List of rhetorics

This page lists Geek Feminism Wiki articles about arguments, excuses, and other rhetorics by theme and type.

Denial

It didn't/doesn't happen because

• I find it hard to believe

It's not sexist because

• We discussed everything except the glaring sexual content
• Simply because it discriminates against pregnant people
• Another woman said so

It might be sexist, but

• My Nigel wouldn't ever do it!
• Not every man ever would necessarily do it!
• I wouldn't ever do it!
• Shaming is bad!

It might be sexist, but it's okay because...

• It gets attention to the project/product
• Sex sells
• We want to be rebellious
• There are no women in geekdom and if there are, they're in for the wrong reasons
• It's just a game/comic/article/event
• It's just a joke

It might be sexist, but we won't address it because...

• I had to claw my way up, too!
• It won't fix all sexism
• It was just one isolated incident
• We don't want to look like racists
• We'd rather sue you
• We're more concerned with his career
• We're fine with status quo
• Ostracism is evil so we shouldn't ban anyone from the community, no matter what they do.
• Fighting oppression is not relevant to our project/program

Dismissal

• I'm sorry you are butthurt.
• You don't have to worry about the person who's a known abuser, because they wouldn't misbehave here.
• You're just trying to derail the discussion/draw the attention.

It might be sexist, but instead of complaining you should...

• Make your own game/event/book/community/site
• Focus on real problems such as solving world hunger
• Focus on actual feminist issues such as bride burning in South Asia

It might be sexist but you should shut up and accept it because...

Main entry for Shut up and deal with it

• I had to claw my way up, too!
• Focusing on fixing this certain phenomenon is not worthwhile because it won't fix all sexism.

• Women taught us to be that way
• Another woman thinks it was funny
• I am entitled to say anything I want
• He's known for bad behaviour and is trying to provoke you
• It was just one isolated incident
• It was just a horrible mistake
• It's not for women
• They're from a different culture and it's normal there
• The author wanted to provoke emotional responses
• Removing the sexism would be overly politically correct to the point of obfuscation
• Sexuality is a wonderful thing and we shouldn't be ashamed of it
• We didn't expect there would be women present
• It means you are desirable
• There isn't a clear line between appropriate and inappropriate
• You might get sued
• I'm a feminist but even I think this is going too far.
• Those are the rules
• Ostracism is evil so we shouldn't ban anyone from the community, no matter what they do.

I/he/we/they can't help it, because

Main entry for Responsibility dodging

• of alcohol
• of autism
• geeks simply are sexist
• geeks simply are awkward and inept
• sexist behaviour is inherently a part of being male
• I/he/we/they just can't help it!

...it's actually your fault, because...

Main entry for Victim blaming

• You chose to attend/read/watch/play it
• You should have known it would happen/be like this
• Your reaction is more intense than is normal and appropriate

Derailment

Main entry for Derailment

• Feminists are just sexist towards men
• Let's ignore the topic on hand because I need a feminist to explain me something I could have Googled
• You're the bully
• What about lesbians?
• What about the men?
• Isn't excluding men from this group/focusing on women's issues/not giving everyone equal voice just reverse sexism?
• Watch me and my buddies make the best woman puns!
• Hey, would you give a feminist analysis of this thing here?

• Your argument is invalid because..

• you didn't list every incident that's related.
• You are not an insider of the community you are criticizing.
• You're just a woman.

• We shouldn't discuss this because...
• it's too advanced/complicated/esoteric a topic for us simple folks.

• This is boring.
• It happened so long ago, it's not relevant anymore.
• It makes [our] community look bad.
• There are non-sexist, more important parts to focus on.
• The oppression of $GROUP is a much more important issue.
• All geeks regardless of gender are oppressed, so women geeks should not be treated as a special case.
• Whoops, the evidence is gone!
• The opposition are trolls and shouldn't be fed.
• Focusing on the things that need fixing sends a depressing message to women.

Ad hominem and tone arguments

Main entry for Tone argument

• You're crazy
• You're being emotional
• You're the bully
• More flies with honey, i.e. "you should be nicer when you argue"
• Appeal to Martin Luther King, i.e. "You should be more like [a known non-violent activist]"

Women as a whole

• Never do "man" or "geek" things except to quell their innate need for motherhood/boyfriend

Feminists as a whole

Male feminist allies as a whole

• Are only trying to get laid.
• Are not women and are thus incapable of properly understanding and/or promoting feminism.
• Are not masculine and therefore inferior.