Ah ha ha ha ha ha! The Sarkeesian Effect duo have split up again! It’s a Fourth of July Miracle!
So today, a furious Jordan Owen put out a video denouncing his now ex-partner Davis Aurini. Why? Because Aurini is demanding another $15,000 to edit the “film” and has set up a fundraiser without Owen in order to raise it.
According to Owen, Aurini has been “dicking around” with the footage for months in hopes of squeezing more money out of the project’s backers. Owen is having none of it, and is telling the backers not to give Aurini another cent, saying that he (Owen) will be editing the footage himself and putting out the film on schedule.
Also, the alleged “big reveal” that was going to come out in the “film?” According to Owen, Aurini decided based on watching one of Sarkeesian’s videos that she had been raped by her father, and was evidently shopping around to find a therapist who would agree to say as much on camera. Aurini’s completely unqualified internet diagnosis: that was their big reveal.
Just watch the video. It’s delicious.
And here, below, is Aurini’s fundraising video, which is what Owen is reacting to. Aurini’s unctuous, earnest tone is especially hilarious in the wake of Owen’s denunciations. Also his repeated references to “we,” as if Owen is on board with him.
At one point he assures would-be backers that he’s “streamlined” his life so he can work on the editing of The Sarkeesian Effect full-time. “As well as writing and doing Youtube videos, which I regularly do,” he adds. “And the podcast.”
Also he needs to do more filming.
He’s evidently hoping to keep the gravy train going until September.
Apparently he’s been so busy with the full-time editing (and writing and doing Youtube videos, which he regularly does, and the podcast) that he’s forgotten to shave his head.
And he seems to have fired his skull.
H/T — @srhbutts
The incompetence of these two keystone cops of sexism is entertainingly astounding.
AHAHAHAHHA!!! Gasp…had to catch my breath after laughing so hard at the second Aurini/Owen breakup. This couldn’t be more hilarious if they were trying.
Do they see how they are discrediting themselves by acting so foolish? I mean, sure, everything that they stand for is foolish and stupid, but with the way they are acting, they are just further proving us all right about them: they’re a couple of thickheaded jerks lacking completely in self-awareness.
On a brighter note, though I will miss Skull, I do look forward to getting to know Coffee Press a bit more. Seems it will have more ability to think critically than Aurini. Also, I wonder where Thimbleful of Scotch went? If it’s looking for a home, it could always come to mine.
@sn0rkmaiden “I’m surprised Aurini hasn’t had the sense to consider that.”
I’m not. If he were capable of connecting cause & effect, or really, even thinking ahead for more than 5 minutes, he wouldn’t be an MRA or Gator.
I’ve added a suitable definition for “Sarkeesian Effect” to Urbandictionary. If any of you have accounts there, it’d be great if you were to approve it.
(New definitions are invisible to the public until they’ve been approved by I don’t know how many members.)
I vote for a Sarkeesian Effect Effect. It could possibly be the funniest thing ever.
omg THANK YOU GamerGate gods, it’s Christmas in July! This is one of the few recurring stories on this site that entertains me way more than it infuriates me.
Owen’s video:
Aww, sweetheart, you discovered that conspiracy theories can be ridiculous! You’re growing up! But, yeah, I know, not really.
To hypothetical viewers who support both versions of the movie: “Just imagine yourself being on the receiving end of the most unrestrained, vitriolic rage you can imagine.”
Well that’s no challenge at all, I just have to look at FemFreq’s Twitter mentions. Or, wait, sorry, her army of fembot SJW sockpuppets. How ever could I be so gullible.
Aurini’s video:
“It is looking like a proper documentary.”
(cannot comment due to asphyxiating laughter)
Like, honestly, production value is not what makes your argument worth listening to or not, it’s just the fact that he feels the need to do all this posturing (and/or self-deluding) that the filming and editing are legitimately professional-level. If it were me I’d be happy to admit that the quality wasn’t astounding and to urge people to just focus on the rhetorical content (which will also be ridiculous, but, you know). It makes him look even more absurd.
You’re right, Davis, I am shaking in my boots – just not from fear.
10:36 – I don’t like mocking people for misspeaking, but I also can’t not point out that he said “This movie will be dumb.”
