Will Misogyny Bring Down The Atheist Movement?

[Act_of_Reparation]

27. That doesn't make sense.

Do Log Cabin Republicans have a legitimate gripe if Dan Savage slams the Republican Party for its systemic homophobia? Frankly, I don't think they do, because the homophobia of conservative politicians exists, regardless of whether or not they perceive it.

Richard Dawkins seems to think we have no right to call taking sexual advantage of an inebriated woman "rape". Sam Harris seems to think the utter dearth of women in the upper echelons of the "movement" is due to men being "confrontational" and women being "nurturing", and Shermer has said, essentially, the same stupid thing. Never mind the over-the-top horseshit we hear from Penn Jillette, Emery Emery and their cadre of socially astute libertarian comedians who, for some reason, haven't learned that punching down the social ladder isn't really that funny.

In light of all this, I really don't care whether or not Madison thinks sexist attitudes exist within the A/S movement, because it is pretty goddamned clear that they do.

"Statistically improbable that the victim is lying?" I'll get even snarkier - we better let Jodi Arias out of prison. She claimed to be abused and the only other witness is a dead misogynist, so we should just take her word for it. Or "Always Believe The Victim," as some people would say.

Yes, statistically improbable. What studies have been conducted on the issue place the prevalence of false rape accusations somewhere in the neighborhood of 8%, at the most.

And this isn't a very good point for comparison.

First, it is worth mentioning Jodi Arias almost certainly killed someone. That is not a matter of debate. Whether or not her husband was a misogynist wouldn't change the fact she broke the law; it would merely spare her the possibility of the death penalty.

But let's assume she made the whole thing up. So what? What does one high-profile example prove? Using the same logic, one could just as easily say there is no racism inherent to the American justice system because OJ Simpson was found innocent.

I'd certainly agree on the "cautious reservation" part. I'm seeing many people use the word "evidence" when they have no such thing - just the usual Internet Telephone Game.

Speaking of that game, one of the accusations against Shermer turned out to be untrue and pretty funny. A woman claimed "he kept filling my wine glass, obviously trying to get me drunk and Have His Way With Me."

Unfortunately for the accuser, that one took place in public with several male and female witnesses. All agree that Shermer wasn't pouring anybody's wine - a server was pouring, and Shermer just told the server to make sure everyone's wine glass stayed full. So he was obviously guilty of being a good host. That heartless bastard!

I have to wonder how many more of the allegations against him started out that way.

You're citing one story that may not be accurate as an excuse to disregard a multitude of stories that aren't as easily dismissed. This isn't particularly cautious or reserved, if I may be honest.