Why @nonstampNSC, @BridgetGaudette, @Zjemptv, @SecularWoman, & @MaionnaiseJane are better than you are

This all started a number of weeks ago and I’d intended to get a few screen grabs so I could show exactly how it all went down, but now that’d involve probably hours of skimming Twitter timelines which I’m not gonna fucking do.

Also, it may seem like a conflict of interest to mention Bridget Gaudette now that I write for her Freethoughtify.com, but the encounter I’ll mention happened long before that.

I’ve been a fan of NonStamp for a couple of years now. I’ve posted a number of his videos on here. One of my favorites is Context!! When I saw he was on Twitter, I was plenty excited as I figured I’d get first-look niftiness on his vids.

Then I saw it.

I happened to notice that NSC had started writing for Freethought Blogs. It’s no small secret that I’m not a giant fan of a few of their writers. I was disappointed. Even though I knew that NSC’s involvement was neither a reflection on him nor on them, I still kinda sank inside. I told him that my comment wasn’t an attack, but that I was (half kidding) sad to see him there.

At first, he got defensive. He said something to the effect of my jumping on the bandwagon of FtB hate, talking out of my ass, all that sort of stuff.

But!

In only a couple of exchanges, we clarified our positions and he apologized for his brash tone and kind words were shared.

No fuss. No muss. Just regular, ol’ cordial exchange. We started from a place of difficulty, but then were both willing to be reasonable and civil and it all worked out.

I first heard about Gaudette through A-News’ interview with her. Then I checked her out a bit on SecularWoman and Twitter. At some point, she made some comment about sexism in society. I wrote her on Facebook and asked her about that.

“Fuck off,” isn’t what she said. No, no. We also had a cordial back and forth in which she answered my questions.

I don’t remember how I discovered Zinnia Jones, Queen of Atheism. It was probably some randomly encountered YouTube video. I enjoyed her straight-forward, facts-only style. And, as with NonStamp, I found her on Twitter.

At some point, the discussion of the definition involved in transsexuality came up. While I know a thing or two about transsexuality, I’m no expert. i asked about definitions, what made one trans, what that meant, all kinds of stuff. Jones answered everything with patience and (literary) poise.

Through my acquaintance with Gaudette, I became aware of Secular Woman. I think she was working for/with them at the time. I generally find them more palatable than another oft blabbed-about female-driven skeptic site which shall remain nameless. Not always, but generally. Well, along with that above trans discussion, I bumped into Elsa Roberts of Secular Woman. We had some back and forth not so much about transsexuality, but of more general feminist topics.

Not only did Roberts answer my questions and respect my right to disagree with her, but she also invited me to continue the conversation with her directly. I’ve not done so as of yet only because of a lack of time to commit to it, but i will soon (likely in a couple of weeks).

Finally, Marisa Gallego appeared in that darn trans conversation and with her, not only did I not see eye-to-eye, but at times I downright called her on her shit, or at least what I considered her shit. I feel like I was respectful in doing so, but that doesn’t change the action taken. Despite that, we maintained politeness throughout and with her help, I’ve learned a thing or two about her positions.

I have to say that with each of the above-referenced conversations, not only did I not expect anything going into them, but based on my conversation with my Best Friend and Biggest Fan (BFaBF) Ophelia Benson, I actually assumed that all conversations would end up in some kind of vicious, name-calling flame war. I’m so glad, then, that my initial fears were completely debunked and that some mutual insight developed.

If only it could be this way every time.

#LeeMoore of @realanews chats with @TIME about the great schism & quotes @rickygervais!

Preach it, brother Rick!

You can read Moore’s post here. While I absolutely support Moore’s efforts in the cessation of infighting, I commented on his post that I’m skeptical of its short-term success. My specific comment was about how Center for Inquiry would likely have to disavow itself of some actions and individuals, as well as some of its individuals possibly needing to make some apologies. I’m not even saying I want this; I don’t care what CfI does, but the public at large might.

And then there’s those wacky kids over at Freethought Blogs. You know the ones. My best friend and biggest fan Ophelia Benson, who called Moore’s and Brian Allen’s initial steps to this effort “cute,” but who otherwise expressed no interest. Greta Cristina, who seems to live for being outraged. PZ Myers who’s not only claimed that there’s no problem, but who’s called those who disagree with him assholes. People like these seem to have no interest in any resolution and seem to believe that not only is there nothing to be resolved, but also that they’re innocent of any kind of wrongdoing or ill-speaking.

