You Tell Those Rape Victims, Blag Hag

Blag Hag had the following to say about women complainants of rape in a blog post titled This Needed to be Said About Rape Allegations

This is just one of the many reasons why I think it's so important to get more women to be skeptical thinkers. Questioning does not make us a "tool of the patriarchy" - questioning is empowering.

You tell 'em, Blag Hag. Those dirty rape victims are so needy, aren't they? Needy of our attention. Needy of our trust. Needy of justice. Fuck them, preferably without their consent. I agree with her on one thing. Questioning the veracity of a rape victim's claim is empowering, sort of like jumping a Kindergartner on the playground and stealing her prescription shoes during your lunch break.

Victims of sexual assault are already at the mercy of bystanders, family, police, the justice system, and society at large if they ever want to get their lives back. The people who they need to confide in are in a position of privilege. Without their trust, rape victims are victimized again and again, until they give up on fighting and join the patriarchy lock-step or commit suicide. So it's really big of Blag Hag and other rape apologists to be skeptical, isn't it? It's so much easier to do nothing than to show a shred of humanity and at least pretend to give a shit. This isn't being skeptical about global warming or the existence of God. We're talking about women and children all over the world who are already vulnerable, because they are in a position in society in which they are not to be believed.

Feminist to the Rescue is Back!

A few weeks ago, the awesome feminist woman with whom I shared a blog a few years ago, started a new blog, Feminist to the Rescue! It's very exciting indeed, and I encourage everybody to check out the commentary, funny, and feminist superhero art. Yay!

WTF: Weird Trolling

I think I mentioned before that I've been getting a lot of Russian spam comments on the old blog. Now, some Anonymous person is posting quotes from "Our Mutual Friend," a Charles Dickens novel. And they insert hyperlinks whenever "winter allergies" comes up. WTF?

More from the Anonymous Misogynist

It's been more than a year since I left my old blog and started this one. For some reason, people still comment on the old blog from time to time. Some of the comments come from assholes who always post under "Anonymous," so I'm calling this sorry excuse for a person the Anonymous Misogynist. They're probably different people, but they all come from the same breed of women-hating dirtbags. And I recently got two comments in moderation two days in a row, so this time, I think the comments did come from the same Anonymous Misogynist. They're just too stupid to realize that comments go through moderation and aren't even posted anymore (not even the nice ones), because I don't update that blog anymore in any way. One comment was from a post dated March 10, 2008 where I wrote about a gym at Harvard that has women-only hours to accommodate Muslim women and any other women that feel uncomfortable exercising in front of men. I commented on the backlash the Muslim women were receiving from political pundits and the university community. Anonymous Misogynist said,

You're just a man hating sexist and all of your arguments boil down to that.

Yes, I am a man (shock horror) and no, I don't letch at women nor do I feel I have the privilege to do so and I don't want it either. (I bet now your next conclusion is that I'm gay - wrong again).

In the UK there are entirely female only gyms and I'm forbidden to enter because of my gender. There is no other reason.

There is no way you can argue that that is not sexist. Its ridiculous that you're even trying.

Rich of the person who's commenting anonymously to a post from a year and a half ago to call me ridiculous, and rich of the person who's telling me what I believe to simultaneously deride me for supposedly making assumptions about his gender and sexuality, which I never did, and before even reading the comment. And this is after I said, "A Harvard student suggested that another gym on campus have male-only hours at the same time as the female-only hours, and that's a policy I support," and "Usually, I don't support separating the men from the women," and after a slew of other civil comments I made without insult to two people, at least one who I know is male (because he's a friend of the woman I used to blog with). But apparently, according to the paranoid and privileged "Anonymous Misogynist" ** that's all code for "I hate men!" [froths at mouth]

The next forever-to-be-unmoderated comment from Anonymous Misogynist was about a genderqueer boy named Larry King, who was murdered for flirting with another boy after that boy made fun of his gender identity. I wrote that post on March 28, 2008, and the trial starts late next month. Here's what Anonymous Misogynist said:

that faggot deserves it! and you are a piece of shit feminist.

I guess Larry King was a bigger faggot than I am a piece of shit feminist, considering Anonymous Misogynist didn't end that last statement with an exclamation point. What a fuckface, right?

