John Scalzi Is Not A Very Popular Author And I Myself Am Quite Popular:
August 27, 2015 5:42 PM   Subscribe

"How SJWs Always Lie About Our Comparative Popularity Levels Kindle Edition" In the wake of this year's kerpupple surrounding the Hugo awards, Alexandra Erin has created a Kindle book in response to Theodore Beale's (Vox Day) Amazon release of "SJWs Always Lie: Taking Down the Thought Police".

At first it was merely a joke prompted by her twitter feed but then File770 got involved and suddenly John Scalzi is looking into doing a dramatic reading via audiobook with the profits going to the charitable organization "Con or Bust"

Scalzi has tweeted a review of the book saying "This may be the best and truest book ever written in the history of humanity and I encourage everyone to buy it." but seriously ... can he be trusted?
posted by AGameOfMoans (205 comments total) 52 users marked this as a favorite
 
Ohh.yeah .. one more thing :)

Beale, who successfully got his Puppy Brigade to get him nominated this year as Best Editor initially published his ""SJWs Always Lie" with two chapter 5's (chapter 4 got missed - oopsie!). In response Erin published her work with three chapter 5s.
posted by AGameOfMoans at 5:51 PM on August 27, 2015 [113 favorites]


Hey, I know her! Nice to see her on the Blue.
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:52 PM on August 27, 2015 [2 favorites]


I love how self-identified "iconoclasts" reliably generate delusional theories about thought police when the less-flattering interpretation is that they're wrong.
posted by murphy slaw at 5:59 PM on August 27, 2015 [13 favorites]


AGameOfMoans: "Theodore Beale's (Vox Day) Amazon release of "SJWs Always Lie: Taking Down the Thought Police"."

"#1 Best Seller in Political Philosophy"

:psyduck:
posted by boo_radley at 6:02 PM on August 27, 2015 [15 favorites]


Well, in taking a note from the Sad Puppies, I gave it five stars without even reading it. But, ya know, it picks on John, so it must be good. Like the Smuckers of literature, really.
posted by dejah420 at 6:03 PM on August 27, 2015 [3 favorites]


One of the things I really like about Scalzi is how he finds time to write stuff about publishing politics (and is funny about it) AND turn out entertaining books on the regular. I hope the dramatic reading becomes a thing.
posted by rtha at 6:03 PM on August 27, 2015 [9 favorites]


Only 3 chapters five is a sign of weakness. I demand true 5x5!
posted by Artw at 6:16 PM on August 27, 2015 [32 favorites]


I've long since lost track of Tales of Mu (and she's so astoundingly prolific that catching up is daunting!), but I'm always glad to see Alexandra Erin pop up on Twitter and other places.

Her The Barker and the Big Tent, which satirises the idea that "unrestricted" free speech is inclusive, is pretty amazing.
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:22 PM on August 27, 2015 [8 favorites]


Just In From Scalzi's blog (the big liar!) :
"I will make an audio version of John Scalzi Is Not A Very Popular Author And I Myself Am Quite Popular: How SJWs Always Lie About Our Comparative Popularity Levels, a parody of an actual book by a certain obnoxious bigot who is obsessed with me, if $2,500 is raised for Con or Bust by 11:59pm (Eastern), Sunday, August 30, 2015"

You can donate by going here.
posted by AGameOfMoans at 6:22 PM on August 27, 2015 [22 favorites]


Anything that delivers a sharp rap on the nose to the Puppies that generates entertainment for me is a win.

Put 1/125th of the pot in because I want to hear the Meta-Meta that Scalzi would do in narrating this
posted by Hasteur at 6:26 PM on August 27, 2015 [1 favorite]


There was a period in my life when my fondest dream was to be a professional science fiction writer. All I can think now is that I dodged a huge fucking bullet when that didn't work out.
posted by Bringer Tom at 6:34 PM on August 27, 2015 [27 favorites]


Naw, there's a whole backlog of posts on the blue about this under the tag "sadpuppies".
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 6:34 PM on August 27, 2015


Vox Day Always Lies. Especially about other people lying. Hasn't Trump written a blurb for the back cover yet?
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:40 PM on August 27, 2015 [1 favorite]


YHBTBTWD*.

Sometimes you need to stop and think "Not that it's right, but responding to this particular bit of stupid will simply validate it in their eyes. So best let it flair up & burn itself out".

Unfortunately the Internet Era works against you and for them, simply because it's almost guaranteed that someone else will take the bait...

(* You Have Been Trolled Beyond Their Wildest Dreams)
posted by Pinback at 6:40 PM on August 27, 2015 [3 favorites]


Pinback - it's a charity - for a good fannish cause - and it's funny!

The best revenge is everyone has a good time :)
posted by AGameOfMoans at 6:42 PM on August 27, 2015 [11 favorites]


Unlikely. Alexandra Erin is, I presume, a woman of the feminine gender. John Scalzi Is Not A Very Popular Author And I Myself Am Quite Popular: How SJWs Always Lie About Our Comparative Popularity Levels is by Theophilus Pratt - a name that is ineluctably masculine. I reject the imputation that a work such as this could have been wrote by a female lady. Once again SJWs are chaining their horse to a cart of a different color and depriving this Pratt of the honour and recognition he deserves.
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:45 PM on August 27, 2015 [54 favorites]


Someone used SJW unironically in a book title and its selling Ok.

We are through the looking glass. Satire has collapsed.
posted by emptythought at 6:53 PM on August 27, 2015 [5 favorites]


three chapter 5s

Hail Eris!
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 6:57 PM on August 27, 2015 [38 favorites]


I donated - Scalzi is an excellent reader and perfect for this.
posted by Artw at 7:12 PM on August 27, 2015 [1 favorite]


"Beale, who successfully got his Puppy Brigade to get him nominated this year as Best Editor initially published his ""SJWs Always Lie" with two chapter 5's "

To be fair, the first draft had two chapter 4's, so I think you can see the value he added.
posted by klangklangston at 7:13 PM on August 27, 2015 [20 favorites]


Until we know the combined chapter totals of each book we cannot judge which is the greater one.
posted by Artw at 7:24 PM on August 27, 2015 [5 favorites]


I'm reading jscalzi's Glass House right now and I said to my partner "it's basically a book written by metafilter"
posted by rebent at 7:34 PM on August 27, 2015 [12 favorites]


Me personally I preferred cstross' Old Man's War.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 7:41 PM on August 27, 2015 [33 favorites]


I just want to call out "kerpupple" as this week's Perfect Word. Thank you, AGameOfMoans.
posted by Etrigan at 7:54 PM on August 27, 2015 [28 favorites]


Actually I stole that from someone else - possibly someone here - can't recall. You know what Picasso said about good vs. great artists, right?
posted by AGameOfMoans at 7:56 PM on August 27, 2015


At barely $1 per chapter five this book is incredibly good value. Pratt could increase the price by at least 10 times and it would still have more chapter fives than John Scalzi's "The End of All Things" which, as Theophilus Pratt eloquently proves, nobody has ever read.

