ABC launches investigation into Q&A after ‘openly feminist’ Broadside episode
A special episode of Q&A which featured speakers from ‘unapologetically feminist’ ideas event Broadside has sparked an investigation into whether ABC’s editorial standards were breached.
The episode featured discussions of rebellion and protest, which turned into a debate about whether violence is ever the answer in a civil rights situation. It also included swearing from some of the panelists.
The episode, titled Ageism, Violence against women and Post #MeToo, was led by Fran Kelly and featured an all-women panel with journalist Mona Eltahawy, author Jess Hill, writer/Indigenous rights activist Nayuka Gorrie, businesswoman Hana Assafiri and anti-ageism campaigner/author Ashton Applewhite.
Early on in the episode, Kelly said the panel were ‘trying to keep the language under control’, but joked that viewers who were offended should ‘probably turn off now’.
"When I talk about imaginary violence against men, everyone’s like, 'Oh, my God! Mona wants us to kill men,' and I’m just asking you to imagine a scenario that is the daily reality for women everywhere."@monaeltahawy #QandA pic.twitter.com/T0JEjxegXn
— QandA (@QandA) November 6, 2019
The controversy was sparked primarily by a question from the audience about whether violence is ever the answer in a protest or rebellion situation, which sparked Eltahawy, who had already drawn criticism from far-right spokespeople ahead of her appearance, to ask how many rapists women must kill before violence against women comes to an end.
Screenwriter Gorrie joined the conversation, saying Indigenous people are not offered the same options as privileged people, and that she wondered how long it would be before people resort to ‘burning stuff’. She added that she looked forward to that time.
The controversial comments came over 40 minutes into the episode, which also discussed ageism, domestic violence and whether freedom of speech online was a good thing.
How do we get institutions to acknowledge racism, and who should be held accountable for Indigenous deaths in custody? #QandA pic.twitter.com/HYHblN0Uum
— QandA (@QandA) November 6, 2019
ABC managing director David Anderson released a statement in the days after the Monday night episode, acknowledging the ‘provocative’ nature of the program and promising a review.
“Monday night’s episode of Q&A was presented in conjunction with The Wheeler Centre’s feminist ideas festival, ‘Broadside’. The intention of the program was to present challenging ideas from high-profile feminists whose expertise ranges across ageism, disability, Indigenous and domestic violence issues,” read the statement.
“The ABC acknowledges that the program was provocative in regard to the language used and some of the views presented.
“Q&A has always sought to tackle difficult issues and present challenging and thought-provoking content. However, I can understand why some viewers found elements of this episode confronting or offensive.
“We have received audience complaints about the program, are assessing the concerns raised and will investigate whether the program met the ABC’s editorial standards.”
Anderson’s comments were matched by those of Communications Minister Paul Fletcher.
“The ABC has this afternoon announced that it will investigate whether the program met the ABC’s editorial standards. This is appropriate,” said Fletcher.
In a statement which said the ‘offensive language’ and ‘endorsement of violence’ had generated ‘significant community concern’, Fletcher also made it clear the editorial judgement falls ultimately to the ABC.
A video posted after the episode to the Q&A Twitter page included follow up comments from Assafiri, who clarified that she had not agreed with the panel regarding their comments on violence, and Eltahawy’s comments that men should ‘fear’ feminists.
Following a fiery #QandA on Monday night, @assafiri_hana has more to say. pic.twitter.com/S8qIEjovwm
— QandA (@QandA) November 7, 2019
The episode is still available on ABC Iview.
Speaking to SBS in the days after the episode aired, Eltahawy said she always received vitriol after her appearances on Q&A, calling the response ‘uniquely Australian’ and saying that she’d become ‘accustomed to the hysteria of misogynists in Australia’.
