# RO: Rebecca Watson of Skepchick, You are a \[very bad word\] **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 4, 2013, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468 "2013-12-04T12:55:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/1 "2013-12-04T12:55:14Z")
[Because apparently, if I don’t call you this on a regular basis, my balls will shrivel up, rise into my body, and form a mangina](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XWjkqh85pw). Well, given your behavior, and the fact that you are prefacing a _video about a cancer research fundraiser_ with this, well, I’m all too happy to comply. What the fuck. What even the fuck. Rebecca, you are (of your own volition) one of the open, public faces of the skeptical movement. You are one of the figureheads of “Atheism+”. And you are, for what it’s worth, a public figure in modern feminism. Pulling a stunt like this makes all three look bad (and given the reputation of the latter, that’s pretty hard to do). I don’t know what the hell you were thinking. I _still_ don’t know what’s going through your head to keep this video up! I honestly don’t understand why you wouldn’t take this down by now! Instead, you’re just letting it sit there. And then people wonder why Richard Dawkins [doesn’t want you speaking at the Reason Rally](http://freethoughtblogs.com/greta/2013/09/05/richard-dawkins-blackballed-rebecca-watson%EF%BB%BF-from-speaking-at-the-reason-rally/). I’ll give you a hint: it has approximately _jack shit_ to do with him wanting to keep the “white male patriachal power structure” in place (what the fuck is even wrong with you people?). It has a lot more to do with you being a hyperbolic professional victim whose goals and message are not in line with anything many skeptics are willing to support; with you being divisive in a movement already tough enough to get a hold of; and with you being an immature _cunt_ when faced with basic internet trolling. For what it’s worth I’d consider any skeptics conference that _would_ invite you disappointingly bad at background research. At the risk of sounding patriarchal, grow a pair and come back when you’ve stopped acting like a little girl that the big boys called names. ---
**Author:** ![Donna\_Lange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Donna\_Lange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donna_Lange)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/2 "2013-12-04T13:02:20Z")
Your statement reeks of the MRA types, so I’ll tread carefully with my response. Calling horrible emotionally manipulative people like her “Cunt” is hurtful to vagina’s everywhere. Mine is still stinging from the blow… That is all. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/3 "2013-12-04T13:07:12Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > [Because apparently, if I don’t call you this on a regular basis, my balls will shrivel up, rise into my body, and form a mangina](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XWjkqh85pw). Well, given your behavior, and the fact that you are prefacing a _video about a cancer research fundraiser_ with this, well, I’m all too happy to comply. > > What the fuck. What even the fuck. Rebecca, you are (of your own volition) one of the open, public faces of the skeptical movement. You are one of the figureheads of “Atheism+”. And you are, for what it’s worth, a public figure in modern feminism. Pulling a stunt like this makes all three look bad (and given the reputation of the latter, that’s pretty hard to do). I don’t know what the hell you were thinking. I _still_ don’t know what’s going through your head to keep this video up! I honestly don’t understand why you wouldn’t take this down by now! Instead, you’re just letting it sit there. > > And then people wonder why Richard Dawkins [doesn’t want you speaking at the Reason Rally](http://freethoughtblogs.com/greta/2013/09/05/richard-dawkins-blackballed-rebecca-watson%EF%BB%BF-from-speaking-at-the-reason-rally/). I’ll give you a hint: it has approximately _jack shit_ to do with him wanting to keep the “white male patriachal power structure” in place (what the fuck is even wrong with you people?). It has a lot more to do with you being a hyperbolic professional victim whose goals and message are not in line with anything many skeptics are willing to support; with you being divisive in a movement already tough enough to get a hold of; and with you being an immature _cunt_ when faced with basic internet trolling. For what it’s worth I’d consider any skeptics conference that _would_ invite you disappointingly bad at background research. At the risk of sounding patriarchal, grow a pair and come back when you’ve stopped acting like a little girl that the big boys called names. Dude, it’s a joke. We men are sometimes waaaaaaay too sensitive. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/4 "2013-12-04T13:28:06Z")
Acerbic humor. Watch her goodbye to Sylvia Browne. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/5 "2013-12-04T13:43:29Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > Dude, it’s a joke. We men are sometimes waaaaaaay too sensitive. > [@kayaker](#): > > Acerbic humor. Watch her goodbye to Sylvia Browne. No expert here, and I only watched a bit of both. Seemed funny to me - and I think her comments would have helped the fundraiser - not hurt it. Unless she is an awful cunt on other things - I think this is pretty weak. Don’t remember hearing of her before. Link for Dawkins didn’t really explain why he didn’t want her speaking. I’m going to go with my gut and say she is funny/bright and we need more female atheists like her. ETA: On rereading my post - not sure if I am being clear - I am AGREEING with the two people I quoted and disagreeing with the OP 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/6 "2013-12-04T13:50:24Z")
^There was an incident in an elevator… ETA link: [Elevatorgate.](http://on.aol.com/video/rebecca-watson-on-elevatorgate--and-being-harassed-for-atheist-blog-post-517887930) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/7 "2013-12-04T14:01:58Z")
Great. Now we have to look at one of the most demeaning words ever, every time we look at the Pit. I might take a break from doing so. BPC, you can you ask a mod to change your title, y’know. Maybe when you’ve calmed down (I was so tempted to add “and grown a pair” just for fun, but you’re probably still in RO mode). ---
**Author:** ![Karrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@Karrius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karrius)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/8 "2013-12-04T14:07:27Z")
Context: this pit thread is started by someone who [thinks people who receive online death threats, stalking, and harassment need to “stop playing victim” and blame them for the rape threats they receive because they do things like turn off useless comments.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16898497&postcount=24) You have a problem, dude. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/9 "2013-12-04T14:09:12Z")
