Important clarification/FAQ
I am not calling to coddle or excuse the behavior of bigoted men in any way!
I am calling to be kind and understanding to young men (often ages 10-20) who are very manipulable and succeptible to the massive anti feminist propaganda machine. Hope this clarifies that very important distinction. :)
Very good comments that express key points:
- Detailed summary of the situation if you’re wondering what’s going on
- The rhetorical value of the bear hypothetical and what this means for you
- One example of why the long-term rhetorical value of the hypothetical is poor, in the context of intersectionality
- What does disenfranchisement mean in this context?
- The importance of not asking women to tone down their expressions of fear and frustration
- “But why can’t they just say it nicely?”
- The importance of participation in kindness toward young men, specifically outside the context of people speaking their experiences
Edit: This post has now been removed and restored twice. I want to encourage you all:
Be decent to one another
I think this post is a valuable thing given the current state of the Fediverse, please don’t fuck it up for us by being toxic in the comments.
Not really. It’s saying to soften the language. I disagree. I say explain the language and why that level of anger is justified. The boys will quickly realize and be told that it’s not about them. They’ll likely also be just as mad at the s*** that goes on.
Kids are smart. If you tell them that women would pick a bear because a small percentage of men rape a large percentage of women, they’ll get that.
Women: “men are horrible rapists”
Men who are not rapists: “hey that’s pretty insulting”
Women: “oh not you, you’re one of the good ones”
Men who are not rapists: “oh well in that case please proceed with your sexism”
??
Dogs bite people. Never pet a dog you don’t know.
Outlets shock people. Always check the fuse is off at the circuit breaker.
Men are strong and brave. We draft them for war.
You’re hearing a sound bite and jumping to conclusions because your brain thinks it’s about you and gets defensive. It’s not about you. Not everything is about you. That’s was the hardest thing for me to learn as a generic white dude. Some things aren’t about me, aren’t for me, and that’s ok.
I feel like you are overlooking the fact that bears are dangerous too! Yeah, you will probably be fine. But you might get mauled. I don’t think anyone is arguing there is zero risk to being alone in the woods with a random man. It’s a question of which is more dangerous. The original bear vs man statement is so vague that it’s hard to answer scientifically but I maintain my original stance that most women who were alone in the forest with a random bear would choose to switch to a random man once they realized what that felt like.
I think what many men, myself included, find rather upsetting is the assessment of the risk men represent by feminists. If someone said “I would rather jump out of an airplane with a trash bag for a parachute than fly next to a Muslim” that would be offensive to Muslims. Even if you tried to justify that statement with your reply above… it would still be offensive.
Some things aren’t about me, aren’t for me, and that’s ok.
Most countries literally have laws against that, they’re just not applied to straight white men😂
Dogs bite people. But better to pet a dog than a lion.
Outlets shock people. I’d rather use an electric heater than set a fire in my house.
This is the bear meme. It’s not about the thing. It’s about the comparison.
