Quick comment on Ophelia Benson's TAM withdrawal

How true! Thanks to John R. Ellis

Ophelia Benson claims to have been receiving threatening email messages about TAM today.

This is outrageous.

I have sat pretty much on the periphery of this debate in the hope that it might blow over, but this?

People's security is of paramount importance in a large event like TAM, and I am sure the JREF take it very seriously (even if a little ham-fisted at times), but for speakers to receive threats in email that make them not want to attend at all, then there is something rotten in the state of Denmark.

I do not know what the nature of these threats are, Ophelia apparently doesn't care to share them [UPDATE: She has now posted the emails here], but I trust they are of a serious enough nature for her to warrant her decision to drop out of TAM, and to report them to the necessary authorities.

This cannot be tolerated.

But what is more disturbing for me personally, is that she has capitulated to the threats. They win.

I really feel for anyone that has been threatened, but I cannot condone her pulling out of the very conference that gives her the opportunity to confront these assholes and tell them they will never hold sway over our security.


Ophelia, I really hope you change your mind. I am sure there are a number of options available to you to enhance your safety on site.

Why I will not be going to TAM this year

First, it was Rebecca Watson, then Justin Vacula and now me. It would appear the numbers of people stating they are not going to The Amazing Meeting this year is stacking up quicker than those who have stated they are.


Each of us have our own reasons, of course. Rebecca has stated that she will not be attending because she "can no longer support someone [DJ Grothe] who is so incredibly dismissive of women’s experiences." 


Justin is a debt-ridden student on the wrong side of the nation.


For my part, I shall not be attending because DJ Grothe has not come out and defended a man's right to be protected from feminist accusations of sexual predation. Why would I subject myself to such a flagrant disregard for my safety? It has not even been raised as an issue.


Oh, and I can't afford it ;-P


Safety is certainly a contentious issue, and I do support a comprehensive plan to deal with offensive behaviours, but I can't help but feel the way this is being dealt with (or not, as the case may be) is in any way constructive.

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Will you be boycotting TAM this year? Why? Do you think that feminists are right to highlight safety above that of the meeting's content, or do you feel their actions undermine the message TAM tries to project?