In spite of myself I can’t help but imagine how awkward this must be for Jordan. I’ve always felt like he’s a person I could have wound up as in an alternate (and significantly shittier) universe. Like, I don’t approve of what he is but I understand how it happened. It’s hard to sympathize with Davis because he just oozes slime, although maybe there’s something going on there we don’t know about. Still, it seems very poetic that the project of two self-appointed logic warriors is marred in its final stages by a giant emotional schism.
@Miss Andry Wanna go in 60-40?
Do you know what’d be great? A making of documentary, so we could laugh at each and every part of this complete and utter trainwreck.
The Sarkeesian Effect Effect.
These brave defenders of men planned to make a false rape allegation against a man. That was their plan to discredit feminist critique of video games?
Because ethics?
0.o
@boogerghost
Sure 😛
Also, if you look at Aurini’s response to Owen, and look at the YouTube comments you can see that Thunderf00t weighed in, saying that Aurini’s editing is “gamma rate at best.” He also said, “… and after the farce that you’ve managed to turn this into, you still claim to be acting ‘professionally’…. really?”
This prompted Aurini to reply back with:
Which in turn caused Thunderf00t to snap back:
Followed by Aurini again:
http://img.sadistic.pl/pics/40ef40ba0b50.jpg
Aurini is almost starting to look like a young Hugh Laurie with that hair.
…
Anyway.
I had such low expectations when they first announced this project that just the fact that they have footage and a release booking is impressive. Still, if the bit of footage shown by Aurini is any indication, this things going to be a fart in the footnote of history.
There is only one constant in all of this ridiculousness; the need for more popcorn.
http://cdn.gifbay.com/2012/11/nothing_like_popcorn_with_a_movie-15084.gif
@kirbywarp
I think you’re being awfully charitable to assume it would make it into the footnotes 🙂
At last, we agree on something!
Bwahahahahahahaaa!
Translation: “You knew I was a snake when you picked me up.”
Owen agreed to a contract that says his vote doesn’t count?
@Miss Andry:
Eh, gamergate has been in the national eye for a tad, so a movie made by gamergaters is going to be noted, even if only because of how randomly petty it will seem. Especially since it’s coming out months to a year after gamergate has lost all relevancy and has become the background noise of harassment.
Come to think of it, that’s kind of hilarious.
Messenger: “Commander, commander, come quick! A pair of men have been spotted outside the walls, they look like they’re up to something!”
Commander: “Only two? What damage could two people possibly do? Just keep an eye on them, no need for anything drastic.”
Messenger: “Well… they *are* causing quite a bit of a ruckus. They say they’re envoys of gamergate.”
Commander: “Gamergate? The assholes we fought a year ago? They were routed! Don’t tell me they’ve returned… is it just the two?”
Messenger: “Just the two.”
Commander: “Ok, let’s go see what they’re up to. Shouldn’t take too many chances.”
Meanwhile…
Jordan: “C’mon, Davis, hurry! They’ll be here any minute!”
Davis: *grunting* “These things take time, Jordan. I may need one or two more plates.”
Jordan: “No, no you don’t. You’ve known we were going to deliver all day now, you can’t just keep pushing the deadline back. Didn’t you take the la–”
Davis: “Listen, Jordan,” *grunting* “You can’t rush greatness! It’s like how sculptors claim that the marble tells them what form it is going to” *grunt* “take.”
Jordan: “… The fuck are you on about? Just hurry up, or I’ll do it myself. We are not going to be delayed any longer!”
Commander: “What’s going on here, then?”
Jordan and Davis: “Crap.”
Commander: “Who are you both? State your names and your purpose.”
Davis to Jordan: “Go on, say the thing, buy some time!” *grunt*
Jordan: “God-dammit, I knew I should have… *Ahem* Hail, castle SJW! We come from the vast and powerful armies of Gamergate, and we bring with us something that will tear these walls from their very foundation!”
Commander: “Gamergate? The armies we fought and conquered on these very lands just one year ago? Have you assholes reformed already? Where are your troops?”
Jordan to Davis: “One year? Has it been that long already? Surely not…”
Davis to Jordan: “Dammit, that doesn’t matter, we’re here” *grunting* “now, so just… just keep buying time. I’ve nearly got it.”
Jordan: “Christ almighty… Um, err… Yes, we are from Gamergate! We were never conquered, and now we come with a weapon that will finally bring the SJW castle to its knees!”
