Well - I've not completely got to grips with Steemit. The thread doesn't seem to give me the option to reply to @lethn s last comment on my #thefutureisfemale piece for some reason - so I thought I'd carry on here.. apologies to other readers - it's exploring misogyny / feminism - and is a lively discussion - so why not highlight it here I thought! lol - join in if you fancy!
The thread does reference the preceding discussion quite heavily - so if you're interested it's here: It's not going to be too difficult to catch up I reckon - and we're all here to evolve and learn - aren't we? I'm hoping it will move on from the more name-calling to something of substance..
So my reply was to this - from @lethn
"Bringing me to Hysterical. So - you respect and value women as equals yes? Hmm. Just using that word - especially as you know what it means (an etymological dictionary I presume) - is sexism personified. Shame on you."
You are completely delusional, really, you think using the word 'hysterical' is sexism? I'm going to enjoy seeing how long you last in an uncensored environment. Your usual slander tactics won't work here because I can freely defend myself without getting banned or censored.
My guess is, like all the other feminists, you come out swinging and acting tough then the moment you get any push back from anybody else you'll immediately run crying to your safe spaces.
I always find it funny as well how it's people like you that call for civility when anybody ever calls you out on your bullshit but you're the ones that immediately resort to slander when people don't agree with everything you say.
I always end up being disappointed by man-hating feminists, always, you have nothing but stupid talking points that have been debunked consistently.
How long it will be before you claim Steemit is filled with right wing neo-nazi's and misogynists?
"Were you to be a woman making valid points I'd listen. "
Holy shit, you really can't even see your own sexism can you? I really want to know how you can have such little self-awareness to go after me like you have and then say something like that.
My response:
1 I don't believe calling out a misogynist is slander. As you mentioned this twice, I think you may be a little oversensitive - sorry about that. We're all sexist - like we're all racist / homophobic / speciesist - it's what we're choosing to do about it and our intent that actually matters IMHO.
2 I consciously chose to enter an uncensored environment to help build a real alternative to the censorable / ignorant / hating / bubble paradigms that prevail elsewhere (duh). Being true to oneself requires having a position that is morally and factually defensible and an open attitude to learning.
3 Ascribing values and intents on me doesn't work because you haven't worked out my position yet, you've made several lamentable assumptions that infer more about your position than in any way encompass mine..
4 Threats won't work - well they cause a good giggle - so OK. I've too many years under my belt to be swayed by immature trolling. Disappointed maybe but not swayed or dissuaded. Name calling the same. I grew out of that when I had kids - and now that they're having kids - well it just stirs pity in me.
5 'People like me' lol. Civility is a mark of civilisation; you know - evolution rather than maintaining the 'them and us' that elites play to stop us identifying the real enemies of the people. (PS it's not feminists - that's just your issue)
6 'Stupid talking points' - 'debunked consistently'? lol maybe in your bubble. Provide some proof. I already gave you solid examples from personal experience - I have a feeling you haven't really talked this through very far with your women friends. Please identify my 'stupid talking points' more clearly and refer me some journals - so I can learn!
7 The world has very many neo nazis and misogynists - why should Steemit be any different from the normal demographic? It's the direction of change that I'm interested by, not the present dysfunctional state.
8 You placed the emphasis in the wrong place - it was valid I was stressing, my bad for not being clearer - it was past midnight and my workday was tricky, but I wished to answer in a timely fashion. A man making valid points would also qualify, were you to be a woman then I'd be even more attentive - as it was gender politics I was exploring. (Men having opinions on women's issues is SO boring tbh - and I include myself in that) Trapped in my own consciousness - I have a perspective formed by nature, nurture, culture, information, experience and introspection. However - I fully recognise it as a male experience - so, as informed as I strive to be, it's still limited to a male perspective. As I'm sure you are aware, trying to engage - in a stereotypically aggressive / arrogant / forceful manner (as, sadly you seem to typify - see the previous exchange) will simply not get very far - especially if you're trying to engage the typical female. From my understanding - most will approach these matters from a whole different direction - as will the more enlightened men. We have commonalities, yet often think within a completely different framework. As you know, we all begin a mixture of man and woman, within the womb - we are sexually undifferentiated until at least 6 weeks. We carry a spectrum of hormones through our entire lives. So in some ways your 'equality' argument has partial validity. But in not recognising (nee arguing against) that the existent patriarchal system that shapes (men &) women after they are born is biased, completely invalidates any such reasoning. 'Belittling the argument' - as I think you ascribed to me and then proceeded to do yourself, is the final resort of a person unwilling to be open to learn and hiding in their own bubble IMHO.
So - like any of the 2nd rate politicians that seem to predominate these days, rather than discussing the substantive points, using didactic argument or positing meaningful fact based ideas, you simply construct straw men, forgo rhetoric and reduce the situation to black and white slapstick. This is entirely depressing and at the heart of what is wrong with the world IMHO - I hope at least we might agree on that.
You have created much of this antagonism - yet I am of the opinion that you probably didn't even watch the 'Naomi Klein' video yet. (Her books are way better) What do you want out of Steemit - a no-holds-barred trolling space - or an incubator for the next global revolution? It's up to you..
So - do you have anything meaningful to say? From your perspective how do you think the Trump decision on abortion was helpful? What did your female friends have to say about the pronouncement?
Or
Do you dispute that Matriarchy ruled the planet until afeared religions like Christianity, (Salem, Loudon et al) tried to destroy that lineage? How do you think human development managed to evolve from the grasslands of Africa without co-operation? These are not fixed ideas that I have all the questions for by the way - but I have read many educational treatises that make a great deal of sense to me and explain very clearly the precepts of the discussion we're having.
Or
Defend your contention that the power of words does not have any implied power / effect human behaviour. What taboos do you observe, if any - and what reaction does this (your applied behaviour) elicit within your relationships irl? This is such a basic idea that is incredibly well understood and has scientific consensus - well and many thousands of years of Biblical / Philosophical consensus too if that has meaning to you.
Or
As this thread was celebrating the Women's march as a reaction to Trumps attacks on women - do you dispute that there is anything for females in the US to worry about? Are you still complacent in light of the last few days' developments with Trump in power? (Well OK, Bannon in power)
Well - there it is - I tried to be concise - yet you have provoked a good many discussion points. I don't expect you to answer them all, but continuance of simplistic name calling would be churlish.