The Periodic Table's Younger, Sexier, Sibling Thread...

[AndrewV69]

Hehe.
[spoiler]14 yo Pizzy Myers made a comment (some of you have probably read it):

http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/ ... ent-538555

It’s not proof. It’s circumstantial evidence, nothing more. If I had more solid proof, I’d give it and his name to the dealerships and let them handle it.

Bwwaahahahahahahahaha! Oh man. He made severely slanderous claims about Reap (claims he swindled some car- dealership). Someone confronted him about it and his only excuse is "it's based on circumstantial evidence"! You really can't make up crazy like that.[/spoiler]
Reap: You should really sue Pizzy's fat ass.

This struck me as something a kid who is local to PeeZuss would do. I think if I were looking for a culprit, my first pool of suspects would be his students, perhaps one pissed off at being required to write a blog.

Whatever, from Rate my Professor:
http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRat ... 3513[quote]
Wasn't organized. The syllabus was from the previous semester, and he made significant changes, making it hard to know what was going on. This class was the most random class ever. The tests were on things barely covered or not covered in class. Nice guy, but I wouldn't recommend him as a prof, at least not for FunGen.[/quote]

He did get some good reviews though, like this one:

I took him for Cellular Biology. Honestly, his was the only class I enjoyed going to this semester. He has strong views about certain topics, but so what? We're here to learn all aspects of life, not just the sugar coated version you've been given up until now. He likes to challenge people, and comes off as offensive. Highly entertaining.

This one is just being mean:

Do not take PZ Myers if you have another choice. Unless you are fantastic at Biology already, you will not do well. I already had taken AP Bio and gotten A's and loved Bio, his class is not Intro level at all. Goes through things way to quickly, teaches at one level and tests on another. Not a good teacher.

Whatever, click on the link thingy for all the reviews.

[Dick Strawkins]

Following that ridiculous post of Ophelia's about the bolshoi ballet acid attack being like what she has to deal with, I noticed another post on B and W where the crazies come out in force.
It's an article about some idiots list of the top ten ugliest feminists.
The list is a rather mean spirited piece done by someone called roosh(?) who seems to be an anti-feminist MRA, I think.
It's really just trollbait and really deserve comment.

http://freethoughtblogs.com/butterflies ... -pretties/

Ophelia, however whines on about it and brings in some quote from Jeremy Stangroom about the 'chill girls' generally being pretty (which Ophelia takes to mean she and her fellow bullies are being accuse of being ugly)

So you get PZ turning up and whining about Stangroom and various commenters complaining about how unfair it is to be ugly.

The funniest interjection is by Rebecca Watson, who is clearly really pissed off that she wasn't included in the list - she obviously saw it as a perfect addition to her professional victim arsenal.

http://i.imgur.com/STlC1.jpg

[Mykeru]

I think it would be a waste of time because it would only likely inflame tension and so exaggerate the effect I was talking about. A better response would be to focus on the other stuff that the movement could concern itself with. If it's difficult to do that then Mykeru is right, this "movement" doesn't make sense.

Why give them the Heckler's Veto because we know it would be rejected?

Look, the way it's working out with American Atheists, Skepchick, CFI, FTB et. al being in bed together, the cross-over both professional and personal are worthy of a banana republic, is that they are right now, the "status quo". You may not agree, but according to Slate because they don't know better or don't care, a clown like Rebecca Watson is a leader of the skeptical community.

The purpose behind doing something like this, things you know will be suppressed is to highlight what they are suppressing. That's the purpose of a Samizdat after a coup. Free Inquiry my ass.

Who do you think is in charge right now, who gets the press and the funds and the speaking gigs? Ophelia Benson, that's who. You think you are going to reason your way through constructive projects with that ass clown? Not a chance. They will exhaust you. Half of their bullshit, like PZ Meyers, is to keep people talking while they raid the coffers.

What do you think they are about? It's not reason. All they give a shit about is the ego-boost, the minions and the buffet at the back of the conference.

We don't argue to them. We don't appeal to them. We talk over them to those people who can still be reached through reason, common sense and the lulz.

Personally, I think it's a good idea. They can't suppress a video. They can suppress your constructive engagement because that's what they do.

[Pitchguest]

Watching Benson and Christina prancing around like weenies on a roast, makes me symphatise so much more with people like Maryam Namazie who actually tries to do something important. Unlike musing on whether atheists have better sex or not. On Maryam's blog, I can see two posts where she talks about an Egyptian atheist arrested for the crime of "blasphemy" and an Iranian political prisoner who wants leave to visit his daughter who's been struck with cancer. Reading about their (Benson and Christina's) professional victimhood after that, making someone getting acid thrown in their face about them in a childish attempt to implicate the "deep rifts" within the sceptical/atheist community makes me frustrated.

Frustrated because these people actually have an audience and the influence to inspire sycophants to do their dirty work, and frustrated because I'm powerless to do anything about it - that and the other. Certainly if I had more money, they wouldn't sit burning a hole in my wallet or be used for fucking $240 shoes.

--

re: Paul Fidalgo, damnit! Forgot to freezepage before it changed. He managed to delete a post I made. Ophelia Benson* made an appearance.

*not really

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blogs/e ... r_account/

[Altair]

What a fucking load of old bollocks.

Most of that guy's pictures are funny, but I think the problem they have is exactly that there are some poses that are a "girl thing" (looks through the window to see if the mob with pitchfork is already here).

It's obviously going to look weird if you get a guy doing a pose that was thought for a woman. And of course the "fiction" aspect is lost on them, they are not supposed to be real people, and the whole context is supposed to be fantastical.

"Male characters [are] powerful and strong, and women's sexuality will be emphasised. And why is that a problem? It's constraining for both men and women."

