Rocket scientist harassed over shirt

[MrPickins]

I don't think you know what that word means.

Do you?

The phrase I used in no way referenced women or objectified them, unlike the shirt in question.

I know you think you're witty, but it's a self-delusion.

And?

And people can be expected to voice their opinions on things that are inappropriate.

Does this really need to be spelled out for you?

Tell you what, if you don't like his shirt, don't land your probe on the same comet he parked on.

By the same token, if you don't want people complaining about you wearing a shirt covered in scantily-clad women, don't wear it to a professional press conference.

 

[justoh]

So your contention is that it is absolutely impossible for someone to think that a shirt featuring either half-naked women OR half-naked men is somehow inappropriate in a professional setting? Only feminists will complain about one, only "right wing nutjobs" the other? That's absurd. Most people would probably think that a shirt featuring a half-naked adult of any gender in a sexual pose is not something you should wear in a professional environment, period. It doesn't have to be about feminism or homophobia, it's about keeping sex out of the workplace. This is why so many professional offices have to resort to dress codes. Apparently the concept of "keep sexual situations out of the office" is too confounding for some people to grasp.

Whether or not it's "inappropriate" for his workplace should be between him and his employer, shouldn't be a news story, and is beside the point.

Apparently people here are at least smart enough not to repeat the absurd sexist charges, but nevertheless bring up the point of it being unprofessional or whatever for the workplace, like that's supposed to be relevant to whether or not he should be harassed and forced into making a fake apology specifically for it being offensive to really, really, really, really, really, really, really stupid people (i say fake because he's probably not dumb enough to think it warrants an actual apology).

 

[doubledeluxe]

I gotta hand it to TH. He really knows how to troll.

 

[justoh]

Do you?

My the phrase I used in no way referenced women or objectified them, unlike the shirt in question.

I know you think you're witty, but it's a self-delusion.




And people can be expected to voice their opinions on things that are inappropriate.

Does this really need to be spelled out for you?

Purposefully twisting your words isn't the same as misinterpreting them. You _are_ from texas, aren't you?

 

[Exophase]

It gives rocket science a bad name; it makes them look like a bunch of dorks with the fashion sense of a porn producer.

Thinking that the actions of one person (who isn't even a "rocket scientist") represents a huge group of engineers gives the person with that sentiment a bad name.

 

[doubledeluxe]

ROFL at people upset about his shirt.

If this upsets you....

ROFL

 

[MrPickins]

Purposefully twisting your words isn't the same as misinterpreting them. You _are_ from texas, aren't you?

This is a text-based medium. Forgive me for not realizing that you were intentionally twisting my words and instead assuming you misinterpreted.

If you posted more than one line per response, you'd have more room to clarify your point.


In either case, twisting of words/intention isn't what I'm doing here.

I never said the guy wore it with the intent of helping perpetuate casual sexism. I'm just saying that's what the end effect is, whether he realized it or not.

 

[zinfamous]

So gay pride parades will now all be canceled?

What exactly is acceptable in public? Who gets to decide?

Hey, I also think those are pretty deplorable (as do some of the gay people I know--not all gay people that I know, though).

Difference is, those are at least licensed, scheduled, and confined to whatever space they occur in. So, if you want to get your depravity on that day, then you know where to go.

FWIW, I think this guy should be getting shit only for wearing this shirt when he wore it--it's just dumb. And yes, the same obviously applies to dong shirts. If he were just wearing it on the street, in a weird environment, I wouldn't be offended. probably others would. that's fine. I'd be offended that the shirt is pretty ugly, maybe (such things don't actually offend me), but it would certainly aid in my forming a base opinion of this stranger that I don't know. Am I not allowed to form opinions of strangers based on their appearance? Well, if not, blow me, I guess, because I will keep doing that--not that I think that is what you are saying.


Do you expect people to form an opinion of you based on your choice of Ron Swanson as an avatar? Probably. Would you say it would be an accurate opinion? Yes, yes you would. ...how is this different than what people may think of this guy based on his shirt?

 

[highland145]

ROFL at people upset about his shirt.

If this upsets you....

ROFL

QFT.....Heavenly Bodies.



Has anyone considered that a guy that can land a robot on a comet might be just a little eccentric?

 

[BoberFett]

By the same token, if you don't want people complaining about you wearing a shirt covered in scantily-clad women, don't wear it to a professional press conference.

So slut shaming is good now?

 

[highland145]

So slut shaming is good now?

Pics and we'll decide.

 

[doubledeluxe]

QFT.....Heavenly Bodies.



Has anyone considered that a guy that can land a robot on a comet might be just a little eccentric?

I just think the issue is more "Who gives a shit"?

Zero shits given. It's not offensive and I don't recall them mentioning anywhere that it was a black tie event. If you want to have tuxes on while you land a probe on a comet be my guest. Go do that.

 

[justoh]

This is a text-based medium. Forgive me for not realizing that you were intentionally twisting my words and instead assuming you misinterpreted.

If you posted more than one line per response, you'd have more room to clarify your point.


In either case, twisting of words/intention isn't what I'm doing here.

I never said the guy wore it with the intent of helping perpetuate casual sexism. I'm just saying that's what the end effect is, whether he realized it or not.

I was going to reply indignantly and claim that you couldn't possibly think that I wasn't obviously making fun of the idiots on twitter who look for shit to be offended by, with my transparently ridiculous juxtaposition of your "broad" stroke comment and this bullshirt controversy, but then your last paragraph indicates that you're one of them, so I don't even know how to respond anymore. Don't breed, idiot?

