Feminist talk canceled after threat of massacre

[Riverwolf]

I wanted to share this story here. This is SERIOUSLY getting scary.

I know the article I'm linking to isn't from a super-reputable source(most of the Escapist's articles double as opinion pieces), but links to its own sources are provided at the end.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/new...ing-Threat-Sent-to-USU-about-Anita-Sarkeesian

This made me realize something. I don't know of a single instance in recent history where a person who identified as a feminist has either threatened, or engaged in, violence against someone who held a contrary opinion. Nor, in any other way, have I seen a feminist actively attempt to silence opposing arguments. The feminists I follow, Sarkeesian included, invite discussion, not silence of the opposition.

While I recognize that this sort of threat is pretty much universally regarded as unacceptable behavior, from feminists and identified non-feminists alike, I've realized that these people issuing threats are, in virtually every definition of the word, terrorists. They're using terror to control peoples' behavior, with the threat of death.

The fact that they don't seem to be regarded as terrorists is, as far as I can tell, EXTREMELY revealing, not just of feminist issues, but of how our culture regards terrorism in general.

 

[Quintessence]

The problem is, if a school gets any threat like this, they have to put the safety of students first for political and legal reasons, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the threat. However, ordinarily, individuals who make such threats are also severely punished.

 

[MD]

I read her up on Wiki, she talks about equality in gaming mostly. I don't see why that would **** off people to the point that they would threaten massacres?!

Ridiculous!

 

[Riverwolf]

I read her up on Wiki, she talks about equality in gaming mostly. I don't see why that would **** off people to the point that they would threaten massacres?!

Ridiculous!

It's as confusing to me as it is for you. Her's are easily some of the least confrontational videos on feminism I've ever seen!

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Sarkeesian has been in the middle of this building firestorm since Feminist Frequency began years ago. Why? Because her critique is hitting a closed-culture of straight middle class young white men who feel like they're the ones who are the most marginalized people....the nerdy guys. And for them, they truly think her critique is a bullying attempt to not only discredit the culture of gaming from D'n'D to Zelda to WoW to console that is so near and dear to them, but that defined them through and through. Critiquing them, in their eyes, is taken as an attempt to take gaming away entirely.

So they resort to tactics like online threats and harassment to silence because they're blind to their privilege (like the majority of privileged people) and they live in their world of defeating trolls with a mish mash of forum and online conquests.

And they resort to "game journalism ethics", and "politically correct" grievances when it comes to the inclusion of female gamers concerns and LGBTQ gamers concerns. Derailment Bingo is awesome to play in debates like this.

Watch out for more and more responses by the GamerGate folks who yell out to the terrorist who sent the threatening email (because he is a terrorist make no mistake), "Hey, ****head...stop proving that **** Sarkeesian RIGHT!"

They're so much more concerned about protecting their institution than protecting actual people. And this is reason #96 why feminism is relevant in 2014.

 

[Riverwolf]

Sarkeesian has been in the middle of this building firestorm since Feminist Frequency began years ago. Why? Because her critique is hitting a closed-culture of straight middle class young white men who feel like they're the ones who are the most marginalized people....the nerdy guys. And for them, they truly think her critique is a bullying attempt to not only discredit the culture of gaming from D'n'D to Zelda to WoW to console that is so near and dear to them, but that defined them through and through. Critiquing them, in their eyes, is taken as an attempt to take gaming away entirely.

When I saw her get compared to Jack Thomson on a few occasions, that pretty much confirmed for me that fact. I'd wager the vast bulk of them have maybe watched the first few minutes of her first episode on gaming; that video has almost 2 million views; the rest are sort of in the ballpark of 500,000. They don't know what her arguments actually are, and so are basically arguing against the most massive Straw Man since Richard III.

 

[MD]

As someone who fights for women's rights in my own religion and women's rights in the Middle East, and who greatly admires the Kurdish female fighters, to see someone threaten a massacre for video game equality rights is so wrong that it almost sounds fictional.

They should have gone through with the talk and patted down everyone who came in with cops and security.

 

[Riverwolf]

As someone who fights for women's rights in my own religion and women's rights in the Middle East, and who greatly admires the Kurdish female fighters, to see someone threaten a massacre for video game equality rights is so wrong that it almost sounds fictional.

