Seems a certain House Rep, Eric Massa was recently accused of groping male staff members during his brief stint as a House Rep democrat. He admitted to groping, but also said it was non-sexual. Before this gets moved to the political forum, what is your definition of groping and/or sexual harassment? Not what the law says, but what you say. It would seem that the definition of sexual harassment and "groping" is getting looser and broader every day. It seems now, that you can't touch someone other than a handshake, a high-five, or a fist-bump, otherwise it could be construed as unsolicited physical contact. Are we afraid to touch each other anymore? The Massa case is a weird example, but it would seem that America has become rather sensitive when it comes to physical contact. Your thoughts?

The Colbert Report, on Comedy Central, did such an excellent job of addressing this Wed. night.

... I defer to it as answer.

we have to control the spread of cooties. it is a pandemic of epic proportions. the only way to quell the cootie pandemic is to remove all physical contact. people choosing to touch one another shall be quarantined so that they can not spread this disease to others.
this is a real threat people. take this seriously.


. . .

Groping

is when your trying like hell to feel my boobies....

And I'm laughing at you!

I watched it as well, and for the moment, I thought it was funny, and definitely fodder for the latenight comedians like Leno, Stewart, Colbert, Letterman, and Kimmel. Until I got into a topic argument with my dad. "What is groping?" Is it what the Oxford dictionary says, or is it a personal definition? Is there a very loose definition of what groping is, or are there clear and set boundaries? If I go on a first date with a girl and I put the moves on her, but do not touch a sexual part, is that considered groping? Is fondling or caressing, stroking, rubbing, touching, a euphemism for groping? Or are we just arguing semantics here? Again, your thoughts?

It is a misnomer term being used to spin doctor a situation, for just the reason you query ...

What IS groping ... ???

So subjective, uh?

EACH will have their own interpretation!

Spin doctoring really is an art form all its own; it has such a brilliance in its madness ....

Ok. Is it only your breasts? Or any part of your body? Do you detest anyone touching you if you don't allow it or invite it? I don't mind anyone touching me, as long as it's not my genitals same gender, or they are hitting or slapping me. In the grand scheme of things, I don't understand why so many are so paranoid about people touching them. I think we all need more hugs and kisses. To touch or not to touch, that is the question.

You have an opinion, yes? What is groping to you?

Not sure what the actual definition is but I define it as: What is NOT going on in my life right now. (mumbling, but I sure wish it was)

Ah, outside of this incident?

IMO/experience groping is ...

... Fumbling about in a crude, ill~informed of another's anatomy, juvenile and immature sort of sexual manner ...

Usually, it also implies advances that were not desired, nor solicited, by the receiver of the grope!

As in, a first kiss and the guy fumbled his way where he had not at all been invited ...

All women would have coming of age tales on this ...

Being 'groped' is gross!

Hahaha. What the heck!!

Do I seem like the kinda woman paranoid about touching. Haha

you ran with this one....slow down!!! Haha

I love to touch me most of all!!!

I would say it's touching someone in a sexual way. If it's unwanted, it can be considered sexual harassment.

I will say this: good answer. It is the reciever of the grope that defines what the "grope" is. Although one can overreact and percieve a grope even though a grope did not actually happen. So it is in the eye of the beholder as to what a grope is, yes?

I suppose so, yes ...

But, in my experience, the events I'm recalling as description left no doubt!

Ah, but what is a sexual way? Is it your genitals or breasts? Or is it any part of your body. Therein lies the grey area of sexual harassment. It seems that because one does not allow or invite a physical contact, lets say like tickling your belly in this case, it can somehow be construed as sexual harassment or groping. You can put your arm around someone at a job regardless of gender, and it could be construed as sexual harassment. Are we afraid to touch each other? Let me be be clear, I don't condone what Eric Massa did, but now I am somewhat confused as to what the true definition of sexual harassment and groping is. If they do it all the time to you, definitely, you have a harassment case, but once or twice, perhaps you need to let them know you are uncomfortable with them touching you if you don't want it.

No, it would not have to be just touching genitals or breasts.

Unwanted touching is unwanted touching. If you're worried about trying to figure out if it's ok to touch someone, perhaps it's best to find out before touching them?

If a friend walked up and hugged me, put their arm around me, tickled me or touched me, that's fine. If it were a coworker? It would depend on who it is, as I have lots of coworkers that I barely know. Would I want most of them touching me? No. Would I think it's a bit weird if one of them tried to tickle me? Probably.

I always thought groping was when they touched my no-no spot?

Okay, good, then why not just tell them to back off and you don't want to be touched? Why all the litigation and harassment suits? It's like you're a hotelier and you have a guest in room 908, and the guest is making noise in room 906 and disturbing 908, how is this the hotel's fault? Just tell them they crossed the line and it is unacceptable, why the subterfuge and lawsuits? What gives?

IMHO: from the laypersons perspective (mine)....

groping - grabbing someone's junk (even if they want you too - I think it's still called groping - just no negative implications)

sexual harassment - creating an environment that makes someone uncomfortable within a sexual context, or makes demands for sexual content of some sort in order to remain employed, move ahead... ect

Examples...

Male aid walks into Senators office, and the senator grabs his junk = groping (grabbing of junk)

Male aid walks into Senators office every day, and the senator grabs his junk every day = groping (grabbing of junk) + sexual harassment (creation of an environment that is uncomfortable to the aid)

Male aid walks into Senators office, and the Senator says "show me your junk, or your fired" = sexual harassment (creating and environment that is uncomfortable to the aid)

One interesting point - even if aid #1 (the one being groped) likes it, and has no problem with it... aid #2 can still sue for sexual harassment - becuase they are uncomfortable with what is going on between the Senator and aid #1 - it is not always direct involvement. This being said, I think groping by defenition is always "direct"... and would only affect aid #1

$.02

p.s. please, no grabbing of my junk without permission

If that's what you think then it's true... I'm just watching to see if any fireworks erupt... no entendre intended