"Zuh?"
T-Shirts and Teaspoons and Mythical Creatures
[Trigger warning for sexual violence and rape apologia.]
About a dozen people (and thanks to each of you) have emailed me to let me know that the Penny Arcade "raped by dickwolves" strip that prompted this guest post and my Survivors Are So Sensitive post, among many others around the blogosphere, has now spawned a t-shirt featuring the head of what is apparently a raping dickwolf and the words "Penny Arcade Dickwolves," in the style of an athletic team logo and type. An image is below the fold.
"Go team dickwolf! Give me an R! Give me an A! Give me a P! Give me an E! What's that spell…?!"
It's great to see that Gabe and Tycho are making money in the Very Serious and Totally Not Making Fun of Rape Business from the production of t-shirts that effectively read "Team Rapist." If there's one thing I always say about the rape culture, it's: Why can't more men profit from it?
Now, I know some of you humorless hysterics are probably thinking that this t-shirt virtually promotes rape, given that it basically suggests that rape is a fun team sport for all the boys dickwolves to play! But it totes doesn't. Because dickwolves are MYTHICAL CREATURES and you are stupid. This shirt isn't condoning rape, or even treating it like a punchline—hell, no: It's just making fun of hypersensitive survivors and their reactionary allies! Geez.
The more rape jokes Gabe and Tycho make, the more it proves what assholes people who don't like rape jokes are! See?
That's how that works.
Here's how teaspoons work: Kirby Bits, with the help of an Anonymous Graphic Design Genius, is selling a Dickwolves Survivors Guild t-shirt, all of the profits for which will be donated to RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. If you would like to donate directly to RAINN, go here.
…You know, one of the things that always hangs with me after these scuffles is how generally everyone involved claims to care about victims of sexual violence, but, when it comes down to it, it's never the makers of rape jokes who create the t-shirts (or whatever equivalent) to raise money for survivors.
Funny, that.
It probably has a little something to do with something else I've observed: Gabe and Tycho defend themselves with pithy admonishments like like "It's possible you read our cartoon, and became a rapist as a direct result. If you're raping someone right now, stop. Apologize. And leave. Go, and rape no more."—as if the thought of one of their readers being a rapist is absurd. Similarly, the "irony" of a "Team Rapist" shirt only works if they believe no one who buys it could possibly be a rapist.
That willful ignorance is perhaps the most basic form of rape apology there is.
Well, I certainly don't know any men who are rapists. Sure. Nobody does. Even though as many as 15% of men (pdf) have, by their own account, attempted and/or committed sexual violence. Even though women are three times more likely to be raped by someone they know than a stranger, and nine times more likely to be raped in their home, the home of someone they know, or anywhere else than being raped on the street, making "acquaintance rape" by far the most prevalent type of rape.
And making it vanishingly unlikely that a dude with lots of dude friends and family members and co-workers and associates doesn't know at least one dude who has attempted or committed sexual violence. (And at least one dude who has been a victim of it.)
Gabe and Tycho maybe never considered that an actual rapist might buy and wear a "Penny Arcade Dickwolves" t-shirt. They probably never considered that a young woman or man, currently only concerned with defending the comic from the onslaught of Hysterics from Nofunnington, could become a victim of sexual violence while wearing the shirt. They might well argue that such scenarios are just overwrought hyperbole, and they don't give a shit about hypotheticals. They might remind me, yet again, that dickwolves are mythical.
Yes. They are. But rape isn't.
One in 33 men. One in 6 women. Many of them multiple times. Those numbers are even higher in places like war zones. Rape is all too real. And there are plenty of rapists who treat it like a goddamn sport.
Somehow, that reality seems to have been lost along the way.
There is indeed a mythical creature worth discussing in this debate, but it is not a dickwolf. It is the person who doesn't know a rapist, whose products will never be purchased by rapists or rape victims, whose rape jokes magically don't perpetuate the rape culture, but exist only in a narrow dimension where the act of rape doesn't exist.
Of course, if rape didn't exist, rape jokes wouldn't either.
Which I suppose would be a grievous loss for the makers of rape jokes.
[Previously: Rape Is Hilarious, Survivors Are So Sensitive, Quote of the Day, Troll Math and Teaspoons.]
I Write Letters
Dear Jodie Foster:
What the hell?
It's not like I've done an official poll or anything, but I'm nonetheless going to assert with some certainty that Mel Gibson is not "truly the most loved man in the film business," nor is he "incredibly loved by everyone that's ever come into contact with him."
