Jezebel is officially run by fucking morons

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It's all pretty embarrassingly awful. A commenter on another commentary that said pretty much what you're saying asked if actually, Tracie and Mo are just the most 'liberated' people in the world because they do what they want and say what they want without giving a shit about anyone else or societal mores.

Now that all sounds positive until you consider that the same descriptions applies to serial killers (oh, yeah, and rapists).

[this is shocking and depressing]

Not you, Jezebel, you understand.

Exactly.

Rapists who are more than likely frat boys with drugs, right? Wait, what?
Shocking and depressing, indeed.
[this is good]
Women like that shouldn't be able to represent any women's magazine, let alone one as trite as Jezebel.

I'm pretty sure there have been a lot of angry comments to Gawker and Jezebel. But they'll have all been deleted.
Absolutely. It's horrendous and if Gawker had some balls, or perhaps some sense of right and wrong and company ethics - maybe they would speak up, and/or fire them. But I highly doubt that will ever happen.

They'll just let us know how we're just not *getting it* and that they're *being funny*. Blargh.
Jezebel had an awful whiny post earlier by some woman crying because a commenter dared to disagree with her. She moaned for bloody ages about how hurt she was and how unfair it all was. For Christ's sake.

As a blogger, I like the negative comments! They cause a bit of a stir and sometimes make me realise when I've been a bit of an idiot. I learn from them. And goodness knows, these two deserve this more than anyone.
I freely admit that the only blogspace I routinely visit is here. But dang, Cate... I'm glad you're here. I would like to slap shit out of them alongside you.
[this is good]
Thank you so much!! I have a feeling there's a very long line of people who'd like to join us on the slap fest. I just hope that the people who are offended by them write about it so it gets out there on the blogosphere (and Google) and that they stop reading Jezebel.
[this is good]
Did that idiot actually say she is a connoisseur of rape drugs? The flippant attitude is enough to make me want to punch them in the crotch. I don't think I've ever seen women so apathetic to rape in my life, as if it's as natural as getting your period once a month.

What a waste of blogging space these two are.
I know! I heard that too! Then she tried to cover it up by saying..."um, of hearing women's stories...."

This whole thing is freakin' ridiculous. I also enjoy the attitude that "meh, it's just abortion!!" Mother. Of. God.

since when does "liberated" equal "stupid"?????

Oh my god I only watched the first clip and now I want to kill myself.

Are you fucking kidding me? These two vapid, alcoholic mall bunnies get paid to edit a "feminist" magazine? Pardon me while I go throw up.
Where to even begin? "Pulling out" counts as birth control--good one. Rape is just something that happens (but apparently not in Williamsburg) and you get over it. Talking about how you regret being drunk most of the time--while drink. And do these two actually sound like especially inarticulate and bored 11th graders, or are they just worried that if the boys they date find out their real ages they'll dump them?
[this is good]
Well, It's funny. I looked at the whole piece, not just the ones that Lizz Winstead edited to put these ladies in their worst possible light.

This was a hit piece.

If you slog through all of the comments on Jezebel regarding this (i don't recommend it), you'll find a couple from the Editor in Chief, Anna, explaining some of the peculiarities about this particular show.

It doesn't excuse the behavior, but it does give context. Nobody walked away from this debacle smelling good.
All I can say is that I hope this 'performance' leads to them losing some of their cachet and influence, because some of the things they say in these two clips (regardless of context based editing as suggested by E above) are utterly unforgiveable. Rape, and let's be clear here, that means non-consensual sexual activity of ANY kind across any sexual preference, is wrong. It is unacceptable, NEVER excusable and certainly not available as a punchline in an interview setting from a supposed feminist authority (I say this because I can personally allow for a rape joke in a comedy routine by a comedian, so long as the subtext is not one of apologism for or acceptance of rape).

I agree with the interviewer (Lizz?), these two women are role-models even if they don't want to be, and to behave in such a cavalier manner about something this serious, which damages the lives of people who suffer it in terrible and countless ways is just heartless, and crass. They should be ashamed of themselves; they should apologise to their readers and they should think twice and then think again before ever speaking on the subject again.

This is the only blog I read and have ever read, I have a personal interest. I have never heard of Moe and Tracie or this show with Lizz. Based only on what I have seen, heard and read this morning I am offended and disgusted that these two women have somehow and amazingly gained popularity. I will believe that this is WHO THEY ARE. On my drunkest day, I can only speak what I believe and what I know, I am not overtaken by a voice putting words and views in my being and then spewing them from me as I am their vehicle. If I had any say in their futures, they would be nowhere near any possible format to be heard from. A fish hatchery in Alaska shall be their audience, they won't last long. And as far as Lizz, I know only what I saw on this interview but you sank right down there with them as far as I could tell, have some integrity and don't allow this insulting, degrading, uninformative waste of time on your show. As soon as you realized what was up you should have stopped it, you also have a responsibility to the women who watch your show.

