Often, you'll hear a Pharyngula baboon make much noise about being 'empathic'; about how Peezee's place is 'a safe space for the marginalised, the oppressed, women and semi-deranged oddities such as Nerd of Redhead'. Well, okay, I made the last bit up - though in fairness to the Pharyngumob, I think it speaks of some worthiness on their part that they can grit their teeth and put up with the relentless effusions of this self-parroting imbecile - and I say 'effusions' rather than 'effluvia' deliberately, because shit can at least have some uses when it comes to fertilising the soil so that nice things can grow in it. Nerd's demented sputterings offer no such potential for anything to flourish. It's probably similar to what would result should a vacuum ever acquire an attitude.
But anyways - back to the topic in hand: The Pharyngubabs self-vaunted qualities of empathy, and how their space on the internetz is a safe one. Especially for people like Susan here:
Susan
26 March 2013 at 10:05 pm (UTC -5)
Hi. I posted a couple of times on other threads, but no one knows me yet, so I thought I’d introduce myself here. I have been following Pharyngula for years, read most of the comments, and check it out several times a day. I feel at “home†here even though I have mainly lurked. I feel at home because it’s a safe place for women and people with mental illness, like me. I feel at home because nasty people aren’t tolerated and almost everyone is tolerant and supportive. I live in New Mexico, married 27 years, have three dogs and two cats, love the desert, and am glad spring is finally here.
I am bipolar, and have been in a “mixed state†for most of last year and this, so far, because of the endless stress I have been under with my writing schedule (I’m a novelist.) I set my book deadlines too close together in an effort to bring in more regular advances when I was dumped by my last publisher and lost 3/4 of my income. I know we will never catch up on our considerable debt (in part caused by my bipolar illness and overspending, under control now, a bit too late) and this is very depressing … no retirement, no other assets. I know people here are much worse off than we are, though, including many who comment here.
. I’m seeing a therapist, but some days I feel like a failure, utterly hopeless, and just want to stop feeling. I’ve been in a “behavioral health center†(mental hospital) which was not extremely unpleasant and utterly useless. If only they’d know about bipolar disorder in kids when I was younger (I’m 54) I would probably have avoided many of the difficulties I face now.
The past couple of days have been horrible, mainly related to my writing. I haven’t had a real weekend off in months and months (I have to write 7 days a week), but will get a full 2 weeks off starting next week. I will be using it to plan a novel I want to write … which I will finish before I attempt to sell it. I feel positive about this ,but we are going to be in a difficult financial situation toward the end of this year.
I will try to keep up with the lounge threads and get to know all of you better. Sorry this has been so long!
Sue
http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/ ... ent-590760
A tentative early post from Susan, then. And though a few Pharyngulites respond with greetings, some do wonder if she might be a troll or a sock.
In fairness, it must be said that at the time of writing, Pharyngula had seen a recent influx of trollish commentators, so it's understandable that their hackles might be up a bit (though these being baboons, perhaps 'inflamed red arses' might be more appropriate. Certainly apt for the likes of Setar and Janine, if nothing else). However, one must remember - these baboons strive to be a lot more
empathic than most unwashed folk; and they frequently maintain that their habitat is a
safe space for the marginalised, the oppressed, women and Nerd of Redhead (sorry)
One would therefore think that a woman suffering such problems unassociated with those privileged neurotypicals might be given the benefit of the doubt here; that yes, she could indeed be a troll or a sock, but in being in a 'safe space' filled with such 'empathic' individuals, that said individuals might at least err on the side of caution and not be too quick in going full...er, 'horde' on her.
Enter Improbable Joe, longstanding FTB and Pharyngula commentator, and a guitarist afflicted with the rare distinction of being able to make a drummer look clever by comparison:
I know - WTF, right? A woman, claiming to feel vulnerable, and IJoe decides to enuniciate on his suspicions about her by bringing up the subject of...really, really sharp knives. For some reason.
A 'safe space in the internet', populated by people who strive to be more 'empathic'. Remember that.