The Student Room Group

Bullying Feminists Is Not The Answer

Following Emma Watson's recent UN speech there has been a tirade of abuse hurled her way, notably a threat to leak nude pictures of her (this made CNN:http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/23/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/emma-watson-speech-nude-photos-threat/index.html?hpt=en_c1)

To anyone who may be partaking in this sort of behaviour: please, stop. Not only are you making Emma Watson and other feminists feel threatened and victimised, you are also giving them more ammunition for their cause as well as making it harder for others to give honest criticism. The trolling and abusive comments are all that will be publicized - this makes it very hard for any dissenting comments thereafter to gain credibility in the eyes of feminists and the wider media.

Another example is Anita Sarkesian (a.k.a. Feminist Frequency). There were a lot of very legitimate points made against her, often exposing her for being dishonest and misleading, but this was simply swept under the rug by the gaming media and the death threats and bullying was all they focused on, making her look like the good guy.

If you have a problem with feminists or feminism, make a civil, respectful point and stop validating the notion that feminists are the angelic victims and that the critics are mean, women-hating bullies.

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You tried Dan.
Sometimes on here guys are being such *******s that I am tempted to think they are feminists pretending to be men to give people who challenge feminist dogma a bad name.
Sadly I think too many are doing such a good enough job of it themselves that feminists dont need to do it.
(edited 9 years ago)
You lost me at "bullying."
I wouldnt go thar far.
Men need feminism like a fish needs a bicycle.
Original post by Dandaman1
Following Emma Watson's recent UN speech there has been a tirade of abuse hurled her way, notably a threat to leak nude pictures of her (this made CNN:http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/23/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/emma-watson-speech-nude-photos-threat/index.html?hpt=en_c1)

To anyone who may be partaking in this sort of behaviour: please, stop. Not only are you making Emma Watson and other feminists feel threatened and victimised, you are also giving them more ammunition for their cause as well as making it harder for others to give honest criticism. The trolling and abusive comments are all that will be publicized - this makes it very hard for any dissenting comments thereafter to gain credibility in the eyes of feminists and the wider media.

Another example is Anita Sarkesian (a.k.a. Feminist Frequency). There were a lot of very legitimate points made against her, often exposing her for being dishonest and misleading, but this was simply swept under the rug by the gaming media and the death threats and bullying was all they focused on, making her look like the good guy.

If you have a problem with feminists or feminism, make a civil, respectful point and stop validating the notion that feminists are the angelic victims and that the critics are mean, women-hating bullies.


What's new?

If you allow feminists (and their fellow travellers in the communist / hard-left movements) to frame the terms on which "acceptable" debate can take place, then your arguments will never be permitted.

The fact an anonymous post on the internet's largest troll site has received worldwide media attention says it all.
(edited 9 years ago)
This is really the same rubbish we heard for 40 years after Enoch Powell's infamous 1968 speech on mass third world immigration into the UK. He was accused of making it impossible to talk about immigration as even to touch on the subject became "racist".

But what was really happening was the hard left / cultural Marxist movement had taken over the territory of language and controlled the lines on which battle (debate) were drawn. This allowed them to say to their opponents, no matter how respectfully the subject was broached: "you are morally equivalent to Enoch Powell who we have already subjected to a chorus of execration. So shut up."

In 2014 a single internet troll responding to a co-ordinated worldwide media campaign is an ideal aunt sally to play old Enoch's role. If you disagree with the aims or the methods of feminism you have already been labelled a "misogynistic" "bully" and no reasoned argument will change that. They don't want a debate, they want you to shut up. These tactics are obviously no way to conduct an honest or reasoned campaign so stop worrying about it and let them scream themselves sick.
Feminists brought this abuse onto themselves by acting like a bunch of babies. You reap what you sow.
Reply 7
Original post by tanyapotter
comments like these are why men need feminism as much as women.


Posted from TSR Mobile


[video="youtube;AzEeyuAMguI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzEeyuAMguI[/video]
This is the usual story with men that can't handle feminism.

Emma Watson made an excellent speech, articulate and full of relevant points.

Her critics respond with threats to release nude pics - come on seriously.....

Usually if a woman puts her head above the parapet and speaks out on women's issues the response on social media is to give rape threats and other forms of personal and vulgar abuse.

Normal people watching the debate can see whats going on and what types of characters are involved on both sides....curiously some of the "anti-feminists" try to claim that they are the ones that are victims and living under oppression....
Feminists are the real bullies. If only THEY could be respectful and civil. hahaha..... Emma Watson doesn't represent feminists! XD
Bloody hell why does everyone on this forum hate feminists recently?

