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Mark O'Sullivan via Website

Campaign against sex-trafficking targets potential punters

‘Real Men Don’t Buy Girls’ is the message of the major social media programme.

THE IMMIGRANT COUNCIL of Ireland has launched a major social campaign to highlight the incidence of sex-trafficking in Ireland.

Targeted at potential punters, the message ‘Real Men Don’t Buy Girls’ will be delivered by high-profile Irish music and sports stars to outline the “reality behind trafficking”.

The campaign hopes to create greater awareness among young men about the early age at which many girls enter prostitution.

“There is never any excuse for buying a girl, either here in Ireland or when travelling abroad with mates,” said chief executive Denise Charlton.

“As a frontline agency we know that girls and young women are often being tricked into coming to Ireland only for the grim reality of their situation to dawn when they are picked up at Dublin Airport and forced into a life of selling their bodies. This is something no brother, young father or any man should find acceptable.”

Currently, one in four people sex-trafficked in Ireland is a child.

Broadcaster Dáithí Ó Sé is one of the men kickstarting campaign. He said he wants to make a clear stand that there is no acceptable level of sex trafficking.

“We know already that this is a crime which is a modern day scourge and something which real men will never tolerate. Whether away for a music festival, sporting event or on a stag party abroad there is never an excuse for buying girls.

“We must ensure that there is no safe haven for traffickers and organised criminals who line their pockets by trampling on the human rights of women and girls.”

Other well-known faces involved in the campaign include radio presenter Ray Foley and Republic of Telly’s Bernard O’Shea.

According to Department of Justice figures, there were 134 cases of detected cases of trafficking for sexual exploitation between 2009 and 2011. There were 32 children involved.

One in four sex buyers have met trafficked, controlled or underage females – survey

Barnardos highlights problem of ‘loverboys’ in child prostitution

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49 Comments
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    Mute Kevin O'Doherty
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    Apr 8th 2013, 8:12 AM

    “Currently, one in four people sex-trafficked in Ireland is a child.” – Stating this as an unattributed, undisputable fact is alarmist, sloppy journalism at its worst.

    More accurately, Denise Charleton, Chief Executive of the Immigrant Council of Ireland said in January 2013 when publicising the results of a survey of 411 respondents that “24% of buyers reconsidered a transaction because they believed the women and girls involved were controlled, unhappy, too young, unwilling or intimidated” (http://www.thejournal.ie/prostitutes-trafficking-immigrant-council-ireland-790813-Feb2013/). This is a VERY different matter than a glib assertion that “one in four people sex-trafficked in Ireland is a child” – age is not the only factor causing the respondents to baulk. No less undesirable a situtation, but a more rounded, contextualised assessment of the situation. Less of the Daily Mail soundbites please, Sinead.

    104
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    Mute feck'n voters
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    Apr 8th 2013, 8:49 AM

    ICI (Magdalene laundries) hires a social media guru much like the last Pope hired a FOX media guru. This appears to be a hate based campaign by a religious order coming off the Eucharistic conference last year. The objective is to conflate trafficking victims with conscious sex workers.

    We all know the harm the ICI cause the families of the disabled in Ireland that use the services of sex workers (there is one is almost every town in Ireland) and the fact that the unions will not protect willing sex workers by letting them join their union and fighting for their rights to protection by police like the Manchester police do across the water.

    FG persist in giving tax payers money to ICI instead of the gardaí so the gardaí can stop trafficking and educated foreign nationals before they encounter traffickers.

    We could legalise and tax like in New Zealand, Australia, USA, Germany or learn that Sweden introduced its laws as it had no anti-street walking laws (as opposed to Ireland’s laws) when it saw mass numbers of Africans arrive in the 1990′s.

    Maybe it is important to understand why hold this in disgust and shame. Maybe it is time to understand the subject:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/sex/9616987/I-worked-in-the-sex-trade-does-that-make-me-trafficked.html
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danah-boyd/what-anti-trafficking-advocates-can-learn-from-sex-workers_b_1784382.html
    http://www.thelocal.se/blogs/theotherswedishmodel/
    http://www.thelocal.no/page/view/rip-up-prostitution-law-says-top-oslo-politician
    http://www.scarletroad.com.au/about/

    17
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    Mute Chris Mansfield
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    Apr 8th 2013, 9:09 AM

    There’s also an assumption that purchase of sex is a one-off, when it’s quite likely to be the opposite.

