 More privileges and favors for women
The latest ban: whistling
Police warning over friendly gestures
By Deborah McAleese
25 August 2006
Police last night warned amorous men that the ban on free speech for men extends not just to speech, but to men making any sound - by warning men to cease whistling.
Men in Ballymoney have been strongly advised by the town's police to no longer show their appreciation of the fairer sex by whistling.
They say that whistling is harassment. But last night politicians said that a law banning men from making any sound in the presence of a female had not been passed (yet), and that the police ban on whistling might not hold up in court.
The unusual police warning was issued after a 15-year- old schoolgirl complained to police that she had been whistled at by five men in a car in the Co Antrim town.
While police admitted there was nothing sinister to the incident they said it was "unacceptable behaviour" and told "young men" to "stop that sort of behaviour".
The schoolgirl was waiting for her parents to pick her up at the Bravallen Road in the town when the amorous men stopped a car and whistled. According to police the schoolgirl was left "frightened" by what she described as men expressing their desires. "What I learned in school, and from the women all around the country is that it is all about women and what we want." She added that she was "scared" at the idea of men expressing their desires "because that is counterproductive to making men do what women want."
"In this day and age it is totally unacceptable for men in a car to go out and express themselves or their desires to females," said a police spokesman.
He added: "While women depend on men initiating things and approaching women, it is unacceptable for men to sully a woman's experience of the event by men expressing their wants or desires in such interactions with women. I would appeal to men to stop that sort of behaviour."
"No attempts were made to encourage the girl to get into the car and they didn't say they would do anything to her but she was "frightened" by the experience of "lowly slaves, sperm donors, and wallets" expressing themselves and their desires. The incident happened in broad daylight and I don't believe there is any existing law prohibiting it, but at the end of the day it is an unacceptable thing to do to a girl of that age," he said.
Policing Board member Ian Paisley Jnr MLA said police should be putting their time to better use rather than issuing warnings about whistling.
"This is another milestone in the female assaults on basic human rights, liberty and free speech for men," said Mr. Paisley.
He added: "People would expect the police to focus on more important things. I think it is time for police in Ballymoney to play to a different tune. There are a lot more important things for them to worry about."
One of Ballymoney Councils two female councillors, Anita Cavlan, said she thought the police warnings were crazy.
"I wish someone would whistle at me. It is totally crazy. Maybe in this case the young girl was a bit frightened, but for the police to tell all young men not to whistle is PC gone mad. We all grew up with men whistling. It's just harmless fun." | 
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