Atheism Plus/Free Thought Blogs (FTB)

[Zelenius]

You mean Elevatorgate?

Yeah, no. I've been a regular at annual conventions (BayCon, if anybody cares). I've been an enthusiastic producer, disseminator, and consumer of convention drama. Achievements in convention drama don't impress me.

Not to keep harping, but General Hall's t-shirt is the least of her accomplishments. RW's elevatorgate is her greatest?

Elevatorgate was RW's defining moment. She truly is the Rosa Parks of the Skeptic movement. What Rosa Parks did for black civil rights, RW did for women in skepticism.

Prior to Elevatorgate, the sexist patriarchy reigned supreme in the skeptical/atheist movement, completely unchallenged, and did all they could to ensure women in the skeptical movement were mere sex toys for male skeptics.

But then RW said "No", and "guys, don't do that". That was when the evil patriarchy within the skeptic movement declared war on her. The atheistic Taliban is doing all they can to destroy RW, but they have become severely weakened in the process. A new women-friendly skeptical/atheistic order is rising and that is what Atheism+ is all about.

This wouldn't have been possible without RW.

 

[theprestige]

She banned Scrut.

Banned Scrut, you say?

Hm. Hm! Hm!

I may have to revise my opinion of her!

She banned Scrut.

That will be on her tombstone.

Oh.

So nothing of lasting value, then?

Elevatorgate was RW's defining moment. She truly is the Rosa Parks of the Skeptic movement. What Rosa Parks did for black civil rights, RW did for women in skepticism.

Prior to Elevatorgate, the sexist patriarchy reigned supreme in the skeptical/atheist movement, completely unchallenged, and did all they could to ensure women in the skeptical movement were mere sex toys for male skeptics.

But then RW said "No", and "guys, don't do that". That was when the evil patriarchy within the skeptic movement declared war on her. The atheistic Taliban is doing all they can to destroy RW, but they have become severely weakened in the process. A new women-friendly skeptical/atheistic order is rising and that is what Atheism+ is all about.

This wouldn't have been possible without RW.

Okay, but seriously, anything? Anything at all?

 

[RandFan]

Okay, but seriously, anything? Anything at all?

I'm sorry but I got nothing. Kevin Federline married Britney Spears. Paris Hilton is from a fantastically rich and influential family. Snookie was orange like an oompa loompa. Ray Comfort pleasured a banana. Watson? Not a clue.

 

[theprestige]

But then how did she get the speaking gig where she set off Elevatorgate in the first place?

Presumably she wasn't just some drunken wallflower who barged out of the audience, snatched the mic from a panel speaker, and embarked on an awkward, sexist rant that lives on in infamy.

I mean, prior to that day, there must have been some people who thought she had good ideas about skepticism, and was worth giving a speaking gig at a major(?) skeptical convention. So, what were her ideas? Why was she given the gig?

 

[Brainache]

But then how did she get the speaking gig where she set off Elevatorgate in the first place?

Presumably she wasn't just some drunken wallflower who barged out of the audience, snatched the mic from a panel speaker, and embarked on an awkward, sexist rant that lives on in infamy.

I mean, prior to that day, there must have been some people who thought she had good ideas about skepticism, and was worth giving a speaking gig at a major(?) skeptical convention. So, what were her ideas? Why was she given the gig?

IIRC a few years ago she entered a competition to be part of the Skeptic's Guide To The Universe and won. There was a thread about it at the time in the Community sub-forum here.

I'm not sure what she did before that, maybe Campus Radio at her University or something, but I'm not the worlds biggest RW watcher, so this could all be wrong.

 

[Mr. Scott]

This wouldn't have been possible without RW.

Rebecca and the A+ crowd are just mediocre (at best). I really wanted to like her when I met her at a TAM but all she appeared to contribute was a cheerful party vibe.

 

[AlBell]

Rebecca and the A+ crowd are just mediocre (at best). I really wanted to like her when I met her at a TAM but all she appeared to contribute was a cheerful party vibe.

You should have asked her up to the room for coffee, or even better, a drink.