Update – November 8, 12.12pm: Mumbrella notes ABC Iview has now removed the episode from its platform.
topics
#QandA
ABC
Ashton Applewhite
David Anderson
Fran Kelly
Hana Assafiri
Jess Hill
Mona Eltahawy
Nayuka Gorrie
Paul Fletcher
Q&A
imagine being such a boomer you get upset about killing rapists
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I quote:
“have resorted to get through and finally achieve what we need”
“certain faction of the suffragettes used violence”
“I think violence is OK”
Is this really acceptable ? This is language and rhetoric that we would expect a terrorist to use to normalise and justify their actions and beliefs. Absolutely disgusting.
If it was a panel of men saying these things, you’d rightfully get the same backlash.
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Time to defund the ABC. How this extremist lefty tripe is allowed on TV is beyond me. Funded by all hard working Australians but representing an extreme minority. That was far and away the worst (+ most offensive) episode of Q&A I’ve ever seen. Could of at the very least done with a strong moderator in Tony Jones. No wonder the left have lost their not just in Australia but all over the world, no one can identify with that rubbish… they are so far away from the sensible middle its not funny
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yeah imagine opposing violence? crazy stuff
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Considering the huge, huge amount of conservative, right wing claptrap we have had to endure from Q&A due to constant budget cuts from the Libs, this is a refreshing other side. Don’t do an investigation ABC! Just keep presenting different opinions. Let’s get an all indigenous panel, an all differently-abled panel, an all-autism spectrum panel, let’s keep diversifying the media. Worse stuff is said every day on social media. Opinions that are usually quashed and silenced need to stay presented, whether people agree or not.
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Swearing, discussions about violence and now an investigation into a discussion.
I love it when the middle class get themselves in a tiz!
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Does anyone watch Q&A except the handpicked studio audience ?
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it is exactly that, terrorism dressed up as feminism. They are doing a great disservice to all women
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These women are really low class and normally they drive tractors in communist countries. Not sure what they do in Australia…
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In Australia it is illegal to incite violence through speech, plain and simple.
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The hard left seems more interested in being right (that is, correct) or righteous than actually achieving anything. This aggressive and angry shouting and angst does zero to further their cause. The saddest part is that this useless noise actually detracts from sane and rational arguments that would progress the cause of women (and recruit a few good men to the cause as well) and makes the silent majority switch off from ALL these discussions.
It’s exactly the same with climate extremists such as the extinction rebellion rabble – while we might agree that we can do more to address emissions, the minute they wrap it up in socialist BS and talk about dismantling capitalism and the patriarchy, they and their arguments are disregarded by the rest of us.
Someone needs to come through on the left and work out how to present an argument in an engaging way to recruit support to progress their ideas (some of which are good), not just appease like-minded idiots with mindless yelling and ridiculous protest actions that turn everyone off.
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I loved the programme. Fran was great as moderater. The panel presented intelligent and heartfelt opinions. So called “swearing” is a measure of the importance of the topic. Swearing is part of our vocabulary.
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What most critics of this Q&A episode find offensive, is not what they said, but that there was no-one on the panel to offer an alternative POV.
I welcome robust debate – but you need two sides to have one.
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Good on the ABC for having an investigation.
While I am not outraged by the episodes content I can understand that some/many viewers would have been uncomfortable, upset and maybe even horrified.
So I would like to call on Fox News to do the same for their various channels and investigate ongoing white, right misogny in their content.
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That was the point. If men are not going to take violence against women seriously, women should take it on themselves to fight back. So we’re outraged at the idea that women might be violent towards men, yet when women are dying at the rate of more than one a week, we just shrug.
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“openly feminist”. Is that a crime?
Get over it Australia.
It’s about time strong women got equal time. I love the ABC. Don’t be bullied by the right.
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Look up and you’ll see the point whooshing over your head. Men may not be saying these things explicitly, but by refusing to take meaningful action regarding violence against women, this is the message women receive. If men won’t police the rapists and abusers in the midst, maybe women should.
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Terrorism is the rates of violence against women, that the men in power do nothing to solve.
