Do the Sarkeesian Effect dudes — now in the midst of a painful and noisy breakup — not realize how ridiculous they look to the rest of us?
Ok, maybe that’s not the right question to ask. After all, we’re talking about Davis Aurini, a sort of low-budget Anton LaVey with a plastic-skull fetish who actually put this picture of himself on his website on purpose:
Meanwhile, Jordan Owen, his former partner in, er, “filmmaking” is a sort of human-bear hybrid who once recorded an hour-long pro-porn diatribe while sitting naked in his bathtub — and then, instead of taking a few minutes to ponder the choices he’s made in his life, he went and put that online.
At the moment, though, the human-bear hybrid is winning the public relations war, largely due to his strategy of not actually participating in it while his former partner spews out an assortment of accusations and insinuations and probably some other kinds of “ations” I don’t even know about.
Yesterday, Aurini — classy fellow that he is — posted an 8000 word log of two private Skype chats he’d had with Owen right before and right after Owen “fired” him from The Sarkeesian Effect. In the logs, Aurini vehemently defends the honor of his “colleague” Roosh V, whom Owen had criticized in a couple of charateristically loooong videos, and demands (among other things) that Owen retract his accusations that Roosh was unable to get laid in Denmark and Norway.
He also tries to convince Owen that he is having some sort of psychological meltdown and repeatedly accuses him of “hallucinating.” After posting the whole log, Aurini tells his readers that Owen is “a man deep in the grips of psychosis.”
Oh, and he tries to blackmail Owen into giving him half of the money left in the budget for the Sarkeesian Effect.
Aurini evidently thought that posting this log would make him look good.
I’ll let you be the judge of that. What follows are what I think are the Top 8 Most Cringeworthy Moments from the Aurini/Owen Chat Logs.
1) In a chat that happened a week before Owen “fired” Aurini, Aurini shows Owen the text of a message he sent to Roosh about Owen’s anti-Roosh video, urging Roosh to “have at” the man who was still at that point his “business partner.”
[2/22/2015 1:36:29 PM] Davis Aurini: I didn’t want you to post this video because I didn’t want you to have a panic attack as your idiocy was demonstrated by others; I need you semi-coherent to finish this documentary. But if you’re going to publicly shit the bed, then so be it. You deserve everything that’s coming to you. I sent the following email to Roosh:
My partner on this Sarkeesian venture decided to post an attack video on you, misconstruing an article of yours. I told him to take it down, mainly because he was making an ass of himself, but he decided that the highest value a man can subscribe to is calling out people on the Right and doing the Left’s work for them.
Link below. Please, have at ‘er. While I’m not going to publicly denounce my business partner, I look forward to seeing others point out the numerous flaws with his video.
2) Aurini, seemingly channeling the spirit of the Charles Boyer character in Gaslight, attempts to convince Owen that his negative impressions of Roosh are based on “hallucinations.”
[2/22/2015 2:09:32 PM] Davis Aurini: You stated that Roosh is spreading STDs; that is false and libelous.
[2/22/2015 2:09:55 PM] Davis Aurini: That is the hallucination; not your disgust, even though you’re making the most uncharitable interpretation possible.
[2/22/2015 2:10:24 PM] Jordan Owen: I’m being uncharitable when he defames all women everywhere and calls for limitations to be put on their freedom?
[2/22/2015 2:10:34 PM] Davis Aurini: You also seem to think that he couldn’t get laid in Denmark, and blamed the country for his own failings. I already explained to you why this is false, but you don’t remember it because you were hallucinating.
3) Aurini tries to convince Owen that he’s also “hallucinating” Roosh’s, let’s just say, extremely cavalier attitude toward STDs.
[2/22/2015 2:16:53 PM] Davis Aurini: You did hallucinate him spreading STDs.
[2/22/2015 2:17:06 PM] Davis Aurini: That’s outright false.
[2/22/2015 2:17:49 PM] Davis Aurini: It’s also actionable libel, though I doubt he’ll sue.
[2/22/2015 2:20:20 PM] Jordan Owen: Everything I was going off of is directly sourced to things that he’s written. He had nine years of unprotected sex without getting tested and openly stated that he didn’t care.