Apart from the former partner he abused, I'm guessing Officer Sugartits doesn't exactly fancy him rotten.
Just for a start.
Look, I know you've got a film to rescue ASAP, but that's the chance you take when you do a solid for an old friend who happens to be an unapologetic bigot is that his raving fuckery might stain the red carpet. Cut your losses.
Otherwise, people are going to start thinking you're an asshole who thinks the art created with misogynist, dangerous, abusive men is more important than the reality of the things they've done.
Oh. Right.
Never mind.
Liss
Bob Herbert Says Brilliant Things (Again)
I'm not even going to excerpt it. Just go read the whole thing.
Really, when it comes right down to it, the Obama administration, and, by extension, the Democrats, are failing because trickle-down economics still. doesn't. work.
Bailing out the banks and doing whatever it takes to stop the stock market from going into freefall doesn't materially change the lives of average USians anymore. John Edwards may be an asshole, but he's an asshole who was right as rain about there being Two Americas. And the economies of those Two Americas are increasingly disparate.
What difference does the stock market make to your bottom line when you're hawking your shit on eBay to pay the gas bill at the rental to which you've downsized after losing your home to foreclosure after being laid off from the bootstraps factory?
Until the Democrats understand that reality, they're going to keep failing their most desperate constituency.
And leave room for the GOP to exploit the fear and hatred that breeds in the void of personal security.
More Email from My New BFF
[Trigger warning for antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, racism, and Christian supremacy.]
As you may recall, my new BFF Tony recently sent me one of the greatest and most well-targeted emails of all time. This morning, I received another awesome missive in my inbox, and I felt it would be the height of selfishness to keep it all to myself.
[Click to embiggen.]
Rarely, I imagine, are Ann Coulter and I on the same mailing lists.
I'm a little jealous that Digby gets to be the "Dem Party-Anti-Christ" and I only get to be "'GOD' Bless America." Harrumph. Although I do have to admit, when I think of Digby, I do think, "She's the best Dem Party-Anti-Christ there is!" So fair enough.
Again, I'd like to compliment my correspondent on the fine targeting of his email. If there's one person who's concerned about our Muslim president's attempts to deport Jesus Christ from America, it's me.
Everywhere I look there is evidence we are about to become a godless society, like: Our Christian president, our last Christian president, their almost exclusively Christian administrations who relentlessly pander to conservative and/or moderate Christians, the almost totally Christian Supreme Court, an almost entirely Christian Congress who start each session with a prayer, the millions and millions of other American Christians whose day of worship is still respected in various state laws across the country (like in Indiana, where you still can't shop for a car or buy booze on a Sunday), whose views are reflected in various federal laws (like denying same-sex couples the right of marriage in order to protect its "sanctity"), whose holidays are also national holidays, whose holy book must be sworn on in state and federal courts, and whose churches are not required to pay taxes, guaranteed freedom of religion, money that says "In God We Trust," a pledge of allegiance that describes us as "one nation under God," television networks who will accept advertising from conservative religious groups but not liberal political groups, schools who are incorporating a religious belief into science classes, conscience clauses for pharmacists and healthcare providers, religion-based residential communities being built, religious museums and amusement parks springing up all over the country, religious leaders being given diplomatic immunity, faith-based initiatives being federally funded, and our national media being constantly embroiled in a debate about in which god the president believes.
We are on the precipice, people!
-------------------
[If you can't view the image, the email reads (in large, oddly-spaced, and randomly-colored text): "Who is taking 'Jesus Christ' out of America? Most Jews that are Politicians are Democrats. Most Muslims that are Politicians are Democrats. We know Obama lied about being a Christian, as Obama is a Lying Racist Muslim. We know Obama and the Liberal Democrats are for Killing Innocent Babies! Was Obama born in Kenya? So who do you think is taking 'Jesus Christ' out of America? It is NOT The Christians! Do you think the Black Panthers believe in and Love 'Jesus Christ'? We Christians know what we must do on November 2, 2010!"]
Oh Noes!
People aren't using rotary phones so much these days, and it's getting hard to tap their conversations! Thank goodness the Obama administration is planning to fix that.
The Overton Window: Chapter Seventeen
Oh, chapter sixteen, how I miss you. You made so much sense. I thought, with you, I understood what was going on. But no. Now I am lost. Chapter seventeen came along and ruined everything with its lack of coherence.
Danny and Kearns are on a private jet, on their way to a meeting with some militiamen. Militiamen intent on committing "a grotesque act of domestic terrorism." Kearns is an undercover agent. Danny is his bait.
