Response to An Open Letter to the Secular Community
Yes, I am a month behind, but I have been farking busy. Cut a girl a break, thanks.
So after all the hubbub about sexism in the secular community, American Atheists posted an open letter to the secular community. Here is my take on it:
1) I'm confused as to who this is addressed to specifically. Is this meant to be for both the aggressors and the survivors of harassment/sexism? If so, it doesn't really work both ways as written. (I'm reading this as a survivor of harassment/sexism within the sexist community.)
2) “Between the small but vocal number of abusive participants (often called “trolls”) who hurl threats and insults, and the overheated rhetoric of some ordinarily friendly and reasonable people, our online environment is in danger of turning toxic.”
Small? Really?
http://freethoughtblogs.com/almostdiamonds/2014/04/13/but-how-do-you-know-the-mras-are-atheists/
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2014/05/facing-up-to-atheisms-mra-problem/
http://freethoughtblogs.com/axp/2014/05/02/why-are-so-many-mras-among-the-religious-nones/
http://www.avoiceformen.com/misandry/why-are-atheists-so-religious/
Please don't dismiss the harassment as a “small number of trolls online”. It has happened IRL and more often than y'all want to admit, apparently.
3) “Hatred has no place in our movement. We unequivocally and unreservedly condemn those who resort to communicating in such a vile and despicable manner.”
THANK YOU. Just as the Republicans should renounce extremists to save their party, so should atheists renounce sexists and the MRAs to save our community. I would like to see some action from the larger organizations against these people.
4) “Go offline before going online: pick up the phone.”
I think AA is under the assumption that the internet, as a form of communication, is the problem. The problem isn't technology. The problem is PEOPLE. People actually believe this sexist shit as part of their core being. Talking to them in person just masks these horrid thoughts due to social etiquette. Asking people to change modes of communication isn't going to magically stop the sexists. This is also putting the burden of action onto the survivor and not the harasser. That's like blaming the rape survivor for not reporting their rape. Seriously, get a clue American Atheists.
5) Listen more.
So, when I'm told that I need to make more atheist babies to promote our cause or that I'm a cunt for calling out sexism I should listen to my harassers some more? Are you fucking kidding me?! Again, poorly written letter. Who are you addressing here? This letter should be explicitly written to the harassers!
6) Dial down the drama.
Wow. Thanks for sounding like a sexist cliché. This could have been rewritten in a MUCH better way. The way it is written, it sounds like I'm being such an over dramatic, emotional woman and I need to “cool it”. FML, seriously. Who wrote this shit?!
7) “By applying the principle of charity we will elevate the discussion so we’re actually talking about our real differences, not just engaging in a pointless exchange. “
So, discussing harassment is a pointless exchange? So lost on this one.
8) “Trust but verify.”
Again, I'm at a loss for words. So, because someone blogs about their harassment or has a Storify showing it via Twitter and it gets reposted many times, that isn't enough evidence? Are you saying our voices don't matter or count? Again, this is written so vaguely, I can't tell WTF is meant by this.
9) “Help others along. When we encounter someone espousing a view we think is based on lack of knowledge or experience, we should remember that we have all held ill-informed views. We should cultivate patience and try to educate instead of condemn. “
My problem with this is that atheists claim to be much more educated and well-read than most people. Therefore, if someone doesn't understand my feminist jargon or know what “male privilege” is, why do I have to explain it to them? It's called Google - use it. You claim to be much more educated and more intelligent than most people - so read something new by your god damn self. I'm getting sick and tired of playing nice and trying to educate my oppressor only to have it backfire with horrid insults because someone gets defensive and can't handle looking in the fucking mirror.
I really wish the major atheist organizations, like American Atheists, would be as honest as this artist.
But I'm A Nice Guy from Scott Benson on Vimeo.
******************************************************************************
Want to read more responses?
http://www.secularcensus.us/why-we-did-not-sign-open-letter-to-secular-community
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2013/04/an-open-letter-to-the-secular-community-my-thoughts/
http://www.secularwoman.org/ourresponse
http://skepchick.org/2013/04/an-open-letter-to-secular-community-leaders/
http://www.skepticmoney.com/secular_sexism/
http://natehevens.wordpress.com/2013/04/04/an-open-letter-to-the-secular-community-and-its-leaders/
http://haifischgeweint.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/an-open-reply-from-a-satanist-to-cfis-open-letter-to-the-secular-community/
So after all the hubbub about sexism in the secular community, American Atheists posted an open letter to the secular community. Here is my take on it:
1) I'm confused as to who this is addressed to specifically. Is this meant to be for both the aggressors and the survivors of harassment/sexism? If so, it doesn't really work both ways as written. (I'm reading this as a survivor of harassment/sexism within the sexist community.)