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Apparently the ABC has removed the episode from their website. I disagree with this move – even if you don’t agree with what was said, I don’t think what was said contravenes any deeply held principles of free speech vs responsibility. So what if someone said violence against men is a solution in retaliation to inaction on violence against women? That’s one person’s view – not a wholesale incitement to start rounding blokes up and offing them. We’re all supposedly adults here. I do however agree with the wider point about when do we get to the point where we’re setting fire to stuff – Australians tolerate way too much bullshit from politicians of all persuasions, and no, direct action is not tweeting about it.
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Define meaningful action Rick.
Redundant quotes like “If men won’t police the rapists….” how do you believe men should approach this? How do you approach it? How many rapists have you policed?
I’m eager to learn from you.
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Well said!
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who’s shrugging
why the straw man (woman)?
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that’s one hell of a logical stretch…
suggest you read back what you wrote
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ok boomer
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I’m pretty sure that the majority of commenters clutching their pearls while screeching their outrage never even watched the program, just saw or read excerpts out of context. Nek minit, on go the brown shirts and out come the predictable demands that not only strong, intelligent women’s voices be silenced but that the ABC must be shut down as well. I’m guessing these will be the very same people supporting hateful bigots like Israel Folau and Margaret Court and their “right” to “free speech”. Right whingers, one and all.
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Men are actually more likely to be the victims of violence than women are. How about we just agree that all violence is wrong, regardless of who perpetrates it or who suffers it. That would be a start.
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I wish to add to the protest about taking the Q&A feminist Broadside down from I-View. It was one of the best panel discussions and lived up to the word broad. When did we get squeamish about a few profanities, especially as Australians? It was a great link with aged and disability care too. I also liked the point that it is not all men and they’re not all white. My boss is a great example of compassion in the face of my serious health scare and has facilitated my return to work.
Congratulations but can I express my di sappointment that Fran Kelly is not the new host. That would have been the best and most appropriate outcome.
Cheers
Martina
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Eltahawy was appalling. Uncouth, uninteresting and uneducated.
Assafiri’s follow up response on Twitter is all class.
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So you are saying that men don’t violence against women seriously ! Who are you talking to ?
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Agreed. Men have more than enough air time. Heaven forbid women have one single panel to themselves.
I just watched the episode. I don’t understand what the big issue is, it was intelligent discussion by intelligent, passionate women.
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“ Men are actually more likely to be the victims of violence than women are”
And are the ones most likely to cause the violence.
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They teach in Universities.
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I’m a male and don’t commit violence toward women, what’s your point, Pete?
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I would get more time for taking out a rapist than the rapist would for being a rapist, how is that my fault as a male?
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That comment is worthy of an award. But is too logical for most that should absorb it.
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Your use of the okay boomer meme, sadly, proves his point.. get some substance and provide some intelligent dialogue and you might be taken a little more seriously.
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there’s literally nothing wrong with anything they said…. why is being anti-raps and anti-racism oFfEnSiVe
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The “sensible middle” is pro-rape, then? In a world where your very existence is threatened, there is no such things as being politically neutral. Being politically neutral is a privilege that I, a disabled lesbian, do not share.
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Jaye: to quote Rick.
“If men are not going to take violence against women seriously, women should take it on themselves to fight back”.
Hence my comment and my point. All the men that I know take violence toward women very seriously. Most of them have daughters including my three. To suggest that men do not take violence towards women seriously is drawing a really long bow.
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Ir’s fascinating to hear all the noise about these ‘nasty’ women promoting violence against men.
Where were you all when Alan Jones suggested throwing PM Gillard out in the sea in a chaff bag?
Oh, it was free speech then wasn’t it? This is what we mean: Jones still has his nice fat pay cheque & still has his job. When women, minorities, unemployed, Muslims are attacked its the argument ‘Free speech, free speech!’. But when these bigots are attacked themselves (usually middle-aged white blokes) then the ‘free speech’ suddenly has to be shut down
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!swearing is part of our vocabulary!
