So I was wondering if any of A Voice for Men’s readers had spoken up in the comments there about a rather sensitive subject: the fact that the supposed “human rights” site recently published a post that was not only 1) an apologia for marital rape but also, 2) written by a Holocaust denier and Hitler fan.
When I took at look at the comments there this morning, the answer was (of course) no: there was no mention of AVFM contributor Amartya Talukdar’s numerous Tweets describing the Holocaust as a hoax, Hitler as a great man, and Hillary Clinton as a “Jewess.”
Instead, I found that those who challenged Talukdar’s post (archived here) — which defended the Indian government’s refusal to see marital rape as rape — got harsh rebukes from other AVFM commenters and the site’s moderators, who went so far as to actually ban two commenters unhappy with Talukdar’s rape apologia.
No, really.
Take a look at the response one Donald J. Kingsbury got when he challenged Talukdar’s post.
It didn’t take long for Kingsbury’s prediction to come true.
This is what happens if you challenge the consensus at AVFM. Even if what you are challenging is an article by a Holocaust denier arguing that marital rape doesn’t exist because “marriage is consent.”
One commenter was unhappy with Grumpy Old Man’s response:
His candid comment earned him this rebuke from AVFM’s top mod:
Never mind that the article in question defended the “right” of men to sex-on-demand from their wives by lamenting that if women in India were allowed to say no to their husbands, these poor fellows might have to resort to masturbation. Because in Talukdar’s view, evidently, it’s better for men to rape their wives than for them to be “forced” to masturbate.
There’s a lot more terribleness in the comments there, but to me the worst comes from a regular AVFM commenter who calls himself Shrek6, who has evidently convinced himself that “rape is not that bad a crime against a woman or human being.”
“A woman or human being.” That’s actually what he wrote.
Heck, he explains in another comment, vaginas are tough, so most women don’t really suffer all that much from rape. As he sees it, most women can get over rape pretty easily if they can be convinced to forgive their rapists.
No, that’s what he really thinks:
These two comments are considered acceptable discourse at AVFM. Comments bluntly challenging an apologia for marital rape aren’t.
I’m slightly worried by that kitten holding the milk bottle. That’s just one step away from opposable thumbs; then we’re all fucked. Once they can pull triggers that’s all of us slaving away in the Tuna Fish mines.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
@Alan Robertshaw
The Planet of the Cats? Hasn’t that already happened? Without one shot being fired?
They’re very subtle. But if they evolve the ability to use tin openers they won’t need us any more. We’ll just be amusing playthings they allow to stay around on their whim.
@Alan Robertshaw
A huge majority of cats hate water and sleep 20 hours a day, so they still need us for tuna fishing and working to provide for them. We are needed until we make robots do everything.
@ batman na banana
If the cats make robots won’t the robots run off and marry MGTOWs though? 🙂
[I still think ‘Mr Miggy-Toes’ is a great name for a cat]
@Alan Robertshaw
Cats are not that kind. Or productive. They are an apathetic and lazy beast who coax on their cute looks and fuzzy ways and teeny beanie toes and adorable whiskers.
They also will jump head first into the wall if you point a laser pointer at it.
Thus they will not make any robots but will only use the robots humans provide for them. They have better things to do then create a society and culture. Like getting the bellies rubbed and then attacking the person rubbing their belly because of all the static electricity.
They are the most ingenious creatures.
(Also I am the Goddamn Batman Na Banana.)
@ GODDAMN Batman Na Banana
Cats run on static electricity? Like Daleks then; knew it!
AVFM does massive amounts of censorship. Blocking and banning those who disagree with them after insulting them with ad hom is par for the course with them.
I had a sudden realization reading the first thread capped at the top of this post.
When MRAs use the term “white knight” what they really mean is “anyone who doesn’t hate women with the fiery passion of a thousand suns.” They aren’t using the term properly. That’s why their references to white-knighting have never made sense to me.
I don’t think this donald kingsbury is even close to a feminist, but his hatred of women clearly doesn’t burn bright enough for him to think raping women is fine; therefore, he is labeled a white knight.
Wow. I’m sure this comes as no revelation to anyone else, but it was a eureka moment for me.
@Alan Robertshaw
They are nature’s robots, minus the Three Laws of Robotics.
