Re: Rebecca Watson, elevators and @$$holes

I've recently subscribed to Rebecca. I think she and I could have a good time arguing philosophy, or that we'd agree too much and have to go pick on someone else's ideas. Either way we won't have to look hard for those others with heads full of foolishness because her channel, blog and the video I've replied to are filled to bursting with them.

After engaging with some of them in chat it became clear to me that this deserved a video. So here is my response to all of you who wonder what happened to me in the last three days or so.

If you are still reading and want to know more here are some links you ought to follow.

Statistics from the Dublin Rape Crisis Center
http://www.drcc.ie/stats/index.htm

Rebecca's page
http://www.youtube.com/user/rkwatson

Rebecca's vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKHwduG1Frk&feature=channel_video_title

Skepchick -- on topic
http://skepchick.org/2011/07/the-privilege-delusion/

The conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W014KhaRtik&feature=related

Supporting blogs and the damning evidence against Dick.
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/07/oh_no_not_againonce_more_unto.php
http://www.blaghag.com/2011/07/richard-dawkins-your-privilege-is.html
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/07/05/richard-dawkins-and...
http://pandagon.net/index.php/site/comments/because_of_the_implication

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Rebecca Watson
• Richard Dawkins
• elevator
• misogyny
• idiots
• logic
• only coffee
• elevatorgate
• Rebeccapocolypse
• Dawkinsgate
• ApostateltsopA
• faithaholic
• reason
• philosophy

[swilson3d]

You know what's a better and more obvious scenario than your jail scene? A larger man saying he found my speech interesting and asking me if I want to have coffee with him in his room.

Yes, I would probably think there was a strong possibility that he was gay and wanted more than conversation. However, I would not be indignant and act like he was a half-step apart from some rapist pervert.

[ApostateltsopA]

@swilson3d Ah but to truly get the analogy you'd have to be flamed on a public forum by a well known and respected member of your community after you suggest to other large men, "don't do that."

I chose the shower scene because it would be easy for the "it was just coffee" parrots to see the implied meaning of soap so they could understand the implications of coffee.

[godofthisshit]

@ApostateltsopA

Exclude the shops because I'm asking the question to you that the guy wanted to do more than drink coffee.

Did the original Watson video say that the guy followed her into the elevator, because I thought they both happen to get into the elevator at the same time. It makes a difference.

[ApostateltsopA]

@godofthisshit Why would we exclude them? You seem to be asking what's the best way to blind proposition a woman for sex. The answer is don't. Even a one night stand requires a little getting to know you time, unless you are paying for the experience.

But no, following a stranger from a bar, into an elevator at 4am, that's creepy every time.

[godofthisshit]

@ApostateltsopA

this is the only way that the guy actions could be taken as creepy. ApostateItsopA, how do you think he should have asked her out for "coffee", asked to go to her room, a motel, his or her parents home, etc?

Lets exclude coffee shops or restaurants.

[ApostateltsopA]

@marshmello3455 You're welcome. And it's understandable that you missed it. Her video was about the trip in general, elevator guy was a small aside, until others went nuts. If you want the whole story from her part, check out the skepchick website, she has a FAQ for it.

[marshmello3455]

@ApostateltsopA I wasn't aware that he'd heard her say she was going to bed nor that he had followed her. I don't recall her making that clear in her video wherein she first mentioned the insident. That certainly makes a difference in regards to her reactions. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[ApostateltsopA]

@marshmello3455 Thank you for your compliments. The term I heard Rebecca use was sexualize. Specifically, "don't sexualize me" To understand this you'd need to know that EG was in the bar and overheard her say she was leaving to go to bed. He tried to intervene, with his desires, and she called that sexualizing. I can see her point, personally I think it is easier labeled, extremely tactless.

[marshmello3455]

I think that you make a good point about asking someone to become more vunerable. I don't think the elevator guy was behaving appropriately (perhaps due to alcohol reducing his situational awareness). It was definately in poor taste. I think that some of the reactions to this insident are deffinately over the top though. Dawkins was deffinately off the mark! But so is the lable of sexism on this story. Is it sexist to show interest in another person? I really hope not.

[ApostateltsopA]

@I3uzzKillinton One final thing, when you say, "Im shy i cant talk to her in the presence of all her friends and other guys competing for her attention." That limit is self imposed. Nothing but you prevents you from doing exactly that. Self imposed limits are some of the hardest to beat, that's why you have to be fair, not brutal, when you judge you. If you won't give you a fair shake, absolutely no one else will either. Love yourself. You are worth it.