Atheism Plus/Free Thought Blogs (FTB)

[Rrose Selavy]

From a comment on the Skeptchic Reddit post

As for TAM, I didn’t need Skepchick to tell me that Michael Shermer is a callous, pretentious ass and that the JREF has been overrun by objectivists, it’s one of the reasons I stopped being involved in skepticism in the mid-aughts. They both do a lot of good work, but it may be time to move on.

Eh? JREF over run by Objectivists? Presumably it was a different Michael Shermer who wrote about the Cult of Ayn Rand?

 

[adamwho]

From a comment on the Skeptchic Reddit post

As for TAM, I didn’t need Skepchick to tell me that Michael Shermer is a callous, pretentious ass and that the JREF has been overrun by objectivists, it’s one of the reasons I stopped being involved in skepticism in the mid-aughts. They both do a lot of good work, but it may be time to move on.

Eh? JREF over run by Objectivists? Presumably it was a different Michael Shermer who wrote about the Cult of Ayn Rand?

Wow, my limited experience with Shermer in person is that he is a little shy and eager to please; completely the opposite of callous and pretentious.

But you know who actually is callous and pretentious... RW and PZ.

 

[qayak]

I'd have thought, more to the point, that who cares is anyone who is actually concerned about the existence of racism in our society and would like to find a way to eliminate it, as opposed to those who would like to use it as a stick with which to beat people they disagree with.

You can't eliminate racism. The best you can do is set up a society where racism has little, or no, effect on its targets. In other words, the goal is to make racism an individual's shortcoming and not a societal shortcoming.

 

[recursive prophet]

The entire point is that sorting out the racists from the non-racists is a futile and pointless exercise.

Would you concede that many at A+ seem to have no reservations about sorting out the racists and misogynists, even though it is futile?

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

From a comment on the Skeptchic Reddit post

Why is there a Skepchic Reddit still in existance after St. Becky decried it as being part of the {insert buzzwords/targets of the week here}?

 

[Foolmewunz]

Why is there a Skepchic Reddit still in existance after St. Becky decried it as being part of the {insert buzzwords/targets of the week here}?

When in doubt think Drama Llama thinking.

Controversy = Moar Reeders
Moar Reeders = Moar Speeking Ingagemints
Moar Speaking Ingagemints = Moar Drama
Moar Drama = Moar Controversy
Moar Controversy = Moar Reeders

It's worked so far. She just hasn't figured out the Moar Profit part.

 

[Nihilus]

Does anybody else get the impression that if they were in charge they would hinder, cripple and discriminate until every person had exactly the same interests, talents, abilities and motivation?

The entire construct of A+ lies in a subversive wishful destruction of exceptionalism. They've bought into the illogical notion that "equality", rather than having to do with an equal metaphysical value inherent in each human, should be about leveling the playing field in every possible endeavor so that no one individual can ever feel inadequate in comparison to another.

 

[Rrose Selavy]

Why is there a Skepchic Reddit still in existance after St. Becky decried it as being part of the {insert buzzwords/targets of the week here}?

No it's from the Skepchic main website , a commenter on RW's blog post on the recent Reddit panel.

I don't like to direct link to some places because it only adds to their publicity

I don't use reddit.

 

[TheGoldcountry]

The entire construct of A+ lies in a subversive wishful destruction of exceptionalism. They've bought into the illogical notion that "equality", rather than having to do with an equal metaphysical value inherent in each human, should be about leveling the playing field in every possible endeavor so that no one individual can ever feel inadequate in comparison to another.

"Harrison Bergeron"?

 

[Mr. Scott]

"Harrison Bergeron"?

It made me think of that, too.

thanks to the 212th Amendment to the Constitution and the unceasing vigilance of the United States Handicapper General, everyone is "finally equal...."

Here's the trailer:

 

[Mr. Scott]

I was thinking of ceepolk's disgust when a 60 year old stranger showed interest in her in a public place. I guess ageism is not on today's social justice table. The elder are an underprivileged class and today victims of truly shocking job discrimination, similar to how women and non-whites were discriminated against before it was outlawed. The SJWs will only begin to care 40 years from now when they become the victims. For the moment, they are in the privileged age class and unwilling to acknowledge it.

