# "Classify the Men's Rights Movement as a terrorist group" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 27, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395 "2014-05-27T18:41:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/81 "2014-05-28T05:46:27Z")
That’s a “what”, not a “why”. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/82 "2014-05-28T05:58:22Z")
I have to say as insults go “theatre boy” has to be just about the lamest I’ve ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/83 "2014-05-28T06:20:19Z")
Gynocentric narrative. Gynocentric narrative. There’s a phrase you don’t see every day. Sorry, just wanted to see it again a couple times. Gynocentric narrative. Also, when did “MRA” become such a thing that everyone seems to know what it is (I’m assuming Men’s Rights Activist) without even spelling it out? Gah, I feel old. Lastly, after reading through this thread it has come to my attention that apparently there is some sort of feminist plot afoot to prevent me from spending my Saturdays sitting on the sofa, watching the game with a beer in one hand and scratching my balls with the other. Where can I subscribe to the Men’s Rights newsletter? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/84 "2014-05-28T06:35:34Z")
> [@Reyemile](#): > > You had my attention until this last bit, which revealed you to be an idiotic hack. The last sentence was so moronic I wondered if it was deliberate parody. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/85 "2014-05-28T06:38:43Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Also, when did “MRA” become such a thing that everyone seems to know what it is (I’m assuming Men’s Rights Activist) without even spelling it out? Gah, I feel old. It’s not a “young” thing, Gramps. It’s a “spends entirely too much time trawling the scummy, miserable, pitiful underbelly of the Internet for shits, giggles and recreational outrage” thing. … which might be a “young” thing. > [@](#): > > Lastly, after reading through this thread it has come to my attention that apparently there is some sort of feminist plot afoot to prevent me from spending my Saturdays sitting on the sofa, watching the game with a beer in one hand and scratching my balls with the other. Where can I subscribe to the Men’s Rights newsletter? Can’t you just tell any woman in the house to do it for you ? :dubious: 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/86 "2014-05-28T07:15:21Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I think job status tends to paint men as losers. But I think relationship status tends to do it to women. > > Hmm. It feels like men without relationships get a bit more benefit of the doubt that maybe they don’t want one, while women are presumed to be desperate and sad if they don’t have one. Unsure about that. If that were so, why would a favourite taunt against MRAs be their presumed inability to get laid? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/87 "2014-05-28T07:25:43Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I think job status tends to paint men as losers. But I think relationship status tends to do it to women. > > Hmm. It feels like men without relationships get a bit more benefit of the doubt that maybe they don’t want one, while women are presumed to be desperate and sad if they don’t have one. > [@Malacandra](#): > > Unsure about that. If that were so, why would a favourite taunt against MRAs be their presumed inability to get laid? For men, there’s a difference between not having a relationship and not getting laid. Not having a relationship can be seen as a matter of choice but not getting laid is seen as a sign of failure. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/88 "2014-05-28T09:54:52Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > Oh man, it has gotten to the point where if anyone, even in jest, says ‘beta (or Omega) male’ I almost reflexively roll my eyes. Bear in mind that “Omega” can carry a very different, much more specific connotation in…certain circles. _Thanks_, [Cracked](http://www.cracked.com/article_21189_the-6-most-horrifying-sex-scenes-in-fan-fiction-pt.-4.html)…:eek: (item no. 5, the Teen Wolf/War&Peace crossover fanfic) ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/89 "2014-05-28T12:21:33Z")
