Exactly. This guy calls flirting to things that aren't. Feminist haven't complained about flirting, we have complained about harassment and not taking no for an answer. Or about catcalling.

I've recommended a conservative friend to look for a boyfriend at church, since it was what makes sense for her. Now she is married to a man she meet following my advice. That wouldn't have worked for me, but it was right for her. And you know the thing we both agree about men? We dislike being grooped without consent, we disliked unsolicited dick pics, we dislike catcalls, etc.

The solution is as simple as it is old. Respect other people. Be polite. Pay attention to what they say and what they like and dislike.

Feminist won't get angry because a men they don't know say "Hi" at a bar, smile and introduce himself. Many would be polite and if not interested would say things like "thanks, but I'm with friends". Translation "I'm not here to meet a men" or even "I'm not interested in you". It is a soft rejection. One that allows to save face. Because at this point they have been nice. "Thanks, but..." is a proven soft rejection. More than one soft rejection is a clear sign of no interest. The polite thing to do is to move on, no hard feelings.

But if we instead we get "you pull that dress well even if you are a little overweight", that is called negging and it is not nice. Of course you would get an angry response. Not because we are crazy, but because we can understand what you are doing and it is not respectful. And let me tell you that my conservative friends would be angry if some said that to them because what they would understand is that they just called them fat and that is an insult or meant to be an insult.

Where I live, even conservative women can go in groups of all women to bars and concerts and city festivities. It is normal. And usually traditional women pay a lot more attention to their looks. They use make up, wear dresses, sometimes sexy. Because they know that men like that and want to be liked by men. That doesn't mean they would sleep with anyone. On the contrary, because that would make them "sluts". In fact the line between sexy and "slutty" is thin, but they learn since they are teenagers where exactly is that.

So what usually happen is that when a man who isn't polite or respectful step out of line with them, they would maintain manners, but handle them in a way that would send them on their way. They won't get a date. And those women won't hesitate to slap a man or shout at a man who "goes too far".

Is not about men being protective. You don't need to fight a bigger men than you because he is an ass and is harassing a woman. That is what police supposedly is for and we don't want you to get hurt. You are responsible for your own actions and if you are already respectful, we are already happy with you. And if we specifically don't like you but think you are one of the "good ones", we would introduce you to the single friends that might like you. Or if we already have a boyfriend but think a guy in respectful, we might introduce to the single friends. Because it has never been about denying men the possibility to meet women, is about surround ourselves with people who is respectful and treat us well. The idiocy about women liking "bad boys" tend to ignore all the social meeting that you would only be invited if you have proven to be good. And I apply this to my male friends too. I would only introduce to them women who are respectful and polite.

If we are realistic, more couples come from private barbecues/parties/gatherings than comes from pubs and bars.

So my advice is to dissociate yourself with men who act badly, so their actions won't tarnish your reputation. Told the friends that you appreciate that certain things doesn't work to "get women" but would make whole groups of women avoid you. We have friends, we look for each other, talk among ourselves, warn each other about the men potentially dangerous. Chances are that if you treat one women wrongly, the whole group end knowing it and avoiding you. That is what he meant by "ruining his reputation", but he was the one doing it by acting disrespectful. I mean, if he was respectful, he could have a good reputation by now... And let me stress this, the more conservative a community is, the less you can deviate from what is socially acceptable. The things he mention in his article might get him a beating (what you call men being protective) in certain places. All in all, he should be grateful that feminist have save him from the bruises. XDDD