[2/22/2015 2:20:42 PM] Davis Aurini: And you make a leap to “He is intentionally spreading STDs”
[2/22/2015 2:21:22 PM] Jordan Owen: If he’s having unprotected sex with the full knowledge that he’s carrying something (as evidenced by his symptoms) then yes, he’s doing it intentionally.
[2/22/2015 2:21:44 PM] Davis Aurini: Facetious logic.
[2/22/2015 2:21:50 PM] Jordan Owen: It’s kind of like saying “well, I was randomly firing my gun into a crowd but I wasn’t INTENTIONALLY trying to hit anybody.”
[2/22/2015 2:21:53 PM] Davis Aurini: Yellow journalism
[2/22/2015 2:22:14 PM] Davis Aurini: You also think he didn’t get laid in Norway, despite the fact that he got laid in Norway, and explained how to get laid in Norway.
4) Aurini continues the gaslighting, as he tries to convince Owen that his dislike of Roosh is “irrational.”
[2/22/2015 2:24:58 PM] Davis Aurini: You had a panic attack when we discussed Roosh; you wished his parents had aborted him. This is Elliot Rogers logic. And you suggest that the calm and collected person is being irrational?
[2/22/2015 2:25:56 PM] Jordan Owen: Yes, it gave me tremendous anxiety to discuss him. But the “why” for that is tremendously valid.
[2/22/2015 2:26:29 PM] Davis Aurini: If you’re experiencing tremendous anxiety, that suggests that you’re not being rational.
[2/22/2015 2:26:48 PM] Jordan Owen: Well, I’m not experiencing anxiety now and I feel the same way.
[2/22/2015 2:27:00 PM] Davis Aurini: Do you currently believe false statements?
[2/22/2015 2:27:07 PM] Jordan Owen: No.
[2/22/2015 2:27:43 PM] Davis Aurini: So you realize that Roosh did get laid in Norway? And that he did not intentionally spread STDs?
5) At the end of this chat, which mostly consists of Aurini attacking Owen for his dislike of Roosh, Aurini says he doesn’t really care what Owen thinks about Roosh:
[2/23/2015 10:14:03 PM] Davis Aurini: … Listen Jordan, I honestly don’t care about what you think about Roosh (or vice versa for that matter) I just felt it was very poor timing, and insulting to those supporters of ours who came through my channel.
6) And then there’s the blackmail. After Owen “fires” him, Aurini gives him a counteroffer of sorts:
[3/2/2015 11:09:14 PM] Davis Aurini: We can do this clean or we can do it messy. We can both produce separate films and be polite; admitting that we have different views. Or we can do this messy. …
[3/2/2015 11:10:19 PM] Davis Aurini: Give me 50% of the money that we both asked for together, and we will part ways politely.
[3/2/2015 11:11:06 PM] Davis Aurini: The only reason I’m making this offer is because the ‘messy’ option is unseemly; it’s ammunition for the SJWs.
7) After acknowledging that, yes, he used several thousand dollars of the Sarkeesian Effect budget to buy himself a car, and trying to convince Owen that the real reason he’s moving to Las Vegas is to be “closer to Hollywood,” Aurini makes another counteroffer:
[3/2/2015 11:41:11 PM] Davis Aurini: 1.5k – we go forward together. 4k – we part amicably. 0 – I go public with the facts.
[3/2/2015 11:41:30 PM] Davis Aurini: That’s how honest businessmen deal.
8) But it turns out that Aurini is willing to haggle:
[12:01:53 AM] Jordan Owen: If you won’t consider my terms for severing ties then I have no reason to consider yours.
[12:02:01 AM] Davis Aurini: What terms are those?
[12:03:01 AM] Jordan Owen: What I offered- that I pay you for this month at the usual rate and give you credit in the film.
[12:03:50 AM] Davis Aurini: Make it 2.5; and I will be making my own film with a different title. I will also write a glowing review of what you’re doing, and explain it as differences in artistic direction with no animosity – and I will let you review it before I hit publish.
