Pajiba

That "review" of Joss Whedon's work has got to be the most irrational, insane, infantile, idiotic piece of writing I've ever encountered. Not only is it wholly inaccurate and full of nutty exaggeration, in the comments in her original article, she goes on to claim that Joss Whedon pressures and rapes his wife, because that's the only way a man who would write something like firefly could ever get a woman to have sex with him.

It is nothing more than radical feminism gone completely insane, and frankly it sickens me. I wish I'd never read it.

After seeing that piece of shit Being John Malkovich, I've had a true distaste for him. He just seems so smug.

S'more Peeps? My teeth are grinding as we speak.

I agree, TK, though I didn't read the whole thing. I believe it may be a parody (and by "believe" I mean "hope desperately").

I mean, "fellow feminist lesbian sister"? Surely this is some kind of ham-fisted satire?

Surely...?

Can't react to Joss Whedon article. Head will explode. Bad magic. I'd like to believe that it was satire too Jerce because it makes my little feminist soul sad but alas - I just don't have that much faith in people.

And hurrah for Blog Me A Tale love. Not that I'm in to mindless self promotion in the slightest ;)

I've always considered myself sensitive to the views of women. In fact. I'm renowned for it. Mothers across the land want their daughters to bring home a man like me.

But the critique of Firefly leaves me baffled. The writer apparently has no concept of the chain of command in the army nor the idea of liking a grumpy boss because he's a decent man underneath. Even the basic rules of humour confuse them!

They even hate Wash for crying out loud! And seemingly because they are projecting the behaviour of their own misogynistic racist relations on to Wash's relationship with Zoe.

That's seriously fucked up.

Jerce, I spent the last 45 minutes driving myself into a steaming rage... I read the whole article, and then perused her blog. Joss Whedon... RAPES HIS WIFE.

She is absolutely NOT being ironic.

I'll admit, Inara's career choice never seemed all that believable to me; I really can't see a self-respecting, intelligent woman being a prostitute when there are other options. But the rest of that rant was sheer insanity. The idea that Joss Whedon rapes his own wife everytime he "pressures" her into sex is so crazy I can't even articulate it. And if it's true, then certainly there are wives out there raping their husbands all the time, too. Lunacy.

Okay, in the interest of fairness, I will attempt to humour the writer of that Whedon piece. Admittedly, it's been several years since Buffy ended so I haven't seen it in a good long while, and it is theoretically possible that I had some sort of silent stroke in my brain and my memories of it are a complete fabrication of my subconscious, and maybe it was the polar opposite of what I remember and it trashed women all over the Hellmouth. Except, oh wait, that's absurd and there was nothing remotely mysoginistic about that show. Also, I just (FINALLY) watched Firefly last week, so I remember it perfectly, and I have no earthly idea what the hell that deranged lunatic is talking about.

When she watched the show, did she actually have her eyes physically open? I think, as punishment for that article, she should have to take a cross country road trip with Ann Coulter and those chicks who wrote The Rules.

She is absolutely NOT being ironic.

If she is doing satire, she's a failure as a writer because so many people are missing her point.

If, as you believe, she is being serious, then she is an even worse writer than I thought, in addition to being a failure as a thinker.

If you males find this sort of person infuriating, believe me, it's nothing compared to the fury that the sane women around you (the majority) feel for this kind of bullshit. Tossing the word rape around until it loses its true meaning is only the least of it.

Please don't damage your blood pressure steaming over people like this. They are literally a closed circle--and no one outside the circle takes them seriously.

Yes but Inara's career option made sense in the universe in which Firefly took place. Being a companion isn't really comparable to being a prostitute in our society. The rules have changed... Of course this is science fiction we're talking about - the only way in which that situation would be possible.

I'm more concerned with her casually throwing around rape. Besides the accusation Wheadon "rapes" his wife, but also the that the companion's clients are "rapists" and proceed to "rape her."