Some people may call the number of chapter fives "excessive" but by their rhetoric we can identify them as SJWs and as we know SJWs are controlled by the hive mind of John Scalzi, who nobody has ever heard of so we can safely conclude that those people don't exist.
I have myself purchased this fine book and can attest to the value of the book as measured by number of dollars per chapter five.
posted by winna at 8:10 PM on August 27, 2015 [17 favorites]


I'm reading jscalzi's Glass House right now and I said to my partner "it's basically a book written by metafilter"

Typical SJW taking credit for someone else's work. I hear that at least two-thirds of that book wasn't written by jscalzi at all.
posted by straight at 8:27 PM on August 27, 2015 [5 favorites]


Sorry, but... what is an SJW?
posted by chapps at 9:00 PM on August 27, 2015


I feel like Sandifer's mic-drop was kind of ruined by the unavoidable mention of the second chapter 5.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 9:03 PM on August 27, 2015


Sorry, but... what is an SJW?

John Scalzi wants you to believe that it stands for Social Justice Warrior, but that is because he lies and nobody will read his trash. Actually it stands for Space Journey Walrus, a giant walrus that travels through space and hums Don't Stop Believing to itself all the time.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:10 PM on August 27, 2015 [115 favorites]


Sorry, but... what is an SJW?


Single Jewish Woman.


They're plotting to take over the internet and use it to organize Saturday evening speed-dating events and Hadassah fundraisers.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 9:10 PM on August 27, 2015 [38 favorites]


Sorry, but... what is an SJW?

A Shlorp Jorp Wlorp. The Government doesn't want you to know they exist.
posted by brecc at 9:11 PM on August 27, 2015 [4 favorites]


John Scalzi wants you to believe that it stands for Social Justice Warrior, but that is because he lies and nobody will read his trash. Actually it stands for Space Journey Walrus, a giant walrus that travels through space and hums Don't Stop Believing to itself all the time.

I... would read this.

Get on it, Scalzi.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 9:14 PM on August 27, 2015 [23 favorites]


Sorry, but... what is an SJW?

Society of Journalistic Wankers.
Only one member so far though...hangs out in Italy somewhere.
posted by AGameOfMoans at 9:16 PM on August 27, 2015 [5 favorites]


Sorry, but... what is an SJW?

Scalzi, John. Writer.
posted by Celsius1414 at 9:17 PM on August 27, 2015 [94 favorites]


I'm reading jscalzi's Glass House right now and I said to my partner "it's basically a book written by metafilter"

To expand on straight's joke, Glasshouse wasn't written by Scalzi but rather by Charlie Stross.
posted by Justinian at 9:21 PM on August 27, 2015 [4 favorites]


Same as in town.
posted by Artw at 9:22 PM on August 27, 2015 [7 favorites]


Space Journey Walrus, a giant walrus that travels through space and hums Don't Stop Believing to itself all the time.

Even thought this is, in fact, the Walrus of the eponymous Beatles song, never ask the SJW about this. While a friendly and gregarious being, it finds the song intensely embarrassing, as it feels it makes light of a night when it and the Moon got very, very drunk. "Goo Goo Ga Joob" refers to something the SJW drunkenly said, slurring its words at the Moon, and while the remaining Beatles and the Moon know what it was the SJW was actually saying, they won't tell it.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 9:22 PM on August 27, 2015 [13 favorites]


Thanks everyone, very helpful!!
Signed, Jovial Wallydrag
posted by chapps at 9:24 PM on August 27, 2015 [7 favorites]


Personally, I identify as a Social Justice Wizard.
posted by yarntheory at 9:28 PM on August 27, 2015 [13 favorites]


To expand on straight's joke, Glasshouse wasn't written by Scalzi but rather by Charlie Stross.

Surely you mean Hothouse, by Metafilter's Own Brian Aldiss?
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:33 PM on August 27, 2015 [2 favorites]


I... would read this.

Get on it, Scalzi.


As I'm pretty sure Cory Doctorow said: "John Scalzi is not your bitch. George Martin though? That guy owes us".
posted by Pink Frost at 9:46 PM on August 27, 2015 [5 favorites]


Space Journey Walrus, a giant walrus that travels through space and hums Don't Stop Believing to itself all the time

see, it's moments like this when i wish i could draw, because this needs to be a tiny cartoon i have doodled during a terrible meeting and pinned to my cubicle wall to give me solace
posted by palomar at 9:47 PM on August 27, 2015 [13 favorites]


*unfurls graph paper design of sub-orbital platform*

Show me where?
posted by clavdivs at 9:47 PM on August 27, 2015 [1 favorite]


whoah
posted by clavdivs at 9:48 PM on August 27, 2015


SJW?
Some Jerk Wendell.
It's why I changed my Metafilter username.
Now, OSFs ALWAYS tell the truth.
Except when we don't.
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:56 PM on August 27, 2015 [7 favorites]


Someone used SJW unironically in a book title and its selling Ok.

We are through the looking glass. Satire has collapsed.

Sorry, but... what is an SJW?


I'm someone who's interests overlap with all of this, gaming, scifi, politics, general interneting, and I have no fucking idea what these people's arguments are even supposed to be. I've been tangentially aware of gamergate and the Hugo award coup, which seem to have their common nexus in the odious Vox Day, but again, what is the beef here? Does SJW = feminist? Is the argument essentially: HURR DUUR, NECK BEARDS MAD, WOMENZ NO LIKEE? I'm married to a self-described feminist, is she a SJW? Am I, because she married me? Is this related to gamergate still? That's still a thing, apparently, right? Which is now also the Hugo awards, somehow? Or has SJW become some kind of men's rights code-word for all women (and also all men who agree that women should probably have equal rights)?

I've been reading these stories for months and can't follow any of it. I googled the Vox book (which was not linked, intentionally, I assume) and it's like reading a different language. I speak Spanish and it reminded me of listening to Portuguese, only if Portuguese was /r/theredpill.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:57 PM on August 27, 2015 [31 favorites]


Thanks, T.D. Strange. I am not alone!
posted by chapps at 10:04 PM on August 27, 2015 [1 favorite]


I'm someone who's interests overlap with all of this, gaming, scifi, politics, general interneting, and I have no fucking idea what these people's arguments are even supposed to be.

tl;dr - They hate women and brown people. They have no arguments other than those people shouldn't be allowed to speak or do things or be recognised and people with rights and freedoms on par with their own. Their only reasoning is that they genuinely believe they are superior. They have no basis for this belief, other than the belief itself.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:13 PM on August 27, 2015 [13 favorites]


... Though some are called Boojums.
posted by bryon at 10:27 PM on August 27, 2015


Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised goo goo ga joob
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere...
posted by ursus_comiter at 10:29 PM on August 27, 2015 [24 favorites]


AGameOfMoans: “Theodore Beale's (Vox Day) Amazon release of ‘SJWs Always Lie: Taking Down the Thought Police’.”

“#1 Best Seller in Political Philosophy”

We can all learn something about both the quality of Amazon’s ranking system and also (unfortunately) the relative number of people willing to shell out for VD’s work.
posted by Going To Maine at 10:29 PM on August 27, 2015


Poor SJW always, always blanks on that part of the song on karaoke nights.
posted by ursus_comiter at 10:29 PM on August 27, 2015 [8 favorites]


Or has SJW become some kind of men's rights code-word for all women (and also all men who agree that women should probably have equal rights)?