[spoiler]http://bit.ly/UBF4MT[/spoiler]

That woman in the picture above just ripped off part of a robot, is kicking another, and is shooting a third one, all at the same time. I would say that girl is powerful and strong, especially compared to the guy who apparently just killed a toaster.

[spoiler]http://bit.ly/UBFtyT[/spoiler]

I don't know about them, but I think that showing a muscular dude wearing only what amounts to a speedo is pretty much emphasizing his sexuality. They seem to think that women don't find male bodies sexual, or attractive.

"Our sales people were saying that we want sexy women on covers, but we want them to be in active roles," says Gallo, now creative director of Tor Books.

[spoiler]http://bit.ly/UBFLFM[/spoiler]

The woman in that cover IS in an active role. It looks like the "picture" was taken just before she smashed the photographer's head with her sword.

Just another bunch of people looking for something to complain about. A load of bollocks indeed.

[LMU]

They'll hear you how? Again, how are you going to get their attention? PeeZus doesn't even let certain people comment, and he's got assistants that can delete or expedite the deletion of comments. So how do they even know you ever said anything?

Because they were watching when it happened. Or because the comment remained even though the commenter was banned. Or because they wanted to know what argument was worth banning someone for and they went looking for screencaps. There may be other ways too. Note that I'm not claiming that this is an efficient way to reach a lot of people. But it is why I ended up here.

[Mykeru]

The immediate issue isn't feminism, that's a related issue. The immediate issue is the conduct of the FTB/Skepchick/A+ lot. I don't care about what version of feminism they believe in. I care that they are hypocritical assfaces using Scientology tactics.

You are absolutely right there. The issue isn't feminism, per se. It's how they suppress dissent and how they are basically a con job dressed as skeptics. However, the best way to demonstrate that is to do something that is reasonable and skeptical and high-light how the pseudo-skeptics refuse to engage and suppress the hell out of it.

[Skeptic_Duh]

I'm a bit late to the game here, but regarding circumcision:

I'm circumcised, and I've never felt upset about it at all, nor can I think of any ill effects I've suffered because of it. If anyone here is circumcised, and wishes they weren't, can you explain why?

I fall under your post.

I was chopped, about 45+ years ago - asked my mom when I was old enough to know the difference "why?"

She replied - "because everyone else was doing it."

I was mad it was done for no reason other than everyone else was doing it. I would rather of had the choice to get chopped. But since there is nothing I can do about myself, I let it go.

I have had the problem of the glans being irritated when I was a kid, mostly because of abrasion with clothes, but as I grew up, the problem worked its self out. My younger brother was not cut, and he didn't have any of the issues I had.

If I have male children, they will not be cut.

Side note:

On one of my trips to Turkey - I saw a bunch of boys waiting for the bus, dressed up like sultans/elvis.
http://www.cirp.org/library/cultural/tu ... ngetje.gif

I asked my wife where are they going and she replied - "oh - they are going to go get circumcised..." I replied "if they knew what was going to happen, they wouldn't be smiling...."
(source http://www.cirp.org/library/cultural/turkey1/

[Scented Nectar]

Okay, so I'm done here. I have not said, nor has anyone said that this is being touted as a replacement for condoms or what have you. You wish to argue that point, find someone who is actually saying that and have a ball. But it's not me.

You also keep insisting that if we just tell people about condoms, TA DA. Well, given the amount of money and time spent doing that, I can safely say that no, just telling people about how awesome condoms are is not the solution you think it is. Again, you can't even make that work HERE, where the majority of the population doesn't assume that european doctors are lying to them. Your method doesn't work the way you think it does in as close to an ideal situation as you will ever get, and yet you insist that if we just keep doing that, well, it'll work.

I understand the relationship between my head and a brick wall. I know which one will win.

As far as mass imports of condoms working, there's so much naiveté in that statement that i can only conclude you literally know nothing about the entire continent beyond the last "tarzan" movie you watched. Just dumping a bunch of stuff in a place doesn't work. YOu still need infrastructure and all the other inconvenient bits.

Fuck, we tried that with FOOD in the 80s. Remember that? Live Aid? We are the World? Shipped a fuck ton of food to the area. How well did that work out? Not fucking very.

The real world is a really inconvenient place, but it's the one you have to deal with to get anything done.

But it IS being touted as a replacement for condoms in Africa. It's trying to avoid the fact that misinformation about condoms is rife and that the lies are being spread by clergy.

Also, shipping, distributing and teaching about condoms has got to require less work, organization, money and infrastructure than circumcising all the men. It's not as impossible as you make it sound. Certainly it's no less possible than circumcising all the men.

Religious accommodationalism is why circumcision is being promoted and not condoms. Infrastructure has almost nothing to do with it.

If it's that easy, I believe one can get from Canada to Africa in a day or so. By all means, please, solve this "easy" problem.

It should be a lot easier and cheaper to disseminate condoms and proper info about how and when to use them, then it is to go around performing circumcision on all the males.

Again, no one is stopping you. Let us know how it works.

Oh apparently I've signed up for it? Your sentence above makes no sense. I am simply arguing in favour of one over the other. We are talking about what GMOs are planning.

Both the church and the local governments wants lots of babies, even accidental ones. Because when you have lots of unwanted babies, you have suffering, which can be used by religion to exploit with promises and governments to use as blame (it's those other guys who are responisble for your suffering, go kill them).

Well, it's time then, for the church to shove over and make room for condoms. When condoms are available as an alternative to rhythm methods, even catholics sneakily use them to keep family size affordable. I consider the suppression of condoms, and truthful info about them, to be a theocratically caused problem, and therefore it's a cause I consider to be especially apt for secularism to take on.

