CN: In-depth discussion of the usage and purpose of slurs and the common defenses for using slurs; discussion of racism, sexism, anti-gay bias, and classism. Warning: There will be a couple of slurs written out in full in this article. They are written this way to maintain clarity in a purely educational piece. I made a point to limit how many slurs I used and to avoid using any slurs that would be particularly egregious …Read More
Category: Bad Arguments
Critiques of common arguments used to excuse oppression.
You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock: Gender-Based Violence and Xenophobia in South Africa
CN: in depth discussion of rape culture, sexual assault, gender-based violence, xenophobic violence, government sanctioned oppression in South Africa. Brief discussion of corrective sexual assault and apartheid. Many of the issues featured on this blog are discussed in terms of how they manifest in the United States, primarily because that is where most of my audience is located, and I have the most specific knowledge about the social patterns that occur here. However, very few …Read More
Let’s End the Stigma Against Anti-Depressants
Content Note: in depth discussion of mental illness and medication use, extensive ableism around mental illness and medication use, implied references to suicide, mention of chronic pain, weight loss, self harm, violence towards PoC, and abuse. My very first distinct memory of depression is from when I was 17 years old, walking into school one morning, feeling awful. Trying to find something to look forward to, I ran through my day in my head. I …Read More
An Atheist Witch Discusses the Intersection of Spirituality and Skepticism
Today’s guest post covers a topic that I have contemplated many times: the idea that valuing elements of spirituality and valuing evidence based information are not in conflict with each other. Vi La Bianca, creator of the blog “Author of Confusion,” lays out a really fascinating argument that both defines spirituality and illustrates the physical manifestation of it. CN: theoretical discussion of God and religion When I tell people I am an atheist witch, the …Read More
Why I Argue with People on the Internet
CN: general discussion of oppression and silencing of marginalized people I argue with people on the internet a lot. It’s a hobby that’s not for the faint of heart and the majority of people I talk to don’t have a clear understanding of why I do it. A lot of them think it’s for shallow reasons, like needing to be right or looking for something to be angry about. “YELLING AT PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET …Read More
Comorbidity: What Are the Chances?
CN: Discussion of Statistics in relations to disability, other social issues, sexual assault, and abuse. There are times when I am talking to someone about my life- about the fact that I’m scared of new proposed laws making it harder for me to survive in Ontario, or about how I’m one particularly unlucky day away from being homeless – when I get the feeling like the person I’m talking to thinks I’m exaggerating. They get …Read More
A Quaker’s Defense of Violent Resistance Tactics
CN: police brutality, white supremacists & nazi’s, violence towards marginalized groups, racism, descriptions of theoretical violence, war, image of Charlottesville white supremacy protest. As a kid, my parents regularly took me to the local quaker church. One of the most notable things about Quaker’s beliefs is their dedication to non-violence. Quakers believe that there is God in each person, therefore there is good in each person. They believe you should do your best to love, …Read More
The Future of Book Reading: Stop Sharing this Graphic for Book Lovers
There are a lost of class and ability based problems with this graphic that Robert Brewer created to demonstrate his love of books and concern for the future of book reading.