I'm in a pretty similar position to you (involved in all of the things this gamergate/SJW stuff touches, but not actively following it) and this bit is how it seems to me. The label SJW is applied to any woman who does anything other than make herself eagerly subservient (and this requires her to insist to other women that they should become subservient as well), and seems to be applied to men in kind of the same way that "race traitor" is used by white power types.
posted by IAmUnaware at 10:30 PM on August 27, 2015 [7 favorites]


Okay, we really need an acronym for the opponents of the SJWs, and since their leader has the initials VD, they should probably be the STDs... "Social Trauma Dumpers"?
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:42 PM on August 27, 2015 [4 favorites]


Sorry, but... what is an SJW?

Other people are making it sound more complicated so maybe I'm missing something. But I'm pretty sure that all you have to do to get branded with this --- honestly rather flattering, even if ironically intended -- epithet is to stand up to racism, sexism and misogyny. That's it.
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:43 PM on August 27, 2015 [36 favorites]


Personally, I'm a Social Justice Argonian.
posted by brundlefly at 10:45 PM on August 27, 2015 [1 favorite]


since their leader has the initials VD, they should probably be the STDs... "Social Trauma Dumpers"?

Well, they're Puppies so ... Sic Tyrannis Distemper!

But seriously, coining new acronyms for enemies is part of their shtick, and indicative of the way they're talking to themselves and not to anyone outside their bubble. Let them keep their SJWs and CHORFs and whatever.
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:50 PM on August 27, 2015 [6 favorites]


There was a period in my life when my fondest dream was to be a professional science fiction writer. All I can think now is that I dodged a huge fucking bullet when that didn't work out.

Judging all of science fiction by the recent infestation of GamerGate-inspired right wing anger monkeys is like giving up on pizza after trying Domino's.

As a Hugo voter for six years, I think you'd be pleased by the state of science fiction if all of those dopes fell into a tesseract and stopped harshing our mellow. These are good times to be a reader and the authors and subject matter have never been more diverse.
posted by rcade at 10:53 PM on August 27, 2015 [9 favorites]


When cartoonist Chris Hallbeck of Maximumble & Book of Biff semi-fame did a short-run of a t-shirt with a Social Justice Warrior crest I bought one and occasionally even wear it in public, even though I don't think of myself as much of a Warrior; and no, not a Wizard either - if I could use a role that doesn't start with W, maybe a Bard or Cleric or Druid or on a bad day a Goblin.
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:01 PM on August 27, 2015


Once again, what kind of idiot would be against Social Justice?
posted by fullerine at 11:07 PM on August 27, 2015 [6 favorites]


You don't have to be an idiot, just a selfish arsehole.
posted by howfar at 11:13 PM on August 27, 2015 [3 favorites]


– oh hey I have this article about the hugos

NO WHAT ARE HUGOS WE WANT POLITICS

– but its intersectional

WHATAL?

– its about donald trump

OK SEND IT IN

Slate: The Link Between Sad Puppies and Donald Trump
posted by Joe in Australia at 11:17 PM on August 27, 2015 [10 favorites]


ROU_Xenophobe> Actually [SJW] stands for Space Journey Walrus, a giant walrus that travels through space and hums Don't Stop Believing to itself all the time.

I think I just found a new working title for the kid sf cartoon pitch I'm working on. Thanks, Xeny!
posted by egypturnash at 11:39 PM on August 27, 2015 [5 favorites]


I'm just picturing a book of the world's worst logic puzzles, like:

Noah Ward's rocket has landed in a strange land. He approaches the nearest settlement, where there are three doors: one guarded by an SJW, who always lies, one guarded by Vox Day, who just says the worst shit imaginable, and one guarded by John Scalzi, who always lies about his relative popularity compared to Vox Day.

"Which door should I choose?" he asks the SJW.
The SJW says, "The door on the left or the door in the center will give you safe passage into the city." She winks. Noah nods, but just to confirm, he turns to Vox Day and poses the same question.
"Diversity doesn't only destroy a society, it makes it literally dumber." Vox Day replies.
"Wait, what does that have to do with--"
"After all, you have to be pretty damn stupid and scientifically ignorant to believe in human equality anymore."
Noah shudders and moves on. "Hey, John Scalzi, which door should I pick?"
"The one on the left goes into a pit of vipers, the one on the center leads into Vox Day's house, and this one here goes into the city marketplace."
"Oh. Thanks, Scalzi!"
"No problem! While you're there, you should really check out Redshirts, which definitely hasn't received even a tenth of the critical and commercial success of any of Vox Day's ventures."
posted by kagredon at 12:07 AM on August 28, 2015 [57 favorites]


Big science fiction reader for, oh, 30 years. My first thought in reading this thread was "who is Vox Day?"
posted by eustacescrubb at 12:14 AM on August 28, 2015 [3 favorites]


Someone who will be irrelevant in two years and you almost made it that far but no, your luck failed...
posted by Artw at 12:19 AM on August 28, 2015 [8 favorites]


Good artists make, great artists take the piss out of self-serving misogynistic fuckwads?

This thread is just a mix of me going OHHHHHHH and this playing in the background, at this point. I need to grab some turnouts and an oxygen tank.
posted by emptythought at 12:37 AM on August 28, 2015 [3 favorites]


I have no fucking idea what these people's arguments are even supposed to be.

Currently it's complaining to the FBI that Worldcon committed wire fraud because voting no awards robs people of their votes. Or that the asterikses handed out to the nominees meant Worldcon defraued its members.
posted by MartinWisse at 1:02 AM on August 28, 2015 [6 favorites]


Hurtlin' through the cosmos


SPACE JOURNEY WALRUS
posted by louche mustachio at 1:12 AM on August 28, 2015 [126 favorites]


I had to. I HAD to.
posted by louche mustachio at 1:14 AM on August 28, 2015 [13 favorites]


That is the best thing.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 1:15 AM on August 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


I hope the Hugo SJWs haven't left a meticulous trail detailing how the votes were tallied and exposing the fraud because this updog situation could get very serious.
posted by Artw at 1:15 AM on August 28, 2015 [2 favorites]


Considering they were "declaring victory no matter what happens" a week ago, they sure are whining "we was robbed" a lot. But then, what do you expect from a bunch of dishonest, misogynist, racist fascists.

a meticulous trail detailing how the votes were tallied
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:17 AM on August 28, 2015 [3 favorites]


six chapter 5's and a movie!
posted by crocomancer at 1:19 AM on August 28, 2015 [17 favorites]


OH NO NOW THEY ARE DOOMED!
posted by Artw at 1:19 AM on August 28, 2015


I'm working on a science fiction novella called Big Dumb Rocket Adventures. It's about a guy named Spaceman Bob. His rocket has been designed to ensure his morality. If he has an orgasm during his space adventures the rocket will explode. He can kill all he wants though.

I think it will be a big hit and will be sure to win a Sad Puppo award next year at Worldcon.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:31 AM on August 28, 2015 [2 favorites]


Hurtlin' through the cosmos

T-SHIRT. NOW.
posted by MartinWisse at 1:41 AM on August 28, 2015 [10 favorites]



Hurtlin' through the cosmos

T-SHIRT. NOW.



OK SPACE JOURNEY WALRUS T-SHIRT NOW.