Am I missing the definition of rape and non-consensual sex? But doesn't a prostitute consent to the sex if there is a transaction based upon their business agreement?

I'm sorry, but if being locked in a classroom with a bunch of neo-feminists has taught me anything it's not to throw rape around casually.

I did read the all thing and I think my ulcer is back. but anyhow the woman does repeat more than ones that she hates men and that she never encounter not only a functional relationship between a white man and a black woman (cough*racist*cough) but more in general between a man and a woman. sweet. How sweet of her. I mean I sort of agree but clearly is the freaking same for lesbian, I know, I watch the L word.

. but anyhow the woman does repeat more than ones that she hates men and that she never encounter not only a functional relationship between a white man and a black woman (cough*racist*cough) but more in general between a man and a woman.

Yeah, I caught that too. And she's blaming Firefly to be racist. Unfortunately there are more people in her comment section that agree adamantly than there are who don't. I mean, that's typical. Pajiba certainly has more people saying how Tyler Perry movies suck then there are who don't, but I'd say "Any pro-prostitution remarks will be deleted" is a little more serious than "Tyler Perry sucks and let's argue about it."

Oh well, I don't agree with her opinions but I'll fight for her right to have them until my death.

Yes but Inara's career option made sense in the universe in which Firefly took place.

Precisely, Alex. The Firefly universe was both past and future, a hybrid of regressive and progressive. That was the whole point of the thing, really. It was also science fiction that took place in an alternate reality with an entire social mythos all its own. Inara was a respectable woman of considerable social standing, far above Mal in position and influence. It was also said, repeatedly and explicitly, that she personally chose her clients and could accept or refuse whomever she liked. She also had the clout to blacklist someone so that no one in the guild would deal with them. She wasn't comparable to a prostitute in our reality or in our era. You could compare her somewhat to a geisha, or possibly a consort in ancient Byzantium or something along those lines, but it's not really a direct parallel. There is no direct parallel, because a companion in a futuristic space western is fictional, as should be obvious to anyone who's not completely retarded.

I really agree with Jerce. There's no rationalising the thinking of a person who can say, in all seriousness, that Joss Whedon rapes his wife whenever they have sex, or that there's no such thing as a functional relationship between a man and a woman. She's doing far more to damage feminism with such histrionic absurdity than any mere fictional show ever could.

I'm actually far more concerned by the second piece from Salon they posted (the chick who strapped it on and then got a whole new insight into how men think).

How do these people function in life? Also, if this wasn't in Salon and from a feminist angle, wouldn't it be exactly the same as the anecdotes in Hustler that feminazis feel are so degrading?

While I do think that critique of Firefly is ridiculous, I also don't think that Joss Whedon's feminism is all it's cracked up to be. I've loved everything he's done, but I definitely think there are some major gender/racial/etc issues with his work, and there's nothing wrong with taking a closer look at them. Just, um... less insanely.

Yeah, that "there's no such thing as a functional relationship between a man and a woman" bit stuck in my craw, too.

The thing is, people like this have no interest in solving problems. They have no interest in creating any sense of unity or healthy dialog with anyone other than the other crazies within their circle. In her own special, crazy way, she is just as divisive and racist and sexist as the people so despises. Jesus, to think I once thought Bianca was bad.

God, I really wish I hadn't read that.

Thanks a lot, Stacey.

[scowl]

I'm not saying it's completely impossible for a woman like Inara to decide to do what she does and be totally okay with it, but it's clear from the very first episode that there's still an ugly side to it, and I just don't think her reasons were fully articulated. I guess what I'm really saying is, "Goddamn Fox, cancelling the show that quickly!"

Oh, and back to the crazy lady, did you see the part where she talked about Inara refusing to "service" the crew, but then she does "service" them? Because she talks to them, and we're told that conversation is part of the companion's craft? Like, she can't just be friends with Kaylee and everybody!