[AbsurdWalls]

Following that ridiculous post of Ophelia's about the bolshoi ballet acid attack being like what she has to deal with,

That really pissed me off, this much:

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg10 ... 41deee.jpg

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg10 ... 41deee.jpg

If anyone wants to mirror it, phawrongula it, or whatever please feel free.

[Tony Parsehole]

What a fucking load of old bollocks.

What a complete bellend.

[Chilly P.]

I'm a bit late to the game here, but regarding circumcision:

I'm circumcised, and I've never felt upset about it at all, nor can I think of any ill effects I've suffered because of it. If anyone here is circumcised, and wishes they weren't, can you explain why?

Ditto. Whenever I hear ludicrous complaints about circumcision and sexual performance, I think of Ron Jeremy, or any of the other classic American porn stars, almost all of whom were circumcised. God knows how many thousands of video-documented orgasms just for Ron himself.

The medical need seems to boil down to hygiene in most cases, and since this is not roughly 6000 years ago, the medical or hygiene issues in most cases can be taken care of through modern hygiene practices.

The idea is that circumcised penises air dry automatically, uncircumcised penises not so well. Viruses can apparently survive easier trapped in the warm damp environment under the foreskin, but not in the open airy environment of the circumcised penis. People don't always shower after sex immediately, and young boys (and older men who may be less able to care for themselves) are not famous for their good hygiene. And mom bathing with a 8-9 year old is kind of weird in a Lyssa Aryn way, and not every 70-year old that has some mobility problems wants or has a home health aide (and many would refuse to let one clean their schlong out of pride)

While I cannot tell you with a first person account that there is a loss of sensitivity through circumcision, there seems to be good anecdotal evidence there is, and a facially valid reason to believe there would be.

I've read testimony from adult-circumcised males saying they are MORE sensitive post-circumcision. There's no evidence that circ and uncirc'd men have any difference in ability to achieve orgasm.

I find this page interesting, if not 1000% convincing: http://www.jewsagainstcircumcision.org/jewish.htm especially where it states:

Interesting! I think this is a Quaker on the Oatmeal box thing. For a long time up to and including the Victorian Era, Meat was connected to sexual drive and power, and grains connected to temperance and continence. So the idea was if you want your children behaving like continent good children who practice abstinence, you fed them oatmeal instead of bacon. (I think some of this mentality survives somewhat changed down to today, with Pacific/Enlightened behavior taking the place of hindering sexual desire in this case. Just like the RadFems seem to me to be the descendents of the Victorian-era priggish decency societies of women, both share a keen interest in "harmful words" and "dangerously untamed sexual desires", for example).

MRA groups that place male circumcision alongside Female Genital Mutilation need to learn how to a) prioritize, and b) pick their fights, and c) make a compelling argument because they are often wrong, annoying, and people are right to call them on it.

Yes. There is a great deal of false equivalency between circumcision ("MGM") an FGM. The latter doesn't have a shred of medical benefit behind it, and does indeed result in many women not being able to achieve orgasm.

[another lurker]

Where Ophelia Benson makes it all about her. Just...wow:

http://www.freezepage.com/1358535271ABIMUAWYYV

What a stupid cunt. I used to really respect her too, but her ego is... ugh. I don't even know what to say.

[Tony Parsehole]

Where Ophelia Benson makes it all about her. Just...wow:

http://www.freezepage.com/1358535271ABIMUAWYYV

Ophelia Benson, what the fuck is wrong with you?

I really don't know how Ophelia's brain operates. How could she could read that story and spin it around to be about her? Sick bint.

[nippletwister]

A post from Greta:

COMMENT POLICY FOR THIS POST: For comments in this post, I am not interested in debating (a) the validity of kink, (b) the validity of erotica, kinky or otherwise, or (c) the existence of sexism and rape culture, and the importance of countering them. I might be okay hosting those debates elsewhere, but I don’t want to do it here. Please don’t comment here unless you are basically okay with the idea of erotica, basically okay with the idea of kink, and basically on board with feminism. Violations will be disemvoweled or deleted; repeated violators will be banned. Thank you.

Well, everybody has some kind of kink, and even if it's a rare kink, it certainly exists, so not being a sex-negative person or an armchair psychologist, of course I wouldn't challenge "the validity of kink"....that's for idiotic, sex-and-self-obsessed feminists and religious moralists to do.

Oh, but it appears she is also going to be saying things that assume sexism, "rape culture", and that feminism is good and necessary.

I'm almost tempted to see what she has to say, except for the fact that she pretty much admits it's going to assume some ideological dogshit right up front, and she doesn't want any resistance on it.

[Chilly P.]

What a fucking load of old bollocks.

Most of that guy's pictures are funny, but I think the problem they have is exactly that there are some poses that are a "girl thing" (looks through the window to see if the mob with pitchfork is already here).

It's obviously going to look weird if you get a guy doing a pose that was thought for a woman. And of course the "fiction" aspect is lost on them, they are not supposed to be real people, and the whole context is supposed to be fantastical.

"Male characters [are] powerful and strong, and women's sexuality will be emphasised. And why is that a problem? It's constraining for both men and women."

Word.

We don't see any overweight male neckbeards on the cover of Sci Fi or Fantasy books, either. Help, help, males are being oppressed.

[Parge]

All other things being equal, would it not be best to say that you wish you were either fully snipped, ornot at all? Although, I can see how a certain percentage of circumcisions being botched would be a good case for eliminating the practice in general.

I'd rather be not snipped. With the possible exception of the aforementioned entanglements, half is no different than none. Give me all of my parts and let me do with them what I will. They are mine, after all.

