Almost three years ago, a feminist activist committed what many not-so-impartial observers apparently see as an unpardonable sin: she was less than polite to a small squad of Men’s Rights activists at a demonstration in Toronto. At least one of these gentlemen caught her outburst on video, and uploaded it to YouTube.
You know the rest: the video went viral, and the activist, a red-headed woman known as Chanty Binx (or “Big Red,” to the douchebag army), found herself suddenly transformed into “The Posterchild of Everything Wrong with Feminism,” as one of her haters put it. Her face has become ubiquitous in antifeminist memes, and she’s endured nearly three years of harassment.
Earlier this month, antifeminist YouTuber Sargon of Akkad — who makes his living pandering to some of the internet’s worst lady haters — posted an animated video by another antifeminist YouTuber in which an angry Islamist and an angry feminist sing a song explaining that they pretty much believe all the same things. (For some reason, this nonsensical theory is something that a lot of antifeminists have convinced themselves is true.)
The angry Islamist in the video is a familiar racist stereotype, complete with “funny” accent. [Correction: He’s evidently supposed to be a parody of this guy, known as Dawah Man, a legitimately terrible person you wouldn’t think atheists would have to strawman in order to criticize..]
The angry feminist, meanwhile, isn’t a generic figure; she’s an especially crude caricature of Binx, spouting nonsense that neither Binx nor any other feminist actually believes: the video ends with her encouraging the Islamist to rape her, because it’s not really rape if a Muslim does it, dontchaknow.
It’s a vicious, hateful little cartoon made worse by the fact that these words are being put in the mouth of a real woman who’s been the target of a vast harassment campaign for years.
Yesterday, Richard Dawkins, apparently seeing this horrendous video as a clever takedown of some brand of feminism that he must think actually exists, shared it with his 1.3 million Twitter followers:
Dawkins, a well-respected scientist-turned-embarrassing-atheist-ideologue, has become notorious for his endless Twitter gaffes. But this is plainly worse than, say, his famously pathetic lament about airport security “dundridges” taking his jar of honey; his Tweet contributed to the demonization of a real woman who’s already the target of harassment and threats.
The awesome Lindy West pointed this out to him in a series of Tweets and linked to one of my posts cataloging some of the abuse Binx got after the video of her went viral.
In a series of eloquent and angry Tweets, she made clear to Dawkins how and why he was misusing his huge platform and contributing to an atmosphere of hate online. Dawkins, alternately indignant and defensive, ultimately took down the offending Tweet, but not before making other Tweets that were nearly as bad. Dawkins can’t even do the right thing without being a dick about it.
Let’s watch Lindy at work:
After what was apparently an unsatisfactory response from Dawkins — I couldn’t find his Tweet, if there was one — West repeated and expanded upon her basic points. [EDIT: The unsastisfactory respose, West tells me, was that Dawkins posted a link to one of the videos of Chanty Binx at the Toronto demonstration.]
Well, that got his attention:
So there you have it: when informed that a tweet of his will almost certainly worsen the vicious harassment faced by a young woman whose only “crime” was being rude to a couple of MRAs in public, Richard Dawkins, a one-time winner of the American Humanist Association’s Humanist of the Year Award, replies by saying that “she deserves nothing more than ridicule.”
West replied:
Dawkins then decided to suggest that perhaps Binx was, you know, crazy:
Dawkins ultimately agreed to take down his Tweet linking to the execrable video. But he offered no apology. And he went on to suggest that just maybe Binx had … threatened herself.
We’ve seen this, er, argument before.
Does Dawkins have any conception of just how much abuse women like Chanty Binx get? If she were sending herself all the threatening and harassing messages she gets, she wouldn’t have time to eat or sleep.
And I wonder if Dawkins thinks she drew the caricature of herself that was used in the video he retweeted.
Thoughtful as ever, Dawkins made sure to remind his 1.3 million followers that Binx still deserved all the mockery they could deliver. Just not the death threats please!
