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Bonobo

(29,257 posts)
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 02:24 AM Apr 2013

Not ALL things are equal

MEN'S GROUP:
Number of subscribers: 127
Number of people trashing: 24
Blocked members : 4

------------------------------------------
HISTORY OF FEMINISM GROUP:
Number of subscribers: 126
Number of people trashing: 114
Blocked members: 26

25 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Not ALL things are equal (Original Post) Bonobo Apr 2013 OP
Half of those subscribers are probably just seeing what teh mens are up to Major Nikon Apr 2013 #1
I don't understand why there is conflict between the Men's Group and HOF. nt ZombieHorde Apr 2013 #2
Substitute DU for "Men's Group" and it might make more sense Major Nikon Apr 2013 #3
Exactly. Bonobo Apr 2013 #4
Actually, I think we do them a favor by letting them pretend it's just animus with The Mens Group. Warren DeMontague Apr 2013 #5
I was going to cut and paste some of the most brilliant parts of the post you just made... Bonobo Apr 2013 #6
Once again.... opiate69 Apr 2013 #7
TMG is just a convenient target for the frustrations of some Major Nikon Apr 2013 #8
Yup.. and I essentially said as much a couple weeks ago. Only got one response though. opiate69 Apr 2013 #9
Damn, spot on.... ProudToBeBlueInRhody Apr 2013 #10
Don't you? Maybe this will elucidate. opiate69 Apr 2013 #15
I don't get it. I posted in that thread, but I don't think it was anti-man in anyway. ZombieHorde Apr 2013 #16
Um... considering it is a juvenile poke at the group which you are currently reading.... opiate69 Apr 2013 #17
How was it a swipe at this group? ZombieHorde Apr 2013 #18
Here's how.. opiate69 Apr 2013 #19
Ah, I missed that one. nt ZombieHorde Apr 2013 #20
Now, I'm not accusing you as such, but hopefully people can start to see how they're not always the opiate69 Apr 2013 #21
There is a lot of back and forth between these two groups. ZombieHorde Apr 2013 #22
Yeah.. that is a good outline. I might actually try to mess around in religion again. opiate69 Apr 2013 #23
We tried. Warren DeMontague Apr 2013 #25
It's now 29. lumberjack_jeff Apr 2013 #11
They need a "Block DU" tool for their group. Bonobo Apr 2013 #12
lol! HappyMe Apr 2013 #13
Go to a bookstore, check the shelves....its the same here... HuskiesHowls Apr 2013 #14
blocked from HOF... Buffalo Bull Apr 2013 #24

Bonobo

(29,257 posts)
4. Exactly.
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 02:48 AM
Apr 2013

When HOF stops trying to paint DU and DU'ers as "the enemy", I think we will see the "conflict" lessen.

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)
5. Actually, I think we do them a favor by letting them pretend it's just animus with The Mens Group.
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 06:47 AM
Apr 2013

Which is ridiculous; I mean, look, this isn't the most well-traveled corner of DU. I know that, we all know that. There are a few people who post here, but not a ton.

Always more are welcome, of course. But it's not a giant draw. Which is fine.

But it's ridiculous to imagine that ALL the PR problems some people seem to be experiencing, for instance, in GD, somehow have something to do with the mens group. Many of the principals in most of those battles don't post here, at all.

And some people were having problems; the same problems- with DU-in-general long before TMG even existed. There were issues between some people and the LGBT group. There were issues; big ol' fights- around the old Feminists group which led to the creation of separate groups in the first place.

So it's ludicrous to imagine that, oh, this is just some specific thing between our group and them. Our group is pretty friggin' small, at least in terms of regulars- to imagine that we wield such great influence on DU that we can cause a large chunk of GD to respond negatively to whatever piece of "education" the crowd over there is dishing out this week...

sure I'd like to believe that ... but it's absurd.

