The "What About the Mens?" Fallacy

[boston bean]

The "What About the Mens?" Fallacy
Forgive me if there is already a law like this in place. I searched and could not find.

In any case, this "phallusy"1 fallacy4 is as follows:

In any discussion focusing on women's2 issues, the probability that someone will come around and say "men are [fill the blank], too!"3 approaches 1 the longer the discussion gets.


Can be used with marlo's corollary:

If someone posts something containing or alluding to the word "rape" somewhere on the internet, THERE WILL BE WANK.



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1 Credit goes to donnaidh_sidhe for the word. I'd also like to thank her for the help on the definition.

2 May be applied to any disadvantaged group, simply replace "women" with said group and "men" with the applicable privileged group.

3 Bonus points for discussion on rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, and abuse.

4 ETA 10.28.2011: At the request of donnaidh_sidhe I have changed "phallusy" to "fallacy". She pointed out, and I agree with her, that people were focusing too much on the snarky pun and not enough on the actual content of the message. ETA 12.02.2011: donnaidh_sidhe asked me to post the following clarifying statement: "Derailing is a constant irritant when it comes to online discussions centring on social justice issues, and I have no patience for those who have such arrogance and such disrespect that they would hijack a discussion to centre the attention it gathers on their own, different cause. This said, it is not appropriate or constructive for me to make a snide swipe at the people who do it. It is better to call someone out on disrespectful and disingenuous rhetorical tactics than to make a gratuitous penis joke at their expense."

http://www.journalfen.net/community/jurisimprudence/77740.html

[LiberalLoner]

1. It's reflexive and very predictable, isn't it?

Women aren't allowed to have any concerns or be angry, without being slapped verbally (or physically sometimes.)

[boston bean]

2. It seems as though you are not allowed to discuss issues pertinent to women

without having to take into consideration the feelings of men.

It's a tactic to derail conversation. That is what it is plain and simple.

[seabeyond]

3. sigh... but really, didnt the "what about men" when in some corners of feminism

and interestingly, isnt that the issue. that all must be consider. and to me, that is not the definition of feminist. humanist, ok.

The advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.

i am really not hearing "What About the Mens?"