# Why is Misogyny gaining ground on the board? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216 "2014-06-20T16:41:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/41 "2014-06-22T05:20:34Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Probably true, but that means SDMB doesn’t rise above it. Pretty much any discussion that deals with female anatomy results in a bunch of “show me your boobies” comments; and there is a subset here who find rape jokes heelarious. The “show me your boobies” comments are the ones that get replies. Some people want attention, and know how to get it. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/42 "2014-06-22T06:42:51Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Laughing at a rape joke no more makes you a misogynist than laughing at a dead baby joke makes you guilty of infanticide. Rape jokes are funny because they are shocking and horrific, not because I hear them and go “wow that rape sure is great and funny!” Eh, usually they’re shocking in a cheap way, like a toddler who learned to swear and gets laughs. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/43 "2014-06-22T11:28:51Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Laughing at a rape joke no more makes you a misogynist than laughing at a dead baby joke makes you guilty of infanticide. […] This just isn’t logically correct. The second part of this points out that laughing about a dead baby is different from making a baby die, which true plain and simple. But the first part proposes a difference between laughing about members of a group being the victims of violent crimes that target that group, and displaying a dislike for the group and therefore denigrating the group. I don’t think this is plainly and simply true. Laughing about rape minimizes its significance and we’d certainly anticipate it would be hurtful to rape victims. I’d have no argument if you had said “Laughing at a rape joke no more makes you guilty of rape than laughing at a dead baby joke makes you guilty of infanticide.” To add some opinion, I think rape jokes are generally misogynistic, and enjoying them is indulging in misogyny. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/44 "2014-06-22T13:36:59Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Eh, usually they’re shocking in a cheap way, like a toddler who learned to swear and gets laughs. That’s _hilarious_! Link, please! ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/45 "2014-06-22T15:26:54Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > That’s _hilarious_! Link, please! Sure, here you go: [Funny Stuff](http://groupthink.jezebel.com/this-is-why-rape-jokes-arent-funny-1543621766) ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/46 "2014-06-22T15:33:41Z")
The problem with rape jokes isn’t that rape jokes are necessarily misogynistic, it’s just that most of them are “tee hee wouldn’t it be funny if she got raped?” They may have a bunch of window dressing, but they boil down to that. There are [good rape jokes](http://jezebel.com/5925186/how-to-make-a-rape-joke), but the ones that are good poke fun at the shortcoming of our culture, not the act itself. Hell, freaking **Dane Cook** made a good rape joke once (paraphrased from memory): > [@](#): > > You know, I’m pretty sure if you encounter a woman who got raped and asked her what it was like she would never start off with, “well, have you ever played Halo?” It uses rape as a subject, but it makes fun of the loose way people (esp. gamers and sometimes sports fans) use “rape”. As a poster, I still wouldn’t try, partially because it’s not worth it to try, and partially because even though I think I’m somewhat funny, I’m not confident enough in that to believe I could really write a good rape joke in a fast moving thread. I think the best move for rape jokes in a casual setting is to not try, but I don’t think it’s true that all rape jokes are bad just by way of them being rape jokes. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/47 "2014-06-22T16:37:57Z")
My $.02… Not wanting to jump in the middle of the conversation, it has always struck me that traditionally “feminine” items such as romance comedies, toys for girls, etc are far more disrespected here than such items that are more male-oriented. For example, we had this thread last year: [Little girls and princesses. A real menace or harmless fun?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=708934) which had the extremely odd position that the “princess ideal” is wrong/dated/whatever. Which is fine… but we never have had the opposite discussion: “Little boys and superheroes. A real menace or harmless fun?” When I pointed this out in the above thread, I was told (no joke): > [@Morwen Edhelwen](#): > > It’s a similar but not really equivalent problem. Um… OK? It’s bizarre to me. Let’s rip on things sold to little girls because it places “unreasonable expectations” on them and their dreams, but it’s OK to let little boys act like their Spider Man because… well, something. Boys will be boys, apparently, but let’s not let girls be girls. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/48 "2014-06-22T16:38:10Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > This board already had its misogyny war like a year ago. We even got new rules passed wherein guys can no longer make boobie jokes in a thread that’s about bra sizes (Or whatever). Now, now, let’s be fair… women aren’t allowed to make boobie jokes, either. Actually, we’re no longer allowed to make any sexual jokes in a non-sexual discussion any more. