Comments on Atrios Discovers Abortion Politics
Go get him, Erica.
you didn't even link to his post, so we can't tell that he thinks it's novel--it certainly isn't evident from the quoted excerpt. and don't you have anything better to do than pick on him for this shit? jesus. i'm usually on board with your shit, but occasionally you gotta tone down the bile a little bit. even if he thinks he's making a novel insight, why be such a dick to him and come down on him so hard for it? ultimately, it's good to have more people advocating. this sort of pettiness has just the opposite effect.
It's IS bad form not to link to the post you're slamming. That said...
He's a guy. Cut him some slack, as we fellas are biologically a little slow on the uptake on this stuff...
My mistake. Posting now.
Kinda links back to the "women bloggers overwhelmingly harassed" story. Pro-abortion women bloggers seem to often get the craziest, sickest death threats. No surprise, therefore, if there are fewer stories out there today.
Erica, have you checked out this blog yet?
http://bloggingfeminism.blogspot.com/
The first entry is particularly apt in light of comment #2.
I agree with Black (Atrios) on the issues at least 95%. But he's always calling people assholes and wankers and fantasizing about raping them with spoons and whatnot. And the folks on the receiving end of his abuse are often liberals themselves! Nobody's good enough for that guy. I don't mind a little well-earned self-righteousness, but Black is just a bully. Fuck him.
@6
If #2 is a troll, then we are all trolls, Erica and you included.
exelizabeth--how is it anti-feminist trolling when 1) i told erica i usually agree with her, and 2) i simply suggested that it's not productive to come down on those who are trying to help, even if they're a little clueless sometimes?
the more people who are spreading a good idea the better. i didn't read atrios' post as suggesting that he's the only person who's ever thought of the storytelling angle, but even if it did read a little bit that way, who really cares? i mean, isn't the fact that everyone's writing the same shit one of the reasons it's so difficult for political blogs to distinguish themselves? perhaps i'm missing some additional context, but i thought erica's post was childish and counterproductive. i pointed this out not to be a "troll" and/or attempt to quiet her--i like what she writes and am genuinely grateful she has a platform--but because i thought this sort of sniping will ultimately hurt her/our cause.
I find the subject of "Borderline Trolling" interesting, when feminist writers are often told the subject "isn't important" and the like. Read the link. You'll start noticing it more on blogs, and that you yourself do it (I do it to. Questioning the validity of someone even talking about a certain issue is a great way to undermine them if you disagree with them, even on just one subject).
Also, Atrios shouldn't have made that post without doing some research first. Instead of saying "Oh, women need to be talking about this," he could have fucking used google and said, "In light of the attacks on womens rights, it's important to highlight these projects."
It's valid to criticize people even if they agree with you most of the time.
exelizabeth--after reading your comments and re-reading erica's post and the links, i think you make some good points and are right (as is erica) that he should have done some research. and the numerous recent studies on unconscious biases, "blink"-style discrimination, etc. certainly provide support for your "borderline trolling" argument. i also think erica gets a lot of reactionary, anti-feminist blowback.
however, i think she got the reaction she got from me for the same reason dan savage and other stranger writers of similar style also get those reactions--they write in an angry, dismissive style. it can be very satisfying to read when the reader feels the target deserves the take-down, but can seem petty when the reader feels target does not. at the risk of sounding like some people i abhor--like david brooks or joe lieberman--i think the angry tone here is unnecessary and counterproductive. i think she could have conveyed the same information in a less mean-spirited way and it would've been more appropriate to the subject matter, stirred up more interest in the types of projects atrios didn't know about, etc.
i know we're all big kids, and people don't read slog for a make-nice love-fest. but i don't think my arguing against her tone is an attempt to quiet or marginalize erica.
That blog post from Disgusted Beyond Belief about his experience left me in tears. What a powerful story that is, Erica, thanks for posting the link to it.
Hello everyone, wanna be part of some kind of community, possible here? anyone here?
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