And he begged his readers to think about the real victims here — those people, like him, who might have to curtail their mockery somewhat because their terrible, terrible fans might be inspired to hurt someone.
RIP, Richard Dawkins’ comedy career.
Is Dawkins actually unaware that by punching down at a woman who’s already been the target of a three year harassment campaign he almost certainly is contributing to the threats he claims to deplore? It’s hard for me to believe that he could be so naive. But the alternative explanation — that he knows full well that he’s encouraging the harassers — is even more disquieting.
One good thing has come out of this ugly episode today: The Northeast Conference on Science & Skepticism has un-invited Dawkins from its event this year. A post on the group’s website today explains:
The Northeast Conference on Science & Skepticism has withdrawn its invitation to Richard Dawkins to participate at NECSS 2016. We have taken this action in response to Dr. Dawkins’ approving re-tweet of a highly offensive video.
We believe strongly in freedom of speech and freedom to express unpopular, and even offensive, views. However, unnecessarily divisive, counterproductive, and even hateful speech runs contrary to our mission and the environment we wish to foster at NECSS. The sentiments expressed in the video do not represent the values of NECSS or its sponsoring organizations.
We will issue a full refund to any NECSS attendee who wishes to cancel their registration due to this announcement.
The NECSS Team
Good for them. The atheist movement needs to stand up to the haters and harassers in its midst, including those like Dawkins, who may not directly harass or threaten but who use their huge platforms to amplify and embolden this hatred and harassment.
It would be nice if Dawkins were to actually learn something — a little humanity, a little humility? — from this incident, but when it comes to the subject of feminism Dawkins seems incapable of taking in new information, much less learning anything from it.
EDITED TO ADD: And now, as if to prov what I just said in that previous paragraph, Dawkins is now second-guessing his decision to take down his tweet linking to the video, because GamerGaters are telling him that Chanty and I made up the evidence of the abuse she got.
NOTE: Lindy West has a book coming out soon. Pre-order it below!
CORRECTION: I added a bit noting that the Islamist in the cartoon video is supposed to be a parody of a real person.
EDIT: I added a line about Dawkins tweeting a link to a video of Chanty Binx at the Toronto demonstration.
@ dhag
The irony is that his friends spoke perfect English anyway.
dhag85
Weeelll… I’m not convinced they peacefully protested the (feminist) speaker or that they were harassed (more like they were harassing her); accounts are that a group of men stood up and shouted Namazie down for a while, drowning out her voice and preventing her from giving the talk she’d been invited to give, and then yanked the plug on the equipment she was using on the way out. I think there may be footage available on line (apologies for not having a link though).
(In any case, though,
Yes, absolutely.)
Unrelated (I just want to try for one of the katz rosettes):
In Argentina one says of someone spectacularly missing the point that they are “meando fuera del tarro” (pissing outside the pot); might one ask of the latest troll “epididymis?”
http://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/37900128.jpg
@oppsablethumbs
Okay, I suppose we could argue about what the word “peacefully” really entails. But we can agree that nobody was stabbed or blown up, nobody had acid thrown at them, nobody was beaten up or shot. By calling those protester “Islamists” and implicitly putting them in the same category as Daesh, the troll has taken quite a few leaps regardless of whether we approve of these specific actions or not.
And I didn’t mean that they were harassed by Namazie, but by Islamophobes in the aftermath of this event.
@katz:
That writer from the AP, did ‘e miss the point?
Best I can do, sorry. I think opposablethumbs beat me.
Both of these are impressive in their own ways.
@ opposable thumbs
There’s something about the whole debacle here
http://londonstudent.coop/death-threats-goldsmiths-speaker-maryam-namazie/
@ dhag
I’ve had a google and I found this. Doesn’t show what may have gone on afterwards of course but having seen it, it does seem to be another example of men trying to intimidate a woman into silence. But that’s just my interpretation; see what you think.
http://youtu.be/kl0sI47tVgY
I’m 25% Norwegian. Does that mean I’m only 25% dumb?
