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Daily Maverick
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
The age of unsolicited dick pics and a long history of phallic exhibitionism
As we pulled up to the stop sign near their primary school, my two young daughters noticed graffiti sprayed on a vibracrete wall surrounding the corner house. 'What's that?' asked our oldest, who must have been about 10 at the time. A bold, huge, cartoonish erect penis and hair-speckled balls stood out in black against the grey. Conjure Jeff Bezos's New Shepard rocket that shook the Earth for the threesome of singer Katy Perry, Bezos's fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, and Oprah's bestie, Gayle King, and you get the picture. After explaining it was a penis, it became slightly trickier to answer my daughter's follow-up question. 'Why?' I chose the simple route. 'Because they can.' The judge and the dick pics A Judicial Conduct Tribunal continued to hear evidence last week regarding sexual harassment claims that have been brought against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge. As evidence leader Salomé Scheepers has reminded the tribunal – chaired by retired Judge Bernard Ngoepe – never before has a sitting judge president been subjected to a Judicial Conduct Tribunal on charges of sexual harassment. Judge Mbenenge is accused of sexual harassment by Andiswa Mengo (40), a court secretary in the Eastern Cape division. Mengo has claimed that among the barrage of inappropriate WhatsApps was one containing a photo of the judge president's 'private parts'. Judge Mbenenge has admitted to 'consensual' conversations with Mengo, but denied exposing his erection to her in his chambers or sending her the photograph. A digital forensic analyst, Francois Moller, testified this week that he could not find forensic evidence that Mbenenge had sent a photo of his penis. Moller told the tribunal he had analysed two cellphones, Mbenenge's and Mengo's. Although Mbenenge's phone had been wiped clean of all messages, hundreds remained on Mengo's device. Why? Moya Sarner, writing in The Guardian in 2019, asked exactly this question, as more and more women dating online were complaining that men were sending them images of their genitals. Whoever saw it will never forget the WhatsApp that former minister of many departments Malusi Gigaba shared, which darted around the satellites and the internet like a non-fungible porn token. Sarner quotes Leah Holroyd and her experience with a potential online partner, who at first shared many of her literary and other interests, only to post an explicit photo just before they were due to meet. This is a worryingly common experience in that neck of the woods, according to a 2018 UK YouGove poll, which found that four in 10 women between 18 and 36 had been targets of unsolicited explicit images. 'Nor does this just happen through online dating. Some men have used the AirDrop function on their Apple devices… to send unsolicited pictures to women,' wrote Sarner. The problem had become so widespread that MPs and campaigners were calling for a law targeting 'cyberflashers'. The law of the lingam In India you will encounter the lingam, a phallic symbol representing the god Shiva and his 'generative power'. The lingam is not a lone ranger like in the West, but is often paired with the yoni, its feminine counterpart iconograph. The Greeks were big on phallophilia and held ceremonies with processions of phallic symbols. The Egyptians often depicted the god Min with a large erect penis symbolising power and fertility. The Christians were responsible for erasing images of erect penises from society by depicting the devil with a large dong, tempting men into sin. This association led to the suppression of phallic symbols. Another UK survey in 2019, on the online dating site revealed that 47% of the men who took part admitted to sending explicit images of themselves, believing it 'to be a genuine form of courtship'. The Journal of Sex Research found that 'the technological revolution affords great anonymity, a condition which increases the likelihood of engagement in sexualised behaviours, especially for men'. Researchers had discovered that 'men tend to overestimate women's interest in receiving nude imagery based on their own receptivity in reversed roles'. The tribunal into the sexual harassment charges against Judge Mbenenge last week went to great lengths to decipher the deeper meaning of a series of emojis in the build-up of the judge's alleged grooming of Mengo. Judge Mbenenge's significant position of power and alleged abuse of it in the workplace have been the thickest thread in the sordid and shameful tale unfurling at the Judicial Service Commission tribunal. DM This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
We asked people in London exactly what they thought of a second Trump state visit
