Continued: (Ed) Atheism Plus/Free Thought Blogs (FTB)

theprestige said:
Reading through the blog thread, it seems pretty obvious that none of them actually want to write a blog post, for fear of running afoul of Correct Thought.

Since anything, at any moment, could be triggering, or privileged, or--most likely--both, it's safer to simply bask in the glow of Correct Thought, and wait for someone else to dare a contribution.

Most bloggers I know of seem to have gotten started by just getting started. They have opinions, or ideas or knowledge they want to share, and they just start spilling it out post after post, day after day. If the Plussers were serious about blogging, they'd be doing it already. Artwork, if it happened at all, would be an afterthought.

What opinion, or idea, or knowledge, would anyone there dare to blog about? They know how people get treated, when they deviate from Correct Thought even by accident. They don't want to write a blog. They want the awesome feeling they'd get from reading a blog written by someone else, that echoes and reinforces their convictions.
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I haven't read the thread much but, what'S "triggering" and "correct thought" and "ableist" ?
 
Belz... said:
I haven't read the thread much but, what'S "triggering" and "correct thought" and "ableist" ?
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A "trigger" is something that causes an involuntary strong and painful physical, mental or emotional response in someone. The most common example being something that causes a person with PTSD to have intrusive thoughts and memories about a traumatic experience. A "trigger warning" is a statement, often used on feminist publications, that warns potential readers that the material they are about to read contains material that could be "triggering," such as a description of rape.

There has been substantial debate about both when they should be used and whether they are effective or necessary. Many feel that some online communities, such as atheismplus, trivialize them by using them for matters that do not actually "trigger" people, but merely annoy or displease people.


"Correct thought" is another term for "political correctness."

"Ableist" is actions or language that discriminate or oppress the disabled. The vast majority of people on skepchick and atheismplus would agree that using a word like "retarded" as an insult is ableist. It's analogous to racist referring to actions or language that discriminate or oppress people of a certain race.
 
Squeegee Beckenheim said:
The posts on this page, about where the A+ers have called out Skepchick for using terms like "stupid" as being abelist.
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Oh wow.

It's funny how I find myself "rooting" against Skepchick in this fight even though I don't agree with the other side. My favorite part was Amy claiming that Grimalkin was triggering her by claiming to be triggered.
 
qwints said:
A "trigger" is something that causes an involuntary strong and painful physical, mental or emotional response in someone. The most common example being something that causes a person with PTSD to have intrusive thoughts and memories about a traumatic experience. A "trigger warning" is a statement, often used on feminist publications, that warns potential readers that the material they are about to read contains material that could be "triggering," such as a description of rape.
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That's what I thought.

There has been substantial debate about both when they should be used and whether they are effective or necessary. Many feel that some online communities, such as atheismplus, trivialize them by using them for matters that do not actually "trigger" people, but merely annoy or displease people.
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That's what I think.

"Ableist" is actions or language that discriminate or oppress the disabled. The vast majority of people on skepchick and atheismplus would agree that using a word like "retarded" as an insult is ableist. It's analogous to racist referring to actions or language that discriminate or oppress people of a certain race.
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So they are ignoring the colloquial use of the term, then.
 
cornsail said:
Oh wow.

It's funny how I find myself "rooting" against Skepchick in this fight even though I don't agree with the other side. My favorite part was Amy claiming that Grimalkin was triggering her by claiming to be triggered.
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No need to cheer at all. What is happening is the natural end result of needing to vilify others as a method to get attention and get ahead. Sooner or later the number of people left to ostracize dwindles and those who were allies become targets. In the end the structure of whatever organization that exists ends up damaged and the people who use such tactics either start over or disappear.

In the case of skepchick, I suspect they will just move on and re-brand as something other than feminism while still claiming to be feminists just like they still claim to be skeptics.
 
