…but I’m sure as shit not going to waste any resources on this.
I, personally, value honesty and integrity. I know who I can trust. I know who – when push comes to shove – will be shoving with (and for) me.
I also know who’ll have my back (or lead the way) if/when it comes to the shoving thing.
I also know who’ll throw me to the lions at the first, second, third (etc. if I’m not careful) opportunity.
I know who my friends are. And I value them. Deeply.
I recognise divide and conquer tactics when I see them but…
I also recognise honesty and integrity.
Divisions have been created between people I consider to be my rl friends. If they’d talked – irl – none of this would’ve happened.
HELLO? IF YOU’D TALKED TOGETHER NONE OF THIS WOULD’VE HAPPENED.
Forget “shy”. Forget “insecure”. Forget “mad”, “derranged”, “misunderstandings”. Forget ‘therapeutically challenged’. Essentially, forget everything you’ve ever been taught. This is women you’re talking to. Feminist women. Friends. Walk the walk, huh?
All it needed was “Hey….wha??”
I was there, the night the dreaded DMDR stickers were posted and not talked about. And I tell you what, I’d far rather my take on things be challenged at the time, with me there in person to qualify and explain, than be held up as a global ‘WTF?’ for the world and his hench[wo]men to pick apart and vilify.
Says something though, doesn’t it – that we can’t even talk to each other about this? I wonder why…
WRT bees and wasps. I was away, I missed it. But I get the drift and I have no argument with it.
Oh the patriarchy is doing a damn fine job, huh? Call yourself a feminist?
Charitable works on behalf of some women (the most obviously beaten down and abused in your community) does not a feminist make. Anyone can fucking do that.
Actually caring about women as a whole, as a group, as a global Class (yes, terribly unfashionable, I know); actually living as a feminist, being a feminist, is an inside thing. It’s an ‘in your soul’ thing. (And possibly not something too many blogging, white, American women know very much about or are much bothered about. Sorry, not demonstrating any ‘ism’ there – just that you mostly seem a tad blinkered to anyone elses society from what I’ve observed.)
Personally, the way it works for me; I relate every single thing I do/say/think to the women who I know are deemed ‘less than’ me and I take it from there – I take it from what I believe my perspective would be were I walking in their footsteps. Yes, it’s fucking scary – but I’m not the one who’s actually living it. I’m one of the ‘lucky’ ones.
Charitable works? Well, that’s nice and good for you. Charitable creds, and all those other brownie points and other meaningless societal awards you get given for not changing a fucking thing. Working to end the oppression of women? Nice doesn’t cut it, I’m afraid.
53 responses so far ↓
stormy // February 3, 2007 at 9:38 am |
Good points WW.
Stand by to be ‘unwowed’ as the comments start rolling in, if the “OpWasp” thread is anything to go by.
sparklematrix // February 3, 2007 at 10:21 am |
Nothing more to add witchy and you are right – feminism is lived and no it’s not easy in this anti-woman world of ours. In addition, you know something I’m so tired of women – all women being the losers.
ghostlove // February 3, 2007 at 12:47 pm |
I really wish I knew what was going on. There are a lot of women I truly admire, who inspire me to write and discuss and work towards a better future for all women everywhere… and they all seem to be yelling at each other. Insects seem to be involved somehow.
I must have missed Stormy’s post about bees and wasps – I’ve been told about it but I don’t understand it. I’m going to check Google’s cache to see if I can find it and try to figure out what’s going on.
My most important question right now is – am I allowed to be on ALL sides?
ghostlove // February 3, 2007 at 12:48 pm |
Ack – that was me Anji, from Shut Up, Sit Down. I mainly use wordpress for reading parenting blogs so my account uses the URL for my “son’s” blog.
Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // February 3, 2007 at 1:09 pm |
Deranged only has one “r”…..
Witchy makes sense yet again!
jo22 // February 3, 2007 at 5:41 pm |
I thought this had all gone away. Sigh.
Am in agreement Witchy.
Robert Jackman // February 3, 2007 at 8:07 pm |
Fantastic blog.
I’ve just blogged on the BBC’s latest reality TV show – a vicious rape-based exploitation fest called The Verdict.