I guess this all ties back into those missing nukes. But I thought Darthur's PR firm had those. Is the militia a cover group for Darthur's firm? If so, why do is Danny needed "to lend a crowning bit of credibility to the proceedings"? Suppose the militiamen really are just a bunch of terrorist douchebags intent on setting off a bomb in some U.S. city? Then why is Kearns portrayed as such a douche when his efforts to stop them are pretty fucking noble?
Last chapter, it was pretty clear Kearns was an asshole for coercing Bailey into waiving his rights and turning snitch. In this chapter Kearns is little more than a spoiled doofus.
Stuart Kearns took a pack of Dunhills from one jacket pocket, his lighter from another, then reclined his seat a notch and lit up. He inhaled deeply, then blew a thin white ring of smoke and watched it drift up toward the rounded cabin ceiling.
"What are you doing?"
Danny Bailey had awakened from his nap and was staring at the lit cigarette across the narrow aisle as though he were watching a bank robbery in progress.
"You can still smoke on a charter. On this one, anyway." Kearns extended the pack to him, shook a filter tip halfway out. "Come on, you know you want to."
Come on, you know you want to? Yeah, that's how adults talk to one another. I love how Kearns smokes Dunhills. The only people I ever knew who smoked Dunhills were me and my homo pals (and Liss). I don't think it's an accident that Kearns' brand of choice is an expensive, fashionable brand, rather than Camels or Lucky Strikes. Yeah, he smokes faggy cigarettes and blows smoke rings: what a stooge!
Danny is, of course, all business here. He doesn't cotton to Kearns breaking FAA regulations. Which is odd, for a rabble rouser with such a dislike of The Man and his Rules.
Backstory:
Several years ago, Kearns had the FBI set up a website, www.stuartkearns.com, and began posing as a disgruntled whistleblowing ex-agent. He'd been, according to his cover story, "run out of his job when he'd tried to blow the whistle on some dangerous truths." With his knowledge of Dangerous Truths and access to the FBI's database of Very Bad Things, Kearns became a "household name" in militiamen circles.
Kearns is described here as "ex-fed-turned-Patriot." Interesting, no, the notion that one can't work as an employee of the government, as a federal agent, and be a patriot? Ah, well, maybe that's how the militias see it, and not Beck. Except every character in the book has spent the last 125 pages lambasting every aspect of government.
Anyway...
A new discussion group had formed in a private chat room on the site, under the heading of "Direct Action." The members began to kick around the logistics of the Oklahoma City bombing, Tim McVeigh's attack on the Murrah Federal Building in 1995: what had gone right, what had gone wrong, and the various conspiracy theories still swirling around the event and its aftermath. With some encouragement from the forum leader the discussion evolved—some half-baked plans that would've gotten the job done better, other vulnerable targets, men, methods, and materials. Many dropped out of the conversation as things got more serious, but eight stayed on.
This remaining group progressed to tentative voice chats and then to encrypted e-mail exchanges, all the while inching their way from what had started as a mere discussion toward a solid plot that could actually be executed. Three more anonymous participants eventually got cold feet and dropped out, leaving five people ready, willing, and able to commit a grotesque act of domestic terrorism.
So Kearns lures five people into his fictitious plot to set off a nuke. And now needs Danny to help him close the deal, as it were.
Danny Bailey would be brought along to the first in-person meet-up, to lend a crowning bit of credibility to the proceedings; he was currently the closest thing the Patriot underground had to a national spokesperson. In essence, Bailey would play the Oprah to Kearns's Dr. Phil.
I don't know about you, but these militiamen sound like dopes. They're falling for this? Okay then. Thank maude they're stupid, is all I can say.
Danny isn't too keen on playing along.
"These aren't my people," Bailey said. "You've gotta be kidding me, man, I've never told anybody to do any violence—"
"I've watched your videos, son, and you don't exactly tell them not to, either."
"Aw, come on." Bailey sat back in his seat, shaking his head. "I've got to go over the top just to get people up off the couch. Have any of you guys ever actually read the First Amendment?"
It's nice that there is some rationalization thrown in along the way. All's fair in Patriotism™ and infotainment where the First Amendment is concerned. Good to know, Beck.
Now, the author uses this moment to indulge in some faction. Blending fact, with fiction. Or, pulling-a-Law-and-Order, as we like to call it, ripping off a real news story and passing it off as his own.
Kearns asks if Bailey's ever done any acting. Bailey whips out a photo of himself dressed as Col. Sanders shaking hands with Ali Treki, president of the UN General Assembly.
