What's in this drink?

[gridlore]

It has been pointed out on customers_suck that the wintertime classic Baby, It's Cold Outside is almost a script for date rape. The female (in most versions, evidently there are recordings that reverse the roles) is trying to leave, and the male vocalist won't let her. Indeed, he keeps pushing drinks on her!

Judge for yourself

Comments

[kengr]

I'd give it a definite maybe.

He is offering drinks. But the *tone* (at least in all the recordings I've heard) is pleading/entreating, not trickery.

Alas, in real life, you can't count on that as easily.

I'm *far* more worried about all the books & movies where the female says "no" but is quite obviously intending it to be taken as "try harder".

*That* is far more dangerous.

[notthebuddha.livejournal.com]

I'm *far* more worried about all the books & movies where the female says "no" but is quite obviously intending it to be taken as "try harder".

And that would be different how?

"I simply must go - Baby, it's cold outside
The answer is no - Ooh baby, it's cold outside "

[kengr]

In the song he's trying to persuade her (and yes, the drinks are probably over the line *now*, but not when the song was written).

It the "no means maybe" stuff we are being "taught" that when a women says no, she means "try harder".

It may seem like a subtle difference, but it isn't.

I guess you could (badly) describe the former as "he's possibly being a jerk" and the latter as "He's *expected* to be a jerk".