When feminists are besieged with threatening messages after being targeted by Men’s Rights Activists, MRAs sometimes ask how we know for sure that the messages (or at least a good portion of them) are being sent by MRAs. And the answer is that, in most cases, we don’t, at least not beyond a reasonable doubt, because most people sending threatening messages have the good sense to do so anonymously.
So it is possible, at least theoretically, that when, say, a feminist blogger gets threatening messages shortly after MRAs start posting nasty things about her on their blogs and in their various forums, it is not MRAs sending the messages but angry ornithologists who, for no reason whatsoever, collectively decided to pick on a feminist blogger that day. Seems unlikely, but it’s possible.
Other times, though, we do know who is sending the threats, because, conveniently enough, they do so under their own name or using their MRA identity online.
That was the case, you might recall, when Australian MRA and fanatical A Voice for Men supporter Frank James Spencer, also known as KARMA MRA MGTOW, left me a creepy, vaguely threatening voicemail message one night at 1:38 AM. That was the case with many of those posting threatening YouTube comments about a certain inadvertently famous Canadian feminist.
And that was the case last night when a longtime MRA known as Masculist Man tried to post a threatening message in the comments to a post of mine about a threatening comment directed at me on The Spearhead. The Spearhead comment, you may remember, involved a weird and elaborate anal rape fantasy. I noted in my post that the comment had gotten 10 upvotes, no downvotes.
Masculist Man added his two cents (click for larger version):
He’s probably right about the 500 upvotes. Apparently rape threats are a form of Human Rights activism.
I wrote about a ranty blog post of Mr. Man’s some time ago, and he’s written several posts about me, or at least about someone he calls Dave Fooltrelle. I let him comment here for a time as well. He was always obnoxious, though never quite this obnoxious.
Mr. Man’s blog is called, creatively, Men’s Rights Blog. In addition to the aforementioned ranty post, it features a cartoony avatar of himself wearing a fedora and brandishing a sword, with the caption “I’ll cut ya.” As part of his “activism,” he’s put up a page of anti-feminist “memes,” many based on photos of real feminists, including me. The blog has been around since 2007.
In his profile on Blogger, he declares
I’ve been a masculist for over 20 years and have been very activist,both on and offline. I’ve debated phonies and feminists and have prevailed over both.
He lists Warren Farrell’s The Myth of Male Power as one of his favorite books, and Neil LaBute’s misogynistic fantasy In The Company of Men as one of his favorite films.
And if you follow the link to Mr. Man’s Facebook page, you can take a look at his small collection of Facebook friends, including AVFM’s Paul Elam and MRA lawyer Roy Den Hollander, as well as the groups he supports, including the National Coalition for Men, the Men’s Human Rights Movement Facebook group, and assorted anti-VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) groups.
So, yeah, I think it’s safe to say that this threatening comment came from an MRA.
Ugh. David, can’t think of a better time to emphasize that you rock.
He’s such a despicable idiot. As far as I can recall his “debates” here have consisted of pointing out female murderers exist to people that are well aware of that, and then running away. Nice prevailing you’ve got there.
MRM, ready to denounce this yet? . . .
. . .
He’s probably saying that only because he has a Guy Fawkes avatar. That alone makes him an activist everywhere. Or something like that.
I haven’t seen In The Company Of Men since shortly after it came out so maybe I’m misremembering, but I wasn’t under the impression that you were so supposed to be rooting for the men, I was under the impression you were supposed to be disturbed by them.
How can any MRA who claims to be concerned about male victims of DV oppose VAWA? Despite the name, men can use any of the programs too. I guess they hate women so much that they’re willing to sacrifice abused men to ensure that abused women remain trapped in their relationships.
Human rights movement; you’re doing it wrong.
weirwoodtreehugger: I’ve seen In The Company of Men recently, and yeah I thought it was very well done because of how thoroughly despicable were both main characters. For this guy to be inspired is like..I can’t think of any good comparison except with people who’ve committed genocide so I’ll stop here.
WWTH,
It’s clear from their rape threats toward men and the support those threats receive that they don’t give a happy rat’s behind about male victims at all.
You really know you’re part of a human rights movement when you fantasize about your opponents getting raped. I learned that from Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hmm. It’s been awhile since I saw The Company of Men. It just seemed to me that he reveled in the characters’ misogyny a bit too much. Maybe I should rewatch it. But it was just so unpleasant.
All I remember about The Company of Men is the complete repulsiveness of both of the male leads and how I wanted to take a shower after watching it.