Didn’t get much sleep - so maybe I will do an instant :smack: but can someone clue me into the meaning of RO? Rant off? Remote operator? Robotic Orgasm? Rut Oh? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/10 "2013-12-04T14:13:08Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > Didn’t get much sleep - so maybe I will do an instant :smack: but can someone clue me into the meaning of RO? > > Rant off? > Remote operator? > Robotic Orgasm? > Rut Oh? Recreational Outrage ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/11 "2013-12-04T14:15:32Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > ^There was an incident in an elevator… > ETA link: [Elevatorgate.](http://on.aol.com/video/rebecca-watson-on-elevatorgate--and-being-harassed-for-atheist-blog-post-517887930) Ahem. Elegator, if you please. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/12 "2013-12-04T14:16:16Z")
My understanding of the whole Rebecca Watson-Skepchick controversy goes like this: Rebecca Watson and some of her fellow bloggers have complained that the atheist movement has not done enough to fight the tendency towards mostly old-white-male speakers and presenters at conferences. This has been controversial, with many bloggers and prominent atheists leaning towards one side or the other (for example PZ Myers agrees with Watson, while Dawkins, I believe, seemed to be saying it was a big fuss about nothing). At some conference a year or two ago, Rebecca was approached by a man in an elevator very late at night. This man propositioned her (said something like “would you like to come up and have a drink in my room with me?”). Rebecca posted about it, basically saying something like “this was inappropriate and creeped me out- guys, you shouldn’t proposition women in an elevator late at night”. This resulted in a weird backlash, including a surprising post from Dawkins, IIRC, in which he basically said that Watson’s complaints were just first world whining, as compared to the real suffering women in the third world (and the Muslim world) experience. And the backlash included really vile stuff, like rape threats and the like. If my understanding of the situation is correct, then I tend to sympathize with Watson. I like Dawkins too, but I think he really has put his foot in his mouth here. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/13 "2013-12-04T14:16:51Z")
_grumble grumble videos grumble grumble_ Anyone care to clue me in on what I’m supposed to be pissed off about? She, like everyone else on the Skeptic’s Guide, is fairly annoying from time to time, though not as annoying as that dipshit who yells the name of whoever the quote came from. But not annoying enough, based on merely that, to earn the coveted ‘cunt’ title. If she actually used the words “white male patriarchal power structure” non-ironically, that’s getting closer, but still not quite enough on its own. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/14 "2013-12-04T14:17:13Z")
Never mind. Too late. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/15 "2013-12-04T14:40:11Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > _grumble grumble videos grumble grumble_ Anyone care to clue me in on what I’m supposed to be pissed off about? Me too. All I get is that maybe she told the OP his balls would shrivel or something. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/16 "2013-12-04T15:25:30Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Great. Now we have to look at one of the most demeaning words ever, every time we look at the Pit. I might take a break from doing so. > > BPC, you can you ask a mod to change your title, y’know. Maybe when you’ve calmed down (I was so tempted to add “and grown a pair” just for fun, but you’re probably still in RO mode). Either this is a woosh, or you didn’t actually watch the video. Cliffs for other people who also didn’t watch the video: “Hi youtube, I missed you and you probably missed me too, because I’ve heard that if male atheists go too long without calling a woman a ‘cunt’ their balls shrivel up and turn into a mangina. Anyway, let me tell you about this great fundraiser…” As a male atheist who’s never heard of Rebecca Watson, I’m inclined to agree with the OP – I don’t understand the context, I’m being insulted for some reason, and now I’m supposed to care about this charity? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/17 "2013-12-04T16:02:36Z")
Some people have no sense of humour. And when I hear the word “mangina”, all I can think is “[I’m Old Gregg!!!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TY_Ez7uTk0)” ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/18 "2013-12-04T16:10:10Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Great. Now we have to look at one of the most demeaning words ever, every time we look at the Pit. Utterly uninterested in the content of this thread but I had to throw in here. No matter how pissed you are at a person/place/thing/concept/growth on your genitalia, I really wish Pit posters would consider keeping the really volatile words out of the subject line so we don’t have to see it over and over whether we read the thread or not. I’m hardly a shrinking violet, but it is somewhere between irritating and painful to have no way to glance past extreme terms. Keep the Cunt Fuck Asshole derogs in the body, not the subject. This has been an unsolicited PSA. Sue me. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/19 "2013-12-04T16:14:04Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > As a male atheist who’s never heard of Rebecca Watson, I’m inclined to agree with the OP – I don’t understand the context, I’m being insulted for some reason, and now I’m supposed to care about this charity? Do you call women cunts on a regular basis? Have your balls turned into a mangina? If not, then you’re not part of the group she’s irritated about. Cool your jets. > [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I’m hardly a shrinking violet, but it is somewhere between irritating and painful to have no way to glance past extreme terms. Keep the Cunt Fuck Asshole derogs in the body, not the subject. You should have been here a few years ago when some people argued for banning swears in thread titles altogether. You’d have thought people were asking for permission to step on babies. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468/20 "2013-12-04T16:18:04Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > You’d have thought people were asking for permission to step on babies. If you don’ want babby stepped on, don’t leave babby laying around. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-rebecca-watson-of-skepchick-you-are-a-very-bad-word/675468.md?page=2)