So a certain Gather Sky Writer has penned another hatchet job against pro-science folks, atheists, and agnostics. The latest post by this article implies that the annual "Amazing Meeting" is filled with male predators, and any woman risks sexual abuse in attending.
Visiting the website, I read that "The Amaz!ng Meeting (TAM) is an annual celebration of science, skepticism, and critical thinking. People from all over the world come TAM each year to share learning, laughs, and the skeptical perspective with their fellow skeptics and a host of distinguished guest speakers and panelists." What, no mention of nude cocktail parties or poolside orgies?
Okay, the conference is in Las Vegas. Probably any conference in Vegas is going to be frequented by a few males who are hoping to get lucky. Might just be frequented by a few females who want to get lucky, actually- let's be fair. Â How does the phrase go- what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? Â People have a few drinks, and somebody asks somebody else if that person wants to come to the room of the first person. Hey, I bet it happens at Republican Party meetings in Vegas. The writer used the phrase "sexual harassment" to describe a male conference attendee inviting a female attendee to his room. Hey, that's not sexual harassment. Sexual harassment occurs in a workplace in which one staff member is in a position of power over another staff member and uses sexual behavior as a tool. When you are at a party and see an attractive person of the opposite sex and make a proposition, it can be rather crass- when it is unwanted. When it IS wanted, well, I guess that makes it less crass. But it is not against any laws- unless the person being propositioned has a reason to believe that the propositioner will NOT take no for an answer.
If this certain Sky Writer has a point here, it should be backed up with a case history of a woman who was raped at this annual conference. No such case history was presented- I imagine because it did not exist.
I find it odd that this writer would manufacture this silly story of male predatory behavior, when the real world is so filled with such tales that do not need to be manufactured. How many rapes at the average US university annually? How many rapes of female soldiers in the US military? Â Oh my goodness, we can't badmouth the US military. That would be terrible, even though in fact the US military has so much rape and other forms of sex abuse that many young women reconsider after they see it and quit.
I am often disappointed by Gather. That's nothing new, it's been true for years.To be fair, there are times that persons of my political persuasion (liberal) have a "knee jerk" and blurt out a prejudicial comment, or an entire prejudicial post. But still, I think this was a pretty egregious example of crappy journalism.
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Comments: 32
I'm new to Gather, so am open to seeing to what extent each individual here is interested in reason - & to what extent each is a blind ideologue.
I used to understand The U.S.A.'s political right had dominion over illogical herd mentality. My new understanding is that apathetes & the supporters of our two dominant political parties are all substantially harsh & illogical.
This helps inform why I support alternatives to the public's beloved idiot mantra "I'm supporting the lesser of two evils."
As I mentioned in the article, several policies have been put in place to combat the problem of sexual harassment.
Rebecca Watson, for example, canceled her TAM appearance because "she does 'not feel welcome or safe.'"
Jennifer McCreight, said "women speakers at nontheist events warn each other privately about male speakers who make unwanted sexual advances."
You can minimize it all you want, Chris, but if it is a problem, it is a problem and perhaps it explains why only 31% of the attendees are female.
I suspect because it is your usual intentionally provocative garbage. Frankly it's an embarrassment that Gather pays you and others to write drivel, but I suppose it's the political version of the fake "did Ashton Kutcher die while Selena Gomez watched Justin Bieber watch whatever that soft porn vampire show is this week?"
You may have a right to post such blather, and even get paid to do so, but we have a right to ignore it. And we should.
It's up to us, the public, to have higher standards of journalistic integrity.
Present, and accounted for.
Post article: “Other nontheists — both male and female — have shared stories of unwanted sexual attention at nontheist gatherings, including propositions for sex and unwelcome touching.”
Renee’s article: no mention of unwelcome touching. This makes it hard for me to understand her use of the term “sexual harassment.”
Post article: “No one is suggesting that all nontheist events are unsafe for women”
Renee’s article: no such disclaimer is present.
Neither article compares the sexual harassment charges made at TAM to sexual harassment charges made at other annual conferences.
I think it is worth noting that most of the accusations of insensitivity and sexual harassment in the Post article came from one person: Rebecca Watson.
I would argue that the Post article is not great, but that Renee's shortened version of the situation leaves out some important things.
1. She kept referencing "some" people. Who are some? They dont have names? How many is some? 1, 5. 82? But in her defence most of it was copied and pasted from a blog from the Washington Post and put in a different order.
The only name that actually appeared that belonged to a person that complained was Rebecca Watson. And I find it interesting that she didnt give specifics.
One part sad she was on an elevator and a man stepped on and she felt he wanted to sexually harass her but again didnt explain why she felt that way. Was it simply because it was early early morning and he got into an elevator with her? Was it because he had a penis? Was it because all men are like that? Did he actually do anything to warrant her thinking that way?
I in no way condone sexual harassment however I hate when women just make up crap like I have a feeling this Rebecca women is doing, just to get a little publicity. They are just as bad as the harassers. Fake harassment cases make it hard for women and men with REAL problems and situations.
And bad copy and paste journalism that gives attention to these type of things just add to the pot.
So we can assume based on Jim Bakkers actions that all Christian men have a rape your secretary problem?
Such a conclusion would not be warranted. Just as it would be unwise to think that all Dems are sex fanatics based on B. Clinton or J. Edwards, or that all Republicans are unfaithful based on Giuliani, Dornan, Gingrich, Sanford, and Ensign.
From the comment I referenced above, "The attempts to minimize or dismiss the problem are what are making it bigger and they are making the local misogynists and harassers very comfortable."
wer'e switching you to decaf - - - ha ha! *->
I could go for a hike, but it's another 95 degree day here in Virginia. :) Maybe I should be reading a book until it cools down.
Guess which one Renee picked for a re-write.
Yeah, I'll wait for your piece on sexual harassment at the Republican convention in Tampa. :)
I find this truly sad if that is the case.....
I dunno, but there is the AF sergeant who's currently charged with 28 sex offenses including more than a few rapes. To compound the injury, several other noncoms are implicated with him in "fun and games" with female trainees.