"That's me." Bailey pointed to the man standing next to him in the photo. "And that's Mr. Ali Treki, the president of the UN General Assembly, receiving an official state visit from the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, who'd been dead for almost thirty years at the time. It was a publicity stunt for my DVD on UN corruption, United AbomiNations. It's sold out, but I'll see if I can get you a copy."
"I'll add it to my Netflix queue."
Except that in real life, this was a publicity stunt pulled by KFC, to promote their new grilled chicken sandwich. I don't know why the author chose to glom onto this factoid and weave it into the fine fabric that is this story. I guess maybe he just liked it.
I'm thinking we'll find out that Hollis sang Chocolate Rain too. Or Noah was the techno Viking. Or Darthur is goatse. Us fans of faction can only hope.
All that would certainly be less confusing than what's actually going on.
Bipartisanny!
What I love (where "love" = an ironic euphemism for "loathe with the fiery passion of ten thousand suns") about the imminent likelihood of a Republican takeover of Congress is how, when the GOP turns up its obstructionist wankery to eleven, the media meme will not be that the GOP is a bunch of petty, do-nothing, unprincipled foot soldiers of the most privileged citizenry, but that President Obama, who has spent the last two years alienating his base trying to win favor with right-learning independents and conservatives, isn't bipartisan enough.
And the Democrats will believe that shit.
Question of the Day
What did you not have to think about today?
Context is important.
The writer is John Scalzi, sf writer and editor, current president of the Science Fiction Writers Association, and a pretty decent bloke, by all accounts. In a very nice surprise, when I went by earlier there were over 100 comments, and very, very few of them were unpleasant to encounter.
This is so the worst thing you're going to read all day.
Why A-list men can't say no to a waitress: The stars who 'marry up' then 'cheat down.'
I don't even know what to say. It is an unmitigated clusterfucktastrophe of breathtaking insults lobbed in every conceivable direction.
Just...wow.
Today's Edition of "Conniving and Sinister"
See Deeky's archive of all previous Conniving & Sinister strips here.
[In which Liss reimagines the long-running comic "Frank & Ernest," about two old straight white guys "telling it like it is," as a fat feminist white woman (Liss) and a biracial queerbait (Deeky) telling it like it actually is from their perspectives. Hilarity ensues.]
The Solution Is Obviously to Write No More Female Characters at All
by Shaker Socchan, who has had enough of this shit already.
Last Monday, Part One: Overthinking It posts a horrendous chart diminishing a staggering number of prominent female characters - and at least one real, nonfiction woman - to simple stereotypes (possibly as a follow-up or companion to this August 18 post, which suggests that strong female characters are bad for women). Commenters sing the chart's praises.
Last Monday, Part Two: Jezebel re-posts the chart, praising Overthinking It for asshattery ingenuity, I guess. Again, compliments for the chart overflow from the comments section.
Last Tuesday: Sociological Images re-re-posts said chart, with no critical analysis. At least some of the commenters there recognize the chart itself and site commentary on as problematic.
Shakers, I feel ill. We are in a dire place indeed if even when multifaceted female characters are written, they are nonetheless stuffed into the narrow confines of a stereotype, right alongside all the female characters already written within the narrow confines of a stereotype in the first place. Heads you win, tails I lose. No matter what, female characters stink.
There are characters fully or approaching three-dimensional there: What of their other traits? What of the other characteristics that make them who they are, that define them outside of the limited scope Overthinking It has deigned to allow them? Is a female character only worthy of praise if she fits no stereotypes whatsoever?
I don't even know where to begin with those choices. Nyota Uhura as "Useless Girl"? Blanche Devereaux as "Slut"? The fact that Yoko Ono is on there at all? What are the implications of that for other nonfictional women - are we also worthless if we fit even a single category on this chart?
Since we're at it, how about the ablist connotations of defining a well-rounded and thoroughly crafted female character as "strong"? The best way I've been able to read it is by mentally changing the phrase to "strong-willed", but there's surely got to be a better way.
While there is certainly more work to be done in Hollywood and the entertainment industry in general, by ignoring the traits that make these female characters more than stereotypes, this chart is doing the exact opposite of helping.
----------------
There are some great posts and discussions on LiveJournal and Dreamwidth if you're interested in reading more:
* Memlu's untitled post with some of the basics
* bossymarmalade's post about Yoko Ono
* havocthecat's post on the whole thing and then some, including a great roundup of links
* annwyd's post with an updated/corrected version of the chart, placing blame/praise on the creator(s) involved rather than the characters
This is a real thing in the world.