Yeah, I would believe that essay was for real, and not an unsuccessful attempt at satire. There are radical feminist theories out there that suggest that all heterosexual sex is necessarily rape, because it is "impossible" to consent to penetration. I couldn't make that shit up if I tried.
To throw the term rape around so haphazardly is unbelievably offensive, because it devalues it when it has actually occurred. I realize that there are many, many different forms of feminism, but shit like this is why women are afraid to declare themselves feminist, lest they be lumped into the same category as people with crackpot ideas like this.

Wow. I just.. wow. I read a few of the responses to that crazy lady's anti-Firely article, as well as her responses, and Lannie hit the nail on the head. Apparently the "writer" believes in what she calls the radical feminist definition of rape, which says that all heterosexual sex is rape, since no woman can truly consent to sex, being that women are naturally submissive to men (paraphrased from her responses, not some random definition I found online). How a so-called feminist can possibly support a stance which proposes women are naturally submissive to men is beyond me.

It's not satire. Her crackpot blog has since moved to http://allecto.wordpress.com/ and she even makes mention today of the sudden attention that old post of hers has gotten. But she's almost done with part 2 of her Firefly rant! I can't wait.

That Whedon essay confused, enraged and saddened me all at the same time. Saddened because clearly, from her own anecdotal evidence, she has some baggage that runs her world view. Confused and enraged because seriously, what the fuck?

I mean, every time Mal argues with a woman he's a misogynist, but every time he clashes with a male it's homoerotic? I'd also like to add my support to the sentiment that her definition of rape is very damaging.

This is why my sisters cringe every time I say feminist.

Easy, kids. With a little contemplation, it's readily apparent what has happened.

B-Slim has moved in with Bianca Reagan, and after several weeks of hot lemur sex, along with B-Slim getting his "cherry taken" by Bianca with "The Boss," they're collaborating on pseudo-feminist screeds against things they know we love.

Hicks-to-Ripley: Ease down. Just ease down. You're just grinding metal. Ease down.

In all seriousness, it's a good thing when extremist morons write this type of nonsense, for any cause. David Duke was the best thing that happened to race relations in the second half of the twentieth century, because crazy morons drive the merely-somewhat-dimwitted moderates away to more rational groups. This dipshit is a radical feminist David Duke, and her screeching self-immolation is necessary natural selection. If she were one shade less batshit crazy, someone might listen to her.

p.s. All heterosexual sex where I'm getting railed with a black rubber penis is rape. My saying "Yes! Yes! Yes!" is really just a disenfranchised plea for help.

Thank you, socalled.

You are erudite, eloquent and perspicacious.

Now, like I told you earlier today: STEP AWAY FROM THE RUTTIN' COMPUTER.

Go walk around Rome with your wife. I enjoy the mental image of wispy Italian men scattering like pigeons in your presence. Then have a wonderful meal.

Then when you get back from your trip, come to Pajiba and tell us aaalllll about it, 'cause we're going to want to know.

I do not want to see you here before then. Do you understand?

If she were one shade less batshit crazy, someone might listen to her.

That's a very good point, socalled. There is a tiny, almost non-existent, optimistic speck inside me that sincerely hopes the sort of dialogue started by irrational radicalism like that might theoretically inspire more people to stop and think, even for thirty seconds, about how they look at relationships (platonic, romantic, and sexual) between men and women, and how females are perceived and treated in society. I also hope it might make people stop and think about the fact that modern feminism is really just a simple strive for equality, and not a pointless and juvenile grappling for a fantasy of control. Declaring all heterosexual sex to be a violation, believing women to be naturally submissive to men, and dismissing the functionality of relationships is not feminism. I'm not sure precisely what it is, but it's sad and twisted and a little scary.

I'm glad the anti-christ known hs Joss Whedon has been outted for the wife raping sadistic misogynist bastard he is. On that Buffy show he has that one girl getting hit all the time by men and others being killed. It is a travesty, a TRAVESTY that he is allowed to make his hate mongering anti-womyn propganda and the pathetic virgin geek male masses lap it up because their pissed that they can't get a date.