And that,s sad to hear.
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I missed a word ‘take’. Will make sense now
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Women don’t seem to mind using men’s violence to contract kill their husbands. Oh, yeh, not all women are like that – just as not all men are violent! But women today certainly seem to have a monopoly on crazy. After feminism collapses civilisation, women’s credibility will be very low.
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Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t the abc leading the “your right to know” campaign, freedom of speech , so why are they censoring this discussion (episode). I would like to see the episode so I can be informed. Everyone is getting so outraged about it although not so outraged about women being killed every day
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Fuckitty fuck fuck. Fuckin fuck this. Wheres the damn video I want to fucking watch it again cos its so fucking good. Why the fuck did they take it down, fuckin seriously. What a fucking joke.
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every man just get off this, seriously. go. away.
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You’re just sad. You’re a complete disgrace.
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How can you say Fran was good as a moderator? She was next to useless. She had to shut down the the bad language…she had to shut down the hateful contents of the the discussion and she did not. She was useless;!!!
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Focus not taxpayer funded!!!! Fox dies not have a legal charter and responsibility to the taxpayer to be balanced. Do not forget that
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I wouldn’t call this provocative. It was simply hate speech, inciting hatred and violence against people on the basis of their sex and politics.
Why is hate speech OK on the ABC but absolutely unacceptable on every other broadcaster? Could be a bit of bias, or an entrenched culture of gender hatred?
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No seriously Pete, you’re saying all men and boys are raping and killing women all the time like it’s some kind of national sport. A little bit shallow and hateful maybe?
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So since these feminists want violence, does that mean that they support changing Australia’s gun laws to allow ownership of firearms and concealed carry? Or are they just spouting meaningless BS to get attention?
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Someone with a moderated and sensible approach will never “earn their stripes” in the left side, rather would be eaten alive.
Would be rejected by their own.
Tolerance is moreover becoming a farfetched ideal.
Yet it is the way forward.
The sentence times need to fit the crimes, without corruptibility.
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Only a feminist could think that the “sensible middle” objection to having their taxes pay for feminists to have a national platform to incite extrajudicial murder and arson makes the “sensible middle” “pro-rape”.
We understand that feminists think this is fine as long as it is males being murdered. We get that. It’s that inciting violence is an inappropriate use of taxpayers money.
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Yes, it wasn’t that it was provocative or offensive or confronting. It’s not even surprising. Look at how many feminists condone it, even after reflecting on it for a day or two. We’ve come to expect this sexist, racist bigotry from feminism.
The problem is, that taxpayers money is being use to peddle this sexist hatred inciting violence to push an ideology. It’s inciting terrorism. It’s difficult to see any substantive difference between this ABC show and publishing an ISIS video – except at least our tax dollars are not being used to publish ISIS videos.
The Egyptian-American woman is known for inciting violence towards men. She even wrote a chapter in a book about it. That was precisely the reason the ABC got her on and directed a question to promote those precise ideas.
No the ABC investigating itself is not an appropriate or adequate response.
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Rick, the typical lefty. When can’t debate ideas with logic or reason, he resorts to name calling. Thank god the left will never be in power.
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“Openly feminist” feminism is about equality but this women going out here and trying to force these political views down our throats that aren’t for equality, they are trying to one up men. I a true feminist in every meaning of the word is for equal. The use of blanketing all men as violent, aggressive women abusers is ridiculous and unfair. We in modern days have gone to far in the opposite directions of equality. With feminist these days bordering as sexist we try to claim disadvantaged when in reality we are privileged towards men. Now with employers needing to meet requirements on how many women need to be employed whether they are best suited for jobs or not. We recently enforced the Matildas to be paid the same as the Socceroos when they don’t bring the same revenue. The way society in our country is today and in many other countries, There is no longer a need for feminist, apart from 3rd well countries where these atrocities continue. I’m sure many women are gonna reply to this in up roar and say that men beat women and abuse them which is true men do that but women do that aswell I can slap my husband in the middle of the pub and no one blinks an eyelid he is just assumed to be in the wrong, but if he slaps me he is delt with in court. Women kill and abuse men also there is numerous cases of this, one of the biggest is Kathleen knight. This is not being pro men or pro women this is me pointing out humans can be evil regardless of sex. And the sooner people realise what equality is and everyone can accept responsibility we can make this world better and just say no to violence, not no to man committing violence and acceptable for women. We need to stop it collectively.
