Anti-feminist mailbag (smart-challenged homophobe edition)
Sometimes the hate mail we get comes in the form of long rambling craziness. And sometimes, as is this case here, it's short, sweet, and incredibly stupid.
Marriage can only exist between a couple that can reproduce. Otherwise you might as well marry a farm animal. The people have spoken and you should shut down this site.
I'm sure all the couples having fertility issues will appreciate that one.
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Anti-feminist mailbag (smart-challenged homophobe edition).
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.feministing.com/cgi-bin/movabletype/mt-tb.fcgi/10497
Ugh. Why do they even waste their time being assholes? This pissed me off almost as much as my cousin sending me a facebook invite to a group that said "protect marriage- keep it between one man and one woman". So stupid. Why does it even matter to them!! This affects them in absolutely no way, but here they are taking away other's civil rights just because they are different.
I guess history does repeat itself.
Not only couples with fertility issues... what about couples that have children and a complication necessitates a hysterectomy? Or couples where the woman has reached menopause but the man is still fertile. Does that mean he should leave her and take a younger, more impregnable wife? There are so many endless reasons why the "only reproductive couples" nonsense is just... well, nonsense. Maybe straight couples should stop reproducing, then we wouldn't have any more gay children that could grow up and get gay married.
Oh, fuck, I hate that argument.
You mentioned infertile couples. What about those who CHOOSE not to have children? What about when a man or woman chooses to MEDICALLY make it so they can't have children? A friend of mine, Chelsea, "got herself fixed!" (as she proudly says), and recently got married. To a man. Guess what? She ran into no problems, there!
And what about older straight couples, 50 and beyond, who get married? I know a couple who is in their 80s ... they got married, and obviously can't have kids. No problems there!
That argument is one of the worst. At least you can shoot holes in it pretty easily.
The people who are going to think and believe something like that would really listen to the holes you shoot in it though. That is the big problem.
Yes, of course, that's why it is illegal for infertile people or older people who are past child-bearing age to get married. And why we rescind couple's marriages if they don't reproduce within 5 years. Obviously. [/snark]
Well you know, Caro, those people are just crafty. They bend the system, grease a few palms to get their marriage license, because we all know that no one in their right mind would let someone who isn't reproducing to get married. That's just crazy.
As someone who never saw that movie, I have to say this quote doesn't really make any sense. Can you clarify?
Ack, this got posted in the wrong place! Wish there was a delete button.
Delete and edit buttons aren't really conductive to blog discussions. People could delete and edit and ruin ongoing conversations by deleting relevant stuff, or editing a comment to say something completely different.
Well, the way the edit button on LJ works, it only lets you edit until a comment has been replied to.
Yeah, I thought of that too, but also in the lj-world, comments get e-mailed to the person that was commented to (usually), so there is a way to "track" even then. Here it's a little different. Also, most commenters here still don't use the "reply" button to actually respond to others. I dunno, it just seems to be a dangerous thing to allow here at feministing. Too many chances of people deleting or editing comments that shouldn't be edited or deleted.
Just try to use the "preview" as much as possible :)
This brings to mind an Anchorman quote: "Hello, Veronica, this is Mike Rithjin from the network. You've just been promoted. You're gonna need to move to Moscow. Start cleaning up your desk. See you in the morning. We'll pick you up in a van."
So yeah...you can shut down this site now. Because the people have spoken. See you in the morning. We'll pick you and your farm animal spouse up in a van.
As someone who never saw that movie, I have to say this quote doesn't really make any sense. Can you clarify?
Anchorman centers around a 70's newscaster, Ron Burgundy. His station hires its first female newscaster, Victoria Corningstone, in order to "get with the times."
Burgundy is completely threatened, and tries to trick Corningstone into quitting via a prank call (the source of the quote). You can see it at 5:03 in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45-rds44NiE
Basically, I'm referencing non-intelligent people trying to intimidate women into staying home and shutting up.
Usually, anti-feminist mailbag posts piss me off. But this one is just so simple-minded, it's funny.
Absolutely. I usually get pretty angry after reading some of the ignorant emails Feministing receives but I had to read this one a couple times and I still couldn't help but laugh. Though unmerited, this person's argument is, unfortunately, one that anti-marriage equality folks often spout.
Loved the last line, as if the Feministing editors would read that email, realize that they were indeed wrong about gay marriage, then ask themselves, "But what should we do now that our belief system has been so shaken by this wise emailer's words?", then continue reading and, relieved that at his proposal, indeed shut down the site.
