Today is an auspicious day. For the Men’s Rights Subreddit, which we often write about here on Man Boobz, has won the prestigious World’s Greatest Shitlord Award. Oh, sorry, I mean it won the Subreddit of the Day award on Reddit. Which is, in this case, pretty much the same thing.
Here are some highlights from the official announcement , which I am totally not making up. No, really, you can go look. Someone – that being XavierMendel, one of the mods of r/subredditoftheday — actually wrote these things. And meant them. I AM NOT BEING SARCASTIC THIS IS REAL HOLY SHIT.
The topic at hand today takes a generous turn from our amusing and lighthearted articles of the month. On this, the last day of January, we look at something a bit more worthy to be called an article. /r/MensRights comes up a lot across reddit and, indeed, across the world as being one of the few centers for men’s help. It’s often attacked, and is always the center of one controversy or the other. My questions reflect that. MensRights is, undoubtedly, the home of great activists.
Again. I am not making this up.
There were some people close to me that suggested I not run this article. That the repercussions of doing so would be unreasonably bad. Well, here you go, people. This is my way of saying that a good reporter doesn’t care. A good reporter reports. It’s not in my job to care about consequences.
I’m not sure that Mr. Mendel quite understands the difference between “reporting” and “asskissing.”
/r/MensRights. Never in our society could the uninitiated imagine such a place. A place where feminism is questioned, and our culture is deconstructed to find what it’s really up to.
Hahaha, what? I was not aware that feminism wasn’t ever questioned on the internet, or anywhere else in “our society.” I mean, it’s not like I run a blog that features nearly 500 posts detailing people attacking feminism on the internet, most of them nastily and ignorantly and sometimes using the word “cunt,” and the vast majority of them not on Reddit. And it’s not like this only barely scratches the surface of the subject.
/r/MensRights is one of the last fortifications of free thought to exist on Reddit.
Yeah, that’s why I was banned – not for trolling or harassing or calling anyone names, but for politely if persistently disagreeing with the denizens until then-moderator ignatiusloyola threw a fit.
“Surely you jest,” one might tell me, “when you mean they’re alone in this regard?” No, hypothetical 19th century British gentleman, I do not. I truly mean it when I say that. What other subreddit openly questions feminism? None spring to mind, and I make it my duty to catalog various subreddits. Most end up banned or run down within a month. Only /r/MensRights remains.
Reddit: Bastion of Internet Feminism.
Nobody can say for sure whether or not they’re correct in any single regard. It’s certain that, due to the laws of probability, they’re not correct in every regard. However, it’s also certain that they’re correct in most of them. Occasionally a wackjob or two will suggest that feminism is behind Cinnamon Toast Crunch (The taste you can see!™). The accuser latches onto those wackjobs to denounce the whole movement.
Yeah, it’s not as if comments suggesting that a man allegedly wronged in divorce court should turn to murder got literally dozens of upvotes in r/mensrights, or anything.
Oh wait, they did.
Yeah, it’s not as if Men’s Rights Redditors gave literally hundreds of upvotes to a post about a t-shirt suggesting that men could be convicted of rape simply for being in a room alone with a woman.
Oh wait, they did.
It’s not as if Men’s Rights Redditors regularly give dozens if not hundreds of upvotes to posts from unhinged hate sites like A Voice for Men or Angry Harry,or fall all over themselves praising an internet-famous female MRA who thinks that many abused women “demand” their abuse.
It’s not as if they think “spermjacking” is a real thing in the world that should make all men think twice about ejaculating in the general vicinity of women.
It’s not like … oh, you can find many, many more examples for yourself.
After claiming that “people have died” after being called misogynists, while “nobody ever dies after being called a misandrist,” Mr. Mendel winds up his speech with this stirring conclusion:
I support the struggles of people who are in bad positions. I respect it, in a way, for I have also seen great struggle. My struggle is not over, nor will it end until my death. For I struggle with something that will not go away through legislation or social change. The Men’s Rights Movement, however, struggles with something very changeable. Very malleable, able to be fixed within a generation if so desired. So I will support them, for they have a fighting chance. …
/r/MensRights is controversial for a reason. In the same sense as Jews of the 1890s, Irish of the 1850s, Hispanics of the 1350s, and many more. Each generation has their controversial improvement in society. We’ve gotten off easy so far, but we have to make it happen eventually. As far back as anyone living can remember, the table has been imbalanced in one way or another, favoring men or women. It’s time the table stays level for once. We need equality.
And that’s what /r/MensRights is trying to do.