Ah, I didn’t know about islamophobes jumping at the opportunity to mouth off afterwards (though it doesn’t surprise me – ain’t it funny how the racist right wing suddenly care about a feminist when it’s muslims who are against her).
As an ex-muslim feminist Namazie gets a hell of a lot of death-threats from islamist hard-liners, though, and some of her friends and colleagues have been killed.
The shitty thing re the immediate aftermath I guess is that if this provided an “excuse” for the islamophobes, it just makes things worse for her actual audience who (as I understand it) were mostly muslim women.
Re Obama-pic; I’ll wear it with pride. Now if I can just find a sharp enough pair of scissors to cut it out of the screen …
@Alan
It doesn’t look pretty, I agree. Haven’t watched through the whole thing but I’ve skipped around.
@wwth
I don’t think the joke writers have taken such complicated situations into account. :p
I’m 100% Swedish, so I know that in Norway I count as 100% dumb. Makes it a whole lot easier.
@opposablethumbs
I don’t actually know if there was any harassment of muslim students after this, but that’s how I interpreted the statements I saw (can’t remember where, but I can try to dig them up if necessary). As you acknowledge, this wouldn’t be surprising at all.
Off-topic, does anyone know of a good Minecraft mod which increases the maximum height? I’ve found one but it’s only compatible with an outdated version of Minecraft and isn’t compatible with anything else whatsoever.
@ dhag & opposable
That’s what’s always tricky in situations like this. If people who wouldn’t normally give a shit about women just latched on to have a dig as Muslims generally the t hats to be condemned.
If though the ISoc men were just identifying any calling out of their behaviour as islamaophobia then it’s classic MRA tactics “You’ve said I shouldn’t be allowed to threaten women; that’s harassment!”
I’m both Norwegian and Swedish and both English and Irish. I don’t know which groups I’m supposed to think less of! Whose side am I on? Do I even exist?
Off topic, but if anyone feels like mocking MRA trolls who think the draft is feminist’s fault; this thread is a treasure trove
http://gawker.com/its-almost-time-for-women-to-register-as-conscientious-1756665147
I keep getting told that being anti-war means I want men to die in war. It’s really quite something.
@ WWTH
Wouldn’t “Viking” cover that?
Vikings are always there.
http://i.imgur.com/QtaXSgp.jpg
Vikings are misandry!
http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/33700000/Lagertha-lagertha-lothbrok-33796156-245-160.gif
@weirwoodtreehugger
i forgot this one. so when a “troll” who lack the smallest tools of control talks different and suggests a change, he is Policing your Thought.
you are not a victim of oppression and control “here” and clearly i lack any means to oppress you.
http://previews.123rf.com/images/choreograph/choreograph0909/choreograph090900022/5511892-beauty-girl-on-the-white-background-Stock-Photo-mouth-shut-eyes.jpg
arash
This makes absolutely no sense… You think the whole conversation about feminism is within the scope of this comment board? The conversation was never how much oppression was on this board. At least try.
No, the “purpose” of this argument was you objecting to the use of the expression “white man science,” dictating that unless there was 100% absolute control, then it doesn’t work. People pointed out bias and how it’s allowed white men to dominate the scientific community, and you shrugged and said, “I’ve spoken, it only counts unless it’s 100% even though that was something I decided, and I will now make the whole argument about how it’s not 100%. That’s much more important than the actual discussion.”
But of course you forget your tells. Like how in your analogy the person in question was only “mildly sick,” and while deny you’re saying they shouldn’t get help, you’re more focused on how it’s less important than people are saying than them actually getting help. It makes you pretty transparent. Again at least try.
@WeirwoodTreeHugger
now i’m fairly sure that you lack the ability to understand anything i say.did i post irrelevant things alone!?no and actually most of them were not irrelevant.when there is conversation others are to blame too(if there is any real distraction)
actually it’s something better:)) i’m studying HPS but for now i’m neither a philosopher nor a historian of science 😀
Weren’t you leaving?
