Thanks, an apology, and weirdness

First off, a general note of both thanks and apology.  I give thanks that over the past year, so many more folks have come to this blog.  I'm chuffed that so many have linked here, and so grateful for all who have left comments.  But as I get more and more comments and emails alike, my abiility to respond thoughtfully has dropped.  As a result, I've resorted to being flip and glib in many of my comments and replies, and I am aware that that may appear either dismissive or condescending.  I'm deeply sorry for that, and resolve to do better.  But doing better may, in some cases, mean not replying to various comments for some time.  So, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

Second off, the fellows at the Stand Your Ground forum get odder and odder.  I didn't want to give the rascals any more attention, but this one was too good to resist.  This is by far the most interesting theory they have about me:

...bet you a box of donuts this Hugo guy is related to the international banking cartel in someway. ie the Rockefellers, Rothchilds or some government agency that financially benifits in someway and is threatened by the men's movement. The cash cow of the bureaucrates are at stake here.

Dang.  My cover has been blown.  But he forgot my close relationship with the Trilateral Commission, the Rosicrucians, the Illuminati, the Freemasons, and the Templars.  Almost all self-respecting pro-feminist bloggers belong to these organizations as well. 

Oh, and next time you fellows see one of those little black helicopters?  I sent it.

Comments

[Brian Ulrich]

I knew the Cliopatriarchs were Templar-related!!!

[Camassia]

And you've already admitted to your Jewish heritage, so clearly you're part of the Zionist Occupational Government.

[djw]

Did the Rothchild's provide you with the time travel technology necessary to assassinate JFK? The big picture is finally coming into focus!

[Trish Wilson]

Geez, is everybody in the Illuminati these days? And I thought it was so exclusive. It's not cool anymore. Time to cancel my membership. ;)

[Troy]

hahahaha

Yeah, the Illuminati is not what it was.

[Trish Wilson]

LOL Troy. Every time I hear someone mention the Illuminati, I think of that Fatboy Slim song: "The Illuminati...ti...ti...ti.... a secret society do exist..." Hee hee.

[Moontyger]

I have to admit, I was particularly amused by the guy who posted the subtitle of this blog and bolded "proud father of a small chinchilla" as though that was the most pertinent part and a sure sign of evil or something. Because we all know that chinchilla-lovers are all perverts or something, right? :P

[Hugo Schwyzer]

I wondered about that, too. Matilde, you see, rises above it all. She's got the insouciance of her breed. She knows her place in my heart, and she's quite happy there. And I am happy to defend her as an individual, and her breed to boot.

[Jonathan Dresner]

I'm glad you're all so amused. I suppose I am a bit heartened to realize just how close the MRA are to the fringe -- the ease with which conspiracy theory arose is quite telling -- but I'm also troubled by the notion that the MRA, which I see as having gained strength in recent years, would strengthen the role of the anti-semitic, anti-globalization, etc., embattled narrative in the mainstream. The idea that Christianity is surrounded and threatened by hostile forces is already very strong among certain Christian groups (they played "Faith of our Fathers" at the inaugural, I'm told, which, if I were consipiracy-minded myself, I would read as a signal to those constituencies that their concerns are taken seriously), and there is a powerful anti-feminist component to the white supremacist discourses (which are almost always anti-global and anti-semitic as well).

If this really is the population with which you'll be engaging on the radio, I urge you to... well, it's too late to suggest that you not do it, but just be careful.

[Hugo Schwyzer]

Jonathan, I don't think that those comments are representative of all MRA. I do think they have an extreme fringe element with whom no debate is possible. But I also think they have a reasonably civil mainstream. I think fellows like Glenn Sacks and Warren Farrell are misguided, perhaps dangerously so. I think that their subtle misogyny "fires up" a less sophisticated and more vulnerable male population. But I do think that some folks have to be willing to enter into opportunities for debate, even in the heated arena of AM talk radio.

I'm not sure if the Stand Your Ground fellows sensed that I am partly of ethnic Jewish extraction on my father's side. On the other hand, Sacks is as Jewish a name as you can get, and they don't seem to come after him...

[djw]

If I can take a stab at interpreting the particulars of various posters derrangements....I wonder if it has to do with some notion of proper men not caring much about pets, or if they do, not showing it or talking about it (exceptions may be made for dogs, and they better not be poodles). So maybe it's not Chinchilla-specific. But with this crew, who knows, any weird thing is possible.

[Jeff JP]

onathan, I don't think that those comments are representative of all MRA. I do think they have an extreme fringe element with whom no debate is possible.

So the MRA have something in common with feminists. Hmm...

But I also think they have a reasonably civil mainstream.

Now we're getting somewhere.

I think fellows like Glenn Sacks and Warren Farrell are misguided, perhaps dangerously so.

One can easily say the same thing about you. Indeed, yours is a self-loathing misguidedness.

I think that their subtle misogyny "fires up" a less sophisticated and more vulnerable male population.

More condescension. How...predictable.

But I do think that some folks have to be willing to enter into opportunities for debate, even in the heated arena of AM talk radio.

If hostility happens on Glenn's show, I am confident you'll be the one who starts it.

I'm not sure if the Stand Your Ground fellows sensed that I am partly of ethnic Jewish extraction on my father's side. On the other hand, Sacks is as Jewish a name as you can get, and they don't seem to come after him...

So much for your pal's suggestion of "anti-semitism."

[Amanda]

Jeff, if you don't like condescension, I'll just insult the MRA's outright.

[Jeff JP]

Fine, Amanda. I'll just continue to laugh at idiotic feminists.

[The Guys]

Hey, looks like we missed your blog's one year anniversary celebration two weeks ago. Let's try again tomorrow, rain-or-shine, we have breakfast instead. If you can't make it tomorrow let's try next week.