Sexism, Misogyny and the rise and rise and rise of the internet asshole....

a reply to: neformore

Where are you guys surfing, I haven't noticed it personally.

a reply to: neformore

I agree it's bad, but whilst the overall majority of these "cyber pricks" most likely are men, I have seen some pretty awful things being said (and done) by the ladies as well...in some cases even worse than the men.

I too have been on the net since it dawned (USR 9600baud modem....on AOL, LMAO!), and BBS before that, and it was always my hope that the internet would draw the people of this planet closer together...which for the most part it has.

But, like in our own towns and cities, there are people from all walks of life, some good, some bad, some plain nasty. The big problem is, it seems to inspire other people to be arseholes as well.

I often get criticised here on ATS about the right of free speech when I voice my concerns, but I genuinely believe that free speech should not mean being able to hurt others with that speech.

originally posted by: neformore

I assume you - or anyone else who can't figure this out - are not in full control of your faculties if you cannot understand that threatening to rape someone is a heinous thing to do, as is threatening to kill them or their family.

Nef,

I truly think it all comes down to powerless people, or people that think they are powerless wielding there sense of power and entitlement, on the internet.

WhiteAlice posted something that was interesting about how certain people conduct themselves on the internet, yet in real life they are absolute cowards and actually have a hard time confronting, or even interacting with people.

Many of the power hungry people in our world, looking to dominate and control have deep rooted issues with fear, insecurity and feeling lost. The only way they can compensate for this is to try to control situations, and other people, this way they will never have to look within and deal with themselves.

I also think pointing out a gender based issue is not the solution, because it goes much deeper than that. If it wasn't women, it would be fat people, or color of skin and the list could go on and on, because as long as people are in a physical state of being we see, judge, discriminate, and categorize others by physical differences.

What I'm trying to say in a nut shell is that people will always try to shift the emphasis away from themselves to someone else, or a specific group.

Interesting thread for sure.

Peace,

RT

originally posted by: jheated5
a reply to: neformore

Do you play online gaming? I see racists, sexists, people wishing death on children, children wishing death on other people.... It is not just a womens issue is what I am saying. Everyone has a target on their back when people can be anonymous.

I think maybe what you're missing here is the fact that women can receive abuse on the internet just because they are female.

Everyone get's abused on the internet but some people get it for petty reason's, such as their gender.

originally posted by: undo
a reply to: tony9802

k well i will rephrase it as extreme feminism. radical feminism?

I prefer "militant feminism" - it seems to cover all bases - "extreme", "radical" and brings in the "combative" nature of the beast.

I Blame the feminists for the total derailment of this thread.

I will tell you what I personally saw and experienced yesterday from these so-called feminists on this very site.

I listened to a radio program, where this site espoused further government encroachment into the world of the internet, all in the name of the poor sad helpless little women. No dissent was allowed, no voice of opposition.

Not men condescending, but women putting their own selves down. Women saying, I was attacked only for being female, not for the value of their opinion, nor the threat that opinion meant to the hearer... but simply for being female.

They lacked recognition of their own value, and the weight their opinion carried.

On the internet, those bullies and trolls opposed to the dissenting voice try to hammer that voice down into submission. If its a man doing it to another man, they look for the most sensitive spot to silence the dissent. If its a woman, the internet bully, troll what have you, looks for the most sensitive spot in effort to silence that opposing voice.

It happens daily to men and women both, yet, only the feminists say things like "I was attacked only for being a woman" No... you were attacked because you had a strong voice and someone wanted to silence that voice. They put their own selves down, and every women out their with such a condescending attitude toward themselves.

They refuse to recognize their own power, and their own value, when they try to blame it on their body parts, never once thinking to recognize their mind.

They pretend they are oppressed when they have a million and one rights; whenever they cannot think of enough reasons to pretend victimization, they march out their little pet Muslim women - refusing to allow the little pet Muslim women to speak for their own selves, refusing to recognize the intelligence and ability for choice outside of what these so-called feminists deem "correct".

In doing all this, they make themselves into the oppressor of women when they silence the voice of women and tell the women they do not have enough intelligence to speak and think for themselves.

They say they support a woman's rights, yet all they do is try and become men. To become the oppressor of women. There is nothing feminist in these oppressors of women who place themselves above other women and tell women they don't have the intelligence or ability to make their own damn choices in life.

Women are intelligent. Women have the right to their own decisions concerning their beliefs, their dress, their life. We don't need to be the flag anyone carries to promote censorship and government encroachment. Women can turn off the channel, attend another site, disable comments, and de-freind anyone the same as any man. I wont be used and placed on some helpless little woman pedestal for the removal of anyone elses' rights.

I can deal with the asshole just fine. Why? Because I'm a STRONG woman! I don't need government to do anything for me.

originally posted by: neformore
a reply to: SensiblyReckless

Its not about protecting women per se. They should not need protecting.

Its about men being assholes.

I assume you - or anyone else who can't figure this out - are not in full control of your faculties if you cannot understand that threatening to rape someone is a heinous thing to do, as is threatening to kill them or their family.

Surely you can understand that? Can't you? After all you were intelligent to turn a computer on, find ATS and read the forum.

Condescension much?

Nef, as you observed in your OP, it's an asshole thing to do - but it seems to have had the desired effect of "terrorizing" these people with little to no effort, and have successfully gotten the ball rolling towards more internet censorship. How long does it take to type out an asshole comment? Now look at the return they've gotten on that minimal investment effort.

They can pat themselves on the back with an "atta boy" and "mission accomplished".