Or however long that took. Maybe longer because I have a broken arm but mostly because of who I am as person.
posted by louche mustachio at 2:36 AM on August 28, 2015 [44 favorites]


Just realized all I gotta do is take my old school nickname, my middle name and my surname, swap 'em around to make a pen-name that would be SJW initial-wise.... sooooo tempted.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:58 AM on August 28, 2015


Damn, louche mustachio, that's what I call delivering the goods!
posted by Harald74 at 3:24 AM on August 28, 2015 [2 favorites]


You can get a SJW coffee cup! *starts singing "the best part of wa-king up is Space Journey Walrus on your cup!"*
posted by KingEdRa at 3:31 AM on August 28, 2015 [9 favorites]


three chapter 5s

Hail Eris!
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:57 PM on August 27 [23 favorites +] [!]


I would have favorited that but it was already perfect.
posted by eriko at 4:07 AM on August 28, 2015 [8 favorites]


John Scalzi and the Chapters Five is the name of my next band.
posted by eriko at 4:13 AM on August 28, 2015 [16 favorites]


CHAPTER 5: A NEW ROPE

THE CORUSCATING EDDIES OF SPACE AND TIME shimmered and twisted like a gold lamé mankini stretched over Manchild Sadpup's better judgement. With a cosmic sigh, as a mother sighs as she looks at her teenager's midden of a bedroom, the universe composed itself back to Einsteinian normality by depositing, all of a sudden, Space Journey Walrus into the comforting, familiar dimensions.

Space Journey Walrus, having journeyed and being a walrus, floated in space. It sniffed the vacuum. Ahaha. Lavender and gunpowder. Cattledung and testosterone. The unwashed skivvies of outrage.

"Yo, diddly-up" thought SJW. "By my whiskers, by my tusks, by the herring of my dreams, I am here again. But why?"

It looked down at the planet below, and listened. Was that... yelping?

"Dagnabbit", thought SJW. "Not this again. I may be a trained hyperpsychotherapist, sexual councillor and the finest veterinarian in the Five Clusters, but really? "

sorry the Cosmos whispered back, but those egos have expanded beyond the binding point. The implosion will be messy. you weren't doing anything much, so...

"I was so doing much," grumbled SJW. "Me and Lafayette Hubbard were tickling each other so hard, you could see the gamma rays from Betelgeuse."

cure them. cure them and let us all get back to tickling each other. cure them...

"Cure them?"

...with love

"Bonio-donio, that's all you ever say. What if that doesn't work?"

then nuke their scrawny tushes back to the jurassic. who cares.

"On my way, ineluctable universal-space-god-lazy-device, on my way."

With a streak of ionised gas, Space Journey Walrus broke wind, orbit and the hearts of astronomers who now had to explain a meteor spectrogram that smelled strongly of fish.

Below, unaware of the pinniped of righteousness descending above, Manchild Sadpup was marshalling his invisible armies for one last all-out assault on all those who durst be cleverer, kinder and more successful than he.

Such arrogance must not stand!

But why was he suddendly thinking of a bristly moustache?
posted by Devonian at 4:14 AM on August 28, 2015 [34 favorites]


I've only kinda sorta followed this whole rolling mess, but I'm perpetually amused that someone picked "social justice warrior" as an insulting term for the other side. "Ha! Look at all those people standing up and fighting for justice in society! I'll call them social justice warriors!" It's like labeling your enemies the Brave Defenders of All that is Good. At some point you need to do some hard thinking about your life choices.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 4:58 AM on August 28, 2015 [40 favorites]


It's an attempt to make the idea a joke, like "Do-Gooders" is now a byword for well-meaning but damaging interference with a side-order of condescension, or "Talent" being a degrading term in Hollywood. It has all the subtlety and nuance we've come to expect.

Took me a while to work out what SJW was too - I had some tangled notion of the Jesuits being involved.

Instead, I think that it's just the hat-bands on their fedoras are too tight.
posted by Devonian at 5:07 AM on August 28, 2015


Personally, I identify as a Social Justice Wizard.

Me too, and I have the t-shirt
posted by Foosnark at 5:09 AM on August 28, 2015 [3 favorites]


This thread is just a mix of me going OHHHHHHH and this playing in the background

That made me lose it so hard I might have woken up a neighbor.
posted by palomar at 5:23 AM on August 28, 2015


Basically it's fine unless you're a social justice bard. Then everyone hates you. You're still a fucking bard.
posted by howfar at 5:48 AM on August 28, 2015 [13 favorites]


You're still a fucking bard.

I believe, if you look at Mr. Scalizi himself, that you would find that he too is a Social Justice Bard.
posted by eriko at 6:17 AM on August 28, 2015 [2 favorites]


That doesn't start with W.
posted by louche mustachio at 6:39 AM on August 28, 2015


He's a Social Justice Wbard. The 'w' is silent, you see.
posted by Alterscape at 6:49 AM on August 28, 2015 [6 favorites]


SJW is meant in the same spirit as "white knight," implying that anyone who genuinely cares about treating women or minorities like people is only doing it so that they can pat themselves on the back for fighting a (supposedly) imaginary battle.

Like "white knight," it's used by people who apparently can't even imagine doing something kind for someone else without a self-serving motive.
posted by straight at 6:54 AM on August 28, 2015 [5 favorites]


guys it stands for Smooth Jazz Waluigis
posted by griphus at 6:59 AM on August 28, 2015 [17 favorites]


Post-Fury Road bards are considered cool.
posted by Artw at 7:04 AM on August 28, 2015 [12 favorites]


I think I've mentioned this here before, but my real-life initials are SJW. This caused me some consternation when SJW first started showing up in such unflattering contexts across the internet, but now I'm pleased to roll with it and look for ways it can benefit me. Like, I could go get all my stuff monogrammed and never again worry about Vox Day borrowing things and not returning them ...
posted by DingoMutt at 7:08 AM on August 28, 2015 [12 favorites]


Looks like the book just took the prestigious "#1 in a random Amazon subcategory" award!
posted by Artw at 7:21 AM on August 28, 2015


I've only kinda sorta followed this whole rolling mess, but I'm perpetually amused that someone picked "social justice warrior" as an insulting term for the other side. "Ha! Look at all those people standing up and fighting for justice in society! I'll call them social justice warriors!"

So, if you really want to know the history of the term, it was originally made up and used by people interested in social justice who were active online. People on SJ blogs would self-describe themselves as SJWs in a non-ironic, non-disparaging (but somewhat tongue in cheek) way. It's a spin-off from "keyboard warrior," someone who acts tough/aggressive/passionate on the internet.

After a while it started getting used to distinguish moderates from the more "extreme" people in online social justice groups. Still not used disparagingly, but there was a sort of distancing happening--"I care about gay marriage but I'm not like a full blown social justice warrior!"