[Barael]

This associating/comparing FTB detractors/dissenters to acid-throwers isn't actually new. The Lousy Cunt did it over a year ago and I took proper exception to it. It seems to logically follow that once you throw terms like "rapist" on the drop of of a hat, you sooner or later have to resort to stronger stuff. Hence "acid thrower".

[AbsurdWalls]

This associating/comparing FTB detractors/dissenters to acid-throwers isn't actually new. The Lousy Cunt did it over a year ago and I took proper exception to it. It seems to logically follow that once you throw terms like "rapist" on the drop of of a hat, you sooner or later have to resort to stronger stuff. Hence "acid thrower".

This feels like it crosses a real line. I am hoping that OB realises that what she said was awful and retracts it in some way. I sent her that picture on Twitter - maybe she will come to her senses.

[Lsuoma]

@Parge:


@Lsuoma:

I don't think that works. If I were blind, everyone could easily point to severe difficulties, such as being prone to bumping into things, or not being able to enjoy paintings. What I'm asking for is examples of (metaphorically) what paintings I can't enjoy, or what things I bump into, because I'm circumcised.

The point is that you can't validate any reference points or statements from other people because they are subjective. You can't even vicariously experience being sighted, at least not with any reliability.

Also, wanking makes a MUCH better sound when you're a Cavalier as opposed to a Roundhead.

[somedumbguy]

[spoiler]

I'm a bit late to the game here, but regarding circumcision:

I'm circumcised, and I've never felt upset about it at all, nor can I think of any ill effects I've suffered because of it. If anyone here is circumcised, and wishes they weren't, can you explain why?

Ditto. Whenever I hear ludicrous complaints about circumcision and sexual performance, I think of Ron Jeremy, or any of the other classic American porn stars, almost all of whom were circumcised. God knows how many thousands of video-documented orgasms just for Ron himself.

The medical need seems to boil down to hygiene in most cases, and since this is not roughly 6000 years ago, the medical or hygiene issues in most cases can be taken care of through modern hygiene practices.

The idea is that circumcised penises air dry automatically, uncircumcised penises not so well. Viruses can apparently survive easier trapped in the warm damp environment under the foreskin, but not in the open airy environment of the circumcised penis. People don't always shower after sex immediately, and young boys (and older men who may be less able to care for themselves) are not famous for their good hygiene. And mom bathing with a 8-9 year old is kind of weird in a Lyssa Aryn way, and not every 70-year old that has some mobility problems wants or has a home health aide (and many would refuse to let one clean their schlong out of pride)

While I cannot tell you with a first person account that there is a loss of sensitivity through circumcision, there seems to be good anecdotal evidence there is, and a facially valid reason to believe there would be.

[/spoiler]

I've read testimony from adult-circumcised males saying they are MORE sensitive post-circumcision. There's no evidence that circ and uncirc'd men have any difference in ability to achieve orgasm.

It's not about ability to achieve orgasm, it's about maximizing pleasure.

Also, as an adult post-circumcision, I'd be pretty sensitive about it too! But more realistically, there is a longitudinal study required, if that could be done.

It might not be surprising that the post circumcised penis, without the protective foreskin for the first time in 20, 30 years, would indeed be more sensitive than the same penis with that foreskin had been up until then, and for a variety of reasons, newly exposed skin, different sort of stretching/pulling/rubbing of that skin, Westinghouse effect, placebo, etc.

It's not clear at all that the penis that has had the foreskin removed for 10, 20, 30 years will be as sensitive as the foreskin protected penis.

[spoiler]

I find this page interesting, if not 1000% convincing: http://www.jewsagainstcircumcision.org/jewish.htm especially where it states:

Interesting! I think this is a Quaker on the Oatmeal box thing. For a long time up to and including the Victorian Era, Meat was connected to sexual drive and power, and grains connected to temperance and continence. So the idea was if you want your children behaving like continent good children who practice abstinence, you fed them oatmeal instead of bacon. (I think some of this mentality survives somewhat changed down to today, with Pacific/Enlightened behavior taking the place of hindering sexual desire in this case. Just like the RadFems seem to me to be the descendents of the Victorian-era priggish decency societies of women, both share a keen interest in "harmful words" and "dangerously untamed sexual desires", for example).

MRA groups that place male circumcision alongside Female Genital Mutilation need to learn how to a) prioritize, and b) pick their fights, and c) make a compelling argument because they are often wrong, annoying, and people are right to call them on it.

Yes. There is a great deal of false equivalency between circumcision ("MGM") an FGM. The latter doesn't have a shred of medical benefit behind it, and does indeed result in many women not being able to achieve orgasm.[/spoiler]

[Mykeru]

Well, everybody has some kind of kink, and even if it's a rare kink, it certainly exists,

Well, let me tell you a really super kinky experience I had the other night. I'm sitting at my computer reading Grey Lining, as everyone should, when my phone sitting on the coffee table rings. I go over and for some inexplicable reason there was the name of some chick I hadn't heard from in months who, I assume, had a thought of my usefullness pop into her little blonde head. Perhaps even a half-drunk booty call.

I look at the phone ringing, it's actually buzzing a bit, dancing across the table an inch or so. Then, using just the tip of my finger, run it across the GUI slider to "ignore". After a bit there was the ding of the voice message popping up. With a shiver of anticipation, I pressed the delete button without listening. The phone prompted me if I was sure I wanted to delete it. That fucking tease phone. And so I did.

It was so hot.

I have no idea why people think I'm grumpy.