    Imagine 12 men had purchased sex 10 times. A quarter of those 12 had backed out because they were concerned about the other party being underage. That could be as low as 3 transactions of the 120.

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    Mute Sex Work IE
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    Apr 8th 2013, 11:57 AM

    Where is this survey so we can look at it? Nowhere to be found of course. All these stats are pure rubbish. http://sexwork.ie/2012/12/07/in-search-of-29-children/

    21
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    Mute Billie Hetfield
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    Apr 8th 2013, 8:32 AM

    I’m anti-trafficking, but there are uses to prostitution. If there wasn’t it wouldn’t be such an old profession.

    Legalisation would make things safer.

    95
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    Mute Ballyer Rules
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    Apr 8th 2013, 8:58 AM

    This is more propaganda from the immigrant counsel. The laws against trafficking and underage sex are already and rightly, very severe in this country and the gardai state there is very little evidence of it happening. More rehashing of false information in the campaign to outlaw prostitution.

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    Mute Chris O' Mahony
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    Apr 8th 2013, 9:36 AM

    More of this “real men” nonsense. Sex trafficking of children is a heinous crime, but the message is watered down by implying that there is one “true” way of being a man. The message is so damaging to both men and women.

    47
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    Mute Nicole O'Shea
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    Apr 8th 2013, 3:13 PM

    There are numerous ways of expressing masculinity; I find it difficult to comprehend how purchasing a girl or woman for sex could be the pastime of someone of integrity.

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    Mute Eleen
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    Apr 8th 2013, 4:25 PM

    Very judgmental comment there, Nicole. There are a million reasons, and let’s not forget that it’s not just men who pay for sex. A lot of them are disrespectful, but then it’s pretty common to disrespect sex-workers in our society in general.

    Not excusing the sense of entitlement some people have when it comes to sex, or any other service they can buy for that matter, but this whole “real men don’t” thing really IS nonsense. This issue is far too complex for simple, misleading slogans.

    13
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    Mute SuperFry
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    Apr 8th 2013, 9:22 AM

    I find the campaign tag line offensive. It’s suggesting men are like children, daft enough to react if you just question their sexuality.

    45
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    Mute SuperFry
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    Apr 8th 2013, 9:22 AM

    Masculinity not sexuality

    19
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    Mute tom
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    Apr 8th 2013, 7:51 AM

    It’s illegal and all laws should be enforced including deportation.

    41
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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Apr 8th 2013, 10:45 AM

    Yes your right, ‘Take Me Out’ on TV3 needs to be sorted out right now, starting with the pimp in the picture.

    26
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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Apr 8th 2013, 1:36 PM

    Sorry Ray, before you get legal on me its a typo, i meant to say ‘gimp’

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    Mute Chuck Farrelly
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    Apr 8th 2013, 10:10 AM

    Every year thousands of Irish men travel abroad to access safe, legal prostitutes. Who are they? They are your brothers, your sons and your husbands. They are your friends and neighbours. Yet they are exported to another country, travelling in secret to obtain the services they need because society shames them for their choice. Those who cannot afford to travel are forced to obtain back street prostitutes, putting their health at risk.

    There are many reasons for this choice, all of them valid. Time to end the shame. Trust men

    39
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    Mute Eleen
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    Apr 8th 2013, 11:23 AM

    Chuck, that’s just nasty. You’re not going to do yourself any favours with that kind of behaviour, f*ck sake.

    24
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    Mute Arthuer William Anker
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    Apr 8th 2013, 6:16 PM

    Very true and its actually safer for the man too.As there is likely hood of being blackmailed or being set up either.Plus its better value in more pleasent surroundings than some ol damp dingy hole of a flat or bedsit.
    But this is Ireland where ban it, and out of sight out of mind rules every awkward social problem.

    5
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    Mute Socrates
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    Apr 8th 2013, 8:48 AM

    Of course we don’t buy girls. Just rent them ;)

    Thay way cam always give them back

    34
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    Mute Tom Barry
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    Apr 8th 2013, 9:32 AM

    An acquaintance of mine would frequent prostitutes on occasion. I asked him why he bought sex, when he didn’t seem to have any problems pulling ladies. He said “I’m not buying sex; I’m paying them to go away afterwards”.