Also, I hear he eats kittens.

Walking around Rome with your wife is RAPE.

calling your wife 'wife' is rape.

Being a man is rape. I'm raping all of you right now.

Considering my heart condition, I should have not given into temptation and read that rant about Firefly. But as usual I read the comment threads before checking out the links and curiosity got the best of me.

What a sad, sad creature. The more I read the more I realized that she 1. Doesn't have a creative bone in her body that would allow her to understand complex characters and interactions within a work of fiction 2. Has never had a healthy relationship (even friendship) with a man, especially not a white man, so that colors everything she believes.

I won't go into her obvious ignorance about the historic role of the courtesan and how within the context of certain societies that role was a highly regarded one. It seems unfathomable to her that a woman would choose to trade in sex, as she would any other commodity or talent. Or that Inara has female clients.

Her line about how there can never be a normal, loving relationship between a white man and a black woman was incredible. I know more than a few couples who'd probably like to set her straight on that account.

I have nothing but pity for her. Her head's so far up her own twisted dogma that I'm sure she'd tell me that it's the patriarchy that forced me to think Zoe was awesome for being able to handle a firearm and kick ass. That I'm raped every time my husband puts the moves on me. Yeeeeeah, that's RICH.

Lookit, it's cool you don't like to have sex with a man. But there's a lot of us womenfolk who do, and we're no spaniels/victims. Jeez, it's like me saying that because I don't like seafood that everyone who eats and thereby pretends to enjoy the experience of eating seafood has clearly been brainwashed by the seafood industry.

Depressing stuff people. Depressing stuff all around.

Oh and I had a chocolate-covered Peep this weekend that was FREAKING AWESOME. Then again, I love Mallomars.

I attempted to comment on her insane-ass review, but she'll probably block it for being "pro-prostitution" and thus hateful towards all women. Her definition of rape has made me so, so angry.
There is a HUGE fucking difference between a significant male other asking if you're in the mood (male-initiated sex) and being sexually brutalized.
What an ignorant, petulant woman. I wonder if she'll ever realize that it's mainly because of feminazis like her that people dismiss the entire feminist movement as irrelevant?

Yeh, so, um, I haven't read the Whedon rape thing yet (just scrolling to the bottom to put in a comment and I saw all of the above). I'm assuming this is not the about the next issue of the Buffy comic?

Anyhoo - a better payoff in slowly scrolling down a page of comments is that Jessica Simpson link. Wow. Just hilarious, and set up so well.

Serena! Apart from the entire article, which was absolutely ludicrous, I was really angered by the fact that she said she would block "pro-prositution" comments because someone dared to question her analysis! Way to engender intelligent debate!

And I agree with TK, I am fuming at the entire thing. RIDICULOUS woman. And what gets me the most was the self-righteous tone of the thing.

But Paddydog, I thought the second piece that was posted WAS meant to be satirical? Please tell me it was...

The second article "Strap-on Epiphany" is not satirical. It's also nothing like the Whedon article.

Here's a quick summary:
A woman is in a causal sexual relationship with a man.
The man has a desire to be fucked in the ass.
The woman obliges, and through the experience gains an insight into the dynamics of sex between the penetrator and the penetrated.

Now, compared to the Whedon article, this is merely a woman making a personal observation of what her experience was like, not vicious hatred for all things not radically feminist.

I mean, she may be wrong, and you may disagree, but she didn't give it to her guy just to make a political statement, she did it because he wanted to try it and because of it she found she had something to say about it.

Also she's pretty rational compared to the other woman. And by pretty I mean she's 'normal' and the other woman is batshit insane.

Thanks, Jerce; I'm doing significantly less Pajiba-ing this week, but I sleep about two-thirds as much as the missus, so I have some hours at the end of each night for checking up on my homies.

Yeah, I remember reading that strap-on article in Salon a while back -- I think that was years ago, actually. Totally non-ironic and serious.