Oy yoy yoy. There’s so much ridiculousness to unpack there that it makes me tired. I think I’ll go take a nap.
Mr. Mendel followed his stirring introduction with some questions for the denizens of r/mensrights. And there was some discussion. I can’t even. Not right now. I’ll get to all that in a future post.
In the meantime, Skepchick’s Rebecca Watson – who has been on the receiving end of r/menrights’ heroic activism more than once — has her own reaction to the Men’s Rights is the Subreddit of the Day announcement.
Probably a “duh, well of course” question, Argenti, but to block him out, have you worn earplugs? They don’t block everything but good ones fitted in tightly are damn good at muffling noise. I wear ’em all the time I’m at home or on the train (not that Mum’s shouting! But I don’t want to be caught out by some stupid neigbour starting up).
Shiraz – yeah, I will be, or with a skirt. I’ve a couple of long dark brown skirts that will go well with it. 🙂
*Waves back*
I dunno. I’m in North America.
Kitteh — black leggings, not jeans, imho. Jeans might clash or draw attention away from your lovely new tunic.
Metal Heart (not available on mobile and arg gues what I’m on?) —
Argenti – leggings would be good IF I could wear ’em as outerwear. But this tunic’s just too short for that, I’d feel undressed. It’d be exactly the “did you forget your skirt” look I dislike. 😀
Kitteh — he has a small fit when I clearly actively ignore him, bad attitude and all that. It just isn’t worth it, avoiding him altogether is easier!
Shiraz — CT here, far too close to Boston baby (countered by much cooler regulars though!)
And I apologize to anyone listening to that version of Metal Heart through good headphones, it isn’t your headphones, the static is in the file. It was the only non-live version I could find (without an “upsetting images” warning, and idfk what that’s about, nor do I care to learn)
I was thinking what we called yoga pants here for awhile, give me a sec to find an image, as they are outerwear (not exactly modest outerwear, but legitimately pants)
Like these — http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=810759&locale=en_US&kwid=1&sem=false&sdReferer=
Normally outerwear means things that you put on over your regular clothes, like a coat or a jacket.
@Kitteh that tunic is *gorgeous*. I couldn’t read the brand name on it, where did you get it from?
Argenti – I might have known ::rolls eyes::. He’s a meatspace troll, isn’t he?
Cassndra – outerwear to me is just top clothes, outer clothing, as distinct from underwear. Coats and jackets are just coats and jackets. 🙂
Looking at various jeans/leggings/jeggings, the sort like those Target ones aren’t the sort that get my “it’s underwear!” reaction. Denim = trousers of some description to me, regardless of being snug or loose. The jeggings/leggings I’m thinking of are tee-shirt material weight or stocking weight, or lycra – thin and clingy. A pair of tight jeans in black would prolly go well with that top, though I’m more inclined to just wear it with a long skirt.
Kiwigirl, it’s Wishbone brand, and I bought it from a stall at the South Melbourne Market. 🙂
I dunno how you’d survive in most of the Middle East if you were lactose intolerant either, so I’m guessing it’s rare for people with their roots there to have that issue. Plus not being able to have rice pudding when everyone else was would be so depressing.
Yogurt is very low lactose. Lots of jews are lactose intolerant (or only semi-tolerant). My partner can’t eat any dairy but yogurt. Ghee is a maybe, the one attempts we made failed. I may need to make a darker ghee, and see if she is up for trying it again.
I was thinking about jack today (there is little of it to be had in Jersey), and of the other mild cheeses, muenster, and most of the butter cheeses, and mahon, and fresh edam, and how pleasant they all are, in their innoffensive ways.
I do know the counter, and whataburger. I also know fatburger. I like a good burger. Five Guys is a sort of In-N-Out ish chain on the east coast. Burgers aren’t as good as In-N-Out, but they have better fries.
Of the things I miss here are churros.
fathertime: You realize these are actual people and not cartoon characters right?
Yes, more’s the pity. Because for all your whining, I wish this site was cherry-picking.
I’ve (as have many of the others here) gone out into the wider manosphere. This is far from the worst, and sadly all too representational.
But feel free to prove us wrong. Show some links to the non-horrid MRA posts. Show us the moderates who inhabit your movement.
For bonus points show us how they outnumber/outweigh the people referenced here.
This is a pointless challenge. Any website that allows comments will have trolls on it no matter the subject matter. I’ve seen individuals who call themselves MRA’s that seem reasonable. They still count even if they don’t have a blog.
How convenient: the lurkers support you in conversation.