Let me know what you think:
http://roberthenryjackman.blogspot.com/2007/02/comment-one-angry-man-crime-of-rape.html
Robert
Laurelin // February 3, 2007 at 8:31 pm |
Fucking awesome post Witchy!
v // February 3, 2007 at 11:24 pm |
totally OT – i wish robert jackman and his shameless self promotion would bugger off.
stormy // February 4, 2007 at 3:33 am |
“My most important question right now is – am I allowed to be on ALL sides?”
Anji,
I’m not sure why you wish to be on all sides. The recent troubles have been (fairly much what they have always been), between the anti-pornstitution and pro-pornstitution camps. If wanting to be ‘on all sides’ means you wish to help ‘all sides’, then it is (at least politically) self-defeating, and ineffective.
Radical feminism isn’t something you do as a hobby, or to annoy other people with, or even to become known/popular in blogland—it is the examination and analysis of how and why women are discriminated against, and it forms the core of our being. The conclusion that radical feminist analysis has reached is that pornography and prostituting women (and children) are two main and important factors in the subordination of womankind. Hence, yes, there are strongly held views by vocal women, and tempers flare sometimes.
However, recent, but repeated blog troubles exist when the pro-pornstitution collide with the anti-pornstitution. A few weeks ago I alluded to perhaps more underlying the agenda of the pro-porn camp, and the effective dilution, up to and including the silencing, of radical feminist bloggers. This set off a frenzy in the camp that I referred to as wasps in the allegory, a frenzy that resulted in repeated attacks. One can only conclude that ‘I hit a nerve’ (truth). Unfortunately, some radfems read a lot of other stuff into the story, that was certainly NOT intended, again I think this was hitting a nerve of self-doubt in some cases.
Primarily because everything I would blog from here on in would be ridiculed and twisted (by the pro-pornies), I have closed stormyblog. An example of their handiwork can be seen at operationwasp.wordpress.com. I have participated little, yet they continue to take every opportunity to hold me up as the One True Enemy of Feminism, whilst simultaneously claiming to be the Most Unfairly Treated and Deserving Victim. Here’s a clue—only ONE side is slagging off ‘the other’ on their own blogs (take a look around the radfem blogs, see any posts against them? Not even my original posts). And I really cannot understand why any of the radfems feel the need ‘to be friends’ and ‘work together’ with a group that take every opportunity to twist the words of radfems. I can only put it down to a version of Stockholm Syndrome, so that they themselves (radfems) won’t be targeted in the future.
Like it or not, feminism, but particularly radical feminism, is a political movement, not a social club. Success is measured by effectiveness, and I’m not really sure why one would bother expending energy in this field only to be ineffective (or moderate). Moderation has not gotten the women’s movement very far (“asking nicely”), and the successful gains have always been made when women became vocal and visible (and “not nice/ladylike”). Meaning, you have to take this seriously, or you are just wasting your time. I take it seriously. Even though I have closed my blog, I am still very involved with activism, out in the field, where it counts.
Sorry to take up so many pixels Witchy. This was the reason I started my own blog—too many wordy comments on other blogs
kas // February 4, 2007 at 5:21 am |
Awesome post – thank you.
And btw, one of your sidebar links (the ‘Diary of Barbie’s Worst Enemy’ one) now directs one to some pretty full-on porn ads.
stormy // February 4, 2007 at 2:20 pm |
Kas – Sarah Parry (DoBWE) sadly stopped blogging in December. The fact that her blog has now been REPLACED by porn, should verify that we live in a pornified world, where women are routinely silenced by porn. In the DoBWE case this is both literal and figurative.
ghostlove // February 4, 2007 at 3:08 pm |
“Anji,
I’m not sure why you wish to be on all sides. The recent troubles have been (fairly much what they have always been), between the anti-pornstitution and pro-pornstitution camps. If wanting to be ‘on all sides’ means you wish to help ‘all sides’, then it is (at least politically) self-defeating, and ineffective.”
I am anti-pornography, I’ve made that pretty clear by my writing. But that doesn’t mean that I want to refuse to communicate with people who are neutral or pro-pornography… I thought the basis of feminism was that women should have freedom of choice?