2) “Between the small but vocal number of abusive participants (often called “trolls”) who hurl threats and insults, and the overheated rhetoric of some ordinarily friendly and reasonable people, our online environment is in danger of turning toxic.”
Small? Really?
http://freethoughtblogs.com/almostdiamonds/2014/04/13/but-how-do-you-know-the-mras-are-atheists/
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2014/05/facing-up-to-atheisms-mra-problem/
http://freethoughtblogs.com/axp/2014/05/02/why-are-so-many-mras-among-the-religious-nones/
http://www.avoiceformen.com/misandry/why-are-atheists-so-religious/
Please don't dismiss the harassment as a “small number of trolls online”. It has happened IRL and more often than y'all want to admit, apparently.
3) “Hatred has no place in our movement. We unequivocally and unreservedly condemn those who resort to communicating in such a vile and despicable manner.”
THANK YOU. Just as the Republicans should renounce extremists to save their party, so should atheists renounce sexists and the MRAs to save our community. I would like to see some action from the larger organizations against these people.
4) “Go offline before going online: pick up the phone.”
I think AA is under the assumption that the internet, as a form of communication, is the problem. The problem isn't technology. The problem is PEOPLE. People actually believe this sexist shit as part of their core being. Talking to them in person just masks these horrid thoughts due to social etiquette. Asking people to change modes of communication isn't going to magically stop the sexists. This is also putting the burden of action onto the survivor and not the harasser. That's like blaming the rape survivor for not reporting their rape. Seriously, get a clue American Atheists.
5) Listen more.
So, when I'm told that I need to make more atheist babies to promote our cause or that I'm a cunt for calling out sexism I should listen to my harassers some more? Are you fucking kidding me?! Again, poorly written letter. Who are you addressing here? This letter should be explicitly written to the harassers!
6) Dial down the drama.
Wow. Thanks for sounding like a sexist cliché. This could have been rewritten in a MUCH better way. The way it is written, it sounds like I'm being such an over dramatic, emotional woman and I need to “cool it”. FML, seriously. Who wrote this shit?!
7) “By applying the principle of charity we will elevate the discussion so we’re actually talking about our real differences, not just engaging in a pointless exchange. “
So, discussing harassment is a pointless exchange? So lost on this one.
8) “Trust but verify.”
Again, I'm at a loss for words. So, because someone blogs about their harassment or has a Storify showing it via Twitter and it gets reposted many times, that isn't enough evidence? Are you saying our voices don't matter or count? Again, this is written so vaguely, I can't tell WTF is meant by this.
9) “Help others along. When we encounter someone espousing a view we think is based on lack of knowledge or experience, we should remember that we have all held ill-informed views. We should cultivate patience and try to educate instead of condemn. “
My problem with this is that atheists claim to be much more educated and well-read than most people. Therefore, if someone doesn't understand my feminist jargon or know what “male privilege” is, why do I have to explain it to them? It's called Google - use it. You claim to be much more educated and more intelligent than most people - so read something new by your god damn self. I'm getting sick and tired of playing nice and trying to educate my oppressor only to have it backfire with horrid insults because someone gets defensive and can't handle looking in the fucking mirror.
I really wish the major atheist organizations, like American Atheists, would be as honest as this artist.
But I'm A Nice Guy from Scott Benson on Vimeo.
******************************************************************************
Want to read more responses?
http://www.secularcensus.us/why-we-did-not-sign-open-letter-to-secular-community
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2013/04/an-open-letter-to-the-secular-community-my-thoughts/
http://www.secularwoman.org/ourresponse
http://skepchick.org/2013/04/an-open-letter-to-secular-community-leaders/
http://www.skepticmoney.com/secular_sexism/
http://natehevens.wordpress.com/2013/04/04/an-open-letter-to-the-secular-community-and-its-leaders/
http://haifischgeweint.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/an-open-reply-from-a-satanist-to-cfis-open-letter-to-the-secular-community/