Justin VaculaMonday at 10:03pm ·Watch again or watch for the first time if you missed the recent livestream episode of the NEPAFreethought Society Podcast concerning women in the secular community. Karla Porter and I discussedsexism, harassment, specific blog posts of Stephanie Zvan, Rebecca Watson, Greta Christina, OpheliaBenson, and more. ...and we took callerswww.nepafreethought.org/livestream NEPA Freethought Society | Livestreamwww.nepafreethought.orgLike · · Unfollow Post · ShareLeslie Stewart, Raby Jairam and Suzanne MooseBaby Bailey like this.Karla Porter Many thanks to everyone who listened and participated. No doubt their will be criticism andthat's fine, as long as it's constructive and respectable it's all good.Monday at 10:15pm · Like · 1Justin Vacula Ill be answering some criticism of the show tomorrow. Stay tuned at www.justinvacula.comAfter the show, and during it, we had productive discussion with EllenBeth Wachs. Ill take these to heartto improve for next time. Learning and criticism is a good thing when in a constructive manner. Thanks,Ellen.Justin Vacula's Blogwww.justinvacula.comJustin Vacula's Blog explores atheism, philosophy, science, church/state separation, local news, andnational news appealing to open-minded religious and non-religious persons in NortheasternPennsylvania and around the world.Monday at 11:28pm via mobile · Like · 3 ·Ophelia Benson Very dishonest. You read a tiny fraction of one of the emails I got and then said "doesthat sound like a threat to you?" Well of course that one fraction doesn't! But the whole exchange is adifferent thing, *especially the last two paragraphs*. You're disgraceful.20 hours ago · LikeJustin Vacula Ophelia, I also said -- during the podcast -- if I recall correctly, that I didn't think thesuddenr response (before investigation) should warrant a dropping out and/or considering it to be aserious threat. There was more than that.Additionally, I elected not to read all of the threat on air. I could have sure, but I read it off air, well before the cast, and didnt think that it was legitimate.20 hours ago via mobile · LikeJustin Vacula There's much more, too, in the podcast? Any other thoughts are welcome. Throw up a blog post if you want or feel free to comment here or on my site. Additionally, if you'd like to come on a futureepisode, let me know. Karla Porter and I would be happy to chat.20 hours ago · LikeKarla Porter Absolutely delighted to chat.20 hours ago · LikeJustin Vacula You also could have called in during the show. Everyone was invited and I wager you knew
 
of it. We even offered for callers to be prioritized in the queue. EllenBeth Wachs, too, called anddisagreed with us on points.20 hours ago · LikeKarla Porter for a while she did until she more or less came around in the after show call.20 hours ago · LikeOphelia Benson Bullshit. It's dishonest to read a tiny fraction that is obviously not threatening or doubtful by itself and then say "Does that sound like a threat to you?" DISHONEST. Bad practice. Unethical.EllenBeth by no means agrees with you - she did not "come around."6 hours ago · LikeEllenBeth Wachs "came around?" Came around to what, Karla? When we hung up I thought the onlything we agreed upon was that we disagreed.6 hours ago · LikeOphelia Benson Not too careful with the truth, you two, are you.6 hours ago · LikeEllenBeth Wachs I read the blog, Justin and when I have a chance, will respond as I don't think that itaccurately reflects my positions and/or criticisms nor the conversation following.6 hours ago · LikeJustin Vacula Ellenbeth, the criticisms in the blog weren't necessarily yours or the ones you voiced.6 hours ago via mobile · LikeJustin Vacula Opehlia, should we spend about 20 minutes reading the whole thing and discussing it part by part? Coming into the show, Karla even noted it was too heavily scripted and that I would be readingtoo much. I even neglected to read some of what I drew from Kirby's letter. Everything can't totally beaddressed - even in some recent posts of yours discussing Kirby's letter, you didn't talk about the wholething and only focused on parts. Does that mean you are dishonest?6 hours ago via mobile · LikeKarla Porter I find the aggression and attacks counterproductive, boring and immature no matter whothey come from - and it continues. Must I recount? Agreement that several ideas for positive strategiesand solutions, that a policy isn't the answer to stopping poor behavior