Doubt said:
No need to cheer at all. What is happening is the natural end result of needing to vilify others as a method to get attention and get ahead. Sooner or later the number of people left to ostracize dwindles and those who were allies become targets. In the end the structure of whatever organization that exists ends up damaged and the people who use such tactics either start over or disappear.

In the case of skepchick, I suspect they will just move on and re-brand as something other than feminism while still claiming to be feminists just like they still claim to be skeptics.
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I'm not sure what you mean by "re-brand as something other than feminism while still claiming to be feminists".
 
cornsail said:
I'm not sure what you mean by "re-brand as something other than feminism while still claiming to be feminists".
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Skepchick did not start off as a feminist entity. They had a sort of post-feminist attitude and even went so far as to host a party with a bordello theme. Also put out calendars with photos of both men and women. They generally did not treat people well who objected to either the calendars or the party idea. Feminist POV like the one they have currently was not accepted by them.

When that branding started to fade after the bordello party Skepchick suddenly changed direction to feminism. They have not applied much skepticism to their own current opinions. Now that they are having problems with one of their own offspring, I would expect them to find a new direction again in the not too distant future. I suspect they will end up contradicting their current feminist positions. But I have no clue as to what direction they might turn.
 
Doubt said:
Skepchick did not start off as a feminist entity. They had a sort of post-feminist attitude and even went so far as to host a party with a bordello theme. Also put out calendars with photos of both men and women. They generally did not treat people well who objected to either the calendars or the party idea. Feminist POV like the one they have currently was not accepted by them.
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What caused the change, in your opinion ?
 
Islamic apologists on this forum frequently try to tar criticism of Islam with racism or bigotry. That seems indistinguishable from the aplus policy on the matter. Why don't they join atheism plus?
 
Belz... said:
What caused the change, in your opinion ?
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Elevatorgate happened just a few months after Rebecca announced her very short marriage had ended. I saw no sign of her coming crusade against The Patriarchy, or misogyny, before her marriage failed. This I think is significant. Her misanthropy, which is evident in her post-marriage screeds, did not exist before that. Until Rebecca posts on what happened in her marriage, we can't know for sure, but the timing is telling in my opinion.
 
Humes fork said:
Islamic apologists on this forum frequently try to tar criticism of Islam with racism or bigotry. That seems indistinguishable from the aplus policy on the matter. Why don't they join atheism plus?
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Could you refrain from bringing up Islam in every thread, Humes ? It's really annoying. Thanks.
 
Mr. Scott said:
Elevatorgate happened just a few months after Rebecca announced her very short marriage had ended. I saw no sign of her coming crusade against The Patriarchy, or misogyny, before her marriage failed. This I think is significant. Her misanthropy, which is evident in her post-marriage screeds, did not exist before that. Until Rebecca posts on what happened in her marriage, we can't know for sure, but the timing is telling in my opinion.
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I hadn't noticed that before. Interesting observation.
 
Doubt said:
Skepchick did not start off as a feminist entity.
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Right.

They had a sort of post-feminist attitude and even went so far as to host a party with a bordello theme. Also put out calendars with photos of both men and women.
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I wouldn't call those things incompatible with feminism. Nor "post-feminist" (though I have to admit I've never heard that term before). It probably is incompatible with their current ideology / version of feminism.

They generally did not treat people well who objected to either the calendars or the party idea. Feminist POV like the one they have currently was not accepted by them.
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When have they ever treated people well who object to them? So they are consistent on that front at least. I do recall a bit of a forum fight on JREF regarding the Bordello party.

When that branding started to fade after the bordello party Skepchick suddenly changed direction to feminism. They have not applied much skepticism to their own current opinions. Now that they are having problems with one of their own offspring, I would expect them to find a new direction again in the not too distant future. I suspect they will end up contradicting their current feminist positions. But I have no clue as to what direction they might turn.
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Does the A+ forum community really have enough sway to impact Skepchick? They seem to be a small group and their website certainly seems to lack the influence and fanbase of a Skepchick or a Pharyngula.
 
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