Scout: “Commander! No movements reported in the surrounding fields, these men appear to be alone.”
Commander: “I thought as much…” to Jordan and Davis: “What sort of weapon is that? I see no cart, nor even a backpack. No bomb small enough to fit in your pockets could level these walls! And, if you don’t mind me asking, why are you not wearing pants?”
Davis: “They’re on to us Jordan, Quick! Stall! Stall!”
Jordan: “Our weapon lies with my friend here, SJW scum! A weapon that cuts to the heart of the Social Justice worldview, and that invalidates everything you have ever done or will ever do! You may have bested our men in petty squabbles, but what we bring now is an idea, and ideas are arrow-proof!”
Davis: *loud grunting*
Jordan: “So stand back, SJW scum, stand back and watch as your entire enterprise crumbles to the ground! You will know the name of Jordan Owen and Davis Aurini, as they will be the names of your demise!”
Davis: *PHTHBBBBBBT*
Scout: “…”
Messenger: “…”
Commander: “… Did… did you just poop on our lawn?”
Jordan and Davis: “VICTORY IS OURS! SJWS ARE NO MORE!” *running away*
Commander: “…”
Scout: “…”
Messenger: “…”
Soldier: “Oh hey, you’re all here! Just wanted to let you know, it looks like some asshole took a dump in front of the castle.”
Scout: “…”
Messenger: “…”
Commander: “…”
Soldier: “I’ll just… get someone to clean it up then.”
Hey, anyone else remember that game Myst? When the chubby dude in the blue book would trash-talk the goateed dude in the red book and vice-versa? And they were both evil?
The first commenter under Davis’s video mentions that! Man, I loved Myst.
I am just now clueing in that the entire point of the movie is to discredit Sarkeesian’s arguments. I thought it was an examination (aka: extended tantrum) about SJW’s in general, but the way Aurini talks about it, it’s all about ‘proving’ there’s no need for a feminist critique of video games?
It’s reasonable to be confused. Their Patron insists at length that the movie won’t be about Sarkeesian, but about social justice in general and why it’s bad (no, seriously, that’s what the FAQ says). But their poster image is a cartoon of Sarkeesian, the trailer features them trying to track down her address (!!!), and now this creepy-ass rape thing. Meanwhile, most of the actual footage seems to be just Davis, Aurini, and their right-wing friends complaining about feminism to each other.
I doubt the movie is “about” anything. They figured they could rant semi-coherently about liberals, like they do for their YouTube videos, and somehow edit that into a reasoned argument and/or watchable film.
But they’re making over ten times what I make on my Patreon for actual work that exists, so hell, who am I to throw stones?
Trying to feel sympathy for Owen. Can’t do it.
Or, as my manager would say when someone is whining about something that is their own fault : “Hold on a sec. I need to take one of my give-a-fuck pills” *pats pockets* “oh shit, I’ve run out”
There are people in the world who are so mad at a woman who talks about video games they gave MONEY to a couple of plainly moronic chuckleheads to say bad things about her. I can’t even…
*LOUD applause for kirbywarp* Ah, 10/10. Would lol again.
David Aurini or Jordan Owen need to release a version of this song aimed at the other. If one of them does I will contribute nothing to their cause.
Also Kirbywarp that was brilliant.
katz-
Yeah, I’ve definitely been annoyed by it and absolutely done with its usage because so often it’s just a way to play “moderate” between two sides and play the unbiased observer except the “two sides” are a woman making very mild art critiques noting the ever-present nature of certain tropes even in works that are nominally feminist and her mob of online harassers who have waged an unending war of slander and attacks to punish her daring to come up with the concept of her videos in the first place and not just deciding to disappear under their attacks.
Every swing at her from these chuckleheads has been this disingenuous swipe that is based on revenge for their initial attempt to wipe her off the face of the map backfiring and creating a large fanbase for her.
And so when someone clearly misses the point of her videos and is quick to note how “no worries, they hate the evil feminist interloper who’s always wrong too, but see, not in a gamergater way”, I just read it as one more sign of how pervasive sexism is in this hobby I love.
I mean, for Bob’s sake, Anita’s videos are the mildest of mild sauce and the collective gaming zeitgeist has shit its collective pants about it like we’re being shelled by an omnipresent destructive force, which really hammers home how male gamers view even the mildest of artistic critiques of their hobby as personal attacks and how they are willing to partially side with permanent harassers and demonize their talking points to fit in rather than dare look like they support said mildest of critiques.