ETHICS!
ETHICS!!
ETHICS!!!!
H/T — @somegreybloke
RE: Aunt Edna
Enh, Aurini probably thinks he’s totally in the right. Which is disturbing. It’s textbook gaslighting: “You only THINK such a thing happened; in reality, you hallucinated it all!” *shudder* What a cockcheese.
Jeeeeezy. Aurini’s really just the worst, isn’t he?
Like, “I have to make tiers for the MRAs” worst.
I mean, one hates women, but he seems to at least vaguely respect contract law. The other, though … guy hates Jews, blacks AND women, and seems to think the mere tolerance of said groups is somehow an evil, liberal plot. (Anyone else double-take when he called Owen “left-wing”?)
I’d rather go to a three-day Bircher convention than spend two hot moments with Aurini.
I confess I have not really been following this meltdown, and I haven’t even finished reading this thread, but I have to ask, while Aurini is busy with all this nonsense, who is looking after the Brotherhood of Nod?
On the subject of gaslighting, has anyone else here seen the 1944 movie Gaslight? I watched it as a fan of both Ingrid Bergman and 1940s noir thrillers, but I was unprepared for just how much the techniques of emotional abuse that gave the term the name in that movie affected me, and I’m someone who’s been fortunate enough thus far to not have been in abuse relationships. It’s a great film. In the TCM segment before the movie, Drew Barrymore talks about how her therapist recommended the movie to her after explaining to her how a current boyfriend was gaslighting her.
Now working my way back through the old thread.
OMG Sirrus and Achenar. You win, kirbywarp. (Though we knew them only from Myst I, which looks to be totally different actors.)
RE: d_dan
this isnt a scenario to have any sympathy towards one of the persons.
Look, I can have sympathy for people I find reprehensible and want nowhere near me. Owen might be a dick, but nobody deserves to be gaslighted like that. If he learns from it, fine, but I’m with kirbywarp on this one.
RE: sparky
Ethics! My poor little feeeemale brain just can’t comprehend all those manly ethics!
Pft. Aurini doesn’t care about ethics. He seems to care about controlling people. Noxious little fungus.
RE: kirbywarp
Enough with such paltry matters, tonight we celebrate! I brought some fine wine, and a DVD of our favorite movie, Hamlet! Won’t that be fun?”
Sir, remind me to buy you a drink when we return to Boston. Or play a 90s computer game with you. Either or.
@LBT
…or you could invite him to a round of Go. Kirbywarp is Go king. Also, not half bad at teaching it…
This is my favorite bit – a really insightful movie quote:
[3/2/2015 11:24:23 PM] Jordan Owen: You have been trying to play Tyler Durden to my Jack this whole time and frankly I’m sick of you pouring lye on my hand.
This whole thing hurts so good.
RE: contrapangloss
Go, eh? Why not!
RE: Weissness
I guess it’s good to know these assholes treat each other like shit too? Yech.
What the heck?
“Admit Roosh got laid in Norway!! ADMIT IT! I WON’T REST UNTIL YOU ADMIT ROOSH TOTALLY GOT LAID IN NORWAY!! THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT!”
Jordan Owen really has been messed up by life, I do feel sorry for the guy in spite of his abhorrent views. I wonder if there might be hope for him.
Ooh, a Myst fan turnout! Yay!
Myst III is an underappreciated gem (for Saavedro, and for the action sequences at the end of each of the three Ages you stumbled through), but I actually really liked IV as well, for the visual design of Spire
Nowadays, of course, I mainly play Mystcraft. And a few other Minecraft mods as well.
One of the theatre companies I’ve worked with uses the poem “Strictly Germ-Proof” for their diction test.
Dang the lack of edit button! I meant to ask what song your choir used.
We KNOW Roosh got laid in Norway, because the reindeer has filed a complaint.
@davidgerard, Bert & Ernie – spot on.
I’m so glad you posted about this David! I read this last night and was in hysterics.
I’m also in the empathy for Owen camp – yeah, not someone I’d want to befriend, but I can empathize with him having to deal with someone like Aurini.
