Re: [Marxism] Female Pundits Could Use Help With Hate Mail

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

Andrew P.:
> Rule #1 for sensitive discussions like this. Think before opening your mouth,
> because you may realize it's not big enough to fit your entire foot.
> Jesus, Louis, that's not what Steffie wrote. She made no
> such accusations. She provided a link to an article which
> gives a broad overview of the range of hate spewed at women
> doing journalism. It provides CONTEXT, it's not an
> accusation.

Let me repeat myself. The article that Steffi forwarded described a female
journalist being bombarded with degrading hate mail. I find the suggestion
that this can explain the situation here deeply offensive. If anybody
thinks that Marxmail has anything in common with the quote below, I invite
them to unsub. Frankly, I am ready to unsub everybody, including myself,
rather than put up with this kind of allegation.

>>I was called everything from "bitch" to "whore" and was often addressed
as "sweetie" or "honey" before a launch of expletives. Most attackers took
the position that I was just a cute, dumb college student (even though I
was in my late 20s) in an effort to discredit me and I was most reliably
attacked by a collection of right-wing Web sites and right-wing men who
sent me letters.<<

I am infuriated that anybody could possibly think that this kind of
atmosphere exists here. Even during the worst days with the Shining Path
supporters from 10 years ago, no woman was ever subjected to this kind of
abuse on the Marxism list that preceded this one.

Yes, Marxmail is competitive and people use sarcasm in their messages. If
this list closed down because it inhibited women from posting, then
somebody else would come along and start another email list that had the
same kind of exchanges. The Marxist movement is not like the future society
we want to live in. It is designed for combat against the ruling class and
ideas have to contend with each other *mercilessly* in order to build the
movement. Marx put it this way:

"If we have no business with the construction of the future or with
organizing it for all time, there can still be no doubt about the task
confronting us at present: the _ruthless criticism of the existing order_,
ruthless in that it will shrink neither from its own discoveries, nor from
conflict with the powers that be."

Letter to Ruge, 1843



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