online and at conferences. Howabout everyone taking sometime to reflect on the appropriateness of their behavior, if they would approveof someone else acting the way they do - and if not, why they persist with their naughtiness, how it benefits the community, and knocking off the harassment and at the same time the pettiness? If this werea company, an awful lot of people would be on disciplinary action.By the way, if there is a conference that needs a consultant or an on staff Director of Comportment, Iwould be happy to discuss it or refer it to trusted colleagues who are also very competent at fostering andmaintaining positive cultures and performance.5 hours ago · LikeJustin Vacula Ophelia, do you believe the right course of action -- when considering something that might be a threat -- is to consider it a threat before investigation and cease activities? As a person who has become a public figure in my area (and beyond), I've seen many sorts of nasty things said on the internetabout me...I've also received physical mail, much e-mail, have seen forums talking about me, and somuch more. ...comment sections, letters to the editor, 'Christmas' cards about how Christians are sayingmasses in remembrance of me, and much more. I have had fellow college students writing things like, "Ihope you get shot" and pleas for me to come to their dorm rooms so they can "fuck me up." (just asample: http://www.justinvacula.com/2012/06/stephanie-zvan-doesnt-understand.html)
 
I understand that this is 'part of the game' as a public figure and that it is indicative of -- as the lousy popsong goes -- 'everybody talks.' You're a blogger, speaker, etc...and my situation is similar or even more soin the terms of public activism. I've put my name on lawsuits, church/state complaints, and much more.We're going to get nastiness and perhaps what Greta Christina calls "Schrodinger's Threats."Shouldn't we remain agnostic about the nature of what might be a threat before considering it a threatand, after investigation, make a decision? Should we stay home just because of what seems to be a threat?Justin Vacula's Blog: Stephanie Zvan doesn't understand cyberstalkingwww.justinvacula.comJustin Vacula's Blog explores atheism, philosophy, science, church/state separation, local news, andnational news appealing to open-minded religious and non-religious persons in NortheasternPennsylvania and around the world.5 hours ago · Like ·Ophelia Benson If you don't have time to talk about it honestly THEN DON'T TALK ABOUT IT. Jeezis.You don't get a pass to distort things because of time constraints. You don't get to lie about me becauseyou're in a hurry.5 hours ago · LikeJustin Vacula Ophelia, we're all 'guilty' of talking about things and writing blog posts about thingswithout giving a full treatment. You do it, I do it, Greta Christina does it...We were interested in having the show be 'Did Ophelia Benson's threat ...See More5 hours ago · LikeEllenBeth Wachs Karla, chastising me like a child will get you nowhere fast. THAT was incrediblydismissive and patronizing. I attacked no one. To frame it as though "I came around" was demeaning and"petty." We disagreed about the need for a policy and the effectiveness it would have.I was not looking for a fight. I do not expect my views to be misrepresented nor to be spoken down to.5 hours ago · Edited · LikeJustin Vacula Your July 2nd posts on Kirby's letter...you didn't address all of that. How dishonest, unfair,not careful with the truth, etc. Why even talk about it if you don't have the time to talk about it? You don'tget a pass to distort things because of time constraints. You don't get to lie about her because you're in ahurry. Bullshit. It's dishonest to read a tiny fraction. Bad practice. Unethical.Should your logic apply to yourself (or myself)? I don't think so. We don't take time to address every point and have other goals such as discussing other issues, wanting to stay short, etc.One can't properly be expected in a show about a general conversation -- or an overview of issues -- tofully address every little thing that is brought up. It's also unreasonable, I think, to then say "Well, thendon't bring it up!"5 hours ago · LikeEllenBeth Wachs Justin, why are you just blogging about people? Wouldn't it be more productive to stick to issues? I thought that was going to be the topic of your podcast and was quite taken aback.5 hours ago · Like
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