Susan Jacoby has caused a bit of a stir:
And then later on a panel with Marcotte, as lousycanuck recounts:
Susan Jacoby, given what is provided here, seems to have two points:
If 'feminists' can accuse men of 'mansplaining', can we also accuse young Atheism+ types of 'youthsplaining'?
And here's the kicker:
The reality is the most abrasive feedback is coming from people that have paid to attend the event.
This is surprising only to people that endorse "progressive" groups like Atheism+ and FreeThoughtBlogs without actually interacting with them on a day to day basis.
You made this caustic bed.
Jacoby: atheism doesn't necessarily indicate liberalism #wiscfi
— Center for Inquiry (@center4inquiry) May 18, 2013
Sometimes None (as no religious identity) doesn't mean anything except none & that is not good for secular activism. -Susan Jacoby #wiscfi
— Nicole Introvert (@nicoleintrovert) May 18, 2013
Jacoby: not sure if the secular movement can count on the young "nones." Are they active enough? #wiscfi#letsgetactive
— CFI On Campus (@CFIOnCampus) May 18, 2013
"The struggle for social change requires young people to SHOW UP-- show up at the mid-term elections!" Jacoby #wiscfi#politics
— AZ (@SecularlyYours) May 18, 2013
And then later on a panel with Marcotte, as lousycanuck recounts:
Susan: How is the earnings differential a secular issue? There is a tradition of secular thought descending from social darwinists descended through Ayn Rand. Not only religious nuts like Paul Ryan believe in Rand. Secular men, atheists, also worship Rand. A lot of people think all atheists are political liberals but it’s not true.
Amanda: Women are shown over and over to be more liberal in values, eg. social safety net. Secularists should keep that in mind. Religion provides a social safety net; lack of safety net is one reason women don’t choose secularism.
Susan: Religious make strong case for social safety nets because “god wants us to help the poor”. Not to say religion itself does not thrive on poverty though. Among proselytizing religions like Islam, charismatic Christianity, where they are gaining converts are in the poorest areas of Latin America and Africa. But I don’t think you can say religion per se is for or against a safety net.
Amanda: I agree — but a strong safety net helps a society move in a secular direction.
Susan Jacoby, given what is provided here, seems to have two points:
- Young people don't vote, you can't count on them to change things
- Not all secular people buy into "progressive" or "liberal" economics or politics
Marcotte's response to point #2 seems to be that if we all decided to vote for Nader then more women would join secular groups because women are more liberal in values.
Then Twitter responds:
Re: characterization of millenials as some lazy monolith...just like every other generation, we disagree internally #wiscfi
— kate (@lauuwz) May 18, 2013
Jacoby: "Pay differential is not an issue for secular movement." What? Women being paid equal helps our movement equalize too! #wiscfi
— Amanda Knief (@mzdameanor) May 18, 2013
Hey Jacoby, I'm 25ish and not an idiot. Just FYI. #wiscfi why everyone gotta shit on young people?
— Laura (@Laura_Rhymes) May 18, 2013
Susan Jacoby basically describing Penn Jillette, Michael Shermer, et al. Ayn Rand worshipers. #wiscfiThis is funny.
— Sasha Pixlee (@sashapixlee) May 18, 2013
If 'feminists' can accuse men of 'mansplaining', can we also accuse young Atheism+ types of 'youthsplaining'?
And here's the kicker:
Seeing the nasty shit people keep tweeting about speakers makes me really not want to ever be one myself. #wiscfiBefore the convention, many expected the "harassing evildoers" like l'uberfeminist to ruin all the fun.
— Miri M. (@sondosia) May 18, 2013
The reality is the most abrasive feedback is coming from people that have paid to attend the event.
This is surprising only to people that endorse "progressive" groups like Atheism+ and FreeThoughtBlogs without actually interacting with them on a day to day basis.
You made this caustic bed.