Nightclubs and bars. Filled with booze, lasers, lights, loud music, and lots of fun. For some, at least. For others, their fun can quite frequently be ruined by another person touching them without consent. Most of the time, it's a guy creepily groping a chick. Unfortunately, we've all seen it happen. But what people don't realize, is that this is not the only creepy interaction going on -- men grope other men, women grope men, and even though I don't have first-hand experience of it, I'm sure there are probably examples of a woman groping another woman as well. But I'll tell you, from my experience, I've been thoroughly made to feel uncomfortable.

Before I go on any further, I'll tell you a two examples.

Recently, I was out at a club with two of my friends. We were just dancing and having a good time, when all of a sudden, boom -- some dude the size of my leg walks behind me and grabs my butt. I wasn't absolutely shocked, because it's happened before, but it's so AGGRAVATING. Here I am, just trying to have fun with my friends, when some jerk feels the need to cop a feel. I desperately wanted to pick this dude up and personally throw him out of the club, but then I would've gotten thrown out. I should've immediately told the bouncer, but I wasn't trying to make a huge deal of things. In retrospect, I should've, because then I probably wouldn't have had to spend the rest of the night wondering if this dude was going to grab my butt again.

Here's another example.

Last year, while at a certain establishment on campus, I was walking towards the bar with my friend to grab a drink. I turn the corner, and boom -- someone cops a pretty tight squeeze. Confused, I turned to find a short girl staring at me. I looked at her perplexed, and she looks me dead in the eye and says, "Don't act like you don't like it." You know what, girl, I might've... IF YOU HAD ASKED. But no, you just had to be creepy and think that just because according to society men don't feel violated when a woman does it, you had the green light to do whatever you want.

In summary: people think my big, flat (and I mean flat, squats never paid off) a$$ is a damn buffet.

What I'm trying to point out here is that groping another person like that without their consent, regardless of the gender of the two parties, just isn't okay. When you touch someone without their consent, you invade their personal space and their body. This can make them feel violated, it can make them feel unsafe, and it can make them feel threatened. If you saw me in person, you'd see that I am a big guy. But even me, a big guy, can feel uncomfortable when someone touches me like that without consent. No, I don't usually feel like my life is in danger, but I still feel violated.

Now, THINK ABOUT THIS: If my big self feels absolutely uncomfortable when someone violates me and gropes me, HOW DO YOU THINK A WOMAN A THIRD OF MY SIZE FEELS? It's easy for me to turn around and confront the person who did it because there aren't many people that make me feel threatened. But if someone bigger than me did it, I wouldn't be as compelled to confront them because I'd feel threatened.

The moral of the story here? Regardless of what gender you are, ask people before you touch them. Have respect for your fellow human beings.