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Culture War Roundup for the week of March 6, 2023

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And why shouldn’t the woman he asked discuss the incident with her friends? She might have been a poor friend for doing so, but there is no grand female obligation to avoid embarrassing awkward men.

You answer your own question. She shouldn't do it because it makes her a shitty friend. What do alleged 'female obligations' have to do with it? Is it OK for women to be shit friends to men if they don't violate the 'female obligations'?

If they're friends, yeah she shouldn't do it. Are they friends, though? The story as recounted sounds like he skipped that step and assumed they already were, just because of amicable interactions at college.

I strongly doubt that the girl in question saw OP as a "friend". Sounds more like an acquaintance, at best. Their interactions together didn't go past studying and eating dinner together (which can be very casual and low commitment if everyone is eating at the same on-campus diner anyway).

Is it still a shitty thing to do or no?

Depends. In her mind she is probably venting or, if she is the righteous type, warning other women about a creep.

A big part of what she is doing is of course to get ahead of his insult tarnishing her reputation by reacting as viciously as her character allows. And engage in just a little bit of revenge.