    25
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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Apr 8th 2013, 10:50 AM

    Prostitutes wont throw up in your bed.

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    Mute Socrates
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    Apr 8th 2013, 11:38 AM

    Lol :) well seriously folks I poke fun at it because of the over dramatisation of it. Most girls who do it WANT TO DO IT.

    I accept there is trafficking and they are girls forced into it albeit a small minority.

    So make it legal. Tax it. Problem solved or are we too catholic and backwards to see that this is way forward.

    23
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    Mute Nicole O'Shea
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    Apr 8th 2013, 2:26 PM

    These comments are both sexist and misogynistic.

    11
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    Mute Chris O' Mahony
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    Apr 8th 2013, 3:00 PM

    Socrates, I agree that sex work should be legal, but you realise the “girls” referred to in the article are children, right?

    6
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    Mute David Smith
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    Apr 9th 2013, 1:31 AM

    @Chris, sex with children is already illegal (regardless if paid for or not).

    4
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    Mute Barry Overall
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    Apr 8th 2013, 10:36 AM

    I agree that trafficking of both women and children against their wishes is absolutely deplorable. but women who wish to partake of this activity, as in prostitution ( OH i hate that word ) is their concern and nobody eases, its their choice, its their body and they provide a service as in any other trade, you either take advantage of it or not, that is your choice, the stigma should be removed by legalizing it. The Hypocrites who dislike the Sex trade just go home and have sex with their wife or girlfriend, whats the difference ?

    33
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    Mute Seamus Foskin
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    Apr 8th 2013, 12:29 PM

    another stupid campaign that will result in nothing more then driving prostitution into the hands of more dangerous elements in society. first the automatic association of prostitution with human trafficking. The automatic assumption that all prostitutes are trafficked children then are not. yes there is no doubt that that in some cases there are children and women trafficked into this country for sex. however it is not in all cases. there are women who are willing to have sex for money. i am sorry if that grats with anyone’s ideals but it is the truth. Before the feminists start wetting themselves over this let me just ask one thing why is it in this country we always tackle the symptoms of a problem rather then the cause. banning this is never going to stop it it is just going to drive it into the hands of criminals who are prepared to risk the health of these women and men to make a buck. in addition driving this to the out of sight out of mind mentality will ensure that more women are trafficked as opposed to less as the criminals will resort to even more desperate measures to make money from this. the facts are these any physiologist will tell you that sex is a necessary part of life. if it is the case that some people cannot get it for whatever reason this does not mean that there need goes away. as long as the above is true then it is going to happen and make no mistake no matter what laws are brought in you cannot legislate away the human need for intimacy and sex at least regulate control and monitor it and make it a safe experience for both parties
    the facts in this case are these Prostitution has been around for thousands of years some women do need money some women need sex some women cannot get sex some men do need money some men do need sex some men cannot get sex. as long as these factors remain there is always going to be prostitution. before anyone starts moralizing i am being brutally honest and practical in this matter perhaps its time the rest of the country did the same

    31
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    Mute Eleen
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    Apr 8th 2013, 2:32 PM

    Well said.

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    Mute Nicole O'Shea
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    Apr 8th 2013, 3:20 PM

    You just made a statement in favour of the rape of those women who have not given their consent to prostitution.

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    Mute Seamus Foskin
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    Apr 8th 2013, 4:04 PM

    @Nicole O’Shea

    hi nicole

    you seem to be somewhat confused as to the difference between sex and rape. i have never made a case for rape. as i pointed out before there are women willing to have sex for money. it is not just immigrants with no English. it is Irish girl with very good english. if too consenting adults decide to have sex and money is exchanged that is not rape. there is no force involved there. not all sex is rape you know. come women do actually enjoy having sex

    10
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    Mute Franco
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    Apr 8th 2013, 11:14 AM

    Selling and buying sex among adult and consentient people is a right way choice and it must be respected in a democratic State.
    Moreover, prohibition is the water of “Mafia” fish and it is better to avoid it as the paying sex among adult and consentient people.
    It is also better to legalize and tax prostitution to cope with the crisis.

    30
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    Mute Barry Ryan
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    Apr 8th 2013, 11:32 AM

    To quote Charlie Sheen. You don’t pay for the sex. You pay so you can leave immediately after.