"How a so-called feminist can possibly support a stance which proposes women are naturally submissive to men is beyond me."

The short answer, because they believe society functions in such a way that women cannot not be submissive to men (Hence the inability to consent).

The long answer involves a discussion of structuralism, Levi-Strauss and, because I usually can't help myself, a lengthly screed against Catharine MacKinnon.

As always, queer theory FTW

I can't wait till she reviews Sin City....

Watching Sin City is RAPE! Drooling over Clive Owen is RAPE! Jessica Alba's performance is...well, I won't finish that sentence; it's a bit too close to the truth.

Posting for the first time ever is surprisingly nerve-wrecking, but luckily this Pajiba Love is getting old, so I guess most people who frequent this site are unlikely to read this, much less care. So what the hell...
The "essay" was certainly irritating and misguided, but it did make me think, which is supposed to be good for you every now and again. Here's what I thought.
1. Sigh. I'm so tired. I wonder if it's too early to make my coffee Irish?
2. Freedom of Speech. I get angry and depressed when I read the hate that male chauvinazis (it's a word I made up to go with feminazi, equal opportunity and all that...) spew on the interwebs. But I don't wish the power to shut them up, just the power to make them change their minds. The same with this girl.
3. She does raise a few points that I wondered about when I first saw Firefly, not too long ago. Inara's profession and her relationship with Mal did make me feel slightly uncomfortable. But not uncomfortable like "Wow, that Whedon guy must be a sexist monster who RAPES HIS WIFE" more like "hmmm, I'm not sure what to think of that, hopefully they'll explore these themes in many episodes and seasons to come. WHAT?? There's only a smattering of episodes left?!? Who are the people responsible for this? THEY RAPE EVERYTHING!!!!" I guess I'm kinda shouty.
4. The statistic about men versus women talking in the series was interesting to me, because I have heard guys say that Firefly is "all about the chicks" and that "the men hardly get a word in edgewise".
5. I have a pretty stupid but reliable rule of thumb on sexism in popular culture. If my radical feminist lesbian kid sister doesn't see a problem in a movie/book/TV-series, then the problem probably doesn't exist.
That is all. I now quietly retreat back into shadows. Have a nice day.

Posting for the first time ever is surprisingly nerve-wrecking, but luckily this Pajiba Love is getting old, so I guess most people who frequent this site are unlikely to read this, much less care. So what the hell...
The "essay" was certainly irritating and misguided, but it did make me think, which is supposed to be good for you every now and again. Here's what I thought.
1. Sigh. I'm so tired. I wonder if it's too early to make my coffee Irish?
2. Freedom of Speech. I get angry and depressed when I read the hate that male chauvinazis (it's a word I made up to go with feminazi, equal opportunity and all that...) spew on the interwebs. But I don't wish the power to shut them up, just the power to make them change their minds. The same with this girl.
3. She does raise a few points that I wondered about when I first saw Firefly, not too long ago. Inara's profession and her relationship with Mal did make me feel slightly uncomfortable. But not uncomfortable like "Wow, that Whedon guy must be a sexist monster who RAPES HIS WIFE" more like "hmmm, I'm not sure what to think of that, hopefully they'll explore these themes in many episodes and seasons to come. WHAT?? There's only a smattering of episodes left?!? Who are the people responsible for this? THEY RAPE EVERYTHING!!!!" I guess I'm kinda shouty.
4. The statistic about men versus women talking in the series was interesting to me, because I have heard guys say that Firefly is "all about the chicks" and that "the men hardly get a word in edgewise".
5. I have a pretty stupid but reliable rule of thumb on sexism in popular culture. If my radical feminist lesbian kid sister doesn't see a problem in a movie/book/TV-series, then the problem probably doesn't exist.
That is all. I now quietly retreat back into shadows. Have a nice day.

Aaand sorry for the double post. Now I'll really go.