They should have gone through with the talk and patted down everyone who came in with cops and security.

She didn't because, apparently, Utah's gun laws basically prevent that.

 

[Treks]

Ow, I read that as 'threat of mascara'.

 

[Apex]

This made me realize something. I don't know of a single instance in recent history where a person who identified as a feminist has either threatened, or engaged in, violence against someone who held a contrary opinion. Nor, in any other way, have I seen a feminist actively attempt to silence opposing arguments.

A quick google search:
Threats of Violence and Death Against Doubletree Hilton in Detroit Over Men’s Conference

 

[Riverwolf]

A quick google search:
Threats of Violence and Death Against Doubletree Hilton in Detroit Over Men’s Conference

Based on the article's definition of "feminism" as "anti-male", and the fact that the linked letter simply cited "threatening calls and letters", without any mention of feminism (or indeed any affiliation), I question the movement's direct involvement.

Feminism, by definition, cannot be anti-male.

 

[Alceste]

A quick google search:
Threats of Violence and Death Against Doubletree Hilton in Detroit Over Men’s Conference

I don't want to download the letter, but this looks like a PR stunt to sell tickets for a MRA conference. Do you have a neutral source?

 

[Riverwolf]

I don't want to download the letter, but this looks like a PR stunt to sell tickets for a MRA conference. Do you have a neutral source?

The letter is not itself the death threat. It's a letter from the hotel informing the speakers that they've received threats.

 

[Alceste]

The letter is not itself the death threat. It's a letter from the hotel informing the speakers that they've received threats.

Mmm-hmmm. Nonspecific threats from nonspecific people?

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Interesting how the Hilton promised to provide engagement with the local PD for Elam and AVfM conference, but the talk by Sarkeesian had to be canceled because protection could not be provided to her.

Oh, and one more thing...does Karen Straughan or any of the other Honey Badgers regularly get death and rape threats and have to move to a safe location?

So, if the death threats that Sarkeesian receives regularly are regarded as "little trollish behavior", then why doesn't Elam get the same dismissive attitude by the same feminist-critics regarding the Hilton letter concerning threats to AVfM?

 

[Riverwolf]

Mmm-hmmm. Nonspecific threats from nonspecific people?

Pretty much.

 

[Koldo]

I wanted to share this story here. This is SERIOUSLY getting scary.

I know the article I'm linking to isn't from a super-reputable source(most of the Escapist's articles double as opinion pieces), but links to its own sources are provided at the end.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/new...ing-Threat-Sent-to-USU-about-Anita-Sarkeesian

This made me realize something. I don't know of a single instance in recent history where a person who identified as a feminist has either threatened, or engaged in, violence against someone who held a contrary opinion. Nor, in any other way, have I seen a feminist actively attempt to silence opposing arguments. The feminists I follow, Sarkeesian included, invite discussion, not silence of the opposition.

While I recognize that this sort of threat is pretty much universally regarded as unacceptable behavior, from feminists and identified non-feminists alike, I've realized that these people issuing threats are, in virtually every definition of the word, terrorists. They're using terror to control peoples' behavior, with the threat of death.

The fact that they don't seem to be regarded as terrorists is, as far as I can tell, EXTREMELY revealing, not just of feminist issues, but of how our culture regards terrorism in general.

I sincerely doubt someone would be so stupid as to actually go through with that threat. Considering how the ( online ) gaming community is well known for its trolls, I think this is another case of trolling. It happens often enough: people feel like they can do whatever they wish when they are anonymous.

However, any threat such as that should be taken seriously since there is the actual danger of someone being idiotic enough to do it.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Given the recent mass killing by Elliot Rodger earlier this year, I think it's smart to consider such a threat realistic.

 

[dust1n]

A quick google search:
Threats of Violence and Death Against Doubletree Hilton in Detroit Over Men’s Conference

Reading the document from the hotel that is being sourced mentioned nothing of feminists, or in any regards to who was making calls.

Ignoring the fact we are talking about A Voice for Men, I think the point partly being brought up is that in Utah, there is no protection from keeping anyone with a gun license from attending, which I'm assuming might be the case in Detroit. I don't know.