Monday, May 26, 2014

Rebecca Watson: An experiment in clickbait

PZ Myers of Phyrangula once observed that invoking the dread name of atheist feminist Rebecca Watson provokes idiots into raging fury. I intend to test that assertion.

Among many other noteworthy accomplishments, Watson has inspired Watson's Law: "Anytime you speak up about harassment, harassment gets worse." The latest example of Watson's Law in action is that the creator of the hashtag #yesallwomen has had to make her account private, and has asked that she not be connected with it by name, because she has gotten such a high level of threats and harassment since starting it.

Rebecca Watson said it, and once again the wretched hive of scum and misogyny that is the internet has proven her right.

Now, a typical post here at the Johnny Pez blog gets maybe 20 views and zero responses. Will invoking the Dread Name attract any idiots my way? We shall see.

UPDATE: June 4, 2014. Nine days later, the above post has received 22 views and zero responses. Sadly, not even the Dread Name is enough to attract notice to this blog.