I have a feeling that Masculist Man sees Chad as a hero.
They should be thanking you, David. If they didn’t have feminism to wank about, they’d have to go out and get lives. It’s really sad that their identities are one long reactionary clusterfuck.
I’m surprised he didn’t mention A Boy and His Dog.
It’s a dystopian flick from the 70’s.
I’ve got it around here somewhere.
I like dark future stuff.
Spoilers!
I think the MRAs would love the ending.
I’m sorry you are subjected to this vileness, David. You are a brave man, and what you do is vitally important.
Is it feasible to contact law enforcement when one is targeted with such specific threats of assault? It is criminal, to my mind.
P.S. But LMAO at angry ornithologists.
Yep (nodding sympathetically), they are the worst.
Emma, if any of them were in the area I would. I did report Karma.mra.mgtow to Skype, FWIW.
Gack, A Boy and His Dog Don Johnson in one of the crappiest post apocalyptic movies I have ever seen (and post-apocalyptic list is bit of an obsession with me)
Good, David. Do you get any response when you report such threats (e.g., a follow-up that the individual would be monitored, etc.)?
I’m sorry you have to deal with this David. Thank you.
gillyrosebee,
I haven’t watched it yet. I keep meaning to. I have a soft spot for bad movies, if they are entertainingly bad. I got it for the twist ending.
We had fun a couple weekends ago, just watching the second Elm Street movie and laughing at how horrible it was. When we saw all of the Wishmaster movies were on Netflix we tried to watch them all, but couldn’t make it past the first two. My husband has been entertaining me since by doing the voice of the Jinn. “*Do you wish for pancakes?”
I’m a fan of the makers of Hobo with a Shotgun and You’re Next. You’re Next was especially good. I have the soundtrack to Repo: A Genetic Opera too. It’s cheap, gaudy and gorgeous. It’s one of my favorites because there is one song on the soundtrack that will reduce my oldest daughter (and then my husband because it’s so sweet) to tears. I am forbidden to play it when she is home. Also, Anthony Stewart Head stars in it and that’s always a plus.
* He cracks me up. We hit a pothole the other day and he said,”That wasn’t a laser blast. Something hit us!” I told him I loved him and he answered….”I know”. That scamp. 🙂
Sometimes mrm memes* make me angry, sometimes they confuse me, the above linked just made me smile.
A stockphoto of a conventionally attractive woman laughing?
“This is how women view men’s pain”
ADORABLE.
On another note thank you mr David for doing this. I know I wouldn’t be able to. Also I didn’t know you were in the priesthood, or is that some obscure mrm burn?
*Not actually a meme as anyone else would understand the word
No, I was never in the priesthood. He’s suggesting I was a child-molesting priest but now I can’t get laid. Hilarious! Or maybe not so much.
CLASSIC.
Reading his…writings, you are now a jellyfish submitting to a mistress. I really don’t know how you find the time.
O.M.G.
Under his piece “I am so sick of Dave Fooltrelle” a commenter has left this helpful nugget –
“Fooltrelle” is a strangely appropriate name for him — especially the first four letters.
WILL THE ADORABLENESS NEVER CEASE???
Also someone calls Amanda Marcotte ‘Aman-duh Marcotte’. Are all these people in fact 5 years old?
Um, what?
I’m drunk as fuck right now, and shouldn’t be commenting at all, but screw that. I’m stuck at this:
He lists Warren Farrell’s The Myth of Male Power as one of his favorite books.
He lists Warren Farrell’s The Myth of Male Power as one of his favorite books.
Just… just imagine the level of failure involved in that. Like, daymn.
I’ve read that book. Anyone who likes it is a shitload of diarrhea wrapped in herpes and syphilis and seasoned with seething hatred of life, beauty and reason. Bull-fucking-shit. Masculinist Man is a reprehensible person, a rape-apologist and a willful idiot. And also a poopyhead.
Look for more hatefilled comments in our new product, “I can’t believe it’s not an over-the-top cartoon villain!”
David, you’re awesome. That is all.
Anarchonist.
I found that drunk post rather entertaining. Please do continue!
This is such an epic insult
@ grumpycatisagirl
It’s a terribly clever play on the fact that David is spineless. You see because jellyfishes don’t have spines. Also it was ‘mistresses’ which was even more dramatic. For David ex-priest celibate jellyfish only ever does anything to curry favour with women. Though all us commentators are apparently lesbian feminists or wannabes(?) so quite why he’s so desperate to impress us I don’t know.