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/49 "2014-06-22T16:38:14Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > This seems to be a cyclical trend, not just on this board, but in our cynical society in general. This has come and gone in waves ever since the feminist movement first began to agitate that misogyny and rape be taken seriously. Or perhaps since even long before that. > > In recent months, the Justice Department has been launching investigations of colleges, and imposing new rules, regarding perceived laxity in pursuing complaints of alleged or perceived misogyny and sexual assault. I’d like a cite about the justice department investigating misogyny. The sexual assault thing is being investigated, and several law-suits are equally wending their way through the courts from men who have been persecuted by the college tribunals and are making Title IX complaints. > [@](#): > > The shooting in Santa Barbara, furthermore, blew that whole debate wide open. It certainly drew attention to the fact that some people will call anything they see misogyny. > [@](#): > > On the other hand, every time that comes up, there is always (surprise, surprise) a backlash. The whole subject ends up escalating into a hysterical shitstorm, where no further rational debate can be had. Points for using the word “hysterical” in a post whining about supposed misogyny. > [@](#): > > Witness, for example, [this recent op-ed backlash](http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/george-will-college-become-the-victims-of-progressivism/2014/06/06/e90e73b4-eb50-11e3-9f5c-9075d5508f0a_story.html) by George Will, and the [shitstorm of backlash to Will’s backlash](http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/06/19/backlash-against-george-wills-offensive-rape-co/199797) that has ensued. Yep, those feminists sure do get hysterical. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/50 "2014-06-23T04:36:50Z")
So, has anyone actually given reason to suppose that misogyny _is_ gaining ground on this message board? I have noticed an increase in discussion of misogyny (especially in the immediate wake of that crazy fucker shooting those people). > [@Jragon](#): > > The problem with rape jokes isn’t that rape jokes are necessarily misogynistic, it’s just that most of them are “tee hee wouldn’t it be funny if she got raped?” I’d say about 95% of the rape jokes I’ve ever heard were about male-on-male prison rape or backwoods “squeal like a piggy” rape. So, at least in my experience, they tend to be about “tee hee wouldn’t it be funny if _he_ got raped”. ---
**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:** [June 23, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/51 "2014-06-23T17:17:41Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > And Joan Rivers may have been a groundbreaking comedian, but these days she’s repetitive, unfunny, and apparently a crappy human being. Joan Rivers used to give me candy. Does she no longer do that sort of thing? > [@Quartz](#): > > People are hating on Sarah Palin and Ann Coulter for their political views, not because they are women. > [@Marley23](#): > > That’s true. The problem is that dislike that’s rooted in a “real” reason can be expressed in a sexist way. And conversely, holding women to a higher standard is a form of misogyny that is difficult, at first glance, to distinguish from disliking them for their view without regard to gender. In addition, people who don’t like women in those positions – particularly liberals, who aren’t supposed to be sexist – are going to nitpick on their positions in public, and possibly in their own heads. (The point is not that people who think Palin and Coulter say horrible and stupid things are sexist, only that at least some people think that in part as a result of being unconsciously sexist) ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/52 "2014-06-24T00:22:56Z")
I am certainly guilty of lumping all women together and ascribing to them negative qualities. And I get plenty of shit for it, which refutes your argument that it is gaining ground. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/53 "2014-06-24T01:00:23Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > People are hating on Sarah Palin and Ann Coulter for their political views, not because they are women. Ann Coulter is a woman? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/54 "2014-06-24T02:17:21Z")
Your comment is a case in point, **Rich** , you’re not attacking her views, but her appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/55 "2014-06-24T03:04:47Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Your comment is a case in point, **Rich** , you’re not attacking her views, but her appearance. I was being a bit facetious, but there’s no good smiley for that 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/56 "2014-06-24T03:49:34Z")
Sorry for calling you out and I know I’ve done the same kind of thing as well. To be honest, I don’t think that there’s been an increase in misogyny on the board, but rather it’s always been there and now there is lower tolerance for it. When I was younger, I’m embarrassed to say that I threw words like fag around without thinking about it. If I had been called out on it, I would have said I wasn’t homophobic, but we are what we say and do. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216/57 "2014-06-24T17:47:29Z")
I haven’t noticed a rise in misogyny here. I’m sure I’m not as sensitive to it as some, but if anyone is going to make the claim that it’s so, I’d like to see the evidence, or even acknowledgment by lots of members that it’s so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-misogyny-gaining-ground-on-the-board/691216.md?page=2)