You should be proud of your role in their victory.

I see it the most in the comments of YouTube videos, it seems to be the least moderated comment section of the net I visit. ATS is pretty good the MODS are fair, they have a good team here. Other places have issue's and those places sometimes are surprisingly poorly moderated both ways, it is isn't forums policy but personalities that develop the emperor syndrome once they have a MOD badge. Even places like the Huffington post it sometimes amazes me what is said in the comment sections.

But it is true something you would never say to a person face to face with a group of onlookers listening gets said on the net. Then again some people troll their co-workers daily, why wouldn't they do it on the net. One guy I worked with once used to constantly proclaim with a gleeful smile "I am an asshole", and he was. His internet behavior was probably 10 times worse with anonymity. And he wondered why he couldn't get a girlfriend.

a reply to: Blue_Jay33

Yeah You tube is pretty hideous, I make a effort to never read the comments there. They are base.
Also the T and C is what keeps me on ATS. It makes normal discussion available, We can converse here pretty much as we would in real life.
The other poorly moderated sites wear thin after a time.

originally posted by: zazzafrazz
I Blame the feminists for the total derailment of this thread.

I think it would be incredibly difficult to author a thread predicated on threat of violence against women without bringing gender into it. Where gender issues go, feminists are sure to follow.

You see, I'd hate to be a woman on the internet right now.

Now some of you reading this will be female, and I'm interested in your stories and what you may have experienced, but for those of you who, like me, happen to be male, we have an issue on our hands.

If that quote from the OP wouldn't predicate the thread on gender, I can't imagine anything that WOULD.

a reply to: nenothtu

I disagree.

I'm kinda stunned.

I thought people who posted on here could understand the premise of what I've been trying to say.

Obviously i've been mistaken.

Calling for respect is not censorship. Nor is it aiding a feminist cause.

Expecting people to be able to behave in a civilised manner, and criticising them when they do not is the basis of a modern society where people are treated equally.

Defending people who threaten to rape because of "freedom of speech" is heinous.

Trying to blame women for men threatening to rape them is despicable.

Suggesting that feminism is the cause of men threatening to rape is dangerous and downright stupid.

originally posted by: undo
a reply to: tony9802

k well i will rephrase it as extreme feminism. radical feminism?

In my opinion, radical and extreme simply mean holding one's ground..those will be the individuals who are not going to budge..at all. Look at the Ukranian protestors who go without clothing to make statements about the inacceptability of sexual trafficking of East European women into Western Europe for purposes of sexual slavery and bondage..

Whether radical, extreme, or militant, it simply means they will not be moved.

Is "Non Coformist" perhaps a better title? Maybe so. In any case, whatever term we designate to describe these individuals and their ideals (with which I certainly agree), is it too much to ask, that main stream media and the public in general, whether nationally or internationally pay a bit of attention to the state of affairs in many countries currently?..I realize I'm going off topic, since we're discussing internet abuse of language and etiquette towards women, but when we open the Feminism bottle, we're talking about many more issues than simply cruising, casually surfing, on the 'ol internet and hearing guys say, 'slap that b***ch," or "kill that ho" in any comments section.

a reply to: neformore

Not all ladies are lady like and if I have an encounter on the net or face to face with that type they get back what they dish out!

all i got to say is..... this is the internet!!!! and thats it. never take it to seriously

originally posted by: wmd_2008
a reply to: neformore

Not all ladies are lady like and if I have an encounter on the net or face to face with that type they get back what they dish out!

So ladies are supposed to maintain lady like composure when confronted with abusive, irresponsible text and comment?

originally posted by: neformore
I'm kinda stunned.

I thought people who posted on here could understand the premise of what I've been trying to say.

Obviously i've been mistaken.

Calling for respect is not censorship. Nor is it aiding a feminist cause.

Expecting people to be able to behave in a civilised manner, and criticising them when they do not is the basis of a modern society where people are treated equally.

Defending people who threaten to rape because of "freedom of speech" is heinous.

Trying to blame women for men threatening to rape them is despicable.

Suggesting that feminism is the cause of men threatening to rape is dangerous and downright stupid.

Yeah, it does seem as though people are misunderstanding the premise of the arguement.. being respectful on the internet is a must in order for communication to operate properly; I can't people believe people keep raising the issue of "freedom of speech," as though stating, I have a right to freely insult and communicate anything I wish to anyone ever, with whatever language i wish to utilize to get any point across to any other individual; My right to freedom of speech, let's me offend, mock, nerve, insult, and injure whenever I wish to. I'm sorry but that is not one's "freedom of speech,".

originally posted by: neformore


"Defending people who threaten to rape because of "freedom of speech" is heinous.

Trying to blame women for men threatening to rape them is despicable.

Suggesting that feminism is the cause of men threatening to rape is dangerous and downright stupid.

I just need to repost what you wrote because I think it's so great, and clarifies all of the problems I am having with what I am reading on this thread.. thank you..

I got online in early 1993. First I was on Prodigy and then later AOL. Back then I think the majority of people online were adult males. I'd go into a chatroom and it would be "OMG THERES A GIRL IN THE CHATROOM" - I'd get lots of IMs- nice ones- from guys wanting to talk to a lady. It was a mostly positive experience in the early days. As the WWW came into being and internet became more common in homes and schools the age of the average user dropped. I think most of the problems online with misogyny are from adolescent males and socially awkward males venting their frustrations. (I used to ask these guys "Do your parents know you're up past your bedtime?", etc.) The way I see it if people are acting like children they should be treated like children.

Sal

a reply to: neformore