 

[highland145]

I just think the issue is more "Who gives a shit"?

Zero shits given. It's not offensive and I don't recall them mentioning anywhere that it was a black tie event. If you want to have tuxes on while you land a probe on a comet be my guest. Go do that.

Many years ago, far far away, I had a shirt that said on the front "To all you virgins..." and on the back "Thanks for nothing." I thought it was quite appropriate at 22 y.o. and Myrtle Beach.:awe:


People should be more upset that the batteries died and the drilling stopped. And he should have said, "Eff You."

 

[BoberFett]

Do you expect people to form an opinion of you based on your choice of Ron Swanson as an avatar? Probably. Would you say it would be an accurate opinion? Yes, yes you would. ...how is this different than what people may think of this guy based on his shirt?

I don't have a problem with anybody thinking anything about anyone. My problem is the growing double standard of the intolerant left. Slut shaming, fat shaming, or any kind negative reaction to someone's personal choices is a horrible crime until it's some white guy that wears a tacky shirt, at which point he needs to be sent to the re-education camp. That double standard feeds into that whole Gamergate thing, where feminists and their white knight protectors are wringing their hands about how it's just awful that these privileged male middle class white nerds are allowed to be horrible woman hating misogynists and we need to stop their attacks on equality and violent attitudes toward women, but oh by the way "Gamergaters should eat a bullet" as one poster here so eloquently put it.

As a libertarian, I'm all about live and let live. I don't care what anybody else does as long as it doesn't directly affect me. You want to start a company where the mandatory attire is gimp outfits with a dildo strapped to your forehead like a unicorn and feathers glued to your ass? Be my guest. If you offer a good product I want, I may even be your customer. But the social justice warriors on the left see tolerance as a one way street. Everyone else is supposed to be tolerant of them and what they believe is acceptable, but don't you dare say or do anything they find inappropriate, or you'll be on the receiving end of a constant stream of abuse.

 

[BoberFett]

Pics and we'll decide.

OK, but just for you, big boy.

 

[highland145]

OK, but just for you, big boy.

You know how it is, send them to your BFF and the whole school has them in 5 minutes.

 

[BoberFett]

You know how it is, send them to your BFF and the whole school has them in 5 minutes.

Don't share those n00dz!

 

[Bitek]

So gay pride parades will now all be canceled?

What exactly is acceptable in public? Who gets to decide?

Go wear your dong shirt to the supermarket and let us know how it goes

How about your wife wearing a "COCKMASTER" shirt when she goes?

If that's the message you want to broadcast of who you are, good luck with that.

 

[MrPickins]

I was going to reply indignantly and claim that you couldn't possibly think that I wasn't obviously making fun of the idiots on twitter who look for shit to be offended by, with my transparently ridiculous juxtaposition of your "broad" stroke comment and this bullshirt controversy,

Again, I don't follow you around, so I'm not fully aware of your grasp of the English language/idioms. Did it go over my head? Sure.

Am I infallible? No. So, whatever...

but then your last paragraph indicates that you're one of them, so I don't even know how to respond anymore. Don't breed, idiot?

Too late, and thankfully I'll be teaching my daughter that she should feel free to speak her mind on stuff she feels is unacceptable, just like her father.

As far as being offended, at this point, I'm more offended by the backlash against the people who care to speak up than I am about the shirt. It kinda proves the point about casual sexism.

So slut shaming is good now?

How does one shame an inanimate object?

 

[highland145]

Don't share those n00dz!

 

[Exophase]

It kinda proves the point about casual sexism.

How? What point is it proving? Why do people keep presenting this Lewis's Law-esque fallacy? Why is it that dismissing or criticizing the arguments made by women in favor of women's rights automatically makes people sexist? Why can't they simply sincerely or even legitimately think that the person is wrong?

This line of reasoning, sometimes referred to as "kafkatrapping", is utterly insidious.

 

[justoh]

Too late, and thankfully I'll be teaching my daughter that she should feel free to speak her mind on stuff she feels is unacceptable, just like her father.

It shouldn't be based simply on whatever we feel is unacceptable. What if she happens to feel that, say, gay marriage/rights are unacceptable. Should she speak out against those things?

You aren't setting a very good example as to what might constitute a just or sensible protest, with this guy's shirt wearing as perpetuating sexism nonsense, so, you're right, she'll be just like her father. Poor kid. Poor society.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

It shouldn't be based simply on whatever we feel is unacceptable. What if she happens to feel that, say, gay marriage/rights are unacceptable. Should she speak out against those things?

You aren't setting a very good example as to what might constitute a just or sensible protest, with this guy's shirt wearing as perpetuating sexism nonsense, so, you're right, she'll be just like her father. Poor kid. Poor society.

I won't speak for MrPickins, but I personally am going to teach my daughter the same thing about speaking up for what she believes in. If she believes marriage should be between one man and one woman, I'm going to look at her funny, and she won't get to go over to grandma's anymore, but I'm not going to censor her right to have an opinion and voice it. And if she ever gets fired for wearing a beefcake shirt, I'm just going to laugh and ask her why on Earth she thought that was a good idea.

 

[yllus]

Whether or not it's "inappropriate" for his workplace should be between him and his employer, shouldn't be a news story, and is beside the point.

That stops being the case when the employee is interviewed on television for something he did as part of his job. In that case the rest of us are probably going to get a chance to weigh in on the inappropriateness as well.

I've usually thought about cases like this (one-offs where a random employee somewhere does something weird) is to shake your head and then move on in life. It's just not worth expending much energy upon. I've already used too much of my own writing this.