What about heterosexual couples who choose (for any number of reasons) to forgo having children? But I suppose folks who subscribe to that way of thinking just couldn't fathom such a thing.
We often talk of white privilege, but this is hetero privilege at its worst. As if marriage is all about plumbing. As if married people do nothing but have sex, day in and day out. As if marriage is about nothing more than procreation.
Trust me. Marriage is so hard that if it was ONLY about procreation then no one would stick with it. It's the OTHER benefits of marriage that make it worthwhile and make it such a tragedy that we deny that right to all.
For a straight woman's take on Prop 8, click here.
Riiight. The entire site should shut down, because this is the only issue we exist for.
I don't want kids, I guess I have to file for divorce now.
This generally goes hand-in-hand with the belief that women should be shoeless, pregnant and in the kitchen.
It's an idiotic and archaic worldview, but that aside, what is more depressing is that these people actually thinks that their religion requires this of them.
It's kind of depressing how many people in California think this is a good idea.
Wait...I didn't realize that 1.) This site revolved around gay marriage. 2.) One ill-conceived argument against gay marriage can shut down the entire movement. 3.) That only love that can procreate is real.
HUH?
Yeah, "the people have spoken" - but how often does the majority vote for the rights off the minority? If that happened then the federal government would never feel compelled to make laws to fight segregation & discrimination. BTW, federal government...we could really use one of those laws now...
Hearing this argument pisses me off to no end. My ex, whom I still care for very much, is an infertile man. He found this out the hard way (he and his ex-wife went on to adopt a son from Russia, which gives him major points in my book), but his ex-wife DID believe this tripe and divorced him. It really broke him.
The people have spoken. As it turns out, though, the people, they not so smart, akshually.
You had me nearly howling with laughter. :)
omg me too, although mine was more of a ridiculous, extended squeek of laughter.
If we aren't allowed to have sex before marriage, how are we supposed to know if we're capable of procreating together?
At least this one had capital letters, correct grammar, and punctuation.
Of course, they still make the most close minded argument ever. My cousin had early menopause and couldn't have a baby, she adopted 2 from Korea. I wonder what they have to say to her...
That is exactly what I thought when I saw the post. But proper grammar aside, I completely despise the whole marriage is only for procreation ideology. Sometimes I wonder if I'm really living in 2008.
My cousin was diagnosed with a rare reproductive illness as a teenager and the treatment left her unable to conceive. I guess she should be stamped or something so no man interested in marriage will bother her.
Then there's my mom who had a hysterectomy (sp?). She and her (minister) boyfriend are considering getting married. I guess I should let them know it's out of the question.
So Prop 8 was a constitutional amendment to shut down feministing? The press did a really bad job explaining that one.
I guess all people planning on getting married should reproduce beforehand just to be absolutely sure that they can make baby, and aren't unknowingly betraying the will of the spoken people.
Bristol Palin leading by example!
Better yet, protect the sanctity of marriage by illegalizing it entirely! We don't want to take any chances with people marrying and being gay, or practicing sodomy, or getting divorced, or all of the above. Let's keep marriage in one of those glass cases from Beauty and the Beast (excellent example of why marriage should be illegal ) where everyone can see but no-one can touch.
It's funny you mentioned sodomy... I read a study a while back that found around 20% of married heterosexual couples have anal sex 6 or more times a year. I don't remember what the oral sex numbers were, but depending on where you live, oral is considered sodomy as well.
Many have already pointed out the fact that numerous childless hetero couples have marriages for various reasons. But, are these people also aware that teh gayz can and do have children of their own, both biologically and through adoption (which is perfectly legal in California)? These bigots couldn't care less about the welfare of children. Witness Arkansas throwing the children in foster care under the bus in an effort to restrict gay adults rights.
I have yet the hear a rational argument against marriage equality…hmm…methinks that’s because there isn’t one. Bigotry is the only reason for one to be opposed to marriage equality and bigotry is far from rational.
Ladies and gents, you've OBVIOUSLY misread this person. They're not saying marriages between infertile/child-free can't exist- those marriages DON'T exist!
All the happy, loving families we're describing- they're hallucinations of our hysterical feminist minds! We've been deluding ourselves all along!
(Ok, finished my jubilant sarcasm. Also, is this person not aware that most of our beloved homos are perfectly capable of reproducing- they just gotta go find an opposite-sex person to donate the genetic goods. Like, duh.)
"Otherwise you might as well marry a farm animal."
Yes, because animals can legally consent and sign forms.
Wait, no they can't.