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Victim Blaming Alert: No , the victims of violence are NOT usually responsible for being victims.
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Thank you Trish for your well put comment. You should have been on that panel !
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Was: YOUR ABC
Is: HER ABC
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Thank you. Indeed there have been many many far-right wing panels on this show.
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https://youtu.be/DF-RjItEXYk
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This is just a panel of bullying women who hate men. They are so full of hate and spite that they are definitely almost masculine themselves. Don’t see many feminine qualities at all. It’s true, the ABC is paid by the government with taxpayers money. Obviously, as shown by our quite recent election, most taxpayers do not support this far-left drivel. So it is astounding to me that the ABC can be so obviously biased in its political leanings but still have its hand out for more funding (or whinging cos it has its funding reduced) from the Liberal Government it hates & consistently undermines. A taxpayer funded broadcaster should be politically neutral & fair in its reporting. This means both left & right points of view should get equal coverage. So much for ‘our’ ABC as it likes to project itself. ‘Our’ means only those from the left or extreme left seemingly. So much more to say but so little space & time. I hope the ABC is shut down until it shows it represents all Australians. This panel of bullying, nasty, & very unfeminine feminists were a disgrace & as a woman, I can guarantee that they do not speak for me, that’s for sure. Disgusting behaviour!
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So violence against men is ok…
what a [edited under Mumbrella’s comment policy]
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What does 1 a week even mean? 2 men a week die in the same period from violence. 23 People die in vehicle accidents a week, so maybe everyone should be constantly fearful of getting in a car.
Its the safest time in human history, but due to media and hysteria woman in particular seem more afraid than ever in history. Wheres the rationality in that?
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Yep Rick, im ready to start rounding up all the rapists. Where do we start, you seem to know what you are doing…..
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So by your logic, you should also get an all alt right panel up there. I bet you would scream blue murder. Balance is what is required, not a one sided debate, where views are not put to the test.
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Cp, Women killed every day, what are you even talking about? We are living in the safest time in human history, but because of media like this, social media and limitless hysteria we are more anxious and fearful than ever.
You really need to educate yourself on the statistics and how to interpret them because all im hearing is fear and paranoia
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Correct John, Rick is really living in a delusion, where he has very little understanding of the stats and what they mean. All violence is abhorrent, but lets not live a life of fear. Noone fears getting in a car, which is 100 times more deadly than a women getting murdered. Wheres the logic Rick?
Also Rick please explain how you as a man are ferreting out rapists and murderers.?
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Let’s not pretend that this was anything but a misandrist’s orgy. The ultimate in “othering” – i wonder if these panellists go home and berate their fathers for being complicit in rape and murder, while blithely smearing every man for….being a man.
It was a panel of bullying women who hate men, with some behaving hysterically because “look at me” is how they make their living as “high-profile” “writers” and “commentators”.
The idea that “men” are responsible for rape more than “rapists” or that “men” are more responsible for murder than “murderers” is utterly absurd – hence as a matter of logic can only be misandry.
If you don’t believe me then think about what’s said next – that men should “police” the behaviour of other men. Yes, that being born with a dick and balls makes you responsible for the actions of other people born with a dick and balls.
This is almost too idiotic to bother to argue about.
Do all men belong to a special man’s club? Does a Boss Man text every man instructions each day? Are all men psychically connected in some vast neural network controlled by a central moral being, who each day allocated the role of rapist to one-man, the role of murderer to another and the role of passive bystanders to the rest?