Pffffft, I could pick 10 better looking REAL hookers RIGHT NOW...

mmmmmmmm

I'm sure I'm repeating sentiments expressed in the comments before me, but I have to vent my rage anyway.

That "writer" is why "feminist" has been reduced to a term to be derided as man-hating or simply not taken seriously at all. She reduces individuals to genders or races and combinations thereof, without putting any of it into the context of the universe of the show. Taking the individual out of the WOMAN or the BLACK also renders any argument about their abuse completely meaningless. And then she completely takes all meaning out of the word "rape" by applying it to pretty much all sexual relationships within the show and without. And the sheer dumbassery of getting her shit up about Zoe calling Mal "sir"...you know, like EVERYONE addresses the captain of a ship.

Ugh, hate.

Khakipants stop your lurking this instant! You should post more as you are funny, appear to agree with me and write in lists (which I love) also: it's never too early to make your coffee Irish. Ever.

Awww that wacky BSlim and his hookers. What a cad! (ps. Where ya been, man?)

Ali:

Nope. I went to the full length article in Salon. It was not satrical at all. There are really sad people out there.

Posted by: Alex the Odd at March 27, 2008 11:04 AM

Hehehe, been busy, I had to return some videos tapes...

All I could think of while reading the articles and the comments:
"wierdo-feminist... executive-feminist" (/izzard)

Khakipants, you absolutely need to de-lurk more frequently. That was spot-on commenting (minus the double posting, which we all do in our moments of commenting fervor).

Also, I'm fairly certain Barbado's been just ignoring us these last couple of weeks. You've found another website, haven't you, you bastard? JUST TELL US!

We need to have words, my good man.

Aleecto's deconstruction of Firefly is the most flawed analysis of a television show since my 8 year old niece concluded that the Flinestones was a historical representation of the Stone Age.

I question whether she watched any of it. Had she done that, she would have known that Mal had been Zoe's superior officer in the war, resulting in her continuing to call him "sir." The issue with Inara's prostitution was unresolved in the series, but it appears that Joss's point was that with all her skills, Inara could have made different choices. Wash loved and respected his wife. He was alittle objectifying, but then a lot of married men are. She could have gone with the idea that River was a victim of a patriarchal system, but she didn't go there, missing an opportunity to see a feminist construct.

All that aside, girlfriend has serious issues. She makes wildly uninformed assumptions about Joss raping his wife and interracial relationships. And she bases these assumptions on her limited experience in the world. The rape allegation goes to her belief that there is no heterosexual sex that isn't rape. (Clearly, she's a woman who has never enjoyed or pursued sex with a man, cause those things tend to make it not be rape.) Her damaged view of interracial relationships is both narrow AND racist.

She missed the boat on Firefly, but given her starting point, i.e. that all male/female sex is bad, all men are rapists and that whites and blacks need to stick with their own kind, she can't help but miss the point. Everything to her is going to be a patriarchal conspiracy.

Oh, BTW, I do call myself a feminist and I really resent her representing herself as one.

Haha... second that Eddie Izzard reference.

Can I start calling myself an "executive feminist"? I feel good about that idea.

I know it is hard to drag oneself away from all the rape and stuff, but that 'Blog me a Tale' is really great.
Ok, back the rape ranting.

All I see when I scroll down this page is "rape rape rape rape rape feminist rape rape rape Joss Whedon rape rape rape" so...yeah. Man, that piece must have pissed y'all off something awful. So...not reading it!

Never thought I'd ever see Craig Bierko scrubbing and loffah-ing Malkovich like that, but that kinda makes me like both of them just a bit more. (Also, Malkovich, smug? I thought "Being John Malkovich" was like one big joke on Malkovich and he had a good enough sense of humor to participate. I also like him on Conan every time he's on, but eh.)

Wow. I tried read the essay about Joss and it just made my head hurt. Not only my head, my eyes, my neck all the way till it worked it's way down to be a pain in my butt. People like her suck and make me embarassed to be a woman.