[imagesource: Brobible]

If you stare at someone without their verbal consent at Club 77 in Darlinghurst, Sydney, you will be kicked out by security.

The club has banned “unwanted staring” in its new safety and harassment policy update, with the aim of creating a “safe space” and “educat[ing] clubgoers”.

In an Instagram post, the nightclub said it encourages you to interact with strangers. However, “any engagement (including if you are “staring at someone from afar”) MUST begin with verbal consent”.

The club went on to explain that “if the attention you are giving someone is unwanted, that is considered harassment”.

The club will have security guards dotted around wearing high-visibility pink vests who you can approach if you feel you are being harassed.

 

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Club owner Dane Gorrel says the club is just trying to stay ahead of any possible problems, having spoken to people in the community and in local and international music scenes before updating their policy, per ABC News:

“We’re just sort of adopting the same similar practices [that are] happening all around the world with venues like ours,” Mr Gorrel said.

Some say this is ‘woke’ culture that has gone too far and others say it is a rule that is long overdue.

Vice-chair of the Night Time Industries Association and former Venue 505 owner Kerri Glasscock said “it’s fantastic to see people, you know, not waiting until something terrible happens”.

Another lady agrees that Club 77’s decision is a “game-changer”:

“I’m a 31-year-old woman and it’s such a pain when you have a creep who is staring at you or following you around and security are not paying attention, even when you try and alert them,” Olivia said.

According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, staring and leering are considered examples of sexual harassment, so the club just seems to be doing its due diligence.

But of course, there are those who are offended by the change, per Sky News:

“The stupidity of these rules will guarantee that the only patrons to attend this club will be the snowflake generation. Good luck with that,” one follower wrote.

“I’ve ran nightclubs for years, this is a senseless approach,” another said.

“Kicked out for looking at someone. So what if the safety officer looks at me, is he getting kicked out?” a third asked.

I suspect a lot of the backlash might be around the blurry line between innocently trying to make eye contact and staring, which is something that has not been properly defined by anyone, let alone the club.

The key might be in consent and creepiness. If you’re outright staring for an extended period of time, that makes a person feel uncomfortable – especially women who have to deal with predatory men on an almost daily basis.

If you’re casting flirty eyes over to test the waters, that’s probably fine, but you might want to go over and have a little conversation to ease any tension and see if the person is cool with you.

If they’re not, move the hell along.

[sources:abcnews&skynews]