And what about the fathers, brothers, uncles, cousins, sons, grandfathers of these panelists? Are they part of this vast male conspiracy to rape and murder women? Or are they an exception due to their association with the esteemed panellists?
The implication that non-raping and non-murdering men are turning a blind eye to violence is stupid and beyond offensive.
Still don’t agree? Think about this. The people who kill their babies and toddlers are overwhelmingly of the female gender. Surely there’s no worse crime than KILLING YOUR OWN CHILD.
So why aren’t women condemning all women for the acts of these women?
The logic is identical.
The answer is simple.
Women like these hate men, for whatever there personal reason may be. Perhaps they have legitmate reasons, at least in their own minds.
But let’s not pretend this is reasoned argument.
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So disappointed in my ABC. I loved Hana Assifiri’s response. A shame she didn’t get a chance to express herself on the night. I’m so tired of the gender based conversation. Violence by any gender is out. To say or imply that it is all men is just ridiculous. Thank goodness I don’t have a son. I’d be terrified for him. Nobody mentions how many men are sitting incarcerated for untruthful women and untruthful police. Not the majority, but far too many. The justice system is letting us down. I’m tired of hearing that women aren’t being heard when it’s all I ever hear. Let’s empower our children, boys and girls. Let’s not imagine that a society where women suppress men is good for women. And then complain ‘where are all the real men?’ I guess in summary, let’s get rid of violence, full stop. Let’s deal with bad behaviour whether from a man, woman, boy or girl – or unspecified – for that matter. Let’s take gender out of the equation, calm down and address the problems with appropriate consideration.
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The last gasps of neofeminism. They are doing god`s work — alienating millions of normal Aussie folk. Give them a show every night I say! Is just a pity that the ABC is such a ratings dumpster fire and they cant alienate more people.
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This is how the Metoo movement works. Destroying lives by women for the most part who are seeking revenge for their own actions. They choose a man (usually a successful prominent older man) to sacrifice and destroy his and his family whole life without any consideration of facts. This hate has to stop. Men and women can work together as adults. Quit blaming only the men. When one speaks, dresses and most of all posts sexually charge or disrespectful things for all to see, it destroys one’s credibility. Regrets do not count. And when the line is crossed address it right then. Some woman may feel powerlessness, but attacks like these make it so and limit women being believed.
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As a paid up member of the white, male, heteronormative, cisgendered, patriarchy, I thought this episode of QANDA was great. It will serve to wake up the silent majority to the total waste of taxpayers money and bias of the infernal ABC and idiots like these panelists. I also thought it was equally good when that feminist activist stood next to a Greens MP and told everyone to watch out for all the firefighters coming home after a hard day risking their lives fighting fires to bash their wives. Any reasonable person would have found that outrageous. Keep up the good work waking up Australia ABC!!
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The feminist movement have done more harm than good. I champion strong women with positive and speaking up for equality but the aggressive and nasty behaviour of the so called ” feminists” are embarrassing and don’t represent the majority of mothers and daughters who respect the men in their lives who work hard and give up their lives to protect their women.
The main PROBLEM is DRUGS and ALCOHOL. Also, RESPECT should be taught and cherished more in our society and these feminlsts are anything but “FEMININE”
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“The huge, huge amount of right wing claptrap…..on Q&A”. Oh, seriously?
I’m a Lefty and even I think that Q&A is too far Left sometimes.
If you aren’t aware, feminism is a Left issue…so where’s the episode with all-male panelists discussing violent white supremism in a positive light?
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As a Lefty, even I think Q&A go too far Left too often
So where is the episode with an all male panel, discussing some far right issue in a positive light? Advocating violence no less?
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Rick, what about women taking violence against men seriously?. Go to the oneinthree.com.au website you’ll see stats saying that men are also victims of domestic violence in oz.
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