Why do we do this over and over and over? Here is a single nutjob who decided to kill people and went on a rampage. Why do we try to associate this with any movement at all? This guy has had serious issues for years. Fine, he associates himself with rights groups of any stripe and we have to debate that association? He didn’t do this because he was associated with a group. He did this because he was a nutjob. This guy could have associated himself with PETA, men’s/women’s rights, the KKK, the UN or the freaking Sierra Club and it makes no difference. This guy did this for the same reason that terrorists do what they do. There is ALWAYS a perceived unfairness and rather than being rational and doing something constructive, these guys lose it and kill people. They begin with the anger, find the perceived reason and then do what they wanted to do to begin with. Why did Charles Whitman shoot people in Texas or Lee Harvey pull his shit or the Columbine shooters. Go back as far as you wish, but when you have a lone nut, they did it because they are a lone nut. Blame aliens if you wish, but the one lone moron did the trigger pull. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/90 "2014-05-28T13:33:12Z")
I disagree with the opening post in every particular, obviously, but I’m with **Kimstu** : the MRM is more of an ideology than a specific organization. What would “classifying as a terrorist organization” even mean in this context, and whom, precisely, would we be doing it to? But if the guy who said “I hate feminists” isn’t anti-feminist, and the guy who said “I’m going on a killing spree because women are making their own decisions” isn’t a misogynist, “anti-feminist” and “misogynist” cannot possibly mean anything. > [@Dissonance](#): > > [996 people](https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/take-andrew-jackson-20-bill-and-replace-him-someone-who-was-more-committed-liberty-and-justice-all/C9DVjkt9) petition to take Andrew Jackson off the $20 bill and replace him with someone who was more committed to liberty and justice for ALL. I might sign that one. > [@Reyemile](#): > > You had my attention until this last bit, which revealed you to be an idiotic hack. “Revealed”? > [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Only an idiot would say it wasn’t “largely motivated by misogyny” but it was motivated by other factors as well. The OP said it wasn’t largely motivated by misogyny. Er, carry on. > [@Malacandra](#): > > Unsure about that. If that were so, why would a favourite taunt against MRAs be their presumed inability to get laid? Because it’s mostly true, in the sense that if you read enough MRA mishegoss, “those bitches won’t fuck me” is a pretty strong subtext, usually without the “sub-” part. But you’re right, using “can’t get laid” as an insult isn’t helping matters and, more importantly, buys into the MRA worldview. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/91 "2014-05-28T13:47:14Z")
> [@Hershele Ostropoler](#): > > The OP said it wasn’t largely motivated by misogyny. Where did he say that? Was it another thread? ---
**Author:** ![ANT\_Pogo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ANT\_Pogo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ANT_Pogo)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/92 "2014-05-28T14:02:08Z")
> [@blindboyard](#): > > The second, Thomas Ball, is claimed to have firebombed a courthouse. In reality he set himself on fire in the street, as a form of non-violent protest. No-one else was harmed, no courthouses were burned down. Yeah, and before his suicide he merely [wrote a manifesto](http://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/last-statement-sent-to-sentinel-from-self-immolation-victim/article_cd181c8e-983b-11e0-a559-001cc4c03286.html) (what is it with these violent MRA loons and rambling manifestos?) urging “victimized men” like him to carry out a campaign of firebombings against courthouses and police stations, complete with detailed instructions on how to make firebombs, a manifesto which the main website for the so-called “men’s right’s movement”, A Voice For Men, subsequently [posted on their website under its “Activism” section](https://web.archive.org/web/20120307223934/http://www.avoiceformen.com/activism-page/tom-ball-murdered-by-the-family-courts/). So yeah, it’s a _complete mystery_ why anyone might want to label the “men’s rights movement” as a terrorist group. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/93 "2014-05-28T14:21:37Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > No inclination towards violence in the “Men’s Rights” movement?! Of course there is. > > But it’s silly to attempt to deny the abundant evidence of inclination towards violence in the typical attitudes and positions of the MRM. [ Another article failing to actually provide a link between the MRM and the psycho. > [@](#): > > These are guys who harass strangers they’ve identified as “feminists” with rape threats and death threats:]([A Look Inside the 'Men's Rights' Movement That Helped Fuel California Alleged Killer Elliot Rodger - The American Prospect](http://prospect.org/article/look-inside-mens-rights-movement-helped-fuel-california-alleged-killer-elliot-rodger)) No. There have been rape threats made against feminists, a few were shown to have been made by feminists themselves to earn sympathy, most were made by idiotic blog or youtube commenters. There’s nothing to link them to the MRM. On the other hand the domestic violence researcher Suzanne Steinmetz was sent bullets in the post by feminists after she published “The Battered Husband”. Are you going to say feminists have an inclination towards violence? Of course you are! ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/94 "2014-05-28T14:25:59Z")