And that’s largely why this hobby I enjoy needs to be shaken up and really overhauled, because there is no reason for what my shameful community has done.
On the OT: (CW for their worldview on sexual assault, harassment, and transphobia)
Well, going from their Alice through the Looking Glass model of rape, of course they think being a victim of a rape discredits you because that’s how they treat anyone who has any form of assault or attack brought against them. Rape victims are just scorned lovers trying to false rape accusation incompetent lovers. Harassment victims they are currently harassing are just making it all up to make a profit and steal money from idiot marks. Women who leave the industry because its all so toxic are weak idiots just trying to make their incompetencies seem like the fault of men. Trans people are inviting assault by deceiving innocent men.
In every recent case (revenge porn, gamergate, anti-Anita brigade, Elevatorgate), they’ve viewed the very concept of having something bad happen to you as de facto proof of someone’s ill behavior. Because if something bad happens to you, you are a bad person, and if you were a bad person, then ergo, you deserved something bad to happen to you, so adding to that pile is the only thing that is morally right.
So, yeah, of course, making up some bullshit about CSA is right up their alley, even though in the normal human world would seem to make their actions more monstrous, because in that toxic worldview, having been victimized means the person is weak and if that person is weak, then they must be evil and wrong, because only the “strong” are worth celebrating (hey ho, toxic masculinity, nice to see you).
Not only that, but it’s also seen as proof of bias and therefore reason to discount her. Because clearly if that assault had taken place in her past, then of course she would hate and fear all men. So her antipathy to our constant unrelenting harassment for her noticing the bare minimum of sexism in the industry and writing about it is clearly not borne out of us being shitty privileged assholes who don’t really want to critically engage with the media we consume, but rather out of her own hatred and fear of her own past victimization.
So, hooray douchebros, throw your fedoras into the air, the witch can be dismissed under the broad BS of “b****es be cr**y” and we can just view her “assault” on our hobby by politely noticing no shit retreads of well-used tropes ever-present in other forms of media from which gaming created much of its early worldview (sci fi, fantasy, movies) as the meaningless tantrum of someone with an axe to grind against men and their tough magical maleness and thus the harassers are right to continue their attacks, because a) she’s BIASED and that means she’s worse than Hitler, and b) she’s a victim and therefore weak and therefore immoral and worse than Hitler. So therefore, anything goes in attacking her.
It may seem completely illogical and idiotic, but that’s only because it is and it’s just the sad desperate justifications of a bunch of assholes so insecure in their masculinity that the very notion of observation on their chosen “I may not sports, but I still am are toxic masculinity ideal because I do male thing X” hobby feels like an attempt to make it more inclusive and thus no longer a way for nerdy toxic men to feel inherently superior to women and like they are fulfilling toxic masculinity enough to be safe that doesn’t involve physical prowess.
And that’s really the reason that so many men are having such incredible tantrums over things like video games, comics, the tech industry, atheism, and sci-fi becoming more inclusive. Because it really does threaten something very important to them and that’s their feelings of success under toxic masculinity rules. At the moment those things are their way to feel they have found an “alternate” route to fulfilling that safety-ensuring role of asshole “alpha” and so women trying to exist in these things they have arbitrarily decided to call men-only domains robs its power to fulfill that role and makes it just another weak geeky thing that contributes nothing to that sense of “safety”
And so for people invested in that culture of toxic masculinity, obviously any form of counterattack is justified in getting rid of these “interlopers” trying to “destroy your masculinity”. But the sad reality is that its the toxic masculinity, not the mild feminists or the existence of women that is destroying their lives and keeping them from feeling happy and good about themselves.
@Shaenon
I think it’s about how to make a terrible documentary. Though it may also be about the Dunning-Kruger effect. Or belts and bathtubs. Or, it’s about a bald man who decided to grow hair and then his Plastic Skull broke up with him. It’s a multi-layered piece, for sure.
@Cerberus: Damn, you hit it on the head there, hardcore. Bravo, bravo!
@Kirbywarp,
that sounds like a much better movie than anything Owen and Aurini will ever make.
@Cerberus,
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there.
I hate to say it because it feels disrespectful to one of my favourite film directors, but with hair Aurini reminds of a younger John Waters.