Oh, and just to get in on the circumcision confessional, here's my dick picture:

[spoiler]http://images.politico.com/global/news/ ... ap_328.jpg
Made you look, noob.[/spoiler]

[Altair]

On the topic of ads on FTB, look at the ad I got when I went to check the comments on Ophelia's blog:

[spoiler]http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5370/sinttulokpt.png[/spoiler]

I feel soooo objectified :crying-yellow:
Notice how they cut off his head, to imply he's not important as a person but only as a piece of meat! And he's presented almost naked, with emphasis on his genitals!
If that's not rape culture, I don't know what is!!
I can't believe Ophelia allows this kind of sexist ads that not only degrade men but promote the idea of a perfect body!

:lol:

[Tony Parsehole]

We don't see any overweight male neckbeards on the cover of Sci Fi or Fantasy books, either. Help, help, males are being oppressed.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MsAlYewfMUI/S ... graham.jpg

Not a bad book either from what I remember.

[Tony Parsehole]

This associating/comparing FTB detractors/dissenters to acid-throwers isn't actually new. The Lousy Cunt did it over a year ago and I took proper exception to it. It seems to logically follow that once you throw terms like "rapist" on the drop of of a hat, you sooner or later have to resort to stronger stuff. Hence "acid thrower".

This feels like it crosses a real line. I am hoping that OB realises that what she said was awful and retracts it in some way. I sent her that picture on Twitter - maybe she will come to her senses.

HAHAHAHAHA! Good luck with that mate!
She'll no doubt use it as evidence of harassment.

[Angry_Drunk]

Did someone mention foreskins?

[spoiler]http://www.theangrydrunk.com/wordpress/ ... 1/snip.jpg[/spoiler]

[welch]

This associating/comparing FTB detractors/dissenters to acid-throwers isn't actually new. The Lousy Cunt did it over a year ago and I took proper exception to it. It seems to logically follow that once you throw terms like "rapist" on the drop of of a hat, you sooner or later have to resort to stronger stuff. Hence "acid thrower".

This feels like it crosses a real line. I am hoping that OB realises that what she said was awful and retracts it in some way. I sent her that picture on Twitter - maybe she will come to her senses.

HAAAAHAHAAHHAHAAHHAAAAAAAHAHHAAHAHAHAAAAAA

[welch]

[spoiler]

I'm a bit late to the game here, but regarding circumcision:

I'm circumcised, and I've never felt upset about it at all, nor can I think of any ill effects I've suffered because of it. If anyone here is circumcised, and wishes they weren't, can you explain why?

Ditto. Whenever I hear ludicrous complaints about circumcision and sexual performance, I think of Ron Jeremy, or any of the other classic American porn stars, almost all of whom were circumcised. God knows how many thousands of video-documented orgasms just for Ron himself.

The medical need seems to boil down to hygiene in most cases, and since this is not roughly 6000 years ago, the medical or hygiene issues in most cases can be taken care of through modern hygiene practices.

The idea is that circumcised penises air dry automatically, uncircumcised penises not so well. Viruses can apparently survive easier trapped in the warm damp environment under the foreskin, but not in the open airy environment of the circumcised penis. People don't always shower after sex immediately, and young boys (and older men who may be less able to care for themselves) are not famous for their good hygiene. And mom bathing with a 8-9 year old is kind of weird in a Lyssa Aryn way, and not every 70-year old that has some mobility problems wants or has a home health aide (and many would refuse to let one clean their schlong out of pride)

While I cannot tell you with a first person account that there is a loss of sensitivity through circumcision, there seems to be good anecdotal evidence there is, and a facially valid reason to believe there would be.

[/spoiler]

I've read testimony from adult-circumcised males saying they are MORE sensitive post-circumcision. There's no evidence that circ and uncirc'd men have any difference in ability to achieve orgasm.

It's not about ability to achieve orgasm, it's about maximizing pleasure.

Also, as an adult post-circumcision, I'd be pretty sensitive about it too! But more realistically, there is a longitudinal study required, if that could be done.

It might not be surprising that the post circumcised penis, without the protective foreskin for the first time in 20, 30 years, would indeed be more sensitive than the same penis with that foreskin had been up until then, and for a variety of reasons, newly exposed skin, different sort of stretching/pulling/rubbing of that skin, Westinghouse effect, placebo, etc.

It's not clear at all that the penis that has had the foreskin removed for 10, 20, 30 years will be as sensitive as the foreskin protected penis.

[/quote]

which one is more sensitive is a useless question. "Is it sensitive enough for the owner?" is the question that matters.

[Dick Strawkins]

This associating/comparing FTB detractors/dissenters to acid-throwers isn't actually new. The Lousy Cunt did it over a year ago and I took proper exception to it. It seems to logically follow that once you throw terms like "rapist" on the drop of of a hat, you sooner or later have to resort to stronger stuff. Hence "acid thrower".

This feels like it crosses a real line. I am hoping that OB realises that what she said was awful and retracts it in some way. I sent her that picture on Twitter - maybe she will come to her senses.

You are joking, aren't you?
Ophelia would freak out if you sent her that picture.

[Reap]

Here's my latest reply to PZ I wonder if he really understands much of anything. More than half the email addresses he is trying to say I created were not created by me. Why would I lie? I already said I make a new one cause otherwise he will block me, that's my sad way of excusing my behavior because I want to defend myself from libelous comments...shame on me!
http://reapsowradio.com/graphics/freethoughtblogspz.png

[HoneyWagon]

Could be worse...

[spoiler]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8362/8391 ... 4a01_z.jpg[/spoiler]

Dude. Come on. That's gross.

I know. I apologize, but what other head could I use?

:clap:

[sKepptiksowat]

@Parge:


@Lsuoma:

I don't think that works. If I were blind, everyone could easily point to severe difficulties, such as being prone to bumping into things, or not being able to enjoy paintings. What I'm asking for is examples of (metaphorically) what paintings I can't enjoy, or what things I bump into, because I'm circumcised.