Eventually the racists, sexists, conservatives and brogressives of the internet got whiff of the term and turned it into an insult much like "feminist" can be used as an insult. This has caused many self-described SJWs to stop using the term.
posted by picklenickle at 7:23 AM on August 28, 2015 [5 favorites]


Maybe they should switch to Social Justice Ninja. Or Social Justice Commando. Or Social Justice Varangian Guard.
posted by Sangermaine at 7:26 AM on August 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


If I were a cartoonist, I would draw something about a Smooth Jazz Walrus. Or Wendigo. Not sure which is funnier. Wombat?
posted by uberchet at 7:30 AM on August 28, 2015


Yeah, there was a time not long ago when it meant people who try to hard, now it just means anyone with a shred of decency.
posted by Artw at 7:31 AM on August 28, 2015 [4 favorites]


Actually for me one of the effects of SJW being picked up as an insult by terrible people is I'm now looking back at some of the stuff I might have rolled my eyes at as too SJW in the past and wondering if they might have a point.
posted by Artw at 7:39 AM on August 28, 2015 [15 favorites]


Erin's own Amazon review of SJWs Always Lie is breathtakingly hilarious:

It's interesting that a book that is supposedly about "taking down the thought police" devotes the chapter covering its central premise--the so-called "three laws of SJWs"--focuses so intensively on the imaginary political thriller that is the author's quixotic quest to prove that John Scalzi falsifies his web traffic.

Even for someone who buys into the bogeyman of the SJW, this book is less a useful manual on dealing with them and more a Festivus-style Airing of Grievances. SJWs stole the SFWA presidency from me, and John Scalzi is not as popular as everyone thinks he is. The editing is good by Vox Day's standards, by which I mean he only repeats one chapter number and doesn't appear to get any of the names wrong. But quality aside, this is an example of somebody piggybacking on a topic he knows will be popular for his own obvious self-aggrandizement.

Buy this book if you want to read a grown man claiming he called in an executive-level favor to prove his imagined rival has been exaggerating his page views like it was some kind of grand masterstroke. Otherwise, avoid.

EDIT:

People think I'm lying because I'm mad this book "calls me out". Well, I've read this book, unlike the people below, so I can tell you that I don't actually feature in it. You want to know how bad this book is? I was being diplomatic when I said it's not his best work. I can't say it's his worst, though I can say with accuracy it's not his best. I'll tell you how bad it is.

While I was reading it, I posted some excerpts to Twitter.

Some of Vox Day's own followers rolled up and accused me of making them up to make him look bad.

That's how bad it is.

The person who below who is so angry at this "lying" review that he went and bought a copy of it?

You just paid $5 for garbage that the man's own followers won't believe he wrote.

Enjoy your purchase.

posted by Panjandrum at 7:49 AM on August 28, 2015 [33 favorites]


I always get Vox Day confused with the guy who draws the Day by Day cartoon, wherein really hot chicks who are always in boobs and butt poses (or else just have terrible spine problems) tell smug conservative dudes how right they are.

You can understand my confusion.
posted by emjaybee at 8:18 AM on August 28, 2015 [5 favorites]


So, if you really want to know the history of the term, it was originally made up and used by people interested in social justice who were active online. People on SJ blogs would self-describe themselves as SJWs in a non-ironic, non-disparaging (but somewhat tongue in cheek) way. It's a spin-off from "keyboard warrior," someone who acts tough/aggressive/passionate on the internet.

After a while it started getting used to distinguish moderates from the more "extreme" people in online social justice groups. Still not used disparagingly, but there was a sort of distancing happening--"I care about gay marriage but I'm not like a full blown social justice warrior!"

Eventually the racists, sexists, conservatives and brogressives of the internet got whiff of the term and turned it into an insult much like "feminist" can be used as an insult. This has caused many self-described SJWs to stop using the term.


I think that's pretty much exactly how "politically correct" went from a humorous tongue-in-cheek phrase used by leftists to a term of abuse, in fact. Funny how these reactionary guys think feminists don't have a sense of humor, when they're really always just too dense to get the joke.
posted by thetortoise at 8:21 AM on August 28, 2015 [6 favorites]


My favourite are the 2 really really grumpy one-star reviews:
Well worth the money if your a liberal or Social ...
ByDeepThought "DeepThought"on August 28, 2015

Well worth the money if your a liberal or Social Justice Warrior. This will only increase your echo chamber!
3 Rules of SJW's - They always lie. They Always double down. They always project. Not sure how you did it but damn, the author hits all three.
For all those that refuse to think and need to follow the heard, BUY THIS BOOK NOW!


SJWs always lie.
ByDaniel Bakeron August 27, 2015

SJWs always lie.
SJWs always double down.
SJWs always project.
Proof is in this "book". Read it an be amazed at how SJWs are completely incapable of seeing their actions beyond their initial emotional reaction.SJWs Always Lie: Taking Down the Thought Police

posted by Theta States at 8:32 AM on August 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


Aw, precious.

I guess they'll pray for us.
posted by Artw at 8:43 AM on August 28, 2015 [2 favorites]


I clicked on that "DeepThought" user's other reviews.
5-star reviews for books by Vox Day and John C. Wright books, 1-star reviews for John Scalzi books.

Excerpts from various 1-star reviews:
LBGT and politics take this book from a decent alien invasion to the preposterous. Anyone with a modicum of logic and intelligence should flee this book. It is obvious the author elevates current progressive ideology above story, plot, and characterization.
No wonder Sci-Fi sales are tanking.

Leftist ideology permeates the plot. Environmental wacko ism at it's finest. (Spoiler alert). How bad can humans be when vampires and werewolves have to save the planet from man!

Well I fibbed a little on the men and women are the same, the main character(female) acts like John Wayne on steroids. No wonder sales for Sci-FI are tanking. These characters have no basis in any reality.

Ok ok, i know saying a zombie book is not realistic is a stretch but this book is seriously flawed. First it is is very politically correct. Every character has a flaw except for the typical PC characters.

Any author, who is a member of the SWFA, can be considered a supporter of this vile organization should be ashamed of themselves. Any book buyer who purchases any books by Delany or any other SWFA member should have their head examined.
I have thrown out all books by these writers and other authors like John Scalzi for defending the indefensible actions of the SWFA.

The author continues along with the line of many modern authors and just does not know how to write about female characters. Women physically superior to men in combat....nice job the "Go Go Girl" chant is becoming increasingly vocal.

Think of all the book/movie clichés you can think of.
1. Nihilist outlook. Check.
2. Denigrate western civilization. Check
3. Aborigines are highly moral and superior. Check
4. Mention the word warrior many times implying a masculine warrior. Surprise it is a waste of a woman spurned by a boyfriend.
5 6 7 8 9 I could go on but why bother. Another book ruined by political correctness.
posted by Theta States at 8:46 AM on August 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


Nothing amuses me more than their insistence that John Scalzi writes dour political tomes where action takes the back seat to political lecturing, as opposed to the thrilling adventure tales of a Vox Day or John C Wright, which are just wall to wall fun.
posted by Artw at 8:50 AM on August 28, 2015 [20 favorites]


You know, I've heard that John Scalzi signed a 13 Chapter 5 contract with Tor Books!!
posted by eriko at 9:11 AM on August 28, 2015 [16 favorites]


I really want a Space Journey Walrus t-shirt now. Can someone make this happen?!
posted by Jon Mitchell at 10:06 AM on August 28, 2015 [2 favorites]


Hie thee upthread.
posted by postcommunism at 10:09 AM on August 28, 2015 [2 favorites]


I've never read anything of Day's or from his publishing house, but I've read Spinrad' s The Iron Dream. Is that close enough?
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:42 AM on August 28, 2015 [3 favorites]


Like a lot of puppy stuff it's more bad CS Lewis.
posted by Artw at 10:45 AM on August 28, 2015




Soon to be an audio book
posted by cmfletcher at 10:59 AM on August 28, 2015 [2 favorites]


Another book ruined by political correctness.

