Radical feminism, land of freedom (not)
25. Feb, 2007 
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Ah radical feminism. Champions of female empowerment. Bastion of sisterhood. A place where “wimmin” can really express themselves without judgment or boundaries.
Oh wait, that’s all bullshit.
Welcome to the real radical feminism, a political movement so caught up in it’s zeal to judge everyone and everything that even those who are involved in it must constantly apologize for their lack of ideological purity or suffer attacks and discrimination.
Oh and lest you feel too bad for poor persecuted little Vera remember it’s not that she doesn’t want to judge your thoughts and brand you a woman hater. She just isn’t extreme enough to play with the cool kids in radfem.
The thing is, people judge. We always have and we always will. So while I can consider the problems inherent in the prejudices of those who judge Vera to be a tool of the patriarchy a quick look at Vera’s post reveals that she herself makes a several judgments that I consider to be incorrect as well. Vera points to many things as being signs of woman hating and patriarchal influence that I think are nothing of the kind. It somewhat limits the extreme edges of my sympathy. Vera makes the same types of judgments fantasies and pornography as her detractors on the radfem fringe, she simply draws the line somewhere different.
I will sum it up with a quote from the masthead of The Captains Quarters that seems apt…
“Thus every Blogger, in his kind, is bit by him who comes behind.”
ed. note: Updated on 02.26.2007 See comments below but in short that last paragraph was a bit too harsh for the circumstances upon re-reading. I have struck out the offending paragraph this time so no one thinks I am pulling a Marcotte.
If you’re going to lie about me, at least make it somewhat believable.
Can you point to where I judged someone else’s thoughts or branded anyone a women-hater who showed any vague indication that it isn’t true?
Lazy.
Lie? I don’t think I lied about you at all. What we have here is a difference of opinion and judgment. Everyone makes judgments… me, you, those who consider you a non-feminist. Everyone. The judging is natural… but our judgments are also valid consideration for others.
The core of why your challenge is not possible as a literal proof is this part of it… “who showed any vague indication that it isn’t true?”
In other words, can I show you a person who you judged a woman-hater who has acted in a way you would recognize as showing that they are not a woman-hater. The answer is no, I doubt I could show you such a person. If for no other reason than that so far you seem intellectually honest. I am sure those people you judge woman-haters are people you feel have demonstrated that fact. Since I doubt you will every share my views on what constitutes such proof I am pretty sure it would be impossible to “show you†anyone you will think you were wrong about.
Obviously what I disagree with is what you consider the signs of hating women. You consider many types of fantasy and pornography to be signs of hating women that I do not. I make this judgment based on my own experience as do you. It’s simple, we disagree.
However, after re-reading my post and yours in the light of your comment I have edited it. I have left the original there lest anyone accuse me of pulling a Marcotte on the whole thing.
Thanks for taking the time to comment!