I personally think that perhaps women who are involved in pornography or who are pro-pornography are perhaps misguided or in some sort of denial. But then, none of us is perfect. None of us knows everything. The fact that there are women who don’t see the harms of pornography makes me sad, yes, and often it even makes me angry. Does that mean I should take nothing that they have to say seriously?
Some women in the feminist blogosphere are rabidly childfree, and I have a child. We have a difference in opinion, yes, but that is the only thing which can open up a dialogue. Perhaps these women haven’t ’seen the light’ but that doesn’t mean they are evil women or that they are not feminists.
I’m trying to stay on the sidelines because as I said – I respect a lot of women from both sides. I am very, very new to the feminist ‘blogosphere’ (though not to feminism) and I am gaining and learning so much from everywhere that I read. Before I began reading feminist blogs, I had never really examined why I felt the way I do about things, and I certainly had never looked at my beliefs from other perspectives. Looking at those other perspectives – even those I disagree heartily with – has helped me grow, made me examine my own thoughts, and in most cases reinforced my reasoning simply by showing me the other side of the coin.
I wonder if this has made sense? That I value those of both sides, no matter what my personal convictions, because everyone has something valid to offer. I know some people don’t agree with me on that. That too, is valuable; that somebody somewhere has a different take on things to mine.
dreamy5 // February 4, 2007 at 5:40 pm |
Stormy, what do you mean a blog was replaced by porn? Do you mean that my blog url, if left vacant, could be filled by porn? WHAT???
Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // February 4, 2007 at 6:02 pm |
Yes it could. It happened to my old business blog – if you google for ethicstrading.blogspot.com you get links to gay male p0rn – or you did a couple of weeks ago.
stormy // February 4, 2007 at 6:07 pm |
So it seems that blogspot are ALLOWING this to happen?
Complaints are in order.
(Anji, will get back to you, either publicly or privately regarding the points you raise, but another long-winded one on the way. Have little time today due to some mechanical household appliance drama going on)
stormy // February 4, 2007 at 6:10 pm |
[Just had a further thought, as I'd checked out some inactive blogs—it is possibly that the URL goes up for grabs if (either?) the blogowner's profile gets deleted, or the blog itself gets deleted]
Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // February 4, 2007 at 6:20 pm |
Quite possible – I deleted the old blog when I switched to blogsome.
stormy // February 4, 2007 at 6:26 pm |
So therefore, anyone with a blogger blog, should not choose the ‘delete blog’ option, but rather (if content is wished to be deleted), delete the content, and leave the blog online but ‘empty’.
I did check the search Sarah, but mainly/only got the legit results.
Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // February 4, 2007 at 6:28 pm |
Me too, but my Mum got nasty stuff a couple of weeks ago – she sent over screen shots, it wasn’t nice viewing. But it seems to be just going into the Blogger home page now.
Faith // February 4, 2007 at 7:26 pm |
“I’m not sure why you wish to be on all sides. The recent troubles have been (fairly much what they have always been), between the anti-pornstitution and pro-pornstitution camps. If wanting to be ‘on all sides’ means you wish to help ‘all sides’, then it is (at least politically) self-defeating, and ineffective.”
I’m personally trying to do my best to remain on both “sides” due to the fact that both sides are composed of women and as a feminist, I thought that I was supposed to support women of all creds to the best of my ability. It isn’t just the “pro-porn” peeps who have done and said some really bad things throughout all of this.
“totally OT – i wish robert jackman and his shameless self promotion would bugger off.”
Yep, he hit my blog sometime last night with the same message. I didn’t even approve the comment.
Anji // February 4, 2007 at 9:39 pm |
Stormy – “mechanical household appliance drama” sounds like my house, all the time. Usually it involves the very small person who runs my home fiddling with things though.
