Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Help Wanted

Hey everyone,

Holla-Back Colorado is currently being run by Meg. The problem is that Meg has a lot on her plate and isn't doing a very good job. If anyone would like to take over Holla-Back Colorado, or even just help out, they should contact Meg at hollabackcolorado@gmail.com and let her know. She would be very appreciative.

Saturday, May 05, 2007

An anecdote...

Here's a little story with a message from Beth Jordan (a.k.a. lone front ranger):

This doesn't really fall under the topic of harrassment at all but I figured it might be a cautionary to everyone -- don't get complacent. Word to the dudes: this means you, too. A fella friend of mine got mugged in lodo awhile back, and was beat up pretty solid. Pay attention to your surroundings, don't walk around downtown alone if you've been partying, and in general, don't be a victim.

A little back story: I've lived in some shitty, shitty places. Think: East Dayton, Ohio (redneck-urban slum) Over-The-Rhine, Cincinnati (straight-up nasty ghetto) and Baltimore (as ghetto as it gets). I moved to Boulder a few years back and believe me it is heaven in comparison. However, this anecdote goes to show that you should never completely drop your guard just because you feel safe in your community.

Last friday night the little startup I work for had a long, late meeting, and I ended up staying until nearly 8PM to clean up, etc. Now, boulder never struck me as being terribly unsafe after dark. I wouldn't want to be a freshman girl walking home alone on campus, mind you, but that's a different problem and one that's thankfully halfway across town from me. Besides, middle age has it's advantages, mainly being that you become invisible to most creeps. So i finish up, lock up, and go out to grab my bicycle (I don't drive).

Once outside, I notice that the lights are out in the parking lot AGAIN, which is a pain, cos it means I can't see to unlock my bike. I hear some rattling and scrummaging behind the dumpsters and figure it's just (four footed) wildlife in the bins. Put on my little pieztl camping headlight, unrack the bike... and all of a sudden there is THE most god-awful caterwauling row that goes off practically right next to my head! Holy flashbacks to baltimore, batman, there is a SINGING CRAZY DRUNK DUDE thrashing around in the garbage tip behind the OfficeMax, which is about fifteen feet away from me...okay now I'm skeeved. So I hop on the bike and he yells something at me, I dunno what, so I yell back at the top of my lungs "FUCK OFF!!!!" and hightail it out of there, fast.

If he'd made any moves towards me while I was unracking that bike, you bet he'd have gotten a big fat u-lock to the face and I'd have beat it over to the police station, which happens to be right next door. Now, how a couple dozen off duty cops can be hanging out right next to the unholy din this cat was making, without coming to investigate is beyond me, but... this is boulder.

On review, yeah, I know, you're right, I should have just gone and banged on the cop shop door anyway, but he really only startled me, didn't come after me, and it was likely just some homeless guy gettin his friday on. Tho' you'd better bet the first thing I did monday morning was get on the horn to the maintenance dude about those damned lights in our parking lot.

Be safe-- lfr

Thanks Beth!

The valian return...

So I'm really really really sorry I haven't posted anything on here in awhile. I am the worst Holla-Back site mistress EVER!!!

What happened (if anyone cares) is that I got so caught up with schoolwork and graduation and all the other crap going on in my life that I actually completely forgot this blog even existed. I'm so so so so sorry and I promise it won't happen again...hopefully.

I'll get right back on loading up posts and comments, so send me all you've got. And I'm really really sorry to those of you who sent stuff to me and never got to see them and thought I deleted them or something.

SORRY!!!

~Meg

Monday, January 22, 2007

MEN SUFFER HARRASSMENT TOO!

Hey guys...not sure how much this has to do with the hollaback movement...but no one else is sending me much so I thought I might put this on here...maybe some of you have some advise for this guy?

"I HAVE BEEN HARRASST FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF BY A WOMAN THAT HAS BLOWN UP MY PHONE, FOLLOWS ME, HAS SPREAD RUMORS ABOUT ME, GOT A JOB AT MY HANG OUT AND STARTED WARDING OFF ANY POTENTIAL DATES, TELLS OTHER WOMEN THAT IM HER BOYFRIEND AND THE LIST GOES ON. WHATS A MAN TO DO......?"

Anyone?

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Smile?

Yeah! Someone finally sent in a story... originally a comment but oh well! Thanks Jas!

"I had 2 friends who were at a beach in California. A young guy in a car parked right next to where they were sunbathing. He moved to the passenger side, opened the door and swiveled around so he was sitting right in front of them. He was naked and started to masturbate. My friend Leah took out her camera and said, "are you going to smile for me?" She took 13 pictures of him. He never stopped masturbating until he finished. Her husband was furious."

Jas

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Here's an e-mail from Johnny Scuderi, the first person to contact or comment...or actually do ANYTHING concerning this blog. Thanks Johnny! I thought it would be a good thing to put up for you guys:

I do think women fighting back being harassed is a good idea,
I just don't know if it's safe to forcefully take mens' pictures on the street.
I guess if there are enough people around.
Or if you act excited and tell the guy, "hey, you're cute,
can I take your pic with my camera phone to show my friends"??
You'll have to sell it, which shouldn't be hard, because most guys
who catcall women on the street are insecure idiots.
I think the fooling and stroking ego would be the best way to
get a great photo.
Good luck, don't give up !!
Johnny

Sunday, July 30, 2006

This was an e-mail sent to me by a friend. It's not exactly what the site is about...but I thought this would be a good place to put it.

Here we go:

Because of recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself on these things to do in an emergency situation...

This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, everyone you know. After reading these 9 crucial tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook,or making a list, etc.). DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.
a. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5 . A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat.
B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the opposite door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

------A note from Meg: My Dad used to be a security gaurd at a mall. He and fellow security gaurds did a major campaign throught the mall, with posters and everything. Here's what it said: "Attention shop owners: please ask all female employees to walk to cars in groups or else ask for a security escort. We are happy to help, and it is stupid and suicidal to do otherwise. Thank you." So yeah, what he said. ------

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN! Preferably in a zig-zag pattern.

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP. It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

9.Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window,and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. Please pass this on and DO NOTopen the door for a crying baby ----This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on America 's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana.

I'd like you to show this to all the women you know. It may save a life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle. Because of the nature of this site, this will probably only be seen by girls, but just in case: guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it onto them, as well. Send this to any woman you know that may need to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies in it and it's better to be safe than sorry.