I don't know if Anonymous Misogynist takes Sundays off, but I'm definitely looking forward to its next comment.

*Reminds me of a recent episode of The Simpsons that was just on, in which Marge opens a gym for women. Homer asks, "Why would women want to go to a gym if there were no men there watching them and judging them?" After seeing the long line of women waiting to enter the gym at its grand opening, Homer exclaims, "We're gonna be rich!"

**I'm totally thinking of drawing a cartoon character of that.

The Irony is Completely Lost on Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin* said this in one of her Facebook notes the other day,

The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s “death panel” so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their “level of productivity in society,” whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.

after saying this,

"So how about, in honor of the American solider, you quit making things up?"

and this

Face it. You're one of us now! One of us! One of us! One of us! (and it goes on).



*This might make me sound like a total asshole, but I don't really care. I'm REALLY glad that I don't have to put "Governor" in front of her name anymore. It actually bothered me to show such an evil person that kind of respect. Whereas others would put "Ms." or "Mrs," I always felt like it was more respectful to use their title, no matter how repugnant I believe their policies to be.

5 Words You Need to Use to Win at Feministing

There's a little bit of a blog war between Feministing and Voz_Latina over anti-trans/cis-centered comments left by Feministing users in posts about trans issues. Honestly, I don't think bloggers are responsible for the people who comment. They're only responsible for what they write. But that's not really the point. No one's going to argue that the editors at Feministing sufficiently report on trans issues, because they don't. This wouldn't be a problem if they didn't update their blog 80 times a day and pass themselves off as all-inclusive. But anyway . . . .

Feministing has fixed their trans issue comment problem. They've issued a moratorium on comments in posts about trans issues. Because there's nothing worse than having a discussion about things that all of us could understand better. But there are still a few words you're allowed to use without getting banned or yelled at. Five words to be exact, and I guarantee that if you use any of these words or their derivatives, in any context, no less than 10 people will click "I liked this comment." 

1. Objectification

2. Privilege

3. Heteronormative

4. Cisexist

5. Othering

I can hear you now. "But, Emily. I don't really know what any of these words mean. How can I pwn in the Feministing community without knowing what the fuck I'm talking about?" The beauty of this system is that you don't have to know what these words mean or what the fuck you're talking about, because very few of the people who are reading the comments know what these words mean or what the fuck they're talking about. You just have to use these words, and people will like your comment to make sure they're not othering you in their own privileged, objectifying way.

Important Question, OneVike!

Some blogger called OneVike railed against the lady vote, saying that we're slipping down an emotional slope lubed up with tears because of the 19th Amendment. They ask this very important question:

It is this very emotional kind of feelings that is getting Americans to go along with Global Warming? Think about it?

Well, that's a no-brainer. The answer is obviously, Always listen to your lady teacher when she's teaching you grammar!

Take Action Monday

Tell Senator Arlen Spector to allow the Senate to vote on the Employee Free Choice Act.

Ask Attorney General Holder to appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate torture.

Help prevent another Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Tell your governors to take dog fighting seriously.

Support the REAL Act and comprehensive sex education.

Tell Congress to pass a strong climate bill.

Support action towards a nuclear weapons-free world.

Tell advertisers to stop supporting Bill O'Reilly's harassment.

Check out the 25 ways to use your blog for social change.

Even More Comments from Blogs Gone By

I am still getting comments from people about a post I wrote nearly two years ago on the old blog about an episode of America's Next Top Model that I found offensive. I have no idea why people are still talking about it. I know I'm not. But some people must be stuck in March of 2007. We should feel sorry for them. Here are a couple of unmoderated comments that will stay that way forever, because I haven't updated that blog since July.

This is a fashion photoshoot, it's art. Stop taking it so seriously. If any young people decided that violence is sexy and desirable from these photographs then they have some serious issues, or are complete idiots. Relax and get over it.

This person is replying to a post from two years ago! Who needs to get over what now?

You've obviously NEVER heard of DARK ART! If you had it your way all the photo shoots would be plain and boring like a flock of sheep, and if a black one came along you'd shoot it. If you hate it that much DON'T WATCH THE SHOW!