@Tessa
this is a senseless defense, she talked about me and not conversation about feminism as a whole.
she said “he” not “them” not”trolls” not”MRAs” …so you should consider trying harder.
there were several arguments and she misunderstood that my opposition on severity of matter doesn’t mean i’m not concerned or ignorant.
@dhag85
i provided you with more than a Twitter account.
“Goldsmiths Feminist Society stands in solidarity with Goldsmiths Islamic Society. We support them in condemning the actions of the Atheist, Secularist and Humanist Society and agree that hosting known islamophobes at our university creates a climate of hatred”
do they say they condemn any harassment?!no
they simply stand solidarity with Goldsmiths Islamic Society because namazie(a femenist!) was invited.
homophobia:‘homosexuality is a disease of the heart and the mind’ former University’s Islamic society president
assholism and “shutting down criticism of Islam”: they clearly harassed maryam namazie to silence her.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3353973/University-s-Islamic-society-president-resigns-tweet-saying-homosexuality-disease-heart-mind-account.html
and this one:
http://www.gspellchecker.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/image7.png
“islam and feminism?which one can truly liberated women”and asked by an islamic group, the answer isn’t that hard.
@Alan Robertshaw
what i use is similar to what is the other sources define:
” a popular reform movement advocating the reordering of government and society in accordance with laws prescribed by Islam”
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Islamism
” An Islamic revivalist movement, often characterized by moral conservatism, literalism, and the attempt to implement Islamic values in all spheres of life.”
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Islamism
or
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamism
as you see using violence is not necessary for a group to be called islamist. there could be violent or peaceful islamist groups nonetheless all of them are nasty and certainly against feminism.
of course i do not advocate violence against peaceful movements but an islamic law(sharia) is the opposite of secular modern law.yes they don’t use violence “until” the islamic state is implanted then they justify it because that is the official law after all!
so when ex-muslims, homosexual and anyone who violates the sharia are harassed and killed, when women are denied their rights and are considered secondary citizens and when people are Whipped because they drank alcohol and many other monstrous atrocities happen…
then i don’t give a shit that they want to peacefully implement them or not, they must be opposed specially in the intellectual battleground.
it’s the same point about MRAs, they don’t generally do any violent act more than harassment and stalking but their ideas are dangerous and they are opposed by feminists(rightly).
so religious activity and belief is fine but if the goal is to impose the religion over society and especially if that version of religion is violent and dangerous then no it’s pretty disturbing.
oh come on! this is a clear form of harassment and according to some accounts there were even death threats:
“looked right into my eyes and with his finger, shaping hand like a handgun, touched his forehead.”
http://londonstudent.coop/death-threats-goldsmiths-speaker-maryam-namazie/
@dhag85
if harassment and death threats are “peacefull” then yes they were peacefull.
anyway you have a profound ignorance of what islamism is.ISIS is an islamist group but a militant one and there are peacefull islamist too.
do you have any proof that these harasser were harassed themselves?! if not you’re over optimistic about them and feminists that aligned themselves with.
@EJ (The Other One)
well not just sunni islam, iran has a theocratic islamist regime, and it’s a shia version of islam.
peaceful maybe, but moderate ?!
well if an islamist movement doesn’t want to implement sharia then i agree that they could be called moderate.
@ arash
Indeed.
EJ(TOO) has already brought my attention to that usage. I used the definition that’s used by the authorities over here.
[Ha, EJ; I’ll give you that one as an example of my Establishment mindset!!! 🙂 ]
As to the video, that’s my interpretations to what I saw. I don’t actually think ‘intimidation’ is incompatible with ‘harrasment’. As to what other people think I’m not going to impose my views, the video is there for people to interpret as they will.
I can’t comment about the other stuff beyond the video as I don’t know anything about it beyond some hearsay. May be true, may not be, but any comments I might make would be speculation based on a hypothetical and so not that useful.