The locker room

Donald Trump's recent scandal involving the leaked video where he talked casually about sexually assaulting women and being able to get away with it because of how rich and famous he is has been a disaster for him.  That it took so long for this footage to surface is kind of amazing to me, but there it is.

The other thing that is amazing is the way Trump tried to defend himself in light of this video.  He used the words "its locker room talk" to try to downplay his comments about grabbing and kissing women without their consent and against their wishes.

So what does 'locker room talk' really mean anyway?  I think it basically comes down to talk that reflects how you actually feel but don't want to get caught saying.  It takes place in a location where people are segregated by gender and there is a strong tribe mentality to make it hard for anyone to report shitty behaviour within the group.

Trump has basically tried to defend his disgusting speech by saying that it is stuff he believes, but that normally he would try to only say that sort of thing when the people around are less likely to be offended by it, and when he really expects all the people in attendance to keep his dirty secrets.

That isn't much of a defence.

I am sure Trump really wanted us to believe that he was just kidding around and didn't mean it.  But it isn't my experience that locker room talk is that sort of thing at all.  Plus we know from many complaints against Trump ranging from unwanted touching to rape that he is happy to assault women whenever he wants with the expectation that his power and celebrity will shield him from repercussions.  This isn't a case of Trump going along with things other people said to fit in - it is an accurate reflection of his character.

It is still a sad state of affairs that Trump has 40% of the American electorate voting for him.  However, we can at least take solace in the fact that his polling is tanking, his party is abandoning him, and his prospects are dwindling.  There is some sense of outrage out there thankfully, and I hope that outrage carries Trump to a resounding defeat while the world look on with baited breath.