

His obscene language would also be grounds for a sexual harassment suit in my workplace. Dirty jokes, bad language, anything that makes another person uncomfortable is verboten.

[conflictgirl]

109. I'm really not sure.

It was clearly inappropriate and demeaning, but I'm not sure if I'd consider it sexual harassment.

Or, to put it another way: if I worked in an office and someone did that to me, I wouldn't file a sexual harassment complaint against them after one occurence. If it continued and they didn't stop, then I would.

[Minnesota Libra]

110. If that had been me I would have slapped idiot boys face nt

[Dervill Crow]

111. Yes, according to my employer's HR policy.

Every employee is required to read and sign that they understand what is and is not appropriate behavior. Since * has never actually WORKED, of course he would be completely ignorant of what is acceptable in a business environment.

[LWolf]

112. No.

Someone getting in a person's space without their permission is not necessary sexual harassment.

I get shoulder rubs from lots of people; a shoulder-rub in itself is not sexual. It may be plain harassment, since I don't think he was invited into her space or invited to touch her. It's definitely arrogance and social crudity.

[Stephanie]

113. Yes. He would not have done it to a man of equal stature.

Period.

[mnhtnbb]

114. Inappropriate behavior from a man with narcissistic personality

disorder. Not sexual harassment. One time behavior.

[mnhtnbb]

115. Definition of harass: to trouble by REPEATED attacks; to disturb

persistently.