Why are YOU here?

June 2, 2014 Jason ThibeaultDJ Grothe, feminism, gender, humanism, intersectionality, introspection, labels, movement skepticism, Pamela Gay, privilege, pseudoscience, religion, skepticism51 Comments

I’ve had this question rattling around in my head for almost a year now: why am I here, in the skeptical and atheist communities? Why do I include the labels “skeptic” and “atheist” in bio blurbs, and why do I cover topics and follow discussions associated with those labels? Why, given how little commonality I have with many of the folks who work full-time in these communities, given that some of the causes I care about the most are derided by vast swathes of the people with whom I’m expected to break bread, should I spend my time and effort on parts of my identity that I don’t find assaulted on a daily basis?

And more importantly, why are others in these communities? What do their reasons for being here say about the makeup of these communities?
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It’s happening everywhere

September 10, 2012 Jason Thibeaultatheism, bigotry, community, labels, misogyny, skepticism18 Comments

No, not “to everyone”. Everywhere. io9 talks about three of our communities – skepticism/atheism, sci-fi fandom, and computer hacker culture.

But it’s also happening in comics, in video games, in the movie industry. In every area where a woman tries to improve their lot, or to break those rigid gender roles by entering areas that are otherwise traditionally populated by men, she faces exponentially more abuse and vitriol than men in those areas.

In every aspect of our society, there is a hidden war on women.
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Lousy Canuck

… Because I don't watch enough hockey, drink enough beer, or eat enough bacon.

labels

Why are YOU here?

It’s happening everywhere