I must admit, reading about “Spotted” in the news once again came as no surprise to me. Sadly, it seems everyday a new wave of internet indecency or nastiness becomes part of the norm.
And, make no mistake, the materials posted upon “Spotted” are particularly grotesque. But, I still have to question; aren’t such materials in many ways merely an expression of freedom, and of being human?
In truth, it is completely normal and part of everyday life – men and women will look at, talk about, fantasise about and trade lewd comments/pictures of the opposite sex. They don’t need the internet for this either.
So, I have to ask – how far is too far on the internet?
And, has “Spotted” reached, breached and exceeded the limits?
For those of you who don’t know what ‘Spotted’ is, allow me to provide you with some shockingly foul-mouthed quotes which illustrates it clearly (warning – profanities follow);
“That blonde haired girl who just walked into the 2nd floor of the library is fucking banging” – ‘Spotted: Reading University Library’ (3718 likes).
“To the dirty skank… for gods sake buy some new leggings!! jesus christ! i can see your minge!” [sic] – ‘Spotted: Swansea University Campus’ (2407 likes).
“To the girl talking about harry potter. i think your arse might be a horcrux, im gonna have to destroy it tonight” – ‘Spotted: Kent Uni Library’ (4209 likes).
These comments are typical examples of what “Spotted” has to offer. Male university students and their velvet tongues, produce one disgusting comment after another, and it is shrugged off as a type of compliment that their female peers should enjoy receiving.
“Spotted” pages are in fact part of the Facebook family. They are pages that encourage students to write comments and messages about their peers, which are published anonymously by page administrators. Many of the pages target specific universities (each page supposedly run by a student at that institution), with hundreds of different pages appearing on Facebook. Many of the pages have been liked thousands of times.
The “about” sections of most of the pages innocent enough, they encourage students to share funny incidents, grievances or secret crushes, but the reality is very different. Many of the pages consist of heavily sexualised and offensive comments about students’ appearance and sexuality, and female students are targeted with particularly misogynistic comments.
“To the stuck up slut who looked at me as if I’d just slipped a finger up her grandma…“ –‘Spotted: University of Portsmouth Library’ (7460 likes).
Some posts include images, seemingly uploaded without the subjects’ knowledge or consent.
A current post on the ‘Spotted: University of Essex’ page (3955 likes) shows a young woman sitting at a computer, apparently unaware of the fact that her underwear is exposed above the waistband of her trousers, or of the fact that she is being photographed from behind. The caption on the photograph reads: “Nice bit a crack in the reading room.” [sic]
Another picture featuring a female student, again taken from behind and apparently without consent, appears on the “Spotted: Coventry University” page (4097 likes), captioned: “Asian girls and their asses though.” Several of the posts nastily blend racism with sexism.
A post appearing on the ‘Spotted: Hotty in Hartley Library’ page (3493 likes), displays a picture of a female student from behind, and asks fellow students to identify her so the poster “can get on that”.
Many posts inform female students what their male peers would like to do to them, or are doing while watching them:
“To the girl on the c+ floor with the red toshiba laptop… i was sitting next to you a few hours ago. I literally couldn’t take my hand out of my pants the whole time.” [sic]
“To the hot girl sitting opposite me on level 3, do you mind if I have a cheeky danger wank whilst looking at you?“
“To the sexy brunette on the 4th floor, will you be my girlfrien? I didn’t add the D because you’ll get that later.”
Others veer from sexual objectification towards bullying:
“To the girl in the floor 4 toilets, you’re not Niagara falls, at some point you’ve gotta stop flowing.”
“The fat bird standing by the printers on the first floor. Don’t want to shag, but could really do with a cuddle.”
Is it all in good fun??
A National Union of Students study reveals that 68% of female students experience sexual harassment during their time at university, and one in seven are seriously physically or sexually assaulted. These statistics actually shocked me; I didn’t know this was the case, and I doubt many female students (current or future) would know either.
So, how harmless are such pages if they feed into a wider student culture which increasingly treats young women as sexual prey?
And, do such pages merely demonstrate, and ensure that sexual harassment infiltrates every part of the academic arena to the point that there are no limits?
I then wonder;
Does “Spotted” encapsulate a new culture of objectification, harassment and misogyny?
How can this freedom of speech be curtailed, or, should it be?
Is “Spotted” just boys being boys or is it more sinister than that?
If you or your daughter were on the receiving end of such grotesque comments, how would you react?
All I can say;
I am thankful “Spotted” didn’t exist when I was a student. It was daunting enough entering the new environment of a large university, leaving home, being frightened, unsure and anxious over everything. I certainly wouldn’t have appreciated contending with this form of bullying and harassment too.
“Spotted” is childish, dangerous, aggressive, soul destroying and cowardly; not the best way to demonstrate what a UK university education can teach you.
Perhaps, a little less lady spotting and a little more studying wouldn’t go amiss.
Hi Savvy Senorita, a powerful post. Best wishes, Filippo del mondo
Hi there! Thank you for reading, appreciate your comment! Thanks again, Bex
I agree! Very interesting post! Life is so unpredictable when dealing with the unknown.
