Well, honestly, bland doesn't believe a man simply has the right to touch any woman he chooses in a potentially erogenous area if she has not made it reasonably clear that he may. In a work environment, he would find it difficult to believe there would be any legitimate reason to do so anyway. Bland doubts he would even have patted his ex-wife's rather marvellous butt while on the job, in the office, say, during a visit. But he was quite a devoted butt patter in private.
Bland has much more frequently teased coworkers in the past than he now feels comfortable doing so. Years ago, he once commented to one of his employees in reference to a nearby box of 24 inch 100 watt florescent light bulbs: "Well, I may not be 24 inches, but I easily exceed 100 watts." It was not meant in any sense of the word as anything other than a clever joke, and fortunately the lady understood and appreciated it as such, with a big, albeit blushing smile. Bland would not make a similar comment today (even then it was extremely rare for him to be that explicitly phallic in reference).
Bland presently has a couple of attractive black female employees who frequently dress with great style...slit skirts, boots, etc., and he has more than once stopped himself from complimenting them, simply to avoid giving the impression to them or anyone else that he may be paying any undue attention. Of course, bland is in a new position at this company and does not yet know these people well. |
