Comments on: SMH tech writer snagged in Johns group sex storm

By: Mary Kozlovski

Mary Kozlovski — Sun, 17 May 2009 11:50:25 +0000

You’re saying that Moses’ “choice of words” was “ill-considered” as though all that matters is that Moses slipped up and said something inappropriate for a journalist to say in a public forum. As though when he thought of ‘Clare’ as a ‘slutty groupy’ he should have rolled the words around in his mouth and cooked up something more palatable.

Firstly, just because no one is charged with a criminal offence, does not mean that no criminal offence occurred.

Secondly, it’s not about whether the choice of words is ‘ill-considered’ or not, it’s about the kind of attitude behind a comment like that. Why is the assumption that the woman is a slut? Why is the assumption that it’s her fault? The idea that someone would jump to such a conclusion is astonishing.

By: Dan Warne

Dan Warne — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:54:07 +0000

Asher’s choice of words in the original tweet was undoubtedly ill-considered, but I see his basic point: that nobody has claimed it was rape, and Johns is being treated almost as if he committed a criminal offence.

Frankly, there was much less outrage when it was discovered that a 14 year old girl had been working at a brothel part-owned by Labor MP Neville Hilton.

Although Hilton was eventually found guilty of a criminal offence in relation to the underage person working in the brothel, media coverage focused on the underage sex worker rather than the fact that a federal member of parliament was running a brothel, because running a brothel is legal.

So it strikes me as an interesting contrast that Johns has been hung out to dry based on a moral issue, when there has been no suggestion of illegality. I think this is the point Asher was trying to make.

Note, I personally think football players who think it’s OK to have group sex with random women should act more responsibly — it’s abhorrent behaviour. But group sex is part of society, and it’s not something society outlaws unless it’s not consensual, which is the point I think Asher was trying to make.

By: SharonR

SharonR — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:14:16 +0000

His comments appear to me to be entirely correct. Is there anything there that isn’t 100% truth?

Matthew Johns engaged in consensual sexual intercourse with a female of legal age. He did nothing Illegal. The police statement has clearly stated it was entirely consensual (not partially - entirely)

As far as ‘group sex’ being immoral - that’s entirely subjective, and personally I don’t think it’s immoral as well. It’s commonly practised, and to be honest I consider it highly SEXIST to imply that a woman isn’t allowed to consent to act our her own sexual wishes.