Comments on: A Bit of Clarification

By: Gorda

Gorda — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:20:40 +0000

Personally, what worries me about WATRD (besides the no moderation turned we-are-happy-to-give-trolls-a-platform-for-their-trolling policy) is the communication fail I perceive in most of Heather’s responses to comments. Very simple example: I criticised the way she had closed the comments in the original post. She asked whether I would like to see comments reopened. I replied no point in doing that, since the discussion had already moved elsewhere. She reopened the comments.

If communication on such a basic level fails, I don’t really expect her to engage with the serious issues and concerns raised by some of the commenters. As I write this, Prof. Susurro is still waiting for Heather to respond to the very interesting (and quite complex) points she raised in her comments, which I find, as she puts it, “telling”.

By: megbap

megbap — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:48:11 +0000

I’ve only been briefly aware of what’s going on at WAtRD, but I wanted to pop up here and say thank you thank you thank you to all of the SP bloggers for doing what you do. I have never before been aware of how much work it must be to maintain a safe and sane space for women of all sorts.

You guys rock. That is all.

By: LY

LY — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:23:55 +0000

I’ve been reading SP for over a year now. I’m still trying to work through my own feelings about FA and this particular blog. However, while I may not agree with everything on this site I am unendingly grateful for the level of discourse. After reading through several WAtRD posts I am not convinced the founder has a complete grasp of grammar or proper English (having said that I know I’ll find a typo in this post) let alone privilege or the complexities of what it means to be female today. The comments were painful to wade through with all the derailing from various trolls/asshats; it was even more painful to watch some of the gleeful women bashing on a site that’s supposed to promote self-esteem.

Long story short, I’m so happy to have this place as I wade through my own feelings about all this.

By: belledame222

belledame222 — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:31:48 +0000

as for the self-declared fitness troll, I vote ban with extreme prejudice if you haven’t already. i hate the Internets some days…

By: belledame222

belledame222 — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:28:16 +0000

Just adding a -nodnod- and -thumbsup- to amandaw @9:01 p.m.

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:20:59 +0000

I went through the thread and found all mamaV’s non-apologies. A sample:

“Please know, my ears are open, wide open….but I just can’t give most of you what you want on this — an apology for what I said. Just can’t do it…because like it or not, I meant what I said (minus the Barbie sarcasm).

Does that mean I will never change my mind? Absolutely not! Life is about growth, making mistakes and taking chances….so you never know — I may come crawling back for forgiveness someday. :)” )

She doesn’t think she did or said anything wrong, and she has no real idea why we’re all getting all crazy at her. She’s just going to wait for it to blow over, placate people with some stupid Q&A on a concept she doesn’t begin to understand, and keep doing exactly what she was doing (because otherwise you can’t have a positive body image, or something, I didn’t really understand that bit.)

I went back for this kerfuffle to see if there was some change to be effected there, but there really isn’t. All the diversity of contribution in the world doesn’t change the fact that the founder hates the fatties (whether consciously or not) and refuses to examine her own privilege, and other contributors didn’t distance themselves from her bigotry at all, but in fact offered support to her (instead of to the non-privileged who were once more being denied a voice. Imagine that).

I’m so glad you had left already, Kate. The longer this goes on, the more we can see mamaV’s true colours, and they leave a very nasty taste in the mouth.

By: drunkenatheist

drunkenatheist — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 07:07:37 +0000

I stumbled across WATRD via the WordPress “random post” thingy and then found yours through the same link. I had never heard of WATRD prior to tonight, and as a fairly hardcore feminist, I can assure you that I will never stop by that site again.

The crap promoted by the moderator(s) on that horrendous thread were completely anti-feminist and the two line apology that was tantamount to “my bad, comments closed” was some bullshit.

Had to chime in with my two cents.

By: FatNSassy

FatNSassy — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:24:24 +0000

Gee, I just went over there and had a bit of fun. Sometimes I think there is something wrong with me. I went through my doubt my body stage like everyone else. I went through a stage where I had to avoid hurtful comments for my own inner peace. But now I RELISH a chance to get under fatphobes’ skin. It has almost become a sport. That no matter how hard they try to insult or knock out my self-esteem they just can’t do it. But I can sometimes raise their blood pressure instead. And I love it more in person than face to face. (But have to keep a low profile to protect a professional image and a roof over my head!) It almost doesn’t seem right to enjoy it as much as I do! Well, when the lipophobes bore me there is always the right wingers to mess with!

By: Sticky

Sticky — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:51:57 +0000

I put up Dove contact info here. Sorry for causing a misunderstanding. I’ll try to correct that notion if I see that misinformation repeated elsewhere. Thanks, S.

By: lissa10279

lissa10279 — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:15:44 +0000

Thanks so much for putting that clarification in there at the top, Kate!! It’s appreciated.