#ByeFelipe

I’ve been disillusioned about men online before, many times. But, reading the posts to #ByeFelipe is just sad. Some people will write about this site (the hashtag has an Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page) and complain or rant about men. Then there will be angry men who leave ignorant comments – men of the #ByeFelipe caliber.

#ByeFelipe showcases the dating scene online and how men respond to women who say no.

The strange thing is how little the men put into these interactions and how aggressive they become when the women don’t give them what they want. Most settle into calling the women names: fat, whore, ugly, bitch, etc. I read one where he threatened to keep harassing her until she sent him nude photos of herself.  This is based on a one time, often one sentence, contact.

#ByeFelipe is sickening to read through. I laughed at first but it got less funny as I thought of all the men doing this and wondered about the men I know. Men I wouldn’t suspect of this and yet… these men are all sons, brothers, uncles, husbands (no doubt in some cases).

We think the men writing this are ignorant due to their attitude and poor/ lazy spelling. We think they are jerks due to the aggression which comes far too easily. We don’t think of these men as someone we know (and like). We don’t think of these as the men we respect. But, we don’t know and that’s the problem.

These men pretend to be friendly, sincere and interested and then turn on her as soon as she isn’t interested. Obviously there is no honesty or sincerity in their first contact then. These men would be a very bad risk to actually meet. So how do women risk meeting any men? Unfortunately this is what men don’t seem to understand. They think they are all good guys and it’s not their fault women are… (fill in the blank).

One last note: how much of this attitude could be changed if women were not shown as provocative in order to market products? If women were not seen as the sex in sex sells maybe men wouldn’t think every woman should be available to have sex with them. Maybe even these men could see women as people rather than sex toys. Maybe men could treat (and think of) women like people even if they are not serving a sexual purpose for them.

Read more about #ByeFelipe and the interview with the founder.