A Voice for Men’s so-called “Honey Badgers” — its little super-team of female MRAs, led by blabby Canadian videoblogger Karen “GirlWritesWhat” Straughan — have a new theory about Anita Sarkeesian. And it’s a doozy.
Sarkeesian, you may recall, is a feminist cultural critic who’s faced pretty much nonstop harassment from misogynistic internet assholes since she launched a project to dissect sexist tropes in video games. AVFM has contributed, in its own special way, to this wave of harassment, with articles describing Sarkeesian as, among other things, a “moneygrubbing liar” and a “queen bee … girl interloper” in the world of video games; AVFM’s Dean Esmay also held her partially responsible, along with an assortment of other internet feminists, for the suicide of one Canadian Men’s Rights Activist.
The principals at AVFM have blamed her for — either inadvertently or deliberately — bringing this harassment on herself by going to 4chan and posting about her project. (As I noted in a previous post, there’s no actual evidence she ever did this.)
The Honey Badgers, for their part, are certain that getting harassed by 4chaners was part of her devious plan all along.
In a teaser for their internet “radio” show tonight, the “Honey Badger” known as TyphonBlue writes:
Like all professional damsels in distress, Anita Sarkeesian had to choose a good dragon. Just the right looming shadow to fall over her delicate and fragile sensibilities; just the right cackling stage-villain to inspire her cries of helpless horror.
She chose 4-chan. An internet forum known for it’s underbelly of foul-tempered and hair-triggered trolls.
Then, after accusing Sarkeesian of inviting countless rape and death threats upon herself (and only a portion of it from 4channers, I should add), the Badgers take their weird conspiracy theory one step further:
But we at Honey Badger Radio have noticed something… odd. The wave of so-called hate that Anita received from her carefully chosen dragon, wasn’t really all that bad.
Yeah. A year and a half (so far) of pretty much unending harassment and baseless criticism, complete with violent threats directed not only at her but at other women who have defended her — that’s nothing.
Compared to 4-chan’s usual scorched earth strategy–raizing [sic] everything to the ground and pissing on the ashes, Anita got a little singed, like she sat too close to a campfire.
So we have to ask… Did 4-chan white knight Anita? I mean, come on. Was that the best 4 chan could do?
Yes, that’s right. The Honey Badgers are accusing those who sent rape and death threats to Anita Sarkeesian … of “white knighting” her.
I can’t even.
Did someone say tabletop games? VtM? Do we have another VtM fan?
(No, I have nothing on topic to say)
Whenever I think of tabletop games all that comes to mind is
1) table tennis
2) Scrabble
kittehs – Seriously. I’m sorry if you got bullied, but that doesn’t justify being an asshole in return. Gatekeeping and misogyny isn’t cool, no matter what your history.
Also, when I think of tabletop games, I think of Pictionary, Apples to Apples, Munchkin, Scrabble, and Guillotine. Good times…
Oh gosh, the board games of my youth come to mind – Haunted House (damn bits never did work properly), the Funky Phantom, Monopoly, jigsaw puzzles …
LOL too true, auggz!
Kind of off topic, but on the topic of mocking misogyny, some Texas high schoolers might be stealing your act, David:
http://nymag.com/thecut/2013/11/texas-hs-students-revolt-over-sexist-speaker.html
http://gawker.com/motivational-speaker-tells-high-school-kids-dateable-g-1464304493
The man they’re criticising is a real piece of work, too:
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2013/11/the_6_creepiest_things_about_r.php
Apparently, “dateable” girls shut up an don’t ask guys out and guys need to lead. Also, “girls” are soft and gentle.
Right.
Bridge? Cribbage? Monopoly?
Do things like chess, mah jong, or backgammon that have movable bits count? You do generally play them at a table…
So I realized I didn’t sumarize what was going on. Basically, a Texas school invited a “complementarian” Christian speaker to talk to their students about… something. Dating. Also abuse (because complementarians are so useful when it comes to fighting abuse). The students basically attacked him during the QandA and took to twitter to um… vent their frustrations.
Also, “Men of God are wild, not domesticated.” Really. It says that on the speaker’s site. “They don’t live by the rules of the opposite sex. They fight battles, conquer lands, and stand up for the oppressed.”
One of those three is not like the others, and women don’t stand up for the oppressed? Also, “the rules of the opposite sex”? Are those things like “be kind to people” and “be polite”?
wordsp1nner – Oh my gods, I’m mocking that guy’s “dating rules” right now.
I never had anyone to play Vampire the Masquerade with, but I did have a book on Brujah lore. Would have been awesome to play.
The quizzes are the best. I’m only dateable as a dude, apparently (though most of the questions are meaningless as an adult–and as someone who is probably* bisexual, too) (if I’m dating someone with a curfew, I’m probably a rapist).
http://www.rudateable.com/cool_quizzes.php
*Still figuring this shit out. At 22.
wordsp1nner, I’m wondering how they reconcile “conquering lands” with “standing up for the oppressed.” erm….
I know!
Michael – Simple. Think of yourself as George Bush.
wordsp1nner – Welp. I’m totally undateable according to that because I don’t like playing hard to get (when I answer as a chick), and I’m totally pushing it because I’m honest and want to enjoy my SO’s company (when I’m answering as a dude).
Why is this so heteronormative?
Definitely!
Draughts, Chinese Checkers and cards, too.
Michael – just what I was going to ask.
I looked at that *cough* quiz *cough* and couldn’t even answer the questions. Partly that was ‘cos some are so irrelevant I wouldn’t know how to answer them, but mostly because it made my skin crawl.
Legit games are the ones that involve killing lots of people, right?
I’m trying to imagine what a dateable girl acts like on a date according to that site. I guess she just sits there very quietly and tries to look interested (but not interesting, because that would be manly).
Hmmm. Here’s a question: is poking your SO in the ribs with a knitting needle a valid response when zie’s being a PSH?
(PSH: persistently smartarse husband, but insert appropriate name)
😉
Cassandra – maybe she sits knitting, ‘cos knitting for someone else is what Femininely Feminininininine Ladies do.
I don’t think teenagers are allowed to knit in this scenario, plus then he might feel like she was ignoring him and that would be misandry.
Just so long as she isn’t knitting a uterus to send to an anti-choice politician.
No really, that was an actual Thing a few years ago–it was a pro-choice protest along the lines of “You want our uteruses? Well have these! Also base on the fact that anti-choice politicians tend to be squeamish about the squidgy bits involved in making babies.
CassandraSays – A dateable girl follows “The Rules” when trying to catch a man. She can’t be too interested, because that’s MANLY and obviously guys don’t like it when a chick takes initiative. *nod*