But notice I said “short-term” success. I foresee no reconciliation of any kind on any issue whatsoever. For now. But, as Blockbuster Video was once the absolute dominant force in home-video rental only to be left licking the dust of on-line outfits like Netflix, so too, even the above Freethought Bloggers’ greatest pinnacles of oft-minion-driven popularity will perish in death knells of quiet, moaning, self-satisfied, histrionic, finger-pointing irrelevance.

What wil happen is this. As atheism continues to gain footholds in mainstream, popular culture, as currently anonymous atheists become more willing to be open and active in the movement, the currently perceived “importance” of FtB and their ilk will gently siphon off. Those who don’t work for the community’s greater good will all be unceremoniously brushed aside. It’s happened in every social movement. It’ll happen in this one.

So it’s with a grin that I watch Moore’s efforts, both in pride of him and bemusement of his detractors, for whether Moore magically manages to rally all together under his banner of peace or gives up, cries “fuck it,” and retreats, one thing remains absolutely 100% true: reason will always prevail.

Behold, @Rocko2466′s very amusing “Dramatic Reading – Episode 5: Invasion of the Photo Snatchers”!

Though I consider everything on this issue settled, I thought this was pretty funny. I love the motion graphics, sound FX, and you can’t beat the British (Australian?) accent.

In case anyone’s wondering, no, I did not request it. Rocko sort of just announced out of the blue that he’d make it and I honestly thought he was kidding. More specifically, what I thought he was kidding about was simply reading the text with friends, not making a video.

But make one he did and I hope he does more.

Behold, my completely true, non-hyperbolic account of how @OpheliaBenson literally assaulted me in “dear|OPHELIA ‘CREEP!’ BENSON”!

My first YouTube upload in a really long time. And my first real foray into the whole “misogyny” battle raging in the community. I’m still on the fence as to whether it’ll be the last because, honestly, most of the discussion I’ve heard bores me to tears or seems completely useless.

As of now, the video only has a few views, but the opinions are in. About 50.50. The first comment struck a chord:

“I want my 20 minutes back. So let’s be clear, You make a 20 minute video because you ‘admittedly’ hassled the shit out of Ophelia and when she finally got annoyed, she blocked you.”

–MyCatsareMyGods

I responded merely by pointing out that I haven’t confirmed that I’ve been blocked and also that Benson was a willing participant.

But the comment gave me additional pause. By the time I saw the video with the comment, I’d seen it a few times. And I have to admit MyCats has a couple of points. The first cut of the video was 25 minutes. Yeah. Twenty five. The only reason some of it was cut was what I mention in the video on the whole “harassment”/”hassle” issue. Twenty minutes was indeed long and I’m gonna have to reel myself in next time. Especially in the middle.

On the other hand, however, though this was •only• a Twitter conversation, I felt and still feel that it speaks of a larger issue. Benson made a claim–a very serious claim–and wasn’t willing to back it up. I called her on it. If she’s gonna be considered a leader of the community, even a minor one about whom I was indifferent, the standards of logic and evidence don’t suddenly vanish because they’re no longer convenient for her. If she’s going to hold a certain station of respect, it’s not only her job to earn it, which many would argue she has, but also to maintain it. Such a thing isn’t perpetually guaranteed based solely on the cult of personality.

And let’s pretend for a second that my mistake about ”harassment”/”hassle” had been true. That she had said I harassed her. It’s not okay for our fellows in the community, even our more famous ones, to drop accusations like “misogyny” or “harassment” without being willing to back them up. Such accusations often have real-life consequences and the accusers must take responsibility for their actions. We must challenge even our more prominent community members on their actions because if we don’t, we’re no different from the blindly faithful, following our leaders merely because of their charisma or because of the appeal of authority. That, and sometimes, even our most prominent community leaders are completely fucking full of shit.

UPDATE: I’ve since heard that MyCatsareMyGods is none other than EllenBeth Wachs. I’ve not yet confirmed this. But if it is, hi, EllenBeth! Nobody forced you to watch (the whole thing)!

@Integralmathyt educates me on @pzmyers’ & #TheAtheistExperience’s #AtheismPlus #feminism bullshit

(And courtesy of Justin Vacula). As I told IM, I’ve stayed largely ignorant of all the “feminist” goings on in the atheist community. Mostly this is because I simply haven’t had the time to keep up on it, but also because it feels largely a waste of time all by its own self and, as I’d tweeted about Jen McCreight’s founding of the Atheism+ “movement”, it largely feels to me like a teacup tornado.

It may last. Even for a couple of years. Maybe a touch longer. But when it gets down to it, it has zero effect on the fact of atheism and those who are atheists.