LAWL ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/95 "2014-05-28T14:36:29Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Men’s Rights, that’s funny. Now there’s a group of people who could use some rights for a change. I hope they (we) get them, and I can’t wait to see what they (we) do with them! Maybe someday. Do you think we’ll see a man be elected president in our lifetimes? Or run half the Fortune 500 companies? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/96 "2014-05-28T14:59:40Z")
> [@MostlyUseless](#): > > {…} Why did Charles Whitman shoot people in Texas {…} There was a rumor about a tumor Nestled at the base of his brain [😉](http://www.metrolyrics.com/the-ballad-of-charles-whitman-lyrics-kinky-friedman.html) CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/97 "2014-05-28T15:04:03Z")
> [@Hershele Ostropoler](#): > > The OP said it wasn’t largely motivated by misogyny. > [@BlackKnight](#): > > Where did he say that? Was it another thread? Shortly after I posted this, **blindboyard** did post something similar in another thread. I don’t know if he also posted it earlier somewhere else, but it does seem like it was a fair characterization of his opinion. Just for the record. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/98 "2014-05-28T15:19:18Z")
> [@blindboyard](#): > > No. There have been rape threats made against feminists, Nice gloss-over. Way to ignore that rampant and huge levels of threats made by MRA supporters. > [@](#): > > a few were shown to have been made by feminists themselves to earn sympathy, a) Oh, and I suppose that makes it all better?! b) The percentage of fake threats is probably non-existant compared to the actual threats. > [@](#): > > most were made by idiotic blog or youtube commenters. a) Oh, and I suppose that makes it all better?! b) There are plenty of threats made outside of blog & yt comments. > [@](#): > > There’s nothing to link them to the MRM. Except that they grow exponentially if the blogger is female and even brings up the subject of the MRM. > [@](#): > > On the other hand the domestic violence researcher Suzanne Steinmetz was sent bullets in the post by feminists after she published “The Battered Husband”. > Are you going to say feminists have an inclination towards violence? > > Of course you are! Squeeze that Tu Quoque a little harder, maybe there’s still some bar rag juice in it for you to drink. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/99 "2014-05-28T15:20:53Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > Maybe someday. Do you think we’ll see a man be elected president in our lifetimes? Or run half the Fortune 500 companies? Maybe someday men will only be half of the victims of violent crime, of those killed in workplace accidents, of inmates and suicides, of the homeless… maybe one day feminists will start thinking about normal people, rather than only caring about whether half of every rank of the elite is female. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395/100 "2014-05-28T15:24:07Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > Nice gloss-over. Way to ignore that rampant and huge levels of threats made by MRA supporters. Not glossing-over, denying the existence of. > [@](#): > > a) Oh, and I suppose that makes it all better?! > b) The percentage of fake threats is probably non-existant compared to the actual threats. a) It makes it not the responsibility of the MRM. b) Could be. > [@](#): > > a) Oh, and I suppose that makes it all better?! > b) There are plenty of threats made outside of blog & yt comments. a) It makes it not the responsibility of the MRM. b) There has never been a shred of evidence for that and never will be. > [@](#): > > Except that they grow exponentially if the blogger is female and even brings up the subject of the MRM. Feel free to offer evidence. > [@](#): > > Squeeze that Tu Quoque a little harder, maybe there’s still some bar rag juice in it for you to drink. You are a hypocrite. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classify-the-mens-rights-movement-as-a-terrorist-group/689395.md?page=6)