Thank you, and I appreciate that 🙂
Glad you brought this up. My daughter is in a UK uni, and I’ve seen the Spotted posts for her uni – the ones I saw were all pretty tame and good-natured and my daughter has said most of the students find them funny. I hadn’t seen any like the ones you posted – maybe the Spotted at her uni is moderated for this kind of thing. Anyhow, yes, as you said, Spotted can be a total invasion of private space and just imagine finding a picture of your own underwear exposed on FB at your uni. Awful!
Thanks for your comment on this topic, I appreciate it.
Really, that is interesting. There will be those universities who don’t use Spotted for lewd behaviour though, and knowing your daughter is at one of them is great news! I think perhaps some uni cultures are more inclined for abusing Spotted than others.
Yes, I know I would have been mortified if I’d experienced anything remotely like that at my uni!!! Their whole behaviour seems to signal a lack of respect towards others.
Thanks again, Bex
Pity that these boys, who feel entitled to judge & ridicule other people, don’t take the time to shine the light on themselves, so that they might become worthy of the girls they objectify. Easier to be stupid &/or malicious, I suppose.
Well said Ally Bean, couldn’t have said it better myself! Completely agree.
Your last three paragraphs say it all. Perhaps it shouldn’t even be given the light of exposure.
Thanks! Yes this is the point; I think they revel in that.
I have never heard of this… when I was in uni, I don’t think I ever heard of the type of malice that would be required to do this… really kind of pathetic, isn’t it?
Yes, exactly I agree. I question also the type of people who could stoop so low, but I think the reasons why they do are because they can, and there are no repercussions. It is very pathetic, as you rightly say; they actually need to get a life!
Totally. Really weird behaviour… ah kids these days.
Weird to us, normal to them – who’d be a kid nowadays eh?!
Wow! I am stunned by this. I wasn’t aware that this happening. I don’t doubt that American Universities are innocent in this, seeing as we have plenty of issues throughout social media. I can’t even compile a concise response to articulate my reaction. This is shocking and absolutely sad.
When does the phrase “boys being boys” cross the line? HERE! This is another example of how women are the subject and males get away with everything. When will accountability and respect be reinstated?
Thank you for sharing this. I would like to know more, if this trend continues.
Thanks for your comment, I appreciate hearing from the ladies out there on WP. Of course I will let you know if I hear more on this topic.
Shocking isn’t it!? I can’t quite believe the depravity either, well, I can actually. It is a case of carte blanche, no regulations and being completely anonymous = this type of horror. They are like children running amok and needing a good reprimand. I wonder what their Mother’s would say about it if they knew (assuming they have such parental figures in their lives)? I agree, it is too much and it should be stopped, and I hope it will be. I fear that as FB are not famous for enforcing their rules, this might go on and even escalate in the future though.
Thanks again for your input, Bex
I completely agree. I think major companies such as FB can take a step toward accountability, without stripping people of their freedoms. What is the point of allowing such atrocities to be plastered on your company name? An ounce of responsibility and respect can go a long way.
100% agree with you. It’s like no-one wants to assume responsibility, and that is sad. I think it is a malaise in society in general, the attitude of ‘what can we do’; well, at least try to do something, that would be a good start!!!
Exactly! No one wants to assume responsibility and will therefore brush it off. The game will never end unless actions are actually followed through with.
I agree!!!
Part of it is just boys being boys, and boys can be mighty inconsiderate when it comes to sexual comments. I joke with my colleagues at work about some hotties that walk through, though unlike spotted, nobody ever hears or reads our comments, and we usually don’t get misogynistic. But that’s something that happens when it can be done anonymously. Anonymous are the commenters, as you have correctly observed, not the ones who unwittingly have their pictures uploaded for everyone to see. Since Facebook doesn’t exactly enforce its policies with such practices, I find it unlikely that this will stop anytime soon.
Thanks for your comment, I appreciate it as always! Yeah, this is natural – I think most if not all men at some time or another have done exactly what you do at work, women too do the same thing. The problem does begin when anyone, men in this case, have carte blanche delivered to them through the anonymity of the net – this is indeed creating a never ending and unregulated act, which will always spiral out of control.
btw like your new picture. No, I’m not going to make any lewd comments 😉
Thank you, very kind of you to say so. Ah well, that is because you have better manners and respect 🙂
well, now you’re flattering me 😉
Just returning the compliment 🙂
This is plain stupid. I think these so called university students need to get a life.
Me too!!!!!!!
Hey Bex! Can I have your mail id? I would like you to do a guest post on my blog, so we carry have a discussion through mails.
I would be honoured! Thanks! However, what is
‘mail ID’???
The ‘e-mail’ contact address. I assume you have one.
I only have my personal email account, so I am reticent to give that out on W.P for all to see! You can contact me via ‘The Savvy Senorita’ Facebook page. If you send me an email that way, I will receive it and then I can give you my personal email for future contact. Thanks again!
Done 🙂
What an odd thing to do.
Yes, very odd.
Why go out of your way to be nasty to a stranger? This does not ring well for our species going forward 😦
I agree, there is no real logic – it is merely a case of these people shooting themselves in the foot. I think in some cases though, they think it makes them look cool, like some macho bravado!