In case you haven't heard...Ed Brayton is all weepy and sad cause I used the word "bitch" when describing that dick Stephanie Zvan. After catching hell from Adam Lee who believes he is entitled to dictate who says what to whom and how atheists spend their time on what. Then hearing about Ed Brayton posting his problems with my choice of words. Ed was so worked up about this important issue he was writing about it instead of concentrating on his recovery from surgery. That's right, it is that important. Let's not forget PZ who took my opinion of Stephanie and turned it into me being a misogynist, sexist, ranting asshole with a shitty radio show who is banned forever from his awesome incredible blog where he launches personal attacks on a regular basis and allows commenters to make up whatever crazy shit they want to about people while he remains silent.( I post on PZ's blog anyways when I am in the mood...shhhh He will never figure it out) Anyhoways, after all that I was thinking maybe I was wrong. It seems like I see/hear lots of people use the word "bitch" in different forms all the time. Many times it isn't gender specific, just like when I used it to describe Stephanie Zvan, leader of the world and co-dictator of proper behavior (along with Adam Lee) I turned to the internet and searched for the answer to my question- Should I be allowing people like Adam Lee to advise me how to speak? I typed in Ed Brayton bitch thinking that the search phrase would possibly lead me to a website where Ed had videos posted of him instructing people how to speak without offending anyone as a large FTB sign flashed in the background...or something like that. I know you will be as shocked as I was to find these results instead-
http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2006/08/14/balko-finds-a-gem/
http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2007/10/17/gay-marriage-in-prison/#more
http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2007/03/27/another-miller-jenkins-case/
WHAT?! Ed Brayton using the SAME WORD he was so critical of me using and the word "shrew"? You would never catch me using that word. Imagine my surprise.The word hypocrite popped into my head...again. Not only that but the cheap shot at gays was...well a cheap shot. If you want to tell me Ed has changed his use of words since these examples then I would answer that by informing you that Ed referred to Renee Hendricks as a "git" just last week.
The guy who owns freethought blogs is just as full of shit as:
How about this blog from PZ Myers where you find the word 'bitch' used 21 times in the comment section. No where do you see PZ telling anyone that they are misogynists. In fact PZ NEVER says ANYTHING about the use of the word at all.
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/03/25/a-heartless-faith/
Or if that isn't enough to show PZ is a little selective about who he casts judgement on then watch the last 2+ min of this video
http://youtu.be/a2WamHXAZcA?t=1h12m42s
I wonder if a man would have been saying the same sort of thing would it have been considered funny? Ever?
Just to make sure you all understand me I am not saying PZ is a bad person for allowing the use of the word bitch, ( I am a little worried about how readily PZ and company hand over their testicles) that Ed Brayton should be censored, or that anyone should stop using any specific words. I am making the same argument about what has been the biggest barrier between FTB, A+, the Skepchicks, and the rest of the world. Hypocrisy. Hold yourself to the same standards as you would others in similar circumstances.
If you search 'freethought blogs bitch' you come up with-About 94,500 results (0.19 seconds)
I don't know about you but 94,000 seem like a lot. It seems people like Ed Brayton, Adam Lee, Stephanie Zvan, and PZ Myers would do well to clean up their own house before complaining about anyone else. From the search I can see there is a show called "Godless Bitches" (free plug -you're welcome) maybe Ed should tell them how he feels about their use of the word "bitch". Maybe PZ should tell them not to bother trying to comment on his blog because they are sexist. Somehow I doubt that will happen.
There are a few problems that need to be solved before any of this crap can end. One is the hypocrisy. It's not that hard to apply the rules for behavior evenly. It doesn't matter if you are a 'scientist' who writes what was at one time a respected blog, if you are Joe Common who is commenting on that blog, or Mary Attendee going to a conference the rules need to be applied equally. At least be consistent in your criticism if you must be critical of others. Second is learn how the internet works and accept the fact. This should be followed by acting accordingly. The internet is like a big machine, say a washing machine for example. If you go to the washing machine and you tell it "I cut my hand on a piece of glass and it hurts" How will the washing machine reply to that? It will slosh around make a bunch of bubbles spin in circles splash some more, spin some more and then just sit there. It will sit there, cold, uncaring, and quiet. It won't give you a hug, in fact sometimes it will start rocking as it spins and tip over landing on top of you. Do this- When your washing machine is spinning grab an article of clothing and toss it in. Don't try to hold on to it or you will get hurt. Just toss it in and observe what happens? That is how the internet works. Whatever you throw in it gets caught up with the spinning and turns into a blur. It doesn't care how much you cry or complain. It doesn't care about anyone or anything, it just sloshes and spins and goes quiet. It doesn't give a shit. Accept it.
Third. You are not psychic. No one can know who or what another person is thinking or believes if they have never met and even then you can't be sure cause you aren't in their head. I'm not saying you can never know another persons motives for sure but...yes I am saying that. I love it when someone who is a couple thousand miles away and has never had any exchange with me whatsoever can make claims as to what kind of person I am or what my motives are. I can assure you that is impossible because even I am not 100% sure at times. Everyone should be able to relate to that sentiment IMO otherwise you are too conceited for your own good.
As long as we have popular people who are calling themselves skeptics/atheists while behaving like con-men and frauds there will be a problem. PZ Myers doesn't get it and Ed Brayton doesn't either. Many people think this is a conflict where both sides are at fault. Those people say "I just wish both sides would grow up" It isn't that easy. The entire reason the slymepit exists is because of the bullshit, lies, and hypocrisy from certain people. There is no one who is telling lies about PZ, Ed, Ophelia, Stephanie, Jason, Adam, Melody or any of the other people mentioned in the slymepit. There is a difference of opinion with those people and it is because they are not being skeptical. If anyone starts telling outright lies about another person you can be sure I will not be a part of it and I will speak out against it if it is brought to my attention. There is no reason to lie or cover for your buddies. Doing so only makes you look foolish and damages your credibility.
No one wants to deal with a load of bullshit and hypocrisy especially in the skeptical/atheist circles, there is plenty of that in politics/religion for us to deal with as it is.
The best thing people can do now is try to step back and take a look at the behavior of people trying to condemn others for being misogynist, sexist, evil, MRAs. Take a look at their behavior. Don't use the word "context" to excuse it, don't apply anything to it, just take it as it is. Isn't "context" a term we often hear used by religious people to excuse the way biblical verses are applied?
I'm getting kinda tired of people who don't know me explaining to other people who don't know me what it is I am all about. Very few people are educated enough to explain to others what I think and/or believe and that number is one, me.