I’m also fascinated at this point with Aurini thinking this exchange made him look good. I mean… how on earth does he not see his behaviour for what it is? Complete and utter lack of self-awareness, or empathy? I don’t get it, and it’s… well, kinda fascinating. In a let’s-stick-him-in-a-test-tube-and-study-him kind of way.
However, he evidently has a lot of interest in Roosh’s personal life and sexual health.
Also… please tell me you all saw the promo ad in the sidebar for ‘Aurini’s Insights’ where he’ll make a ‘University-style’ video for you, answering questions about history, philosophy or politics, for $40 ($75 if two videos are required). BONUS AWESOMENESS he is wearing a cowboy hat.
GrumpyOldMangina | March 6, 2015 at 8:30 pm
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2012/11/OohBurn.gif
The warmup/diction song… I don’t know if it had an official name. It had three verses, each of which was the same tune, with the same three syllable word sung over and over again, with a bridge where only the first syllable was sung.
The first verse used the word ‘Tumbaraa’. The second verse was ‘Fidolee’, and the third verse was ‘Chowbursky’. Or something like that, I never saw them spelled out. the director would sometimes make us go through that three or four times until he was satisfied we were putting enough into it.
“Tumbaraa, my lord, tumbaraa…”
Yay Go! Yay 90s computer games! Yay drinks of the non-alcoholic variety!
It’s kind of exciting to see so many Myst fans here, I thought it was like The Prisoner where I’d only meet a few people who’d even heard about it.
Guess I’m gonna have to repeat my offer to maybe possibly if I can work out the details host a mammoth minecraft server. FTB Infinity would be easy enough for everyone to get their hands on. Any interest?
Huh, I played Riven as a kid.
…Thank god for that Strategy guide (and whichever dude made that was one hell of a writer) otherwise I’d have never finished it.
@Tracy, I can’t imagine what he thinks “University Lecture” style is. I imagine a lot of glowering, pregnant pauses, and gesturing with a cigarette and/or tumbler. I might add that, as a person who has taught university for the last 12 years, I have never done any of these things.
Actually, speaking of 90s computer games, I’m a rather young lad that grew up in a household with computers but not really with computer games, so I basically missed out on a ton of 90s games. Rented a lot of N64 games, but that was about it. Computer games were a once-in-a-long-while thing unless they were educational (so much mathblasters and reader rabbit).
I feel like I was born at an odd time where I was exposed to the 90s and lived through them at an age where I had memory, but was not old enough to comprehend them and understand the fads and trends.
HIstory, philosophy and politics are the very last things I’d ever want to ask Davis to educate me on, given his white nationalist disposition. You’d just be paying 40-75 bucks to have an asshole spout racist bullshit at you. The cowboy hat does nothing to help matters.
@PI I am hypnotized by that GIF. It is made of awesome.
@Tracy
I know! He put up these logs to make himself look good, right? And yet they are full of him being a gaslighting, blackmailing dickbag, and if anything raises sympathy for Owen. How could anyone be that self-unaware?
I never thought I’d actually feel sympathetic for Jordan Owen. Dude is seriously wrong about some things, but there is a point where he puts his foot down and he’s not abusive scum like Aurini is. Like some of y’all I have hope for Owen yet.
Ooh, Myst! I played the original game and Riven, but didn’t get far into Myst III because it was giving me motion sickness. I even read a couple of the tie-in novels.
kirbywarp | March 6, 2015 at 11:23 pm
Me too. ; n ; I mean, I had Doom and Fallout and that was it.
So, I’m working on playing the ones I missed out on now. Grim Fandango just got a remaster, so I’m looking forward to when I can play that gem.
Yay! More people who like myst! I just finished replaying it for the first time in years, man it’s a good game. Anyone played Uru? I haven’t played that one or myst IV…we won’t talk about myst v.
As for minecraft mods, I highly recomend putting together your own pack, it’s really easy and offers a lot more control over things. Witchery is a really good magic mod, and Chocolate Quest is a lot of fun for adventuring.
Oh yeah, I never had computer games as a kid. I caught up on everything starting in high school.