When the Cat Revolution happens, probably before the Sexbot Revolution does, I shall be hunkered down in my house with a hundred high-powered water guns, sonic sound blasters and some very menacing looking (but otherwise sweet as sugar) German Shepherds.
You are welcome to join me. I will stay alert for other survivors.
Behold for I have seen the future.
@sunnysombrera
I’d build a tank and kill people if I were a sphynx too.
@Policy of Madness
You’re right, the usage of “white knight” is noteworthy, and incredibly derogatory in the context that MRAs use it.
The definition of a white knight:
“1 : one that comes to the rescue of another; especially : a corporation invited to buy out a second corporation in order to prevent an undesired takeover by a third”
MRAs are so adamant in defending their lack of hatred for women and I don’t doubt them for a second. They don’t hate women any more than they hate houses, or furniture, or business ventures.
@Nik
Well, “white knight” does have a legit feminist usage, which is probably where the MRAs got the term. A guy white-knights a woman when he “comes to her rescue” in a way that ignores or erases her agency. She may or may not have actually needed the assistance, but the manner in which the assistance is provided is a patriarchal one that treats her condescendingly.
The classic example is when a woman says something and it gets ignored, so the white knight steps in and says, “Let me handle this,” and then he just takes over the dialogue.
Of course, Olive O’Sudden. Much as I love this blog, it’s left me with an increased need to have industrial brain bleach at the ready.
…somehow I had a nap and dreamed about trying to explain why rape apology was bad to an MRA. This being dream logic, I think a kitten was involved. Probably because all the brain bleach on this site linked kittens to feminism for me. (Which is pretty cool, but doesn’t explain why dream-me thought the logical argument was “this is bad because kitten.”)
Sorry about being off-topic, but one of the comments here reminded me. o_O
Did the kitten have a tank?
I am one of those women. I have forgiven my people who have raped me. And I can easily see why some women don’t. Because there are some I haven’t.
I can forgive the man who didn’t realize (while mostly asleep to the point of not being able to really remember the incident) I was incapable of giving consent because I was dissociating. Had he been awake he would have noticed. Had I been able to speak, he would have taken a “no”.
The man that I told no to, who I pushed away from me, who I did everything possible to stop, him I don’t forgive.
The man who got hot holding me down to stop self harm and accepted my yes when he asked me for sex, him I don’t forgive.
the man who came to “comfort” me and brought condoms over knowing I was dealing with brand new trauma, got me drunk, and pressured me into sex by suggesting he should just leave (while I was DESPERATE to not be alone) if we weren’t going to have sex, him I don’t forgive.
And not one of them was less than traumatic. The fact someone didn’t mean to doesn’t change how it felt looking up at the man I loved violating me while I was unable to speak. The fact that I forgave that one doesn’t make that pain go away.
The fact that I didn’t forgive the others doesn’t make them hurt more. And it certainly doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have been punished.
Ugh, I came back from an awesome sushi birthday dinner to be reminded that this is a thing.
Whelp, good thing one of my gifts was a tub of sea salt caramel ice cream then.
Ooh, Happy Birthday!!!
Happy Birthday!
…
Uh-huh. The problem with AVfM now is that they’re acting like feminists. Because defending people’s “right” to commit crimes is totally a thing most feminists do.
I… what… That’s not…
This post needs Cole and Marmalade:
Bonus Misandry:
Thanks…and right back atcha with a box of kittens! Good on your sons, too…the world needs more like them. And you for raising them right.
Yeah, I wasn’t hurt or anything, but I still don’t feel like forgiving. I mean, he had his knees on either side of my head; he could have crushed my windpipe just by sitting down. And he stopped without “finishing”, so I suppose that’s a small mercy. The dude got away with it; isn’t that enough? Fuck forgiving that. I only hope he smartened up and didn’t try that with anyone else. Ironically, earlier that evening, he’d rescued me from his roommate, who was apparently hellbent on actually “rape-raping” me. One would think he’d understand that “surprise” oral wasn’t kosher. But nooooo.
Also, Happy Birthday, Paradoxical! That ice cream sounds yummy. Caramel AND salt, two of my favorite munchie flavors combined? Perfect. Don’t let the AVFMotherfuckers get you down!