 

[Brainache]

I just found this old thread:
http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94443

With lots of congrats from JREF Forum members to Rebecca for winning a Public Radio competition:
http://www.prx.org/projects#talent

So, yes I was wrong. I blame not caring.

 

[s_pepys]

Probably not; as far as I can tell, most of Mustaine's songs are indictments of dysfunction.

sweating bullets?

 

[s_pepys]

IIRC a few years ago she entered a competition to be part of the Skeptic's Guide To The Universe and won. There was a thread about it at the time in the Community sub-forum here.

I'm not sure what she did before that, maybe Campus Radio at her University or something, but I'm not the worlds biggest RW watcher, so this could all be wrong.

in fairness, i think the idea of skepchick (ie getting young women interested in critical thinking) deserves credit.

its all gone slightly mad!

 

[Mr. Scott]

I just found this old thread:
http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94443

RW won a $10,000 prize!

So much for claims that the skeptic and atheist communities are not welcoming to women.

Darat's remark caught my eye:

By the way did any of you ever bother to listen to any of her entries - I didn't I just voted for her so she wouldn't hit me.

Block voting, anyone?

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

A shout across the bow of the S.S. PZ Myers: http://benjaminradford.com/2013/02/21/minnesota-farmers-blogger-pz-myers-puts-livestock-at-risk-with-straw-use/

 

[AdMan]

A shout across the bow of the S.S. PZ Myers: http://benjaminradford.com/2013/02/21/minnesota-farmers-blogger-pz-myers-puts-livestock-at-risk-with-straw-use/

Good one from Ben.

Had he taken sides before?

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Good one from Ben.

Had he taken sides before?

Not that I know of.

 

[Zelenius]

A shout across the bow of the S.S. PZ Myers: http://benjaminradford.com/2013/02/21/minnesota-farmers-blogger-pz-myers-puts-livestock-at-risk-with-straw-use/

Now that was funny! And clever too!

 

[WillyWonka]

Not that I know of.

It is interesting that people are taking side now. Shermer and Blackford et al a while ago, now Ben, Harriet, and even Novella. PZM and RW's scorched earth discourse is not gathering many new followers from the skeptic community.

 

[tsig]

A shout across the bow of the S.S. PZ Myers: http://benjaminradford.com/2013/02/21/minnesota-farmers-blogger-pz-myers-puts-livestock-at-risk-with-straw-use/

Despite his dismissive tone and having yet to publish a single book, PZ Myers has attracted legions of fans

Envy.

 

[Brainache]

RW won a $10,000 prize!

So much for claims that the skeptic and atheist communities are not welcoming to women.

Darat's remark caught my eye:



Block voting, anyone?

Reading through that thread I was reminded of a kinder, gentler pre-elevatorgate world where skeptics of all persuasions joined together to further the goals of a critical thinking/skeptical young woman called "rebecca". I was a littled saddened to think of more recent events in her career as a professional skeptic...

Then I saw this post:

Where do I lodge a protest?

And realised some things never change.

Yay Scrut!

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

Reading Geek Goddess' post led me to follow the link she gave to a use of the term "Skepchick" before Watson et. al adopted it.

Skepchick was being used in a supportive and convivial sense by this forums original Skepchicks - Lisa, Renata, Girl6, Kittynh, Luciana, etc. long before Rebecca signed up here or got the idea to form an organization. And yes, the term was used here to encourage more inclusiveness and involvment by women... hence the initial Skepchick telethon in late 2002/early 2003 to help Luciana attend the seminal TAM.

Which has informed me of the existence of Emily Rosa. How cool is she?

One of my FB friends, who is in her 50s, turned me on to a pissing contest in which she'd allowed herself to be dragged regarding who the youngest and most important fashion blogger was (there was more to it than that, but that's the part that elicited my comment). I noted that the blogger was nobody who had accomplished nothing at a young age, while Emily was somebody who had accomplished something at a young age.

 

[RandFan]

A shout across the bow of the S.S. PZ Myers: http://benjaminradford.com/2013/02/...-myers-puts-livestock-at-risk-with-straw-use/

Good.