I look forward to your response.
v // February 4, 2007 at 10:51 pm |
when i deleted “another radical feminist” i regretted it really fast and wanted to get it back. i tried to get it back within hours but it said the blog was taken, but it just had that little “this has been deleted” style notice. i emailed blogger but they didnt respond. a couple of days later there was some spammer camped there.
i thought it was weird but i assumed that somewhere there is a list of blogs that have recently been deleted, and that spammers have a backdoor into them.
what happens if you delete a wordpress blog?
kas // February 4, 2007 at 10:53 pm |
stormy – yeah, I’d heard she stopped blogging but I wanted to see if her archives were still up.
I’ve seen other deleted blogs replaced by porn. What a creepy and totally invasive way to advertise.
And btw, even if you don’t actually delete your blog it can be used for advertising – I’ve come across abandoned blogspot blogs where all the text has been changed to ads.
simplywondered // February 4, 2007 at 11:56 pm |
does that mean that porn blogs can be hacked into and all the content changed to feminist thought? now that’s a fun thought (if a bit scary)
Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // February 5, 2007 at 12:09 am |
Can you imagine gatting into them and replacing it all with the No Playboy image?
*grin*
stormy // February 5, 2007 at 12:19 am |
V:
Is it a backdoor, or is it the front?????????
I question the backdoor theory, mainly coz Blogger are so “no comment” about the whole deal.
Think we should contact SLP, to find out if she actually ‘deleted’ her blog, or whether it was over-run with pornification.
Here are Blogger’s TOS:
http://www.blogger.com/terms.g
On the appliance front, conversation between Stormy and Washing Machine (WM), that started out last weekend, went like this:
[last weekend]
S: Well, regardless of your death rattles, if you are functioning, I will still keep shoving stuff in.
WM: I’m doing the death rattles, pay attention, this is serious FFS!
S: [You are] still functioning, choose to ignore death rattles, but may look into expensive WM-doctor to keep you happy (next weekend).
[this weekend]
WM: Fuck you, I’m outta here. [takes out main circuit breaker, twice]
S: Well, that’s it then, end of conversation. Fuck the WM-doc, you now join landfill. Paid £50 for the WM-doc 18 months ago, and that should have kept you happy, besides, it’s light use FFS, hardly bloody family-sized loads multiple times per week. Get a grip. I’ve taken it easy on you, and this is how you choose to repay ME?!?
[END SCENE (with stormy finishing off essential washing in buckets...)]
[later that day (today)]
Eyeing off nice new shiny ones on website.
*sighs*
S: There goes next week’s pay.
EWM: [Evil Washing Machine] Ha ha!
S: Shut up. You’re dead.
stormy // February 5, 2007 at 12:21 am |
(I might add that I did look under the hood, as I did last time, to see if I could fix it without parts).
I tried dammit.
Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // February 5, 2007 at 12:48 am |
Mine is now doing horrid flappy – something is loose inside noises.
Also sounds like it could use some asthma inhalers.
Phone call tomorrow methinks.
How did we get onto washing machines?
stormy // February 5, 2007 at 12:57 am |
Because it’s always about ME, ME, ME and ME, Sarah (sheesh, you shoulda known that by now?)
I will add that I was correct on the last diagnosis of now-departed WM. But time was of the essence, and it was faster, but more expensive to call in WM-doc.
I have a vague idea of what is wrong with it now, but the (my!) persistent (but deliberate) ignorance of WM’s death rattles has probably burnt out the motor as well now. So toodles! Land fill for you my large cuboid white-good.
Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // February 5, 2007 at 1:26 am |
ROFL Stormy, you ROCK!
Umm, not quite as much as my beloved Witchers obviously, seeing as we’re on her blog and all……
stormy // February 5, 2007 at 1:37 am |
I’m sure that the Witchers is totally down with slagging off the whitegoods.
Fanny Blood // February 5, 2007 at 9:42 am |
“Charitable works? Well, that’s nice and good for you. Charitable creds, and all those other brownie points and other meaningless societal awards you get given for not changing a fucking thing. Working to end the oppression of women? Nice doesn’t cut it, I’m afraid.”
Absolutely.
P.S Hi Witchy X
witchywoo // February 5, 2007 at 10:25 am |
Oh yes, totally down with slagging off the white goods – and the techie stuff at the moment too as I keep getting the BSoD. And I still haven’t paid for Christmas yet. eeeks!