As the early spring sun beats down on Buckingham Palace a week after Donald Trump received a second state visit invite, 75-year-old Londoner Geoff feels far from sunny about the prospect of seeing the 'childish' US President in the capital again. President Trump received an invitation from King Charles for an unprecedented second state visit during a meeting with Kier Starmer in Washington - but Geoff is one of many who told Yahoo UK they feel uneasy about Britain hosting the US leader again. 'There is absolutely no way Trump should come into this country for another state visit," he insisted. "It is terrifying that a man who behaves as he does and has his thoughts and principles should have so much power." Geoff isn't alone, with politicians quickly voicing their opposition to the visit in the wake of Trump's showdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House and his subsequent decision to freeze US military aid to Ukraine. A online petition launched soon after is already nearing 200,000 signatures - though national pollsters YouGove reported a survey earlier this week which suggested Britons are split on whether the state visit should go ahead. Some of the Londoners Yahoo UK spoke to on 6 March, however, had made up their minds on the issue. "His display with Zelensky was awful," Geoff added. "It seems to me it was a set up – staged in a way where they could treat him like that. But the childishness of it all. The way he was poking fun at what Zelensky was wearing? Zelensky was dressed in respect to his soldiers while Trump was in an awful suit with a scruffy haircut. The irony.' On 7 March, Sadiq Khan predicted protests if Trump does return, telling Times Radio: "I'm sure you'll see in London, Londoners and those across the country using their right to free speech and the right to protest if and when President Trump does come to London." The Mayor of London had previously backed the state visit however, citing it as an opportunity for Starmer to 'engage' with the US President. While many Britons think the visit should be cancelled, some acknowledge that it might be necessary in the interests of diplomacy. Val, 68, from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, said: 'I don't want him here on another state visit but I think we need him. The reality is that he's probably the most important leader in the world. And the relationship between the UK and US is important. But that doesn't mean I like him. I was very shocked when he got elected.' Ian, 76, from Oxford, said he was 'troubled' by Trump as a person but has no issues with him being invited to the UK as long as it isn't for 'bargaining'. 'I have no objection to a state visit but we shouldn't be using it as a bargaining tool," he said. "We shouldn't just be trying to placate him. 'It saddens me that our country feels it's important to pave the way for him to feel comfortable. He's such an unpleasant man. I'm troubled by the way he represents a loss of moral compass. Look at the way the rug is being pulled away from Ukraine. I just don't understand what Trump wants." Lucy, 50, from London, said: 'A relationship between the UK and the US is extremely important but of course it all depends on who's in charge. 'The fact that Trump appears to be backing Putin is a huge concern. It used to be Russia and China back each other, and the US sticks with Europe. 'Now that seems to be heading elsewhere – especially after how he behaved with Zelensky. I can't believe we have to endure four years of this.' It's not just Brits who have reservations about the prospect of a second state visit, with Americans visiting the UK expressing their own concerns. Josh Butts, 42, from Denver, Colorado, told Yahoo UK outside Buckingham Palace: 'If I was the King, I would not invite him - because he's disrespectful to other state leaders. He doesn't deserve another visit.' Visiting the capital with partner Sara Dashiell, Butts described Trump's recent clash with Zelensky as "absolute chaos", saying: "They needed to be talking to each other but instead they're just yelling. It was a complete disappointment. 'They needed to be working on the problem, which is keeping Putin at bay, and which is in the interests of the US, Europe, everyone.' He also voiced conerns that Trump's behaviour will damage the relationship between the US and UK. '[The relationship between the US and the UK] is incredibly important," he added. "There are huge economic benefits with trade and the UK and US have had a strong relationship since WW2. 'I can't fathom what reason you would ever have to try strain that relationship.' Lachlan Cooke, 64, visiting London from Seattle in Washington State, slammed Trump - who he didn't vote for - for "destroying' the US. He said: 'So far, he's violated all norms of a good government. He's intent on destroying our country. We're not happy with him. And anyone who voted for him I reckon has serious buyer's remorse.' Despite that, he is in favour of a second state visit, saying it's 'better to talk'. 'I think it's better to talk to people than ignore them," he said. "Although [Trump] has got his hands full dealing with other stuff. 'And, the relationship between the UK and US is important - as he's gone to war with our other allies. 'Canada and Mexico are having a terrible time. It's all just silliness.'
