A HEATED debate has erupted over whether a wolf whistle is a compliment or if it constitutes sexual harassment following an article on the front of Monday’s Worcester News.

Yesterday (Monday), your Worcester News reported how 23-year-old Poppy Smart had said walking through the city centre had become “an awful experience” due to unwanted attention and comments from men, singling out a particular set of builders as particularly bad offenders.

Within an hour of being uploaded to the Worcester News website the article had been read more than 1,500 times and attracted 25 comments.

A link on the paper’s Facebook page was even more popular, with 80 comments appearing by noon expressing a range of viewpoints.

Poppy was surprised by the interest in the story and has hit back at those who have been critical of her online.

She said: "My purpose was to raise awareness and encourage others to report behaviour which they don't feel comfortable with.

"My main concern is that people, male or female, will read the comments on the articles and believe that if they speak out, they will be subject to this same, unnecessary hate.

"No-one should feel like they have to put up with unwelcome behaviour, particularly ongoing behaviour like this, if it makes them uncomfortable.

"Many people were moaning that there wasn’t a photo of me alongside the story, but my appearance should have nothing to do with whether I deserve to be harassed in the street or not.

"You may not agree with my point of view, that’s fine, but when I actually take some sort of responsible and logical action to protect myself, I really can’t understand why so many people have been offended by this.

"I stand by everything I’ve said. I don’t believe anyone, of any demographic, deserves to be subject to behaviour that invades their personal space, offends them and makes them feel uncomfortable.

"I will repeat my initial statement and invite you to think about how you would feel if you knew this was happening to a female co-worker, friend or family member - I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t appreciate it."

She added that claims she went to the papers for attention and media coverage were "laughable" and "untrue", adding that she had requested anonymity and no photo when initially approaching the press.

Some users of the Worcester News have praised her bravery for speaking out.

In a long comment on the website, D. F. said he agreed wolf whistling and catcalling was a form of sexual harassment.

“There really is no requirement to whistle, shout or make derogatory or sexual comments to strangers. If builders had half a brain cell, they would realise that this behaviour provokes nothing but annoyance and embarrassment.

“It’s an old fashioned thick tradesmen competing with his fellow males (normally) in order to appear confident with the opposite sex. However, what it portrays is thuggish and immature behaviour,” he wrote.

But not everyone agreed, with commenter Pocahontas saying: “Fairly sure that in a few years time, Poppy will miss people taking the time to wolf whistle/acknowledge her youthful good looks. From a female point of view, I wouldn’t class this as sexual harassment, in fact it would probably make my day!”

Meanwhile joneseddy84 simply wrote: “Get over it dear.”

The discussion on the Worcester News page was heated and sometimes bad-tempered, with some comments having to be removed for bad language.

In a long post Kathryn Iles wrote: “Having to put up with this everyday must have been awful and would have made her feel intimidated and embarrassed as well as self-conscious. Nobody should have to deal with this kind of harassment.”

Meanwhile Natalie Collison wrote: “Reading the article the girl had to walk past them on a daily basis and it wasn’t just the odd wolf whistle but comments too. Groups of builders can and do make women feel uncomfortable especially when they stop what they’re doing to stare and make comments. They know what they’re doing.”

Taking the opposite view, Many Morris wrote: “I have to say that having a wolf whistle directed at me never offended me in the slightest, more likely that I felt like I was walking on air for the rest of the day!

“But now being not far off 50, they are few and far between (non-existent to be truthful!) and I’m not ashamed to admit that I miss that occasional ‘boost’! Whoever the complainant is needs to lighten up and make the most of her youth! It disappears all too quickly!”

Jane Wallin agreed, saying “I’m in my 60s. When I was young a wolf whistle was considered a compliment and I for one used to love getting a wolf whistle. Little girls showing off their party frocks to their dads would receive a wolf whistle. It could not have been further away from lecherous and unacceptable. It was a lovely harmless thing to do to tell ladies and girls that they looked fabulous”

Others were more flippant, with Jamie Denning writing: “Stop moaning and go make me a sandwich.”