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So the other day, the atheist blogger Rebecca Watson, aka Skepchick, had this little conversation on Twitter:
Watson, you may recall, got herself onto the Men’s Rights radar a few months back, after a brief comment she made in a podcast — suggesting that perhaps it wasn’t such a good idea for a guy to hit on woman he’s never spoken to before while the two of them are alone in an elevator at 4 AM – somehow turned into a Big Fucking Thing on the Internet, because how dare she say such a thing, it’s creep-shaming, she must hate men, bla bla bla.
So, anyhoo, one Men’s Rights Reddit noticed this little Twitter exchange, and posted it to the Men’s Rights subreddit. And there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. MRAs hating women? How dare she suggest such a thing!
Here are some of the things that assorted Men’s Rights Redditors posted in response, to remind us all that the Men’s Rights movement isn’t all about shitting on women. Let’s start with this lovely rebuttal, boasting nearly 60 net upvotes:
This comment inspired a long and winding discussion of the word “cunt,” and why it’s like totally ok to use it all the time, because in England the UK people call men “cunts” as well.
Some got a little carried away:
This little exchange came with a side order of irony:
Speaking of fantasy, here’s a strange bit of paranoia, which nonetheless drew upvotes from the very same people who are outraged that Watson was a bit creeped out by a dude she didn’t know asking her to come to his hotel room at 4 AM:
And here’s still more evidence that MRAs, despite their many egregious flaws, do at least have vivid imaginations:
Some other comments, all of which got at least a few upvotes from the MR regulars:
Let’s end with this eloquent plea for people to not give a shit if MRAs hate women:
The folks in the Men’s Rights subreddit are currently debating whether or not to change the subreddit’s slogan, which is currently: “Mens’ Rights: Earning Scorn from Bigoted Feminists and White Knights Since 2008.”
So let me humbly suggest:
Mens’ Rights: Like it’s even relevant if mens rights is anti women in regard to if mens rights is a movement about addressing mens issues.
Or the even punchier:
Men’s Rights: i’m tired of not using the term “cunt”.
MRAs, you’re welcome.
@Meowicus
I rebutted in the previous thread to this one…I can copy and paste but it was pretty long. Either he read it and ignored it, or didn’t read it at all.
I guess, using Antz logic, the fact he’s not replied in… ooh, well over five minutes now means his edifice is crumbling or something like that?
Seriously, I thought most people left the “La la la I can’t hear you therefore I win!” approach to debate behind once they reached five years old.
Acually, I want to apologise for my last comment for being insulting to five year olds.
Pretty sure when my daughter was five she had better arguing skills than Antz.
Of course, I’d wager that what this is really all about is giving himself something to take back to his MRA cronies, so he can strut and preen about what an awesome badass internet warrior he is.
Since he got completely fucking owned in the first thread, he had to come here and start over, hoping that no one would notice.
I know, it’s pathetic. I’m trying to figure out how he can possibly think this is a good strategy without being incredibly dim or just really disingenuous and I’m just….blank.
He really is quite the twit.
@Moewicus
Easily:
http://manboobz.com/2012/03/05/if-rush-limbaugh-could-draw-cartoons/#comment-131612
Huh. A while ago I heard that someone had a plan to put all men on one side of the Mississippi and all women on the other. I just assumed THAT would be the greatest act of state sponsored bigotry since Jim Crow.
Oh, Futrelle! Whenever I see that little robot, I know boobville is in pain!
It would be so easy to just say:
“Obamacare is a sexist law. Ignoring male healthcare needs is wrong. Putting feminist ideologues in charge of the health care system is wrong. Giving 142 benefits to women that are denied to men is wrong.”
But, boobville suffers from congenital brain failure, and nobody can stomach the obvious.
You are all such sad little people.
Quackers, I am ignoring you because you don’t have an argument to refute.
Many private healthcare companies cover male specific healthcare needs. Others don’t. Obamacare MANDATES that all companies must cover all female specific healthcare needs … and says nothing about male specific healthcare needs.
You can stick you duck-bill in the sand and close you eyes, so that you won’t have to see the truth. I know that the truth hurts, when you are a feminist. I actually sympathise with you people, worshippers of an obsolete religion.
Well, my sides are splitting a little. it’s very nice of you to notice AntZ!
It sure would, much easier than saying supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. However, saying supercalifragilisticexpialidocious would be much more truthful.
No, Zarat. Your claims have been refuted by myself and other posters here. You chose to ignore them. I’m copying and pasting my post from the last thread.
Medicare covers prostate screenings: http://www.medicare.gov/(X(1)S(v4ldad454vqx0h555di5bi55))/navigation/manage-your-health/preventive-services/prostate-cancer-screening.aspx
Medicare also covers smoking cessation and there is nothing there about gender: http://www.medicare.gov/(X(1)S(v4ldad454vqx0h555di5bi55))/navigation/manage-your-health/preventive-services/smoking-cessation.aspx
I searched “vasectomy” and “tubal ligation” on the Medicare site and found nothing.
Vasectomies are covered by insurance: http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/vasectomy-14387
So is Viagra: http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-204_162-670833.html
Is this the act? http://housedocs.house.gov/energycommerce/ppacacon.pdf
because I searched for “vasectomy” “tubal” “prostate” and found nothing. AntZ thinks it means its not covered, but my above links, more importantly the one from the medicare website itself proves otherwise.
when I searched for contraception, this is what came up
There’s nothing it it about women getting birth control and not men because there’s nothing about birth control period. Can you please show us AntZ where you got that?
There is a section on Mammography and Office of Women’s Health…maybe it’s mentioned because of this:
According to Wikipedia:
AZ, you do realize that a number of people have offered detailed rebuttals, with specific quotes from the legislation and links to other relevant information, in the Limbaugh cartoon thread?