The point is that you can't validate any reference points or statements from other people because they are subjective. You can't even vicariously experience being sighted, at least not with any reliability.

Also, wanking makes a MUCH better sound when you're a Cavalier as opposed to a Roundhead.

Hence, fap?

[AbsurdWalls]

HAHAHAHAHA! Good luck with that mate!
She'll no doubt use it as evidence of harassment.

HAAAAHAHAAHHAHAAHHAAAAAAAHAHHAAHAHAHAAAAAA

You are joking, aren't you?
Ophelia would freak out if you sent her that picture.

Colour me persuaded.

[CommanderTuvok]

Ophelia's latest takes Baboon Professional Victimhood to new levels.

The silly shitstain.

[Lsuoma]

Q: How do you circumcise a whale?
[spoiler]A: Send down foreskin divers.[/spoiler]

Also, sung to the tune of "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean"

My oneskin lies over my twoskin,
My twoskin lies over my three!
My threeskin lies over my foreskin,
So draw back my foreskin for me!

[AndrewV69]

I'm a bit late to the game here, but regarding circumcision:

I'm circumcised, and I've never felt upset about it at all, nor can I think of any ill effects I've suffered because of it. If anyone here is circumcised, and wishes they weren't, can you explain why?

I was circumcised but I can not recall ever getting weepy about it or even blaming my parents/society/the men in black.

Feedback from various women over the years is that I appear to take longer to orgasm than they are accustomed to in other men.

That may or may not be a benefit depending on your perspective I suppose, and I can not be sure exactly how much the MSM done to me is a factor. Among the things that fall under the realm of possibility, I include either extending an existing condition or creating it in the first place.

*shrug*

My take I suppose is more along the the lines of "you can not miss something you never had".

Notwithstanding the above, there was no way my sons were ever going to have it done to them as a matter of routine before they could have a say in the matter.

[Lsuoma]

Also, not having a polo neck means that you can't whip up a batch of aromatic Bellendo cheese so well.

[Pitchguest]

I love it. The Prune is demonstrating how to write like the Prune in her most recent blog posts to great effect.

Short sentence, long quote, short sentence, long quote, end with short sentence soliquoy.

I didn't know writing blogs were that easy.

[another lurker]

I am fucking around with some religious fundies on a large messageboard atm, and they are fond of saying 'just don't have sex if you don't want babies'. In fact, they go so far as to say that a married man and woman should abstain from sex their entire lives if they do not want to have children.

This reminds me of the 'just tell men not to rape' meme. Magical thinking and it is completely out of touch with the real world and how real people work. Sure, try to change cultural atittudes about rape. Educate people. Harsher punishments, etc. But ffs, just saying 'hey don't do it' and expecting people to say 'hey ok cool idea bro' is fucking asinine.

[Tony Parsehole]

HAHAHAHAHA! Good luck with that mate!
She'll no doubt use it as evidence of harassment.

HAAAAHAHAAHHAHAAHHAAAAAAAHAHHAAHAHAHAAAAAA

You are joking, aren't you?
Ophelia would freak out if you sent her that picture.

Colour me persuaded.

Whatever happens, keep us posted!

[somedumbguy]

I am fucking around with some religious fundies on a large messageboard atm, and they are fond of saying 'just don't have sex if you don't want babies'. In fact, they go so far as to say that a married man and woman should abstain from sex their entire lives if they do not want to have children.

This reminds me of the 'just tell men not to rape' meme. Magical thinking and it is completely out of touch with the real world and how real people work. Sure, try to change cultural atittudes about rape. Educate people. Harsher punishments, etc. But ffs, just saying 'hey don't do it' and expecting people to say 'hey ok cool idea bro' is fucking asinine.

Remember,

Sometimes when you troll into the abyss, the abyss trolls you back -- Ni3chy1900

[Metalogic42]

Science fiction and fantasy novels routinely portray scantily clad woman on their covers

Oh, they do, do they? Let's look at some of the most popular sci-fi and fantasy books...

[spoiler]http://agreatbecoming.files.wordpress.c ... =250&h=366[/spoiler]

nope...

[spoiler]http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/978034545375 ... 60x420.jpg[/spoiler]

still nope...

[spoiler][/spoiler]

hmm...

[spoiler]http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2 ... t_rule.jpg[/spoiler]

I'm sensing a trend here...

[spoiler]http://www.bhagwad.com/blog/wp-content/ ... dation.jpg[/spoiler]
[spoiler]http://www.bestscifibooklist.com/wp-con ... i-book.jpg[/spoiler]
[spoiler]http://1001bookstoreadbeforeyoudie.file ... yssey1.jpg[/spoiler]
[spoiler]http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/978059035342 ... 60x420.jpg[/spoiler]

Where are all the poor, objectified, scantily-clad women?

[d4m10n]

Also, not having a polo neck means that you can't whip up a batch of aromatic Bellendo cheese so well.

This American Life recently passed off fried pork bung as calimari. The above inevitably merits comparison and perhaps an experimental design.

[Reap]

As for me doing "fuck all", I've done as much as most people here. I tweet about them, I comment about them and I try to engage them in dialogue to a) learn their perspective because I don't "get" what most of them are about and b) try to convince them that their arguments are flawed.

You stick to your ad hominems, I have no control over what you do. But I choose to take the higher ground, so fuck you.

You're right. You absolutely don't "get" what they are on about --- and as a result you are wasting your time in trying to understand their "perspective" or convincing them that their arguments are flawed.