[this is good]
I'm speechless. This is the first I've heard of them or that interview and I'd really like to hunt them down and bitch slap them a few times. What in the world could have made them said ANY of that? Wow...someone really needs to fire those two girls. I would not want someone of their character representing me in any way, shape or form.
Interesting for me to learn that I just wasn't smart enough to avoid being raped. Funny, I don't remember the guy being bad, using drugs, or anything else. Must be cause I was/am stupid. And the fact that I chose not to prosecute him SOLELY because I knew his brother would, for real, kill him if he found out about it - and I didn't want that brother to spend his life in jail and deal with destroying his family - well, I must have been stupid then too.

What a couple of fucktards. And who the hell goes on a show to talk about China and/or rape and expect it to be comedic?!?

I have never seen two women act like such jackasses in my entire life! I am all for women embracing their sexuality but DAMN! How about some dignity to go along with that? Talking about not having rapists in the area that she lives and how she avoids it by not hanging out with frat boys made her sound so unintelligent. My jaw dropped when she started saying that stuff. Even if they thought this would be a comedy show, some good old fashioned common sense and just paying attention to the lack of laughing from the audience should have told them otherwise.

Well I can see they got you worked up, I have no use for many types of people and unfortunately these are another type of feminist to add to my list! The feminist who dump on man for all there problems and there is 50/50 blame there but what kind of an example are they putting forward! Sure rape there needs to be more education but that is to both girl and guy / woman and man, no means no! I know denial is a handy tool to forget things but if you were truly raped what bother would it be to request and expect justice. I will have to check out the videos and there web sight when I get to some high speed tomorrow but from how upset you are, I can’t and can believe how they are becoming popular off the works of others, eliminating anything that doesn’t flatter them and ignoring anyone who doesn’t bow down and think there the thing. No wonder there is such a messed up view on feminism, when they belittle there own and put it into the realm of being a party girl!

I got even more angry after the reading Shoot The Messenger this afternoon. Here's my blog post:

http://sianyland.vox.com/library/post/what-the-fuck.html
I think everyone should just relax and take a deep breath. I thought they were funny and trying to be funny and not trying to make grand pronouncements for the betterment of womankind and feminism. They were drinking and joking around. Almost all of you are taking it like they were expressing their most deeply considered take on the issues. They weren't, they were joking around. Cut 'em some slack.
Rape isn't funny.
I think you're totally wrong. They were not "just being funny". Even if they weren't trying to "make grand pronouncements for the betterment of womankind and feminism", whatever they were trying to convey in that interview - whether it be humor or just drunk, "ironic" banter - they ended up being incredibly offensive, insulting and just plain wrong.

They don't deserve to be cut any slack. Why shouldn't they be held responsible for their behavior? They're adults. Whether or not they want to own up to being role models for young women, they're still professional writers and were representing their website and Gawker Media. They showed up drunk. They were unprepared. Then toss in all the horrendous things they said and it's just inexcusable.

I would love to see these two fired.

For some reason, my full comment didn't post. Sorry about the double post.

This whole situation sickens me that two women could actually think those things. Being drunk is not an excuse. I've been drunk hundreds of times, and I've never made light out of RAPE. It's not the least bit funny. They came across as total idiots. I can't even believe these women are writers.

I wrote an article about this whole debacle. I think you will find it interesting and will agree with me on a few points. http://coletteslovebytes.blogspot.com/2008/07/night-feminism-died.html

Also, when you get a chance, read Tracie Egan's response to all of this: http://onedatatime.typepad.com For somebody who is 29, she acts like she's 18. This girl has a huge reality check coming her way.

Love your blog! I write about pop culture and relationships also. You're a great writer. I will definitely put you in my blogroll.

I've been drinking and joking around a lot in my life. I can't remember EVER drinking and joking around about rape. Not once, even when I was young and exceptionally stupid (as opposed to old, cranky and slightly stupid). There are lots of things I can blow off as youthful ignorance but this is a serious topic for any woman of any age, and it's serious for men, too. Because it's violence of a most devastating nature. That's why it's so popular in wartime. Saves bullets and kills - mentally, emotionally and physically.
Murder isn't funny either. Neither is incest, castration, suicide or denigrating the intelligence of blond woman. None of these things are funny in real life but they are joked about constantly by people around the world every day. I don't think rape belongs in some special "no jokes allowed" category unless we put all of these horrible things in that category.