All we do is look for equality

Emma's soeech was amazing. Anyone who doesn't believe men need it too have clearly missed the point
why havent more people been supportive of this speech? it was great. i doubt it would get the same response if it was about equality between the races, but speaking out against gender inequality is taboo for some reason... i dont understand why people feel threatened :s
(edited 9 years ago)
good speech, aside from the wage gap stuff.
Original post by tillytots
Bloody hell why does everyone on this forum hate feminists recently?

All we do is look for equality

Emma's soeech was amazing. Anyone who doesn't believe men need it too have clearly missed the point


"All we do is look for equality" Sadly, the feminist movement has preoccupied itself with prioritising the rights, freedoms and interests of women (the more sacred sex, it seems) and frequently neglects to mention the fact males may also suffer similar issues (e.g. domestic violence). Not all issues are 'women's' issues and men deserve some support too. You can't call it a gender-equal movement if it only appears to concern itself with its favourite sex.

While miss Watson's speech was rousing and well-intentioned, she still quoted long-debunked ideas such as the wage gap and, ironically, decided to promote the new campaign "HeForShe". The name again implies women are the only sex to be served by the movement. "HeAnd She" would have been a much less biased and more gender-equal name, wouldn't it? Then everyone claps and cheers like she's some kind of revolutionary saint. Ugh...
Original post by Dandaman1
"All we do is look for equality" Sadly, the feminist movement has preoccupied itself with prioritising the rights, freedoms and interests of women (the more sacred sex, it seems) and frequently neglects to mention the fact males may also suffer similar issues (e.g. domestic violence). Not all issues are 'women's' issues and men deserve some support too. You can't call it a gender-equal movement if it only appears to concern itself with its favourite sex.

While miss Watson's speech was rousing and well-intentioned, she still quoted long-debunked ideas such as the wage gap and, ironically, decided to promote the new campaign "HeForShe". The name again implies women are the only sex to be served by the movement. "HeAnd She" would have been a much less biased and more gender-equal name, wouldn't it? Then everyone claps and cheers like she's some kind of revolutionary saint. Ugh...

But the whole point of emma's speech was that gender inequality concerns men too...or did you conveniently miss that?
yes the feminist movement has historically concerned itself more with women's rights...because traditionally women have had the disadvantage. these days the movements are being modified to include men's issues too.
it's like the campaigns against cancer. some will focus on breast cancer, others on pancreatic cancer, etc.
Original post by Dandaman1
"All we do is look for equality" Sadly, the feminist movement has preoccupied itself with prioritising the rights, freedoms and interests of women (the more sacred sex, it seems) and frequently neglects to mention the fact males may also suffer similar issues (e.g. domestic violence). Not all issues are 'women's' issues and men deserve some support too. You can't call it a gender-equal movement if it only appears to concern itself with its favourite sex.

While miss Watson's speech was rousing and well-intentioned, she still quoted long-debunked ideas such as the wage gap and, ironically, decided to promote the new campaign "HeForShe". The name again implies women are the only sex to be served by the movement. "HeAnd She" would have been a much less biased and more gender-equal name, wouldn't it? Then everyone claps and cheers like she's some kind of revolutionary saint. Ugh...


Man you've made some excellent points. So true.

Posted from TSR Mobile
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by sherlockfan
But the whole point of emma's speech was that gender inequality concerns men too...or did you conveniently miss that?
yes the feminist movement has historically concerned itself more with women's rights...because traditionally women have had the disadvantage. these days the movements are being modified to include men's issues too.
it's like the campaigns against cancer. some will focus on breast cancer, others on pancreatic cancer, etc.


I didn't miss it, which is why I said it was ironic that she was promoting the HeForShe campaign.

"these days the movements are being modified to include men's issues too" Really? In every gender issue website, poster or campaign I see, it's always women in the limelight, even though men may also be relevant to the respective issue (and in similar numbers). Women's safety is always the topic of priority, it seems, even though men are statistically at the most risk on the streets, as well as being almost at the same risk of being abused in a relationship. We get movements promoting healthy body image and calling for more realistic dolls for girls, but boys and their unnaturally muscular dolls and role models seem to be forgotten here. And it goes on and on. It's always so one-sided, regardless of the extent to which it may affect each gender.
Original post by Dandaman1
Following Emma Watson's recent UN speech there has been a tirade of abuse hurled her way, notably a threat to leak nude pictures of her (this made CNN:http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/23/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/emma-watson-speech-nude-photos-threat/index.html?hpt=en_c1)

To anyone who may be partaking in this sort of behaviour: please, stop. Not only are you making Emma Watson and other feminists feel threatened and victimised, you are also giving them more ammunition for their cause as well as making it harder for others to give honest criticism. The trolling and abusive comments are all that will be publicized - this makes it very hard for any dissenting comments thereafter to gain credibility in the eyes of feminists and the wider media.