This person is THANKFUL that analogies were taken off the SAT. Besides, I find sheep to be very exciting, especially the black ones, especially in flock form. And to clear up any suspicions, I don't watch America's Next Top Model. Tyra : Dolphins :: Emily : Tyra. Now there's an analogy.

The Funny & The Fucked Up

The Funny:

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Prop 8: The Musical shows the benefits of gay marriage. It stars some very funny people, like Margaret Cho, Jack Black, Andy Richter, John C. Reilly, and NPH.

Belledame222 at Fetch Me My Axe posted some funny would-be Men's Rights Activist blog titles.

The Fucked Up:

Amanda Palmer's record label won't promote her new single or video because she is "fat." Palmer, of Dresden Dolls fame, tried to leave her record label, but they won't let her. She gives the full story here.

Some dude from New Zealand blames women's lib and abortion for violence against women. This answers the age-old question "What do Orcs do when they're not guarding Mordor?" They whine to the public.

The Funny & The Fucked Up

The Funny

Sarah Haskins' latest video is all about cars. Those sexy, fuckable cars.

Fundamentally Flawed takes on the anti-gay bigots with sharp wit.

One of my Feministing Community blog posts made it to the main page. And it inspired like five flame wars.

The Fucked Up

A Catholic priest in South Carolina tells his parishioners not to receive communion if they voted for Obama. What has to happen before churches like this lose their tax exempt status? I'm sure Catholic churches paying taxes in a "pro-abortion" country is no more unholy than that same money going towards paying for kid-toucher insurance.



Mike Huckabee thinks LGBTs have to suffer more before they can get civil rights. Until then, being gay is totally bearable. And because Huckabee has such impeccable timing, he said all of that the day before International Transgender Day of Remembrance.

A Little Bit of Both

Focus on the Family is laying off 20% of its workforce. Think of it as a sign from God to get out of the gay-bashing business.

John Claude Van Damme attempted to hit on a Newsweek reporter with his . . . je ne sais quoi. Seriously, JC. Je ne sais quoi the Hell you are doing. "I really opened myself up in 'JCVD.' I peeled back the skin of the fruit, cut the pulp and then took that very hard seed. In this film I cut that hard seed, and inside that seed was a kind of liquid cream substance of the man I am, or the woman you are." Hard seed cream, ne sont pas des mots qui vont tres bien ensemble.

More Funny Unmoderated Comments

It looks like the blog I used to contribute to is getting more traffic now than it did when people actually posted there. Every week there's another comment waiting to be moderated. This is happening so often that I just might have to create a label for it. I noticed two more unmoderated comments today, one that was posted yesterday and one that was posted a month ago that I just realized was there. There are a few things that make these comments funny. One, I haven't updated that blog since July, yet people are still commenting on posts there. Two, most of them are hilarious comments made by some really dumb "Anonymous" people. And three, I don't know to which posts these comments are referring. I can take a guess, but since Blogger doesn't tell me where the comment was made, I'm not too sure what these "Anonymous" commenters are talking about. And not knowing what they're talking about adds to the randomness of it all. So here are the two new comments.

Because it works. I went to bootcamp & solitary confinement and I straightened my ass up.

Thanks for sharing?

Actually, I think they were throwing a punch at homosexuals.

Indeed . . . .

And Yet More Unmoderated Comments by Dummies

I have to admit, I was hoping to find another unmoderated comment to post about when I logged in to Blogger just now. And my dreams came true! For some reason, people are only posting comments in posts from a long time ago, and they're always posting under "Anonymous." This comment was in regards to a post I wrote about a "crime scene" themed photo shoot on America's Next Top Model. The photos were obviously going for a dead chic thing, which glamorizes violent crimes against women. Some people seem to think that's not disturbing at all.

photoshoots aren't always meant to be sexy or appealing. some of them are meant to cause shock or awe, or even make a statement about politics or human nature itself. i can't believe that you all would make such a big deal about a little blood and guts, when there was obviously no harm intended in it. i liked the shoot, personally, i think if photography causes controversy, then it has done it's job.