 

[qwints]

Would you concede that many at A+ seem to have no reservations about sorting out the racists and misogynists, even though it is futile?

I've certainly see that happen, but I think there's a real effort to talk about helpful or harmful words and actions rather than about good or bad people.

The entire construct of A+ lies in a subversive wishful destruction of exceptionalism. They've bought into the illogical notion that "equality", rather than having to do with an equal metaphysical value inherent in each human, should be about leveling the playing field in every possible endeavor so that no one individual can ever feel inadequate in comparison to another.

I don't see how advocating, for example, reasonable accommodation is equivalent to intentionally reducing someone else's abilities. Seeking to reduce the effects of system discrimination isn't actually an attack on the people enjoying the benefits of that discrimination. I also don't understand your use of "subversive" or "wishful", or see anything on the atheismplus forums that talks about people's feeling of inadequacy next to someone else's "exceptionalism."

 

[ponderingturtle]

I was thinking of ceepolk's disgust when a 60 year old stranger showed interest in her in a public place. I guess ageism is not on today's social justice table. The elder are an underprivileged class and today victims of truly shocking job discrimination, similar to how women and non-whites were discriminated against before it was outlawed. The SJWs will only begin to care 40 years from now when they become the victims. For the moment, they are in the privileged age class and unwilling to acknowledge it.

They fight ageism against the young only.

 

[Mr. Scott]

They fight ageism against the young only.

They fight?

...and, how young? I see plenty of college age and recent college graduates jump right into jobs that fully experienced older people have given up seeking or are fired from for no reason other than their age.

 

[qwints]

The elder are an underprivileged class and today victims of truly shocking job discrimination,

I don't disagree with this (at least in the US, and I suspect in most industrialized nations) at all.

 

[qayak]

They fight?

...and, how young? I see plenty of college age and recent college graduates jump right into jobs that fully experienced older people have given up seeking or are fired from for no reason other than their age.

Well, it isn't their age so much as how much money they make. Get rid of the old, high paid person and hire two young people for the same money. It's capitalism at it's finest.

The old people would have great job security if they would work for nothing.

 

[qayak]

The entire construct of A+ lies in a subversive wishful destruction of exceptionalism. They've bought into the illogical notion that "equality", rather than having to do with an equal metaphysical value inherent in each human, should be about leveling the playing field in every possible endeavor so that no one individual can ever feel inadequate in comparison to another.

Agreed. A+ isn't even shooting for mediocrity, they are aiming much lower than that.

 

[Myriad]

For those following the general evolution of the misogyny-in-atheism controversy in the blogosphere, during the past few weeks most of the attention of its participants has shifted to Michael Nugent's blog.

Summarizing many lengthy blog posts and thousands of comments, what basically happened is that Nugent heard the shocking revelations about rampant sexism and abuse in the atheist community, and credulously blasted the evil slymepit on his blog. However, unlike some others in similar cases, he moderated the resulting comment threads fairly, and over time, a different picture emerged, as slymepit and A+/FtB partisans have made their respective cases. Most recently, Nugent has posted a "how we should all get along" position calling for, basically, sound skeptical practice. The comments on that post are interesting. "They keep lying about us" vs. "They don't think women are human beings." The bickering goes on, but it's increasingly clear that it's not between two equally strong or equally honest positions.

At this point, the alleged outside trolls trying to stir the **** should give up on sending rape threats to Rebecca Watson, and start posting on the anti-misogny side instead ("they don't think women are human beings" should do the trick), if they want to keep things going. Unless they're already doing that.

Respectfully,
Myriad

 

[Edx]

I have long suspected that many of the oppressive customs against women in religion and elsewhere were well meaning but misguided attempts to 'protect women'.

I dont think you know how right you are.

 

[adamwho]

Originally Posted by adamwho View Post
I have long suspected that many of the oppressive customs against women in religion and elsewhere were well meaning but misguided attempts to 'protect women'.

I dont think you know how right you are.

...I also suspect such practices (and other ritualistic practices ex: FGM) were create by women for women.