And CupCate, I think you are taking things meant to be edgy jokes and pretending they are the sincere views of these women. Do you really think they think rape only happens to stupid people? C'mon, that is ludicrous. Call it a bad joke if you want but it's a joke.


Here's the thing. There are some abortion/rape jokes that I will laugh at. It depends upon what the context is, it depends on what exactly is being said and it depends on who is saying it. I agree that things like rape and abortion shouldn't be put into the "no jokes allowed" category - but it's rare that I hear someone make a joke about them that's actually funny.

In this instance, what was said was stupid, irresponsible, offensive and crass. They were trying to be "edgy". They were trying to be funny, but the point is is that they weren't. Making an offensive joke is bad enough, but making a so-called "bad joke" about rape in public, when you work for a women's issues or feminism site, while you're drunk is inexcusable. Do I really think that Tracie Egan thinks that women who gets raped are stupid? I'm not sure.

You have to seriously wonder about someone who, while drunk, would REPEATEDLY make such disgusting jokes and flippantly say things like "I don't hang out with frat guys" as a reason why she hasn't been raped. If these women had some one or two things that were offensive, fine, you can call them bad jokes. But these were not just one or two "bad jokes". They conveyed the same misinformed, arrogant attitudes about rape and date rape over and over again through not only what seemed to be attempted jokes, but statements and idiotic observations. What they said were not just bad jokes.


(I say this because I can personally allow for a rape joke in a comedy routine by a comedian, so long as the subtext is not one of apologism for or acceptance of rape).

Exactly. I don't think RAPE is funny - just as I don't think RACISM is funny. However, there are comedians like Sarah Silverman that makes jokes about racism that I think are funny. As she says, "They're jokes about racism, not racist jokes."

Things you shouldn't laugh at like mental illness, physical disabilities and even death can be funny. It's a fine line...a very fine line. However, these women are not comedians. You know when someone is trying to be truly funny and make an actual joke, and I don't think they were.

Tracie and Moe, it seems, were just trying to make sarcastic comments and do their whole "god I'm so ironic and apathetic about everything, god I'm so hilarious" act...but it ended up being horrific as they *whoops* got drunk and showed how much they don't care about women's issues and how unqualified they are to be in the professional positions that they are.

Thanks for the comment, dude.
Thanks for your comment, and I will definitely check out your blog. :)

Yeah, I've been drunk a, uh, well a few times and I don't think I've ever been like, "I've never been raped, so obviously, all you rape victims out there are just doing something wrong!!! I've had tons of sex! And look at me! I'm fine! What the hell is your problem??"

I stopped by Tracie's blog to read the "Rape is boring" or whatever she called it post, and it made me want to vomit. Whatever. It says volumes about Gawker Media that not only have Tracie and Moe revealed the true attitudes behind Jezebel, but that they've been outed, and are still fucking employed. Whatever. They'll crash and burn in their own time.


Ugh. I'm so sorry :(

Yeah, I know. What was she planning on doing? Crackin' some killer jokes about freeing Tibet?

"What's all this rape shit? I was going to rag on the Chinese! THIS IS A COMEDY SHOW GOD DAMMIT."




I agree that no one walked away without fault, but at least Winstead sort of owned up to her part of the shit. She wrote on The Huffington Post that:

"I am no angel and tell a few stories on this tape about my own life that are cringe worthy and so I put myself up for scrutiny here as well."

The shit about being "Terminator 3" bothered me and a lot of her jokes in the beginning I didn't think were very funny - but they didn't anger me. I think she started the interview by wanting to be on their level and sort of match their humour style to make for a better interview...but then when Moe and Tracie took it too far, you could tell that she wasn't cool with it and was even baffled.
Un-freaking-believable.
"Like, you know... like, assertive men are the ones who, like, RAPE, okay? And I totally, you know, like... you know, don't KNOW any assertive men. Because, like, I live in Williamsburg, which is, like, the pussy-man capital of the world, you know?"

For fuck's sake. This has got to be a joke. Is it? I didn't get through the first video, so I am still hoping for a punchline.

I wouldn't read anything these women wrote -- it's painful enough listening to them. I would change tables if I was put next to them at a restaurant and heard them talking. And women's issues? Let them stick to picking out this season's hottest nailpolish colours for getting drunk by. They don't seem to have any sort of "in" on issues that pertain to women AT ALL.

This is an embarrassment. I can't believe these women think they speak for anyone other than themselves.

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CupCate

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CupCate
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