The weirdest thing about these reviews -- and they're common -- is that the premise of them is that the reviewer can't help but admit that the book is actually great, but marred by that damned spectre of equality and forward thinking.
posted by Shepherd at 10:59 AM on August 28, 2015 [12 favorites]


Mr. Pratt is catching up…

I'm expecting a lot of hairsplitting over what Amazon rankings actually mean and some count but some don't in the near future.
posted by Artw at 11:05 AM on August 28, 2015


In three days they'll both be way the hell behind Chuck Tingle's Space Journey Walruses Made Me Gay.
posted by griphus at 11:08 AM on August 28, 2015 [16 favorites]


UPDATE, 7/28/15: As of 1pm today, the donations to Con or Bust — not counting my $500 matching gift — are $6869.17. Which is, uh, more than the $2,500 goal! Whoo-hoo! The audio has been recorded, and will be released Monday.

Now we are going for:

STRETCH GOAL: If the donations to Con or Bust reach $10,000 by 11:59 (Eastern) Sunday, August 30, 2015, I will commission or write a ditty with the title “John Scalzi is Not Very Popular,” in which my various perfidies and shortcomings are to be enumerated — in song! You know you want this to happen. So keep donating!

Plus: If the $10k is reached today (Friday, 7/28), I will release the audio as soon as we hit that goal line.
- Scalzi's website

I'll have a Manbaby Martini, Shaken, not stirred.
posted by Hasteur at 11:30 AM on August 28, 2015 [5 favorites]


"Calling Filthy Pierre.... Calling Filthy Pierre ..."
posted by AGameOfMoans at 11:39 AM on August 28, 2015


Let's see... VD got 166 nominating votes for Best Editor in the Hugos... at $40 for a non-attending membership (because you'd never pay for attendance to a convention you're not actually going to just to support a cause), that's $6640. And that's ASSUMING that's the only reason they paid the $40. Scalzi has beaten that total for "Pay Somebody Else to Support Me" in one day. The only way VD is going to even sustain any cred as a Right Wing Wacko would be to get to appear on stage with The Donald.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:27 PM on August 28, 2015 [2 favorites]


Someone used SJW unironically in a book title and its selling Ok.
We are through the looking glass. Satire has collapsed.
Emptythought
Jan: I am taking a calculated risk. What's the upside? I overcome my nausea, fall deeply in love, babies, normalcy, no more self loathing. Downside? I, uh, date Michael Scott publicly and collapse in on myself like a dying star.
The Office (US), Season 3 - Episode 17 "Cocktails"

I'm not sure whether Jan or Michael Scott is satire in this metaphor, but it seemed appropriate.
posted by Superplin at 1:51 PM on August 28, 2015


Social Justice Shaman here--I don't *fight* for anything, but will offer cryptic advice from the sidelines.

Or maybe Antisocial Justice Shaman, given my proclivities.
posted by Four Ds at 2:11 PM on August 28, 2015 [3 favorites]


Social Justice Acrobat can jump over holes real good, which seems a bit limited as a capability set.
posted by Artw at 2:17 PM on August 28, 2015 [2 favorites]


unless it's Social Justice Adobe Acrobat... only makes arguments in pdf form
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:11 PM on August 28, 2015 [4 favorites]


I'm not sure whether Jan or Michael Scott is satire in this metaphor, but it seemed appropriate.

My brain connected that to Jan Michael Vincent of Airwolf fame. In my defense, one of his costars was Jean Bruce Scott.

posted by Celsius1414 at 3:16 PM on August 28, 2015


Social Justice Flash is either incredibly speedy or just updates all the time.
posted by Artw at 3:20 PM on August 28, 2015


yes, but Social Justice Flash has vulnerabilities that make people not want to work with them
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:23 PM on August 28, 2015 [4 favorites]


Extremely popular in Scotland though, from what I am hearing about all the Mac fans.
posted by Artw at 3:27 PM on August 28, 2015


i keep playing as social justice rogue because the AOE damage is fucking amazing esp if you are dual wield but i feel like just for the experience i should try social justice knight enchanter because that spirit blade thing is SO AWESOME for close combat work. social justice warrior is probably the most tedious class to play even if you do get the reaver specialization because the hits just aren't quick enough.

i like stabbing and i'm not sorry
posted by poffin boffin at 4:10 PM on August 28, 2015 [9 favorites]


Was thinking the other day that though I effectively have two careers I'm not advancing quite as much as I would like in either of them, so I am clearly typical dual-classer scum.
posted by Artw at 4:11 PM on August 28, 2015 [6 favorites]


I'm more of a Social Justice Clerk-Typist (71B)
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:19 PM on August 28, 2015 [8 favorites]


Considering they were "declaring victory no matter what happens" a week ago, they sure are whining "we was robbed" a lot. But then, what do you expect from a bunch of dishonest, misogynist, racist fascists

"you can't mug me! I lost my wallet on the train--and that's why I'm the true winner!"
posted by klangklangston at 5:35 PM on August 28, 2015 [3 favorites]


I actually think Social Justice Search Engine Optimizer might be an interesting profession. "I can make it so that socially benign terms return enjoyable and constructive pages from your website, while bigoted and retrograde terms return reproachful ones."
posted by George_Spiggott at 7:56 PM on August 28, 2015 [3 favorites]


You know it's bad when the google doodle judges you.
posted by E. Whitehall at 8:04 PM on August 28, 2015 [3 favorites]


When I think of the Space Journey Walrus, I imagine a nyancat graphic with a chiptune version of "Don't Stop Believin'" playing in the background, ideally the one from Journey's Atari 2600 game.
posted by panglos at 11:28 PM on August 28, 2015 [6 favorites]


Yes. Space Journey Walrus needs more nyancat. Please!
posted by AGameOfMoans at 12:14 AM on August 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


though I effectively have two careers I'm not advancing quite as much as I would like in either of them, so I am clearly typical dual-classer scum

Actually if the 2E PHB taught me anything it's that you're multiclass scum and by definition in*human, like all your SJ brethren.

That makes me think that I'd love to read a Vox Day/David Icke collaboration. Not enough to give either of the dodgy chancers any of my money, so if either of you are googling yourself please make this happen out of the goodness of your hearts.

Can lizardfolk multiclass anyway?

* OK "demi"
posted by howfar at 12:48 AM on August 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


Can lizardfolk multiclass anyway?

Finally, the reason I kept my Complete Book of Humanoids all these years: YES, yes they can.

