Oh, boy. So that almost certainly imaginary “dude punching his spermjacking girlfriend” story in the Men’s Rights subreddit the other day? The one that inspired all those Men’s Rights Redditors to totally defend the (alleged) puncher?
Well, now Jezebel has weighed in on the subject as well. Erin Gloria Ryan raises a few questions about ineedhelpnow1234’s implausible tale, and about the dudes who not only believed it but got all enraged at the imaginary punched girlfriend:
Where does this legend of the sperm swiping madwoman come from? And why won’t it die? Why are men’s rights activists so willing to believe that in a world practically dripping with sperm, women specifically want theirs so they can be pregnant and possibly farty for 9 months, stretch their skin out, and go through childbirth in order to control the men in their lives?
Apparently, at least one Men’s Rights Redditor is a reader of Jezebel, because he went and posted a link, explaining that
I normally try to stay neutral as best I can in matters relating to the men’s rights/feminism debate, but this has me grinding my teeth.
So this is what feminists think about one of our most pressing issues.
Presumably he is referring to the extremely pressing issue of girlfriends who flee the bedroom after sex, clutching used condoms and shouting that “I’m finally going to get the baby I deserve,” and how they totally deserve to be punched in the stomach so hard it leaves a bruise.
The discussion inspired this exchange:
Oh, and this one, too:
YadaYadaYada2 certainly has a flair for the dramatic, doesn’t he?
Men’s Rights Activists, so emotional!
EDITED TO ADD: I sort of started arguing with the regulars in the comments there, and Glarfugus set me straight on the nature of my sins against the Men’s Rights subreddit:
You quoted accurately, the problem lies where you quote perfectly sound posts and talk about them like they’re ridiculous. You address punching a woman in the stomach as though it’s something of high crime. I’m not saying it’s something that’s right, but punching someone in the stomach in a panicked situation where you have a risk of being fucked by the court system for the next 18 years? Reasonable action.
I put my favorite part in bold. The stuff about punching women is pretty special too.
WIN. Have a vaguely Irish-themed Internet.
NWO: That’s incorrect. Custody = parenthood.
So my mother stopped being my mother when I moved out?
Amazing.
Hellkell: I think we can be generous to NWO here, and say that all taxes (income, sales, various fees) probably come to 25 percent for anyone making less than 50,000 a year. It’s not until one becomes a Romney that taxes can drop down to the 15 percent range.
Which is mostly a factor of regressive taxes (sales, DMV, etc.) and ratios.
katz: My mother had an ovary out under a local. While it was going on the doctor asked if he should take her appendix out, “since I’m in the neighborhood”.
She said, “sure.”
Privilege is feeling entleitd to always be included, no matter what. I have absolutely no problem with that. In fact, I have heard plenty of similar statements from various feminists, generally along the line of you men think this is all about YOU. Well it’s not all about you. It just isn’t! Get over it! Of course, I find that statement intellectually fallacious: In fact, it IS about men to SOME extent at least although I’m sure it is about other things as well. Point taken. But as for not being included fine! I will remember not to ask to be included not that I need much reminding on that score.But I can assure you that what the counter-feminist center undertakes in terms of future projects will in no way depend upon inclusion within feminist culture or feminist discourse, nor upon mirror-equivalent mimicry of same.So, write me down as one who does not request inclusion.Cheers!
I’m not involved or interested in any MRA at all, and I liked a couple of your other articles, but this is disappointing.
This blog post is irrational.
IF it is indeed a fact that men can be screwed over for 18 years, then getting punched in the stomach really does pale in comparison to that. As in, not-even-the-same-order-of-magnitude. I’m sure my feminist friends would agree.
Think about it: that would be a huge betrayal of trust in an intimate relationship, quite apart from the $1000’s. Then again, if it’s *not* a fact, they have no case.
It’s the same with false rape allegations. That can literally ruin a person’s life. As far as I know, women who so falsely accuse are not punished, so there’s not a strong disincentive for them not to do so.
Do I think MRA and that stuff is often misogynistic? Yes. But isn’t this supposed to be one of the biggest sites attacking them? If so, and IF this article is typical-which I doubt it is-then the attack on that stuff is pretty weak. Emotional, not rational.
And no, I don’t think violence is justified even in a huge betrayal of trust.
That would be immature and pathetic.
But understandable IF you’re about to lose tens of thousands of dollars over something for which you really have no blame…. Unless we’re going to be like conservatives and say ‘well, if you’re not ready for the consequences (of a huge betrayal of trust), don’t have sex at all! abortions are terrible! blah blah’
Adam, in a world where there are still plenty of men who want sex without protection I don’t think its necessary to run off with someones condom.
Child support does not pay such huge amounts that women can live a lavish lifestyle, usually you’re lucky if it pays half the basic necessities for the child.
You’re not an MRA, you have feminist friends but you think that real women are running out with used condoms, that there are so many false rape accusations AND that being so much as questioned by police will completely ruin a mans life? I think you and you’re friends had better start doing some reading on these issues.