I contacted SLP last week and, yes, she’d deleted her blog entirely. Thanks for pointing out that I still had a link to it kas – all gone now. I’ll be contacting blogspot to make my feelings known.
I don’t know what happens when you delete a WP blog, V. I have another WP blog that I rarely use – I’ll delete it and see if anything untoward takes its place.
Hiya Fanny. Good to see you. In fact, it’s good to see all of you
xxx
simplywondered // February 5, 2007 at 12:19 pm |
stormers, i’m shocked landfill!!!!!!! not the l word, please, the child porn of ecology;
sarah, please straighten her out or we will know that as well as being the obvious one-woman cause of the destruction of feminism (also stamping on of small furry animals), stormy is the one who has been causing global warming – and we thought it was the blasted americans.
and here’s a sinister thought – no, stormers it ain’t you you you (why do you always make it about you?) there was an unprovoked attack on sparkle’s machine… someone is targetting feminist bloggers’ machines. where will it end… how is the twin tub witchy? maybe it’s roberthenryjackman. conspiracies everywhere – it’s like salem all over again.
and effin effin heck … catches breath … operation wasp – is that particular horse not dead yet? cos last i saw there were a lot of french butchers fighting over it!
Anji // February 5, 2007 at 12:39 pm |
I currently have a dead washer-dryer in my garden. I couldn’t figure out how you’re meant to transport the damn thing to a tip, so I put it out to think long and hard about what it’s done.
From the garden it can also hear its new, shiny replacement doing it happy, spinny job. That’ll learn it.
simplywondered // February 5, 2007 at 12:42 pm |
blimey, the barbie link is a bit errr sudden isn’t it – it made me feel like a maiden aunt; it’s all very like amedical txt book. anyway, now that my heart has recovered (i think i must be getting a bit old-fashioned!) i want to speak to blogger and post a reasoned request ‘ get this shit off a site that is supposed to be something else entirely. it’s your system and you are responsible for it.’
of course i have been a ‘i don’t know that porn is all that serious’ but maybe that’s just cos i haven’t seen any – since i was about 16 anyway. contacting blogger is something i’m sure you anti-pornstitutioners will be doing – and lordy lordy i may be moving that way myself. what is that stuff about ffs?
Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // February 5, 2007 at 12:59 pm |
But SW, what else are we to do with a bust washer? There are so few places that will take them for repair now.
I suppose you could try contacting the council or finding a charity that refurbs them for low income families or something?
Often buying a new one involves the removal of the old one and I know many companies use them for spares.
sparklematrix // February 5, 2007 at 1:00 pm |
My fooking kettle has just packed in now!
1) Cooker (oven bit)
2) Fridge door (now shut with rock from Amble)
3) Clock radio (will not switch off)
4) Mouse (not squeak squeak type)
5) Kettle (lights up but no power)
stormy // February 5, 2007 at 1:59 pm |
SW, it’s only ‘landfill’ if I can find no other eco-way to dispose of it. “large cuboid white-good meets landfill” just sounded good. But yes, was going to enquire about taking the ‘dear departed’ away when its new shiny replacement got delivered.
Sparkle, my gas oven doesn’t have a handle (and have to use pliers to open it), but at least it works after a fashion.
The computer bit the dust a few months ago, gutted for spares and replaced by one with so much RAM, I can hear bleating at night.
The rest of the appliances seem to be hanging in there… but whole house needs re-wiring and plumbing sorted out. I live in a ‘DIY-gone-bad’ house. Lots of nasties to undo.
Plus a new kitchen and bathroom when I’m rolling in dough (it could happen). And a garden. And the artex removed. And completely painted inside and out.
Of course, I have to fit this all in around my timetable for the single-handed destruction of feminism (not just radical feminism). Apologies in advance if this gets put back at all.
stormy // February 5, 2007 at 2:43 pm |
I (finally) found the blogger page about abandoned blogs, could not find one about deleted blog URLs’ availability.
http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=41931
There is a “write blogger support” link on the bottom right hand side.
I think that a complaint that “a static porn page is NOT a blog” maybe my stance.