As Welch myself and others have pointed out ad nauseam, Meyers, Watson and crew give no shits about equality, social justice, skepticism, or even atheism. They are New Media Douchebag grifters who have found a market and are milking it for everything it's worth. Every time you visit their sites to comment it's money in their bank (and no, childrens, your ad blockers and anonymous proxies aren't doing fuck-all to hurt their revenue). The only "perspective" that these pustulant wankers have is their own overweening egos. The only "arguments" they care about are arguments that bring in the page-views. By engaging Peezus & the Gang on their own turf you accomplish exactly two things: you give them another page-view that can be reported to their ad network and you give them ammunition to fuel their persecution narrative.

As Welch keeps stating, the only effective strategy for dealing with these schmucks is to refuse to engage them on their own turf. For the love of Zoroaster, listen to the man. He's been dealing with far more competent assholes for longer than Internet Atheism has been a thing.

Like I said, I don't have a problem with Welch's answer but no way is it the only effective method. Comment sections are for the observer and if you make sound arguments the people who can get it will. They are doing damage and will keep on doing it whether anyone calls them on it or not. I'm not going to let PZ or anyone else talk shit while I sit and watch because my credibility is worth less than the few cents they may make on blog hits. If there is a way to respond on their platform,I'm doing it. The high road doesn't take a path I'm comfortable with sometimes. That's just me everyone should do whatever they feel comfortable with doing. I don't think it is good to discourage people standing up to bullshit that's not giving anyone ammo. I hadn't posted on PZ's blog for a few days and what happened ? He made some shit up out of thin air

[Tony Parsehole]

Also, not having a polo neck means that you can't whip up a batch of aromatic Bellendo cheese so well.

This American Life recently passed off fried pork bung as calimari. The above inevitably merits comparison and perhaps an experimental design.

I'n all seriousness I'd think I'd actually prefer the pigs bumhole over calamari.

[Angry_Drunk]

Like I said, I don't have a problem with Welch's answer but no way is it the only effective method. Comment sections are for the observer and if you make sound arguments the people who can get it will. They are doing damage and will keep on doing it whether anyone calls them on it or not. I'm not going to let PZ or anyone else talk shit while I sit and watch because my credibility is worth less than the few cents they may make on blog hits. If there is a way to respond on their platform,I'm doing it. The high road doesn't take a path I'm comfortable with sometimes. That's just me everyone should do whatever they feel comfortable with doing. I don't think it is good to discourage people standing up to bullshit that's not giving anyone ammo. I hadn't posted on PZ's blog for a few days and what happened ? He made some shit up out of thin air

Hey man, if banging your head against a brick wall is what blows your skirt up, knock yourself out. Vishnu knows Peesus needs the page-views.

[katamari Damassi]

Following that ridiculous post of Ophelia's about the bolshoi ballet acid attack being like what she has to deal with, I noticed another post on B and W where the crazies come out in force.
It's an article about some idiots list of the top ten ugliest feminists.
The list is a rather mean spirited piece done by someone called roosh(?) who seems to be an anti-feminist MRA, I think.
It's really just trollbait and really deserve comment.

http://freethoughtblogs.com/butterflies ... -pretties/

Ophelia, however whines on about it and brings in some quote from Jeremy Stangroom about the 'chill girls' generally being pretty (which Ophelia takes to mean she and her fellow bullies are being accuse of being ugly)

So you get PZ turning up and whining about Stangroom and various commenters complaining about how unfair it is to be ugly.

The funniest interjection is by Rebecca Watson, who is clearly really pissed off that she wasn't included in the list - she obviously saw it as a perfect addition to her professional victim arsenal.

http://i.imgur.com/STlC1.jpg

I checked it out and the guy is an asshole. Has Ophie labeled him a slymepitter yet?

[AbsurdWalls]

Whatever happens, keep us posted!

Blocked. Fair enough.

It's notable that the blog post itself has three comments. Two from OB and one supportive of the post. I assume she pre-moderates her blog comments because I don't think it's possible that what she said didn't bother anyone else.

[katamari Damassi]

Hm.. How did I do that?

[Lsuoma]

HOW NOT TO FUCK UP SPOILERS:

1. DON'T NEST SPOILER TAGS.
2. DON'T OVERLAP SPOILER TAGS WITH OTHER TAGS.

Basically, if you have a spoiler tag open and open another tag like quote AFTER the spoiler tag, you must close the quote (by using /quote) BEFORE closing the spoiler, and vice versa.

[Altair]

[spoiler]

Science fiction and fantasy novels routinely portray scantily clad woman on their covers

Oh, they do, do they? Let's look at some of the most popular sci-fi and fantasy books...

[spoiler]http://agreatbecoming.files.wordpress.c ... =250&h=366[/spoiler]

nope...

[spoiler]http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/978034545375 ... 60x420.jpg[/spoiler]

still nope...

[spoiler][/spoiler]

hmm...

[spoiler]http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2 ... t_rule.jpg[/spoiler]

I'm sensing a trend here...

[spoiler]http://www.bhagwad.com/blog/wp-content/ ... dation.jpg[/spoiler]
[spoiler]http://www.bestscifibooklist.com/wp-con ... i-book.jpg[/spoiler]
[spoiler]http://1001bookstoreadbeforeyoudie.file ... yssey1.jpg[/spoiler]
[spoiler]http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/978059035342 ... 60x420.jpg[/spoiler]
[/spoiler]
Where are all the poor, objectified, scantily-clad women?

Based on my experience on bookstores, I just did a search on amazon for "paranormal romance". I'm going to say, based on annecdotical evidence, that this kind of book is mostly read by women.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_ ... al+romance

There are a lot of scantily clad men, and a few women as well
[spoiler]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5 ... AA160_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5 ... AA160_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5 ... AA160_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5 ... AA160_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4 ... AA160_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4 ... AA160_.jpg[/spoiler]

There seems to be a trend to "objectify" PEOPLE on book covers. I would say it's because, despite the saying "don't judge a book by its cover", the thing that usually draws people to a book, and makes them look at the back cover and maybe even read it is the cover.
A cover that draws people attention is a cover that helps sell the book.