Some combination of fighter, cleric, shaman and thief, but with limited levels (CBH, p119).
posted by Mezentian at 12:53 AM on August 29, 2015 [20 favorites]


Mezentian, I flagged that as fantastic!
posted by winna at 8:01 AM on August 29, 2015


The audio book is out.
posted by effbot at 10:35 AM on August 29, 2015 [5 favorites]


I'm really not the social type, I'm more of a stay at home and read a book justice warrior.
posted by eriko at 12:14 PM on August 29, 2015 [9 favorites]


but then, eriko, you're helping Scalzi and the other SJW authors make more money than VD and his STDs.
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:39 PM on August 29, 2015


I asked my brother, he's a sociopathic justice warrior.
posted by eriko at 3:01 PM on August 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


When I think of the Space Journey Walrus, I imagine a nyancat graphic with a chiptune version of "Don't Stop Believin'" playing in the background

One of the folks over on the PICO-8 BBS started in work on a Nyancat cart, maybe I'll try and give it a little bit of a tweak at some point.
posted by cortex at 3:51 PM on August 29, 2015 [1 favorite]


but then, eriko, you're helping Scalzi and the other SJW authors make more money than VD and his STDs.

True, but on the other hand, there no downside.
posted by eriko at 5:53 PM on August 29, 2015




Joke?
JOKE.
You're doing the Lord's work there.

Behold, a new religion.... or at least a meme that will last the generations.

Now, Social Justic Wemic... that's a joke.
A part human, part lion centaur? *pish*
posted by Mezentian at 3:49 AM on August 30, 2015


The audiobook is somehow even greater than the basic text. It is lovely!
posted by winna at 7:34 AM on August 30, 2015


I startled the napping dog when I got to the beginning of the third chapter 5. If this writing thing doesn't pan out for jscalzi he can probably get some voice over work for a kids animated show.
posted by cmfletcher at 8:40 AM on August 30, 2015


I know Space Journey Walrus mostly sings Don't Stop Believin', but i'd also like to think it takes breaks to sing Hurtlin' Through The Cosmos With Space Journey Walrus to the tune of Domo Arigato Mr Roboto.

I have to say I am surprised by the imaginative hold the concept of the SJW has on me.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 6:39 PM on August 30, 2015 [3 favorites]


It is potent.
posted by louche mustachio at 9:42 PM on August 30, 2015


It hardly needs to be said that the Space Journey Walrus is, of course, totally down with Social Justice as well.
posted by straight at 1:41 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]


(Probably a couple of days behind the curve on this, but the first time I heard the phrase Social Justice Warrior, the person said "the Social Justice Warrior with their mighty sword of self-righteousness and their impenetrable shield of confirmation bias". As that doesn't appear anywhere on the web, I suspect it was a lucky momentary phrasing on their part. But it caught something, and does describe a certain kind of person, and was a kind of useful descriptor for a while in a snarky sort of way. However, as the phrase has grown in popularity among the kind of people I'd rather not have anything to do with, I preferred to drop it altogether. Also I'm trying to wean myself off snarky dismissals of anybody. Even (or especially) the people I completely disagree with and find faintly repellant. It seems too lazy, and I'm not sure that anything lasting can be achieved with laziness.)
posted by Grangousier at 4:23 AM on August 31, 2015


I'm more of a Social Justice Eye Roller (First Class.) Some days I give myself eyestrain.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:48 PM on September 1, 2015




After four months or so it shouldn't be a surprise, but still, damn.

And 20 pages? At this rate we're going to end up with a book that has a three-page title and the text is just "Chapter 5: Butts."
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 5:55 AM on September 2, 2015 [2 favorites]


Will there be a parody of the parody of the parody? (Parodies all the way down)
posted by 445supermag at 8:08 AM on September 2, 2015


Puppies apparently unclear on the concepts "satire", "humor".

Flagged (on Amazon as inappropriate) and moving on. If that title were to establish a precedent, or turn up at the top of search engine hits for MeFi's own Scalzi, it would be a shame - and possibly a matter for lawyers.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:07 AM on September 2, 2015 [3 favorites]


Wow. Gross AND pathetic. I guess they really DID get the GamerGate braintrust onboard.
posted by Artw at 9:22 AM on September 2, 2015 [2 favorites]


Also I am beginning to suspect that Amazon Kindle category #1s are somewhat gameable.
posted by Artw at 9:23 AM on September 2, 2015 [1 favorite]


"Amazon Kindle Category #1s Are Somewhat Gameable -- How SJWs And CHORFs Use Their Evil To Impale Baby Jesus On A Spike Made From The Compressed Tears Of Angels That They Made Cry By Being Such Dicks"
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:33 AM on September 2, 2015 [5 favorites]


Thanks, Doktor Zed. I didn't realise you could report inappropriate content on Amazon like that.
posted by daisyk at 10:00 AM on September 2, 2015


Will there be a parody of the parody of the parody? (Parodies all the way down)

I dunno. What personally kills me is that it's so terribly unfunny. I don't think WELL YOU ARE A BAD PERSON THEN HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES UH even counts as parody.
posted by sukeban at 10:10 AM on September 2, 2015 [1 favorite]


Popehat post ("it's almost certainly protected parody")
posted by sukeban at 10:27 AM on September 2, 2015


I doubt it is illegal. It is, however, crap.
posted by Artw at 11:03 AM on September 2, 2015


Popehat post ("it's almost certainly protected parody")

Parody in the legal sense, but by decent literary standards, it comes up short. It doesn't sound as though it has enough literary merit to pass for a travesty of Scalzi's own satire, which Vox Day attempted, in his typical bad faith, to take at face value. At best, it's the Internet equivalent of a pasquinade.

At worst - and the Rapid Puppies are the worst - this is stealth attempt to link "John Scalzi" to an otherwise libelous term in Amazon's search database. Vox Day and his rabid pack of puppies may be annoyed at the 100% parodic John Scalzi is Not a Popular Author, but it won't show up in anyone searching for Day's books. And the cover is the graphic equivalent of the title "Vox Day Is a Nazi" and a ;) to provide the fig-leaf of "j/k parody".

Thanks, Doktor Zed. I didn't realise you could report inappropriate content on Amazon like that.

You're quite welcome. For anyone else looking, it's way, way down at the bottom of the page, well past all the reviews, under feedback: "Would you like to report this content as inappropriate? Click here".
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:05 AM on September 2, 2015 [2 favorites]


If Vox Day holds John Scalzi to be a rapist yet bemoans their relative popularity, doesn't that mean that Vox Day would like to be a rapist?
posted by klangklangston at 11:55 AM on September 2, 2015


In his usual weaselly way he's actually said "If the definition of rape is stretched so far to include women who have not given consent, then I am absolutely a serial rapist. So, too, is every man I know." Which if you interpret as rape-rape he'll point at you with glee and chortle and explain that he had sex with his wife without asking her verbally or getting a written permission or some other shit like that and shame on you for thinking he was a rapist-rapist.

He's a total shitheel fuckwit.
posted by sukeban at 12:03 PM on September 2, 2015 [4 favorites]


If you haven't listened to the audiobook, do- Scalzi does the whole thing in a voice that sounds like Jello Biafra and Billy Quizboy had a baby.
posted by Pope Guilty at 12:05 PM on September 2, 2015


The latest (vile) parody has been taken off the Amazon site, apparently.
posted by Lexica at 12:40 PM on September 2, 2015


Cue howls of complaint and massive false equivalency.
posted by Artw at 12:43 PM on September 2, 2015


Yup.
posted by Artw at 1:09 PM on September 2, 2015


Well, right now Correia's too busy accusing Phil Sandifer of promoting pedophilia. Which, in case you were still wondering if he enthusiastically supports transphobic harassment, is based on a wildly out-of-context tweet from Sandifer discussing transgender boys and girls in defense of the gamergators' most recent high-profile target of said transphobic harassment.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:10 PM on September 2, 2015


Basic inability to parse anything in any meaningful way does rather seem to be one of their characteristics.
posted by Artw at 1:22 PM on September 2, 2015 [2 favorites]


Cue howls of complaint and massive false equivalency.