Capable of accommodating a Brobdingnagian, this is the portable chair that elevates your physical stature at any outdoor event. Measuring 5-1/2' tall, the chair is certain to provide stadium seating at any venue, and its 9' sq. seat affords ample room for full-body gesticulations or sharing your prodigious chair with a friend. The lofty seat elevates feet well above the ground, where they're free to dangle and sway instead of merely floundering in dirt or sand. The reinforced powder-coated steel frame and 400-denier rip-stop canvas support up to 400 lbs.Sure. This definitely needs to exist.
The chair has six cup holders and folds to just 8-1/2" wide to allow transport in the included duffel bag. Step stool not included.
[H/T to scatx.]
Quote of the Day
[Trigger warning for sexual violence.]
"We must fight against impunity, so that the perpetrators of violence are punished, to allow women can regain their dignity. Despite what they endure, Congolese women are strong and able to stand up again."—Dr. Nene Rukunghu, a doctor at a hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, which treats many survivors of rape. Blub.
DR Congo has one of the highest rates of sexual violence in the world. This weekend, Dr. Rukunghu, along with thousands of other Congolese women, marched to demonstrate against sexual violence: "The atmosphere of the march was colourful and peaceful, and many demonstrators carried banners with slogans such as 'No to sexual terrorism'."
[H/T to Echidne. Previously on the DR Congo Rape Epidemic: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine.]
Today in Transphobia
I thought about titling this "Today In Appropriating Marginalized Bodies For Pseudo-Edgy Pseudo-Humour And Unfortunately Gobs Of Profit", but it's too long for a tag.
Besides, the one I used works well for this one (link goes to Skip the Makeup, a superb trans-issues blog).
An ad agency in New York, known for its "edgy"1 campaigns, moved office recently2, and used this card, as well as a video clip (available at Skip the Makeup; I thought the card made the point well enough for our purposes) to get publicity for their move. 
So how much would you pay for the ability to have transphobia and binary-gender performance policing advertise your business? But wait! That's not all! Because you also get a sweet little piece3 of xenophobia, absolutely free!
NOW how much would you pay?
So COME ON DOWN to our ad agency, and find out how we can use people who aren't white/cis/hetero/Christian/upper-class enough to help you grow your "edgy" business! We can put an offensive stereotype to work for you!
1 FSV of "edgy" to equal "pointless shots at marginalized people to make ourselves feel like big manly men who don't have to kowtow to political correctness, or even to 'not being a huge tank farm of douche drippings'".
2 I'm not linking to them directly; they can get their "buzz" elsewhere. Gina's got a link.
3 See what I did thar? French women are all sluts, amirite, bros? Damn, I am SO EDGY I SHOULD HAVE A "SHARPS" LABEL tattooed on me.
Tip of the CaitieCap to eastsidekate.
Monday Blogaround
This blogaround brought to you by Shaxco, makers of Deeky's Giant Shower Gloves, for thorough exfoliating!
Recommended Reading:
Catherine: [Trigger Warning] Sexual Assault and Abuse Rampant in America's Immigration Detention Centers
Peter: Over-confidence is a central factor in the Democratic train wreck.
Paradox: Her Father's House
Andy: Alaska Tea Party Candidate Joe Miller's Guards Handcuff Reporter
Stephanie: Disembodied Women and Movie Posters
Arturo: Blood & Guts: The Racialicious Review of Luther 1.1
Phil: National Feral Cat Day
Leave your links in comments...
Perfect
For a week or so, there have been rumors that The Hangover 2, sequel to the blockbuster dudebro comedy that helped rehabilitate Mike Tyson's career with a HIGHLARIOUS cameo, was going to be featuring another HIGHLIARIOUS cameo that would be SHOCKING and TOTALLY HIGHLARIOUS.
Who would it be? Given that the audience for The Hangover was meant to find this person HIGHLARIOUS, I was guessing Brett Favre, who, of course, already had the opportunity to show off his fine acting chops in There's Something About Mary and additionally has the highly-desirable quality of treating women like garbage.
I was close!
Today, the New York Post reports that the mystery cameo-man is Mel Gibson.
A source told Page Six, "It's a done deal. Mel will make a cameo as a tattoo artist. Filming is taking place on the Warner Bros. lot, where a Bangkok set has been built, and Mel is expected to film his role in two weeks. Then the production moves to Thailand at the end of October."Of course. Why wouldn't it be Mel Gibson?
I just hope they can persuade Roman Polanski to direct the inevitable third entry in this estimable franchise.
