Monday, February 12, 2007

Knock Out Night in Austin

The first night after getting off work and upon returning to the Hilton my boss and I had to wait for the valet to bring us our truck to load up some unneeded supplies. While we stood in the lobby all around us were men (ages mid-thirties to late 50s) in tuxedos and black ties loitering about and leering at scads of young (approximately 19yrs-25yrs old) women who were piling out of vehicles and dashing inside the Hilton. The women were all dressed to the nines in black micro-dresses and heels.

I asked one of the men who were standing and watching the young women as they stepped out of their vehicles, what the event was, he laughed and said it was Knock Out Night and that they were raffling off the women. His group thought it was terribly funny and offered up no further explaination as they continued to chuckle at their inside joke. His demeanor and the men standing around him had the air of leering old men functioning with dog-pack mentality. Later of course, curiosity got the best of me and I had to ask the fellow who delivered our room service what Knock Out Night was all about.

In his words, Knock Out Night was an annual black-tie event held by a bunch of old rich guys who pay to have a private fight held at the hotel and rent young beautiful women to sit at their tables with them. He went on to say that a LOT of money was involved in the event.

I don't want to sound like a crazy feminist, as I'm all about having a good time every now and then, but the men I watched while they watched the young women, absolutely gave me the creeps. A large chunk of those men had to be married, and had to have grand-daughters the age of the girls I saw in attendance.

The next morning I bumped into more than one dazed and hungover young woman in the lobby of the hotel... again I wondered who's grand-daughters they were. Outside it was cold, grey, gusty, and raining. On the way to the convention center for work I stumbled across a few abandoned black stilettos, hair barrettes, lipstick tubes, pantyhose, and other feminine accessories that had been abandoned in the gutter along the curb - there had to be a great art assemblage to be made of the discarded stuff.

12 comments:

Biddie said...

This sounds like some huge prostitute bash night ... gives me the creeps also ....

I hope those young girls weren't just crazy young high school or college kids that didn't know what they were getting themselves into.

Michael-Ann said...

Judging only by my past experiences from when I was a runaway (or I could just be projecting) I would say the women knew what they were in for but the repercussions of their choices (low self-esteem issues at the very least and dealing with drunken-rape issues at the worst) will not become evident to them for many years.

Shelli said...

just another sexist, misogynistic event in our patriarchal society...

JaneDoughnut said...

That is truly scary. I am cold all over just thinking about it.

Mitch! said...

Weird. Sounds like the beginning of a CSI episode. Especially the name, I think that is a nick name for the knock out drug. Here, you can see who sponsored the event, I googled it- http://www.recaonline.com/events/KnockOutNight/KONsponsorsPg.html

mike macgirvin said...

I googled it as well. 3000 bucks to sit in the balcony. A few thousand for a quail hunt. Think I'll put this on my calendar for next year. No - I don't care about attending the event. I wanna' raffle off a bottle of MadDog for $1500. A signed Maxwell Silverthorn CD for $20,000.

Biddie said...

I got into their website far enough to come up with a blank page with a very formidable "FORBIDDEN" blazened across the page.

Me thinks this is a phoney real estate website ....

Michael-Ann said...

Hey Mike! Mere pocket change, your cheap! I'll take two of those bottles of Mad Dawg and one of them thar CDs.

Mom, I agree something is fishy about the deal...i get the feeling that A) somehow money has once again allowed a group of people to throw away their moral compass, and B) mentioning all this in my blog might solicit an unwanted reaction from members of their group if they ever happen to stumble across it.

As empowered and bold as the men I spoke with seemed, it gave me the impression that this group is a strong organization with a lot of support from within its membership and sponsors.

Anonymous said...

Hey knock it if you must but there were some great deals to be had. I got 2 blondes and a red head for $39.95 and they threw in a brunette as a thank you.

Anonymous said...

And by the way I agree with Shelli

Michael-Ann said...

Geez Pop! $39.95?!! You got the BLUE-light special!!!!! I'd be willing to bet that the brunette was thrown in as a freebie because "da man" knew she would bring you running back for more (kinda like that first free crack ball)

To quote Julius "Nipsey" Russell (gawd rest his soul):

"Dey say dat blondes have more fun,
but dey changed all dat
when dey found out whattus brunettes had done!"

I'm really thinking that Shelli is appreciating your show of support right about now. :)

Becky C. said...

I find it disgusting. It is more American slutification and misogynistic glory.

I guess I am strange--I do not have a problem with prostitution--if it was done as it is in the Netherlands (or even Nevada)--legal--and the women are in control of the situation.

But I find this much more offensive(and it is legal)--in fact it gives me the creeps-- for me it has to do with the control issue--the old farts were running the show--and the young girls were their playthings and toys.

And as you alluded to it also has to do with understanding and real consent --I don't see it as full understanding consent by these girls.

-gag--

~Becky

The Morning After Jerkiness

It has been that slow creep from silent defense shields in place to tiny snippets of less awkward conversation sometimes accompanied by an o...