Tell it to the Marines...

1) absolutely, I would bet it's the tip of a much larger iceberg.

2) Can we blame Trump directly for this? No; s Amadan notes, unfortunately, this shit has been going on at some level forever.

But I do think the sexist-in-chief has an effect, and no trivial one. When the guy in charge has bragged about grabbing women's genitals and so forth, it sends a clear message that such behavior is acceptable. And that emboldens those who might otherwise keep their ugliness in a dark closet.

I laughed when Trump's pussy-grabber video came out, not because I thought the behavior was funny, but because I felt so certain it would bring him down -- and with the added bonus of sending a message to all the other potential pussy-grabbers out there that this shit was not OK. Only, he fucking won. The message is exactly the opposite. And that's not funny at all.

I'm afraid a lot of those nudes were probably sent voluntarily, because somehow even though the Internet is no longer some new-fangled thing, every generation has to learn that whatever you put out there is going to stay out there, and it's going to get distributed.

If you send titty or dick pics to your SO and think no one else is ever going to see them, you're an idiot. If you send them to some stranger to prove how "hot" you are, you are a bigger idiot.

So I know someone, another author not as far as I know part of this group. We were published together for a spell. Never met her in person, but I'm Facebook friends with both her and her husband. Both marines, both people who have come to earn my respect and admiration for their thoughtfulness, generosity, and just because of the kind of people they are. They're both sci fan fans, and I've seen them post pictures of themselves in various costumes together. All cute and adorable, and the pair of them are just the best kind of people you could even get to know. I've also seen many pictures of them in uniform. They take a lot of pride in their service to this country, in their marine corps, and in all they do. She's a fighter pilot, and I've seen pictures in the cockpit.

So it really hit me when I saw her post on this subject, not just as a bystander, but as a victim. The picture in question was one of her with other marine women simply having lunch. Nothing sexual at all. She posted it on her personal facebook page, thinking nothing of it at the time. It was copied for others to talk shit about their 'fuckability' and all. Degrading her as if she were an object, and not a human being, someone who has worked side by side with other marines, putting her life on the line for her country.

Many joined in. Some marines who knew her came to her defense, and while grateful, she asked why they were in that group to begin with. Were they okay with talking like that about other women they didn't know?

It hit her hard since she also felt responsible for the fact that the picture she posted was of her and other female marines, all of whom were being abused online in the same way.

She did report it to her commanding officers, and she noted that from them and her own husband (Who I would expect nothing less from) where completely supportive throughout the entire process. Never once victim blamed her, asked what she was thinking to put a picture of herself online, or trying to dismiss this as harmless fun that had gotten out of hand. It was wrong, and it would be dealt with.

She posted about this on Facebook to stand for herself and all those victimized. As a father, she is the woman I would have as a role model for my daughters. As a friend, I wish I could find the words to give her the comfort and support she deserves.

As a human being, I'm simply disgusted.