I suggest you go back and respond to them rather than crowing about how right you are in this thread.
Commenters here tend to follow more than one thread at once. You’re not actually fooling anyone here.
Oops., ninja-ed by Quackers.
How convenient, ignoring the poster who has thoroughly debunked you. Keep sticking your fingers in your ears, Antz…. *La, la, la, la, laaa!*
Do you really want an annual pap smear? If so, go for it. They’re really quite… unique. However if you’re talking about comparable health, then I think it’d be easier if you just said that if women get pap smears then men should get prostate exams. Except, wow, men already -do- get them. I’d like to see a single, solitary health care company that makes you pay them for health care that covers a service for women that doesn’t cover a comparable service for men. If there is in fact a comparable service to be had.
@Karen James
Rush Limbaugh is not an MRA. He is a conservative. To find out what MRAs think of conservatives, look here:
http://www.the-spearhead.com/2011/02/19/a-response-to-the-hysterical-housewife
It is possible that, unlike all the fools on this board, you may have read Obamacare. I read all 907 pages in about 6 hours — it is written in huge font, so it goes quickly.
Will you comment on the 134 woman-only privileges, offices, programs, commissions, oversight committees, and services in Obamacare, which have no male counter-parts?
MRAs are egalitarians. We would be happy to support birth control for women, if birth control for men was covered also. We would be happy to support mandatory breast health, if prostate health was covered. And so forth, through the list of 134 disenfranchisements of men, boys, and fathers.
As it stands, Obamacare is an act of open aggression towards men, boys, and fathers. It welcomes women with unlimited warmth, and rejects all men with unlimited neglect.
It would be so easy to just say:
“Obamacare is a sexist law. Ignoring male healthcare needs is wrong. Putting feminist ideologues in charge of the health care system is wrong. Giving 142 benefits to women that are denied to men is wrong.”
You’re right Zarat, it is easy to lie. But as you’ve so masterfully illustrated, time and time again, it’s not so easy to be any good at it.
@Timid Atheist
There is no coverage for prostate health, including prostate exams, and no coverage for PSA exams.
In contrast, there are three covered programs for female breast health:
1) “The USPSTF recommends that women whose family history is associated with an increased risk for deleterious mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes be referred for genetic counseling and evaluation for BRCA testing.”
2) “The USPSTF recommends that clinicians discuss chemoprevention with women at high risk for breast cancer and at low risk for adverse effects of chemoprevention. Clinicians should inform patients of the potential benefits and harms of chemoprevention. ”
3) “The USPSTF recommends screening mammography for women, with or without clinical breast examination, every 1-2 years for women aged 40 and older.”
Ah, it is so good to be back! Please, somebody come up with an argument that carries some weight! Personal attack sand smoke screens are fun, but not enough of a challenge! Is there anyone here with half a brain?
What about the men who get breast cancer? Why are you comparing breasts to prostates? They’re not even in similar locations.
Also, the only links you’ve provided are by other MRAs. How about non biased links? How about proof that private companies don’t automatically cover male healthcare but force women to pay extra for female care?
I find it interesting that you mock people for asking you to provide links. If you were so sure in your argument then you should be more than happy to produce them and in abundance. As it is, I’m afraid you fail at skeptical inquiry. Perhaps you need a small tutorial? Here’s a video for you on how to be a skeptic. Enjoy!
Futrelle! I expected better from you.
I know that among these geese you feel like an intellectual giant, but your argument makes no sense! Nobody has quoted from Obamacare, which is the legislation that I am talking about!
So, does ANYONE have a rebuttal for “Obamacare is sexist etc.”? Not smoke, not mirrors, not personal attacks, not cheap videos, but real data?
Tap tap tap
Isn’t Medicare a national social insurance program?
There is NOTHING in the bill about all insurance companies funding birth control for women or not men. There is nothing in there about tubal ligation or vasectomies. The only part on contraception is the part I quoted.
“Financing for a huge study on “the relative mental consequenc3s for women of resolving a pregnancy in various ways .. carrying to term .. adoption .. miscarriage .. abortion”
MEN DO NOT GET PREGNANT. What part of this do you not understand? most of this women’s health stuff you are reading is about women’s reproductive health, something that DOES NOT AFFECT MEN.
Holy fuck.
Quote the parts that say all this. Back your shit up!
Finally, if you and a bunch of other men believe men want/need an office of men’s health then ASK FOR IT. No one is against it! No one will stop you! And why doesn’t the MRM do more to encourage men to see a doctor when it’s been shown time and time again that in the long run not doing so negatively affects men?
Ugh. I am trying to argue in good faith here but this is nuts. Screw it.
OK, I will help you people, out of pity. READ THE LAW!
You can find it here, in easy to read font:
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3590/text
You can also see the original reproduction here, in original font:
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/final-health-reform-bill-patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act.aspx
Both documents are searchable. You might want to start by searching for “men” and “women”. Here is what you will find:
134 instances of the world “women”, all but two of which outline special privileges, offices, and protections for women
2 instances of the word “men”, both of which are in meaningless “men and women” sentences
You will also need this link, which is the list of procedures that must be covered free of charge:
http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsabrecs.htm
While all of you bird brains do your homework, I am going home to my FOREIGN BRIDE.
Does your FOREIGN BRIDE know she’s going to be replaced by VR technology?
Is nothing ever good enough for you?
By the way, birth control is not on the USPSTF recommendation list, pending approval by the president. It has been recommended for addition to the list by the Institute of Medicine.
Or, you can simply read my authoritative and definitive treatment of the subject here:
http://www.avoiceformen.com/feminism/feminist-lies-feminism/feminist-lie-3468-obamacare