RenegadeEvolution // February 5, 2007 at 5:51 pm |
Lurks in all sullen-like.
SC- I’m not sure if I owe you an aoppology or not. I’m honestly not sure. I think you said some really nasty things, and that has not changed, but I know I did as well. If anything, I will say I respect your passion.
Overall, on the judging of works and deeds and creds…this isn’t a beauty pagent. Some people are more able and comfortable with throwing off everything else and working in a full scope of radical feminism, some are not. Some know that it is not for them, they can’t do it, they are not Radical Feminists, and most do not claim to be. That doesn’t mean they don’t help, or don’t try, or don’t make a difference in some way. And telling them that no matter how they help and try and do is not good enough? Well, hopefully most won’t care and will keep doing it anyway. Shrug. So be it.
Bea // February 5, 2007 at 8:31 pm |
I already put in a complaint to Blogger and received two automated replies, but they’ve done nothing.
As for WP blogs, I deleted my old one in August and when you visit the URL you get a message saying ‘The authors have deleted this blog.
The glass on the door of my washing machine shattered.
Integrity and popularity are two different things.
There, I’ve covered all three topics
witchywoo // February 5, 2007 at 9:07 pm |
Efficient as always Bea
Automated reply from blogger received here, too…
And while we’re apologising… I know I can get a bit carried away sometimes and it’s always possible that I’ve hit ’submit’ without considering a more sensitive way of saying what’s on my mind. In which case, if anything I’ve written has made anyone feel personally attacked, I apologise unreservedly.
My email addy is up the top there so if I ever write anything in the future that could be construed as a personal attack please feel free to mail me and point it out. Even yer Witchers isn’t above criticism
I’m begining to think there is a white good conspiracy going on. My fridge – perfectly behaved up til today – is making a loud rattle/buzzy noise, like it’s backed up against a radiator or something. It’s nowhere near a radiator!
It sounds like it’s dying
But the washboard and mangle are still going strong thanks, SW.
Sarah (Ethically Speaking) // February 5, 2007 at 10:24 pm |
Mine does that now and then – air bubbles in the cooling pipes I think.
v // February 6, 2007 at 1:47 am |
things always break down in threes, apparently.
v // February 6, 2007 at 1:50 am |
theres no real reason for me to post this here in particular, i just wanted to share. there is a point to youtube after all, and this is it:
bill shatner does pulps “common people”
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VEcMUMZMEaQ
brilliant.
Liz // February 6, 2007 at 2:37 pm |
Hey Witchy, thanks for putting things into perspective again, as always. I feel a little weird at the moment (which is probably just due to a horrible fluey cold I’ve got, yuk) and I’m feeling a bit worse for wear about all the crapness that has happened. A bit sad that Alyx is going too (but I’m wishing her all the best cos nobody can stick at this forever, yunno?).
I think this stuff has confused me a lot about what I’ve thought previously about feminism – where I stand over things and how I can make a difference in the lives of women who need it.
I didn’t realise that Sarah L.Parry’s blog had been deleted and replaced by porn!! Just shows how pervasive the stuff is.
Anyway, thanks for speaking sense
Kim // February 7, 2007 at 12:55 pm |
Hey Witchy — I was a bit upset by this one while at the same I get you completely. I posted about it. Just so you don’t think I’m talking behind your blogback, I wanted you to know.
witchywoo // February 7, 2007 at 11:02 pm |
Thanks Kim
Just to make it clear: I didn’t have any particular individual in mind when I wrote this post. I’m not personally criticising anyone or slating the efforts anyone makes to help others.
Perhaps I need to expand my view. I feel a post coming on….
Phemisaurus Terribilis // February 8, 2007 at 1:51 am |
Sumtimes a good distraction will do the trick; a merry anecdote about white goods is as good an antidote as any other!
Laurelin // February 8, 2007 at 7:41 am |
Phemi, your link doesn’t work… please don’t tell me you’ve deleted your blog? I need it to stay sane and to laugh my arse off!
Laurelin // February 8, 2007 at 7:46 am |
Okay I can get to your site through the link on my blog. Phew! I was scared there for a minute.