[Metalogic42]

@Altair:

Those books seem to be primarily *written* by women as well. Down with the matriarchy!

[Tony Parsehole]

Whatever happens, keep us posted!

Blocked. Fair enough.

It's notable that the blog post itself has three comments. Two from OB and one supportive of the post. I assume she pre-moderates her blog comments because I don't think it's possible that what she said didn't bother anyone else.

[youtube]X_mK0nrrsbI[/youtube]


Trying to reason with the FTB morons is completely useless. I've never actually had an exchange with Ophelia but from what I've seen of her behaviour she's one of the worst and that's saying something.

[Altair]

On the acid-throwing post, Aratina made a comment:

Aratina Cage

January 18, 2013 at 11:31 am (UTC -8)

Just the other day another one of the goons on Twitter was threatening to “tap” PZ “on the shoulder” at a conference, and later it was disclosed that one or more of them have been harming local businesses just to prank PZ. This is not a friendly rivalry, either. It’s dangerously close to becoming violent. That is why we need everyone to stand up to them and say “Enough!”

Is "tap" an euphemism for something violent that I'm unaware of? The closest I can find on google is "When you 'tap' someone, it means that you are making use of that person for getting something that you need or want".

Because I can't believe she literally means that someone was threatening to "hit with repeated, slight blows" PZ's shoulder. That's too insane even for them.

And then Ophelia says she found about it on Aratina's Twitter feed. I find nothing there about it, but I assume the "harming local businesses" refers to PZ's call from the car dealers. That doesn't sound like harming anyone, it's bad, takes away their time and it's annoying, but I wouldn't call it harming.

These guys are getting weirder by the minute.

[another lurker]

I have heard that women can be pretty grabby towards male strippers. Male audience members tend to keep their hands off the girls.

Kids in the Hall: chicken lady at strip show


[youtube]0YwnAdT9I_o[/youtube]

[nippletwister]

Also, not having a polo neck means that you can't whip up a batch of aromatic Bellendo cheese so well.

This American Life recently passed off fried pork bung as calimari. The above inevitably merits comparison and perhaps an experimental design.

I'n all seriousness I'd think I'd actually prefer the pigs bumhole over calamari.

Why, are you color blind?

[Gumby]

I don't really get the whole "I sneaked a comment into PZ's blog, w00t!" Thing. It gives PZ data to push his points that the people here are obsessed/stupid/possibly dangerous/etc. it also accomplishes nothing. It's a ineffective tactic that plays into their hands. He don't want me commenting on his blog, party on Garth, it's not like that's going to shut me up or even slow me down. In fact, it works out in my favor, because it removes me from his editorial control. The best he can do to me, other than unleash his horde of retardhihuahuas is...write an angry blog post.

Oooooooooh, burn.

PZ has demonstrated that he is not only a coward, but also intellectually dishonest. But if people keep sneaking into leave comments, then he gets to claim some high ground. Why give the fat fuck any ammo? Deprive him of his tools, and make him work for shit, don't just give it to him.

Agree 100%. Ankle-biting at their blogs, signing in under multiple accounts, etc. serves no purpose and is completely fucking counterproductive.

[Altair]

Oooooh, a twitter conversation that mentions both Pitchguest and Franc!

https://twitter.com/OpheliaBenson/statu ... 8602904576

Aratina Cage ‏@aratina

@OpheliaBenson And this "Pitchguest" character is saying that you frivolously outed Wally Smith! They're actually defending Wally Smith!

Aratina Cage ‏@aratina

@OpheliaBenson It was short, 1 para, called for violence & I'm assuming it was Franc Hoggle since it calls him his favorite slur at the end.

(The one about Franc refers to a now-deleted comment on the CFI thread about blocking people on twitter. According to Aratina, it was a written as if it was posted by Ophelia)

What's Franc's favorite slur? Is it cunt? is it? what do I win if it's cunt?

[Gumby]

I've met two people who've done that on Twitter. I ended up suspecting they were Jen and/or Rebecca and/or Ophie and/or whoever. Their wording and their adhom focus on sexual slurs had the same sound to it as exaggerated forms of their exaggerated blog claims. I was left with the impression that they wrote these tweets to create proof of how persecuted they were.

If that's the case, then their tactic backfired with me.

[Mykeru]

On the acid-throwing post, Aratina made a comment:

Aratina Cage

January 18, 2013 at 11:31 am (UTC -8)

Just the other day another one of the goons on Twitter was threatening to “tap” PZ “on the shoulder” at a conference, and later it was disclosed that one or more of them have been harming local businesses just to prank PZ. This is not a friendly rivalry, either. It’s dangerously close to becoming violent. That is why we need everyone to stand up to them and say “Enough!”

Is "tap" an euphemism for something violent that I'm unaware of? The closest I can find on google is "When you 'tap' someone, it means that you are making use of that person for getting something that you need or want".

Because I can't believe she literally means that someone was threatening to "hit with repeated, slight blows" PZ's shoulder. That's too insane even for them.

And then Ophelia says she found about it on Aratina's Twitter feed. I find nothing there about it, but I assume the "harming local businesses" refers to PZ's call from the car dealers. That doesn't sound like harming anyone, it's bad, takes away their time and it's annoying, but I wouldn't call it harming.

These guys are getting weirder by the minute.

Nope, they've always been that weird. "Dangerously close to being violent"? Where have I heard that before?

[spoiler]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8222/8376 ... 49ae_c.jpg[/spoiler]

Folks: It's a tactic. Get it?