How do we attract Skepchicks to sign up here?

[Robert_S]

The picture of them we've been getting from some of our regular posters is a bit one-sided. I think we'd benefit from a wider range of viewpoints on gender issues.

Also, there has to be more to them than just their stance on feminism. For me, this site is actually more of a fun community than a serious debate place. There is the occasional drama and very occasional gross stupidity, but overall we are a very accepting and welcoming bunch.

Just invite them to read this thread. Yeah, sure, you're a "welcoming" bunch. After the OP, it's just more sneering.

Or you could try a provocative and inviting question, like "Would it be immoral to rape you?"

I didn't make or condone that rape comment.

[SteveB]

The picture of them we've been getting from some of our regular posters is a bit one-sided. I think we'd benefit from a wider range of viewpoints on gender issues.

Also, there has to be more to them than just their stance on feminism. For me, this site is actually more of a fun community than a serious debate place. There is the occasional drama and very occasional gross stupidity, but overall we are a very accepting and welcoming bunch.

Just invite them to read this thread. Yeah, sure, you're a "welcoming" bunch. After the OP, it's just more sneering.

Or you could try a provocative and inviting question, like "Would it be immoral to rape you?"

Full white knight mode ACTIVATED!

[Robert_S]

Well, he does have a point there.

[Kristie]

Well, he does have a point there.

Maybe so, but speaking as a woman, I'd come here and be just to prove everyone wrong.

[SteveB]

Well, he does have a point there.

Maybe so, but speaking as a woman, I'd come here and be just to prove everyone wrong.

Typical gender traitor, sister-punisher, vagina..err..torturer?...ya

[Kristie]

Well, he does have a point there.

Maybe so, but speaking as a woman, I'd come here and be just to prove everyone wrong.

Typical gender traitor, sister-punisher, vagina..err..torturer?...ya

That's me!

[SteveB]

Well, he does have a point there.

Maybe so, but speaking as a woman, I'd come here and be just to prove everyone wrong.

Typical gender traitor, sister-punisher, vagina..err..torturer?...ya

That's me!

Woah! Got another one: chill girl.

[Robert_S]

Who among us can criticize anyone for their attitude in defending their friends.

[SteveB]

Who among us can criticize anyone for their attitude in defending their friends.

I don't have any friends that cry over T-shirts, scream harassment when given a naked swingers card, boycott Dawkins because he thinks elevator coffee-asking is innocuous. They are professional victims. But I see your point.

[Robert_S]

Who among us can criticize anyone for their attitude in defending their friends.

I don't have any friends that cry over T-shirts, scream harassment when given a naked swingers card, boycott Dawkins because he thinks elevator coffee-asking is innocuous. They are professional victims. But I see your point.

Thing is, seeing "Is it ethical to rape..." actually is a bigger deal than the T-shirt. I just re-watched the elevator video. There was a brief mention of that in an unscripted video. I don't see how it warranted RD's response.

[lordpasternack]

Who among us can criticize anyone for their attitude in defending their friends.

I don't have any friends that cry over T-shirts, scream harassment when given a naked swingers card, boycott Dawkins because he thinks elevator coffee-asking is innocuous. They are professional victims. But I see your point.

Thing is, seeing "Is it ethical to rape..." actually is a bigger deal than the T-shirt. I just re-watched the elevator video. There was a brief mention of that in an unscripted video. I don't see how it warranted RD's response.

I sent Richard Dawkins an email on the 5th of July last year expressing exactly this sentiment:

Although I agreed with much of the tenor of your writing with respect to all the hysterical feminists crying rape, and demonising this man in question as some seriously shady and premeditative bastard - I think it was wrong to imply that you were taking Rebecca herself to task in this, and she is right to feel deeply slighted over the words you chose to use to express your indignation.

If you haven't already, please actually watch the video, where Rebecca herself first brings this up (at about 4 and half minutes in): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKHwduG1Frk

She is brief, calm, reasonable and good-humoured about a situation that made her uneasy. It wouldn't make ME all that uneasy personally, but she is entitled to tell us what makes her uneasy, in the manner in which she did. She doesn't do anything herself to invite your ire.

And so she is justified in feeling quite winded by your response, even if it were not intentionally directed at her: http://skepchick.org/2011/07/the-privilege-delusion

Unfortunately, in her personal offence, she fails to see that she'd probably have responded similarly to the feminists in her early active years, and she fails to see how completely ludicrous and stupid some of the feminists still ARE, even if you give them the credit of having a genuine grievance and genuine fears. And I extend that to PZ, too. He is risible in his unscrupulous support of feminists sometimes, in a way that angers me and almost pushes me towards being an angry ANTI-feminist - and if that does happen, I'm sure he'll be happy to shoulder some of the blame...

But all that aside - she really does deserve an apology, and you really ought to deliver it, irrespective of what you think about the hysterical feminists who really drew your ire in all the Sturm und Drang, whom she might sympathise with. You owe Rebecca Watson as an individual an apology. You really do. Please compose it, please publish it, and please mean it.

Regards,

Heather.

And on the 6th:

Please - for the love of all that is good, will you please find a spare moment to apologise to Watson, soon?

She did nothing herself to invite your ire, and you did nothing to avoid making it look as though your ire was directed towards her. She deserves an apology from you.

Write it as a comment on Pharyngula, or email it to PZ to put up on the blog. It doesn't have to be long or elaborate - just apologise for what you owe her an apology for - appearing to fly off the handle at HER, when she had done nothing herself to provoke that reaction. You owe her that much.

He responded, twice, to uncharitably pick away at her Twitter and blog posts as though they were fair material to pardon him his sins, and write off the apology he legitimately owed her. Complete red herrings. But there was clearly nothing I could say or do that would make him condescend to apologise to 'her'...

It was a bit like when he decided that he didn't fancy my tone earlier this year - and so that meant that it was legitimate to ignore me and take 7 weeks to resolve the query of: "What does RDFRS do?".

Good at playing the man as opposed to the ball, Dawkins is.

[Robert_S]

Is CES actually RD?

[Robert_S]

In a little while, I shall see what it takes to honestly, or at least technically, call myself a Skepchick.

If that happens, I will let you know. After that, any attack on the Skepchicks shall be an attack on myself and therefore be against the rules.

I mean no disrespect for them and I honestly don't expect a grand welcome. I just want this stupidity and tribalism to end.

[lordpasternack]

In a little while, I shall see what it takes to honestly, or at least technically, call myself a Skepchick.

If that happens, I will let you know. After that, any attack on the Skepchicks shall be an attack on myself and therefore be against the rules.

I think a vagina is a prerequisite.

Do you have the money for surgery, or are you going to post a Kickstarter, and see if PZ will post it on Pharyngula for you?

[Kristie]

In a little while, I shall see what it takes to honestly, or at least technically, call myself a Skepchick.

If that happens, I will let you know. After that, any attack on the Skepchicks shall be an attack on myself and therefore be against the rules.

I mean no disrespect for them and I honestly don't expect a grand welcome. I just want this stupidity and tribalism to end.

If you don't come back in a reasonable amount of time, we'll send a search party after you. Good luck!