    29
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    Mute feck'n voters
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    Apr 8th 2013, 9:06 AM

    Perhaps we should spend more money on trafficking prevention via the EU campaigns in the source countries. How will this affect the families of the disabled that use the services by non-trafficked sex workers?

    28
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    Mute Sex Work IE
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    Apr 8th 2013, 11:56 AM

    The Immigrant Council of Ireland’s statistics on child trafficking into prostitution are RUBBISH – http://sexwork.ie/2012/12/07/in-search-of-29-children/

    24
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    Mute Diarmuid Danger Lenihan
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    Apr 8th 2013, 8:06 AM

    Ya that’ll definitely put men off going, lol !

    21
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    Mute nutzen cider
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    Apr 8th 2013, 11:41 AM

    Why is that any time we talk about a behavior that a small percentage of men engage in, ALL MEN must be chastised for it? Exactly how much guilt does the average Irish woman feel for the actions of the Mulhall sissor sisters, or those other sisters that dealt out all of the horrible abuse in the Magdalen laundries?

    20
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    Mute Toby Parker
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    Apr 8th 2013, 2:46 PM

    Trafficking kids is a crime and a disgrace but paying for sex where two consenting adults are only involved is no big deal.

    13
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    Mute Nicole O'Shea
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    Apr 8th 2013, 3:15 PM

    Girls/woman who have been trafficked into Ireland often with no or poor knowledge of the language may find it hard to express consent don’t you think?

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    Mute Sex Work IE
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    Apr 8th 2013, 4:21 PM

    Yes, but we already have laws criminalising person who pays for sex with a child or a person who has been trafficked, the law ICI are proposing is to target consenting adults.

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    Mute Toby Parker
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    Apr 8th 2013, 5:32 PM

    It’s none of this Govts business or anyone elses business the private transactions between two CONSENTING adults.
    We are an awful nation of people to get up on their high horses for the wrong reasons yet we have a Govt that I would consider more a criminal cartel robbing us left right and center but no one is uttering a peep.

    11
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    Mute SWAI Ireland
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    Apr 8th 2013, 3:30 PM

    It goes without saying that we at SWAI and all decent people are 100% against child trafficking and prostitution
    However child prostitution and adult sex work are not the same thing.

    Over the last few days we at SWAI attended two events were Laura Agustin was speaking. At one of those events sex workers also spoke out against Swedish style laws and defended their right to continue to work in the industry if they so wish – their opinions must be seen as credible and be listened to by politicians and journalists.
    Events held in Scotland also highlight the opposition sex workers there have against the Swedish Model and other such policies.

    We are all against child prostitution but we must respect the decisions made by adult women and men who choose to enter and remain in sex work.

    13
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    Mute John
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    Apr 8th 2013, 11:01 AM

    The day you end up paying for it is the day ye may as well cut it off.

    12
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    Mute Seamus Foskin
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    Apr 8th 2013, 12:31 PM

    is it cold up there on your pedestal

    18
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    Mute David Smith
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    Apr 9th 2013, 1:10 AM

    “Currently, one in four people sex-trafficked in Ireland is a child.”

    And the source for that is what? Pulled out of thin air like every other statistic thrown around by anti-sex work crowd?

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    Mute Emily Elephant
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    Apr 8th 2013, 1:47 PM

    Who’s paying for this campai ….

    Oh.

    6
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    Mute Bernard Cribbons
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    Apr 8th 2013, 2:01 PM

    Great way to circumvent dealing with Irish women. “Sorry, I don’t need to listen to you anymore as I can already get what I want for cash”.

    5
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    Mute Nicole O'Shea
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    Apr 8th 2013, 2:28 PM

    misogynistic much?

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    Mute Chuck Farrelly
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    Apr 8th 2013, 8:19 PM

    You use that word so much it has no impact

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    Mute David Smith
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    Apr 9th 2013, 1:32 AM

    Agree. The word misogynist is thrown around so often these days especially by the feminist community. It’s often used erroneously as an insult or shaming tactic. It has lost all meaning and shock value.

    4
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    Mute Arthuer William Anker
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    Apr 8th 2013, 6:21 PM

    Better a takeway than lousey home cooking..

    3
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