Townsville News Flash

Another great piece by Emily Devon this week (screenshotted and shared here with permission).

Just like she mentions, the horror and piss-poor systemic reactions to these abhorrent cases are much closer to home than we'd like to admit.

For many blokes it appears one of our first obstacles is the recognition and admission that something isn't right, followed up by reacting to the poor behaviour of another simply being fearful of being seen as someone that's 'dogging the boys' or being called a b*tch, f*ggot (grow up), or being exiled completely.

It's honestly a bloody weak and outdated excuse based on fear that needs to be rid of completely.

We talk of Men's Mental Health and how important it is to recognise our own weakness and anxieties, talk about it, empathise and grow to become a better bloke with a stronger mental fortitude. I'm so glad there has been a light shone on that side and I'm sure it's saved lives in the process. Yay us.

What hasn't improved through this time is our own response to each-other, calling out piss-poor behaviours which have only been seen as the norm because of the lack of real dialogue. Sure, there's been the odd TV campaign on the telly or during movie previews... Meanwhile, this shit is still prevalent from the perpetrators, to the people that are staying silent, to the systems that see too little justice be done to those responsible for somebody else's lifelong trauma and broken trust in almost everyone in their life.

I've admitted to being a part of this very problem (for those who remember a post I wrote regarding M*nty last year). The responses I received from victims (many of whom were mates I had no idea were affected) really humbled me, but also came with a sense of dread knowing about it for that time.
(I'm honestly still shocked at the minimal response to other blokes coming forward regarding that... but hey, that's probably why I'm writing this long-winded bit on my meme page.)

I think what I'm trying to say here is that
'Speaking up and being a real bloke = Good'
'Being a weak serial pest/abuser/r*apist enabler = Bad"