Another example is Anita Sarkesian (a.k.a. Feminist Frequency). There were a lot of very legitimate points made against her, often exposing her for being dishonest and misleading, but this was simply swept under the rug by the gaming media and the death threats and bullying was all they focused on, making her look like the good guy.

If you have a problem with feminists or feminism, make a civil, respectful point and stop validating the notion that feminists are the angelic victims and that the critics are mean, women-hating bullies.


so pretty much what feminists do to anyone that disagrees with them then.

Original post by tillytots
Bloody hell why does everyone on this forum hate feminists recently?
Original post by tillytots


All we do is look for equality

Emma's soeech was amazing. Anyone who doesn't believe men need it too have clearly missed the point


That's a common misconception. We actually want equality and feminists don't.

Original post by sherlockfan
But the whole point of emma's speech was that gender inequality concerns men too...or did you conveniently miss that?
yes the feminist movement has historically concerned itself more with women's rights...because traditionally women have had the disadvantage. these days the movements are being modified to include men's issues too.
it's like the campaigns against cancer. some will focus on breast cancer, others on pancreatic cancer, etc.


The whole reason theres a massive backlash against Emma's speech and general hatred for feminism is because it does the opposite of what you say. It's become more and more one-sided and undermines anything relating to male issues.
Emma makes the point that women are not identifying as feminists. And that is because those women know feminism isn't about equality. They often take issues that happen to men and women and try to twist them with propaganda to make it seem like they don't happen to men.
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by Dandaman1
Following Emma Watson's recent UN speech there has been a tirade of abuse hurled her way, notably a threat to leak nude pictures of her (this made CNN:http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/23/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/emma-watson-speech-nude-photos-threat/index.html?hpt=en_c1)

To anyone who may be partaking in this sort of behaviour: please, stop. Not only are you making Emma Watson and other feminists feel threatened and victimised, you are also giving them more ammunition for their cause as well as making it harder for others to give honest criticism. The trolling and abusive comments are all that will be publicized - this makes it very hard for any dissenting comments thereafter to gain credibility in the eyes of feminists and the wider media.

Another example is Anita Sarkesian (a.k.a. Feminist Frequency). There were a lot of very legitimate points made against her, often exposing her for being dishonest and misleading, but this was simply swept under the rug by the gaming media and the death threats and bullying was all they focused on, making her look like the good guy.

If you have a problem with feminists or feminism, make a civil, respectful point and stop validating the notion that feminists are the angelic victims and that the critics are mean, women-hating bullies.



Here is the problem. You are appealing to people who don't have the moral substance or social motive to care about if what they are doing has any impact at all. The only thing they want to achieve is to humiliate Emma Watson and while they will have a go at doing so, they don't really care if they are successfull or not.

The kind of people we're talking about are the kind Alfred in that batman movie refers to; those who just want to watch the world burn, yano? When the joker asks "do I look like a guy with a plan?", thats these people. This isn't a smear campaign against EW, it's not them on a crusade against feminism, they aren't dedicating themselves to it, it isn't their CAUSE it's just what they feel like filling their spare time with before they go back about their normal lives. They woud like to succeed but they invest such little time and real care in it that if it were to just be a flop or it is all just a big troll, they don't care.

While there is a free and open internet, which there should always be, there will be this kind of thing going on. It is not excusable but it is a symptom of freedom that natsy people will do nasty things and it boils down to where you draw the line with freedom. To stop this sort of thing many rights of many faultless people would be infringed to halt the minority. This is currently a dilema we face with preventing terrorist threats, invasion of privacy and drawing the correct boundaries.
Original post by Dandaman1
"All we do is look for equality" Sadly, the feminist movement has preoccupied itself with prioritising the rights, freedoms and interests of women (the more sacred sex, it seems) and frequently neglects to mention the fact males may also suffer similar issues (e.g. domestic violence). Not all issues are 'women's' issues and men deserve some support too. You can't call it a gender-equal movement if it only appears to concern itself with its favourite sex.

While miss Watson's speech was rousing and well-intentioned, she still quoted long-debunked ideas such as the wage gap and, ironically, decided to promote the new campaign "HeForShe". The name again implies women are the only sex to be served by the movement. "HeAnd She" would have been a much less biased and more gender-equal name, wouldn't it? Then everyone claps and cheers like she's some kind of revolutionary saint. Ugh...


She mentioned the wage gap elsewhere. She said that she was glad there wasn't a wage gap in the UK, meaning she could be paid the same as her male counterparts.

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