Convincing, right? "Photo shoots aren't always meant to be sexy and sometimes try to make a political statement, but I'm not going to tell you that these photos weren't meant to be sexy and what that political statement really is, because I know deep down that what I just said doesn't apply to this case." It's funny when people try to rationalize their own sexist opinions.

More Comments from Blogs Gone By

Over two years ago, the creator of the blog Feminists to the Rescue wrote about Rabbi Shmuley Boteach telling women not to breastfeed, lest they turn off their husbands. And for some reason, people are still submitting comments not only to this blog, but to this particular post from two years ago. An anonymous commenter (aren't they all?) is waiting for this to be moderated:

Rabbi Shumley is a Jew, and Jews gave use the Feminist Revolution. Of course he doesn't have a clue what he's on about.

I wonder if this is the same Anonymous that said this a couple weeks ago. And I wonder if they're reading every post on that blog and commenting with anti-feminist and anti-Semitist drivel. Either way, I hope they have fun reading all 375 posts.

Someone Seriously Said This

Before I created [A] Funny Feminist, I posted on a different blog. For some reason, some people haven't recognized that it hasn't been updated since July and are still leaving comments. Here's one awaiting moderation that someone posted a couple of days ago.

You have no idea what extreme feminist is do you? it isn't normal feminism, that's called FEMINISM. Extreme feminism is what alot of feminist groups are turning into. Feminism used to be the equality between women and men. Now feminist groups are starting to say their better then men, and even blaming men for all the wrong things in today's society. Don't you think that's a little EXTREME? Don't post comment when you don't even know what your talking about. There have been extreme feminists who have abducted males.

I have no idea what this person is talking about.

Mmmm . . . Sensitivity Training

via Feministing

Jessica Valenti of Feministing wrote about this cake that was originally posted at Cake Wrecks. While it doesn't look like Jessica or many of the other readers who commented over at Feministing particularly liked this cake, I think it's hilarious and effective. Perfect balance of humor, sensitivity, and saturated fat. If there ever was a good excuse for sexually harassing a fellow employee, I think this cake pretty much throws that excuse out the window. "But how could you have forgotten about our anti-sexual harassment policy? You ate the 'No Sexual Harassment" cake!'"

Celebrity Funny of the Day

via Feministe

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Oh, Paris! You read so much better than George W. Bush!

Vote for Feministe's Next Top Troll

Feministe posted a poll for us to vote for their best troll (I didn't mean for that to rhyme, I swear). They've posted 12 sexist/sad/hilarious comments, and readers vote for their favorite one. The one with the most votes has the honor of being Feministe's Next Top Troll. I voted for the genius who said this:

Silly feminist. I blame the 19th amendment.
Women shouldn’t be allowed to vote.
I’d rather hear opinions from a goat.
They’re clearly all insane.
We should just remove their brains.
And send them out to sea and sink the boat.

I'm not sure if the last three lines refer to the women or the goats, but it still has poet laureate written all over it. Laureate . . . over it. That sort of rhymes too!

UPDATE 7/16: It's been a week since my first post here, and the blog has 100 hits (and I know I didn't visit 100 times). *happy!*

So Not Funny, Moe and Tracie

This is kind of old news, but it's still relevant. Moe and Tracie of Jezebel were recently on Thinking and Drinking, and they showed up smashed. Whether the sexist jokes about rape were due to the drink or whether they were actually trying to be funny -- well, you decide. Here's some of what they said.

Moe: I don't know if this (rape) has happened to me or if I just drink too much...
Tracie: I once paid someone to rape me once... Well, I didn't pay for it, I had a magazine pay for it.

Tracie (responding to Lizz's questioning about why she doesn't think rape is something that women like her should worry about): I live in Williamsburg, there aren't very assertive men there
(and on why she hasn't been raped): I think it has to do with the fact that I am like, smart"

Moe (on being raped): The third guy I ever had sex with, date raped me, and I got very mad at him, but I wasn't gonna fucking like turn him in to the police and fucking go through shit...
Lizz: Why not, you see that's the problem, why not, I am just curious?
Moe: Because it was a load of trouble and I had better things to do, like drinking more.

So not funny! This prompted Jessica Valenti of Feministing to write about humor and feminism, and since I can't say it any better, I suggest you read her post.