The truth of the matter is, people don't respond well to being lectured, and they're also smarter than I think some of the main players give them credit for. They remember things from month to month, and they're generally sharp enough to laugh at someone who's saying "don't you dare deny agency and choice to middle eastern women by claiming they're too brainwashed to make their own decisions" one week when the same person two weeks ago was arguing that "porn stars are totally incapable of giving consent to taking their clothes off because they're too brainwashed to make their own decisions".

What happens with clock-like regularity; and it's been happening since DU2, at least- a few of the same people trundle out into the DU crowd, stand on a soapbox, pull out a megaphone, and start lecturing the rest of the place on these matters that maybe 90% of the larger DU populace really doesn't agree with. And as Skinner put it, these are not issues of equality, reproductive freedom, or what most Feminists consider the front-burners... these are, almost invariably, some iteration of the argument that some word, some mild innuendo, or something like consenting adult nudity is inherently and profoundly oppressive to women.

And DU doesn't agree. Most of DU doesn't, at least, and I suspect no amount of hectoring is going to change that. Which is the other thing; people don't like being talked down to, being lectured like errant schoolchildren, being presumed upon that they have come to this discussion website freely of their own accord because they believe their fundamental worldview is deficient and needs "educating", "correction", semantics-scolding and privilege-checking. They might tolerate it for a little while, but eventually it's going to piss them off.

The same folks do it for 5, or 7, or 10 years or so, continuously ....and people are going to be quite tired of it, indeed.

Bainsbane talks about a "ceasefire", in the other thread. Shit, man, I *tried*. I actually thought it would be good for DU, good for what was meta, and good for TMG. And it was, it worked, for a little while. But I will confess I had an ulterior, or side motive- I knew that in the court of DU public opinion, the constant fighting with TMG was actually making it easier for certain people to stir the pot without being noticed, because -again- it was all too easy for people on DU to say "ah, it's these particular groups, both sides are doing it" and some people could always portray the situation as, if The Bad Men would just go away, they wouldn't be forced to start endless meta threads on DU's latest outrage or DU's lack of caring about DU's latest outrage or the outrage of DU not caring enough about DU not caring about the outrage, etc.


My prediction was that lacking a convenient foil in the mens group, certain members of the site would head off into GD and start picking fights there.

Which was exactly what happened. Then, when meta imploded, (despite the initial happy dancing) I suspect the same folks quickly figured out that the oxygen had been sucked out of some of their favorite drama conflagrations. So the action moved into GD, even more.

And the reaction of DU has been pretty predictable, as a whole. Of course, when public opinion starts seriously not going their way, the initial reflexive tactic is to do stuff like start threads talking about how "MRAs attack Feminists", and I've already explained how this is a transparent attempt to paint every position advanced by certain regulars as unimpeachable, universal "Feminism" (it's not) and then to paint everyone who disagrees with those people as "MRAs" (when we're not).

It's desperation, but again it's an attempt to blame all their troubles on the mens group. Which is not even close to the case.


Bonobo

(29,257 posts)
6. I was going to cut and paste some of the most brilliant parts of the post you just made...
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 06:54 AM
Apr 2013

And then I gave up because the WHOLE THING was such a dead-on analysis complete with examples illustrating perfectly their ludicrous hypocrisy, their insatiable need to whip up shit so that they can have a foil and there misplaced contempt for the intelligence of the average person.

I am so thankful that I am married to a strong woman that has not been poisoned with bitterness.

Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)
8. TMG is just a convenient target for the frustrations of some
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 01:45 PM
Apr 2013

Let's face it, when some people talk about "teh patriarchy" they really mean scapegoating men and they don't have to look hard for a target. As far as conflicts with the usual suspects go, I see as many if not more with other women. As you say, nobody likes to be lectured by someone who assumes they are always right.

ZombieHorde

(29,047 posts)
16. I don't get it. I posted in that thread, but I don't think it was anti-man in anyway.
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 10:12 PM
Apr 2013

Anti-spider perhaps, but definitely not anti-man.

