It's tough being a man, particularly in this new dystopian age of witch hunts and women refusing to let you grope them. Are you even allowed to hug women with whom you share an entirely professional relationship with anymore? Innocent, well meaning huggers are demanding to know.

Before I go any further, of course we all know that 99.99999999 per cent of men are decent blokes who would never harm anyone let alone a woman person. I mean, some of these men own wives and daughters, for heaven's sake! No one knows better than them how females wish to be treated. They are number one at knowing what women want.

Woody Allen has said he's concerned about a "witch hunt atmosphere." Credit:Annie Hall

But there are always exceptions to the rule. While acknowledging the inherent gender heroics of men, we can at least admit that some of them have been guilty in the past of crossing the line or taking things a little bit too far. Now, there's nothing wrong with a bit of locker room banter particularly when everyone agrees that it's just a joke (especially the guys with allegations of sexual assault against their names). Nor should there be anything wrong with greeting women in a friendly way, like with a hug or a kiss or maybe a jocular hand on their bottom or even up their skirt. If anything, it's a compliment and the only women who complain about compliments are the ones who never receive any.

Still, there's no doubt we're in a bit of strife right now when it comes to this kind of fun, harmless, in no way shape or form abusive behaviour. We know it doesn't mean anything - I mean, just look at how many men confirm that! If these kinds of actions were creepy or intrusive or downright illegal, why would so many men insist that they weren't?