Oh noes!! Shamu and I were totally gonna go get hitched tomorrow, but I just realized that his fins are too big to hold a pen. My life is ruined!
You know of course that not all people want to have kids. That goes for both straight and LGBT/TQ couples.
Some of us see over population as a serious problem and chose to be sterilized at a young age. Many of us have zero interest in adopting.
Should child free by choice couples be denied the right to marry since they refuse to procreate?
So according to this guy my grandpa (age 78) shouldn't have gotten remarried after the death of my grandmother to a woman (age 72) who is unable to have children.
I'll make sure I let my hyper-religious grandpa know that this guy doesn't approve of his marriage...
People who advance this particular argument must have such depressing, joyless relationships.
They can't imagine a romantic partership based on anything besides procreation and traditional gender roles. They actually think getting married for any reason other than child-rearing is as absurd as a human marrying a goat.
As a person who considers himself religious, I find this comment particularly immoral. Abraham and Sarah weren't able to procreate successfully for many years before God blessed them with Isaac. However, Abraham didn't just ditch Sarah at the side of some road because she was infertile (or was he...?), he stayed with her throughout.
relationships aren't based on children alone, there are so many other factors that make a relationship successful.
I have three kids but don't want any more. What now?! My marriage is quickly turning into a travesty!!
Of course, we could have another one but that would only postpone the inevitable end of our union... :(
I have three kids but I don't want any more. Oh no, our marriage is quickly turning into a travesty!!!!
Of course, we could have another baby, but that would only postpone the inevitable end of our union, not avert it.... :(
Hmmm...Some gay couples do reproduce, and I'm married (hetero) and not reproducing nor do I plan to.
Heh. "The people". Alright, we have to shut down the gay agenda everyone! The people have spoken! Tear down this site!
As a 19 year old woman with severe PCOS, this really warms the cockles of my heart to know that I shouldn't even attempt to have a successful marriage. Real burden taken off my back, here. Like, I could totally be happy living with a sheep or something, right? Think of the money I'll save! Free wool sweaters! Perfect Little Bo Peep costume for Hallowe'en every year!
Please. Marriage is meant to be a union of two loving people, not two halves of a baby-making machine. Kids are supposed to be an extra, like sprinkles on a doughnut. Totally rad to have, not the end of the world to miss.
heh heh. I'm so eloquent right? Not.
I totally agree with you Jennifer.
A marriage is between the couple. Even if children are added to the family, the marriage is still only between the couple.
Actually, Jennifer, you're very eloquent. :)
Free wool sweaters, I mean, can you beat that kind of perk? lol
Don't let the PCOS get you down. I have "those" problems as well and you'll come to terms with it eventually.
"The people have spoken and you should shut down this site"
Wow, I'm so convinced! Let's close up now, guys! I mean 'the people have spoken!'
And farm animals...I love how he threw that one in there.
Yes, I wish very much to empower my horse to make medical decisions for me in the event that I am incapacitated and to file his taxes jointly with me. I want to make sure I am covered by his health plan and that I inherit his pension should he die before me. And I certainly want to make sure that the communications between my horse and me are considered privileged in court.
I have to wonder... do they actually believe themselves when they say things this stupid?
Y'all, this is a RHODES SCHOLAR compared to a lot of the folks chiming in about marriage equality.
Pardon the shameless blogwhoring, but go see for yourself.
http://fundamentallyflawed.wordpress.com/
Y'all, this is a RHODES SCHOLAR compared to a lot of the folks chiming in about marriage equality.
Pardon the shameless blogwhoring, but go see for yourself.
http://fundamentallyflawed.wordpress.com/
Oh, AAARGH. I don't know why that posted twice. Apologies.
Uh... what? Not every married couple that consists of a man and a woman reproduce. I have an aunt and uncle that never had kids. They medically were able to, just chose not to for various reasons.
I'll be marrying my fiancee in late spring 2009. We'll have been together for 7 years at that point. Neither of us have any interest in kids.
Marriage should be a union between 2 people. Shouldn't matter if it's male/female, female/female, or male/male. Gender doesn't change the fundamentals of what a marriage means, at least not in my definition of it.
I went to an all-girls catholic school, and when we were discussing marriage, in religion class, they emphasized so much that the purpose of marriage was having kids. The teacher even told us that marrying a paraplegic man was not a valid marriage, no matter how in love we might be. Weird & creepy.
This was more than ten years ago. I'd like to see that lesson today, and how the girls respond, now that gay marriage is legal in my country.
Where do you live? Can I move there? haha.
My hubby and I are also childless by choice, so I guess we'll be getting divorced soon, too.