Yes, such people would count as MRA, what they don’t do is represent the visible aspects of the movement. If you (and they) don’t like that they don’t have standing in how “The Movement” is perceived, get them to speak up. Get them to denounce the shitbirds you are defending.
Listen dumbass, MRA’s don’t only hang out on MRA websites, they can and do show up on large forums when a topic about gender issues comes up.
Ah… so what we have here is confirmation bias.
Since you can’t recall who it was you talked to; but imply you can recall the threads; we have to assume the “reasonable” MRAs were a small minority (or we wouldn’t need to search for them) but you can’t recall the asshats.
So either there weren’t any asshats, or the MRAs of reasonable stripe should be easy to find.
That’s the thing with blanket statements you only need a few counter examples to disprove them.
So go ahead, disprove them.
I begin to to think the reason you don’t have any such links is your case more tattered than a sheet of Charmin at the base of Niagra Falls.
“Normally outerwear means things that you put on over your regular clothes, like a coat or a jacket.”
Lol, true enough, but hey, context, I can play along!
And yes, he’s a meatspace asshole troll, and my brother is a meatspace lulz troll. That’s pretty hilarious actually, him and his best friend once made lunch into a literal mess by throwing nuts at each others nuts just to comment about having nuts hitting their nuts…yeah, can’t take them anywhere! (Then again, I did decide to play meatspace angry birds with said friend of his, dude was taking FOREVER at the video game store, right next to the display of stuffed angry birds! How was I supposed to resist bouncing them off his legs!)
Ok, yeah, can’t take any of us anywhere!
Pecunium — there’s a chain that does, or at least did, churros — one of the stupid mall food stands, Cinnabon maybe? I’ll look the next time I’m in a mall, I apparently lack spring SCENTED MOTHERFUCKING CANDLES so I’ll probably be out that way for Yankee Candle soon enough. And you can’t get even the shitty grocery store jack, or won’t tolerate such blasphemy? Cuz I have pepper jack on hand, and can certainly pick up the other kids, idk if shipping cheese would really be reasonable, but I could certainly bring you some if we ever manage to get together in person.
Calbot’s is reasonably good, and should be available in grocery stores there — certainly is here!
The burden is on you to claim that what you have is a significant portion of MRA’s.
Dude… there are hundreds of posts about them here. This blog goes back for years, with regular posts on a more than weekly basis.
That’s a lot of evidence.
The SPLC has studied them, and says the are cesspools of hate, misogyny and violent rhetoric; listing them as just shy of a hate group.
You have offered the affirmative defense that there are more non-asshats than asshats.
That means you need to support it, or shut your pie hole.
(mmm Pie. I like a good mince pie, though the boulangerie/venoiserie near my work has gateaux basques right now and they are yummy. Almond/hazelnut meal in a custard base, and a sugared top crust).
“I begin to to think the reason you don’t have any such links is your case more tattered than a sheet of Charmin at the base of Niagra Falls.”
Please don’t squeeze the Charmin!
Pie…I have what might be the best apple pie in existance, I should defrost a piece… (shit’s made by a farmer neighbor of my aunt’s with locally grown apples and a handmade crust, absolutely amazing, and lasts for A Very Long Time frozen)
cloudiah: Or yeast infections? I don’t think we’ve done yeast infections recently.
I mentioned them in males, in relation to underwear in hot/humid environments; in the commando derail.
I’ve had a couple as man. Most unpleasant (one lover and I had very unfortunate chemistry). As a result when I got a case of urethritis as part of my Reiter’s I didn’t realise it wasn’t a yeast infection (I knew it wasn’t an STD… it had been months since my last dalliance).
fathertime: Which is it.
I’m saying they do call themselves MRAs but the topics where they do this aren’t just threads that start about MRAs,
or,
I remember the conversations but I don’t remember the usernames. Why would I? They aren’t their real names and on websites that huge I probably won’t encounter them again.
Because the former can only be true if the latter is false.
You figured out that first statement? Because I still want Cicero instead, fuck, I’ll even take Cicero in Latin over fathertime.
How about if it’s this Cicero?
http://youtu.be/h5U33TjkWqw
Aww you’re a kitty! = always acceptable (well, almost, *shakes head* did I mention that my mother’s cat managed to get stuck with a paw in my 29g? Stupid cat…)
Yup, being a kitteh is unfortunately not a guarantee against teh stupid!
Linked kitty.
My cat is about 2 now and she still makes noises like that.
that kitten is so much like Hadji
am ded of cute