I’m going to step into a minefield here, but as usual I don’t really give a fuck.

This is a good example of taking something out of its cultural context.

The song does sound rape-y today – to us. And I agree with Amanda that any reason a woman says no is a good reason.

However, it was widely understood at the time the song was released (as a commenter also points out) that the woman in the piece was saying “no” but meaning yes.

Again – please read this carefully (and before you comment, read it again) – this song existed in a completely different cultural context, where many of our assumptions were not present, and where many completely different ones were present.

Here’s how we hear the song today: the woman is about to be raped, OMG!

Here’s how people in 1943 (accurately) heard and understood the song: the woman really, really wants to fuck and is looking for every excuse imaginable to do so without social penalty. Yep, even the part about, “Hey, what’s in this drink?” At the time, being “drunk” (aka “not really drunk”) was seen as valid excuse for all sorts of allegedly licentious behavior on the part of a woman, and women were permitted socially to use that as a reason for why they’d “fallen.”

If you listen to the original and how it is sung this is completely, completely clear. It would take a damn idiot to think anything else. But alas, there are many of those around.

I am surprised when even “educated” people like Amanda Marcotte cannot accurately evaluate historical context and understand how much that can change over time.

Again, I am not endorsing the song. Speaking as a person today, I listen to this song and cringe. But then I recognize that I am a creature of my time, so of course I do. Decent people today if there is even a hint of reluctance stop immediately. But again – understand just how much cultural context has changed.

Can people not step outside of themselves for one moment in time? Is that just not possible? I guess not.

If people like Marcotte and 90% of the commenters cannot do this, what fucking good is all this education I’ve been told is paramount? For most people, it appears to not do even one little bit of good.