 

opiate69

(10,129 posts)
17. Um... considering it is a juvenile poke at the group which you are currently reading....
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 10:14 PM
Apr 2013

But, oh my word, if any of us take a swipe at their little den of idiocy,

 

opiate69

(10,129 posts)
19. Here's how..
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 10:17 PM
Apr 2013
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1255&pid=19966
For those wanting context, the ridiculous assertion was made towards this group

from a regular participant of a more male-focused group on DU.

Next step a big GD thread asserting this is the reigning philosophy of this group. As Mark Twain so adeptly stated, "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes".


and the thread to which it refers:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11147739
 

opiate69

(10,129 posts)
21. Now, I'm not accusing you as such, but hopefully people can start to see how they're not always the
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 10:41 PM
Apr 2013

coquette-ish little victims they continually try to portray themselves as.

ZombieHorde

(29,047 posts)
22. There is a lot of back and forth between these two groups.
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 10:47 PM
Apr 2013

I really like the new rules in the A&A group:

(first part sniped)

But with the creation of the Interfaith group, a safe-haven for liberal and progressive believers of all stripes, the hosts find it is time to clarify the rules surrounding meta-discussion. With these new rules, we're not saying that the prohibited discussion topics are wrong, just that we want to respect the safe-haven nature of the Interfaith group, and we would like to prevent the creation of a "war" between the Interfaith and A&A groups

1. Any and all discussion of the Interfaith group is prohibited in original posts and replies to original posts. Threads with those discussions will be locked. This rule does NOT apply to discussion of the Religion group. Please respect the safe-haven nature of the Interfaith group, even if you don't agree at all with what they're discussing. Our advice is to stay completely out of the Interfaith group. It's not our place to go there.

2. Callouts of specific DUers by name is prohibited. This includes implying the name by linking to a post or using a coded word to refer to them. The exception to this rule is if that DUer is specifically talking about atheists or agnostics, atheism, or agnosticism, especially if that talk is bigoted to or promotes hatred of A&Aers.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/123013986
 

opiate69

(10,129 posts)
23. Yeah.. that is a good outline. I might actually try to mess around in religion again.
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 10:54 PM
Apr 2013

I kind of gave up on that a few years ago. We kind of had a truce like that between the two groups here, but the demise of Meta kind of ushered in it's fall. Of course, I'll never try to imply we're completely innocent, but I think for the most part, we do try to show some degree of constraint.

Bonobo

(29,257 posts)
12. They need a "Block DU" tool for their group.
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 11:45 AM
Apr 2013

It's where they're going anyway and it would save them time.

HuskiesHowls

(711 posts)
14. Go to a bookstore, check the shelves....its the same here...
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 09:53 PM
Apr 2013

Groups (shelves) for Men and Men's issues: 1

Groups (bookcases) for Women and Women's issues: 5

Buffalo Bull

(138 posts)
24. blocked from HOF...
Wed Apr 10, 2013, 01:16 PM
Apr 2013


I don't generally join anything.
In my day I have been called every slur right-wingers have to offer, i wear those insults as if they are badges. I have a great big family with southerners who have very interesting views. Being left around these people in the '60's and '70's, working for sub minimum for Nader (nypirg), qualified me as solid left.
I had also take free speech As our greatest weapon.
For a defense of Free speech in a thread posted here by HOF i was called racist , misogynist homophobic , a bully....
I also participate in Conservative Topix where I am a target of every imaginable tea party attack, and find it a superior status quo. There free speech is honored even if it is crass.
I have subscribed out of a desire to continue participating and recognizing and hoping to undermine the factious nature of DU.

The bad guys control about 48% of the vote
The leftist men maybe 23%
Leftist women perhaps 25%
Together we can win. Separated we are screwed.
The surest way to destroy a team is internally.
Censorship indicates were doing a good job of that
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