Indeed. Here's a comment on the Popehat post:
Scalzi is a humorless totalitarian at heart. The book is removed from Amazon, while the other parody from his side remains. Popehat, why do you even want to be on the same team as these totalitarian censors?
posted by zakur at 6:13 PM on September 2, 2015


"This is absolutely the hill I want to die on!"
posted by Artw at 7:00 PM on September 2, 2015 [6 favorites]


Wait, the link Amazon has to report objectionable, dishonest, or illegal content actually does something? I've been trying to get a review with an obviously fake picture removed for like nine months, and Amazon has ignored every complaint that people have made about it.
posted by Fanghorn Dungeon, LLC at 8:23 PM on September 2, 2015


"This is absolutely the hill I want to die on!"

Sure enough, "Alexa Eren" has republished the book on Kindle as John Scalzi Banned This Book But He Can Never Ban My Burning Love, which is factually untrue since (a) Amazon refusing to sell something isn't technically banning (monopsony notwithstanding) and (b) Scalzi himself stayed above the fray while Amazon customers actively reported the objectionable title.

But hey, progress for not including libelous keywords?
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:17 PM on September 3, 2015


Apart from the claim that Scalzi banned a book, which is potentially defamatory.

To be honest, though, Beale et al just need to get an allotment or something to distract them. There's something so sad about their rather desperate personal problems being the cause of so much irritation. While it's clear that the Puppy/Gater clown-car primarily acts to undermine the credibility of reactionary politics, it's still a massive and annoying waste of time.
posted by howfar at 3:34 AM on September 6, 2015


@scalzi:
Jerk: HA THE EBOOK YOU GOT TAKEN DOWN IS BACK WITH A NEW TITLE
Me: (looks; title doesn't falsely accuse me of rape) that's fine.
Jerk: ...

posted by Artw at 4:53 AM on September 6, 2015 [4 favorites]


And it continues. For some reason they've roped GRRM into the clique of evil SJWs. Which also includes Wu and Sarkeesian, so they're not exactly hiding their GamerGate links....
posted by Pink Frost at 4:35 PM on September 6, 2015


These guys never heard of diminishing returns, did they?
posted by Artw at 4:37 PM on September 6, 2015 [1 favorite]


I like the four star review...
posted by Artw at 4:39 PM on September 6, 2015


I see Ian McLeod is getting in on the reviewing action, too.
posted by Pink Frost at 5:05 PM on September 6, 2015


If Vox can keep churning out these kindle singles he’ll make a (relatively) pretty penny.
posted by Going To Maine at 6:29 PM on September 6, 2015


These guys never heard of diminishing returns, did they?

Channers/Redditors think mindlessly parroting memes forever is the highest form of humor, soooooooo
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:38 PM on September 6, 2015 [2 favorites]


Metafilter: mindlessly parroting memes forever is the highest form of humor
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:55 PM on September 6, 2015 [8 favorites]


These guys never heard of diminishing returns, did they?

This is signal-jamming, their attempt to dominate the conversation by drowning out normal discourse. They can crap them out en masse without much effort and no repercussions, so expect to see a lot more 99¢ screeds flooding Kindle. If Amazon clamps down on them, they get to cry "SJW censorship", and if not, then they can escalate it to a culture-jamming operation.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:55 PM on September 6, 2015 [3 favorites]


These screeds are an inside joke for the already-committed. They don't make sense to anyone who doesn't know that they're supposed to be about Scalzi and Martin and whoever, so the Puppies are just talking to themselves. It's better that they do that rather than anything effective.
posted by Joe in Australia at 8:15 PM on September 6, 2015 [2 favorites]


I'm just here, waiting for the inevitable Chuck Tingle parody.
posted by sukeban at 1:01 AM on September 7, 2015 [2 favorites]


And it continues. For some reason they've roped GRRM into the clique of evil SJWs. Which also includes Wu and Sarkeesian, so they're not exactly hiding their GamerGate links....

It's kinda funny in an antihumor sort of way how quickly this accelerated into a singularity with the puppies actually just being gamergate. Not that it wasn't a sort of you got chocolate in my peanut butter, well you got peanut butter in my chocolate! sort of thing to begin with.
posted by emptythought at 11:34 AM on September 7, 2015


I wonder if Torgersen and Correia will ever acknowledge how much they let themselves be used by VD.
posted by Going To Maine at 11:38 AM on September 7, 2015


Ha ha, no.

If they started admiting blatantly honest things where would it end?

They might have to admit that this whole business is about them being sore losers and mediocre writers.
posted by Artw at 11:41 AM on September 7, 2015 [3 favorites]


Actually, it's about ethics in science-fiction award nominations.
posted by Pink Frost at 1:39 PM on September 7, 2015 [3 favorites]


#notAllSoreLosers
posted by Artw at 1:48 PM on September 7, 2015 [3 favorites]


I'm just here, waiting for the inevitable Chuck Tingle parody.


I think it's already been written.
posted by murphy slaw at 5:56 PM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]


Hard to be a god

Interesting essay by Ken Macleod that touches on Puppy Gate as well as many other things
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 4:12 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]


These guys never heard of diminishing returns, did they?

Seriously, no. There's another one of these P.O.S. ebooks whose title's working in that special word the rabid puppies seem so obsessed with. The strategy is twofold: (A) link Scalzi's name with the word in Amazon results (which trickle down into other search engines like Google, as a bonus); (B) keep adding noise to the conversation until it's impossible to have a reasonable discussion about the actual topics.

The whole thing rests on misuse of free speech that's not outright crying-fire-in-crowded-theatre abuse but shouting down anyone who remotely disagrees with them. For the 1st Amendment fans over at /r/KotakuInAction who have joyfully jumped on this bandwagon, there remains some confusion over their right to free speech and everyone else's not to listen to their bullshit.

Anyroad, flagging the nasty little Kindle squib and moving on...
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:52 AM on September 10, 2015


At least all the terrible a are merging into one big terrible, so we know where we stand.

Or it just becomes an all engulfing vortex of stupidity that grows to encompass everything.
posted by Artw at 8:53 AM on September 10, 2015


Metafilter: an all engulfing vortex of stupidity that grows to encompass everything
posted by Bringer Tom at 9:33 AM on September 10, 2015


I'm just here, waiting for the inevitable Chuck Tingle parody.
I think it's already been written.


Is that Brian Austin Grey?
Does he know?
posted by Mezentian at 8:31 AM on September 11, 2015 [1 favorite]


Hard to be a god

Sympathy for the diva
posted by Going To Maine at 2:14 PM on September 11, 2015 [1 favorite]


« Older "I just want this type of support to be normalized...   |   Ten millimeter with over-and-under thirty... Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments