modernprimate-blog

[modernprimate-blog]

Thank you all so much for watching! This has been the most rewarding Youtube experience that I’ve ever had! You’re all amazing! Keep in mind, this is not necessarily the end of Modern Primate, just my stint as host.

You can follow me on Twitter @straythenomad and on Tumblr at chrismenning.tumblr.com.

MUSIC:

“A Time to Run (Finale)” - Dexter Britain

“Testosterone” - Talkshow Boy

All tracks used under a Creative Commons license and are available at http://freemusicarchive.org

[modernprimate-blog]

Was the marriage equality profile photo campaign really an empty “slacktivist” gesture? Or do mass demonstrations of controversial opinions help define new social norms?

LINKS: Human Rights Campaign HRC.org Will changing your Facebook profile picture do anything for marriage equality? http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/psysociety/2013/03/28/marriage-equality-and-social-proof/

MUSIC: “Testosterone” - Talkshow Boy “Country Trouble” - Dexter Britain

All tracks used under a Creative Commons license and are available at http://freemusicarchive.org.

[modernprimate-blog]

“Must be frustrating being a scientist. There you are, incrementally discovering how the universe works via a series of complex tests and experiments, for the benefit of all mankind - and what thanks do you get? People call you “egghead” or “boffin” or “heretic”, and they cave your face in with a rock and bury you out in the wilderness. Not literally - not in this day and age - but you get the idea. Scientists are mistrusted by huge swathes of the general public, who see them as emotionless lab-coated meddlers-with-nature rather than, say, fellow human beings who’ve actually bothered getting off their arses to work this shit out. ”

Charlie Brooker (preach it)

[modernprimate-blog]

A List of "Men's Rights" Issues That Feminism Is Already Working On

The following is an excerpt from a longer article by Lindey West for Jezebel. 

Feminists do not want you to lose custody of your children. The assumption that women are naturally better caregivers is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not like commercials in which bumbling dads mess up the laundry and competent wives have to bustle in and fix it. The assumption that women are naturally better housekeepers is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to have to make alimony payments. Alimony is set up to combat the fact that women have been historically expected to prioritize domestic duties over professional goals, thus minimizing their earning potential if their "traditional" marriages end. The assumption that wives should make babies instead of money is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want anyone to get raped in prison. Permissiveness and jokes about prison rape are part of rape culture, which is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want anyone to be falsely accused of rape. False rape accusations discredit rape victims, which reinforces rape culture, which is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to be lonely and we do not hate "nice guys." The idea that certain people are inherently more valuable than other people because of superficial physical attributes is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to have to pay for dinner. We want the opportunity to achieve financial success on par with men in any field we choose (and are qualified for), and the fact that we currently don't is part of patriarchy. The idea that men should coddle and provide for women, and/or purchase their affections in romantic contexts, is condescending and damaging and part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to be maimed or killed in industrial accidents, or toil in coal mines while we do cushy secretarial work and various yarn-themed activities. The fact that women have long been shut out of dangerous industrial jobs (by men, by the way) is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to commit suicide. Any pressures and expectations that lower the quality of life of any gender are part of patriarchy. The fact that depression is characterized as an effeminate weakness, making men less likely to seek treatment, is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to be viewed with suspicion when you take your child to the park (men frequently insist that this is a serious issue, so I will take them at their word). The assumption that men are insatiable sexual animals, combined with the idea that it's unnatural for men to care for children, is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to be drafted and then die in a war while we stay home and iron stuff. The idea that women are too weak to fight or too delicate to function in a military setting is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want women to escape prosecution on legitimate domestic violence charges, nor do we want men to be ridiculed for being raped or abused. The idea that women are naturally gentle and compliant and that victimhood is inherently feminine is part of patriarchy.

Feminists hate patriarchy. We do not hate you.

[modernprimate-blog]

based on everything that we know about our brains and their bafflingly strong desires to fit in with the crowd, the best way to convince people that they should care about an issue and get involved in its advocacy isn’t to tell people what they should do — it’s to tell them what other people actually do. And you know what will accomplish that? That’s right. Everyone on Facebook making their opinions on the issue immediately, graphically, demonstrably obvious. That is literally all that it takes to create a descriptive norm: Publicly acknowledging your belief along with the thousands of other people who are also publicly acknowledging theirs. So, no. The fact that you’ve replaced that picture of yourself mugging for the camera with a red square and an equal sign will not cause Justice Kennedy to bang his gavel or stomp his foot and say that he’s come to a final decision on the matter, and that it’s all because of your new profile picture. Changing your Facebook image will not have a direct impact on our legislation. But a widespread descriptive norm implying that it is socially acceptable to advocate for same-sex marriage and that most people in contemporary American society seem to be pro-marriage-equality? Now that just might.

Will changing your Facebook profile picture do anything for marriage equality? | PsySociety, Scientific American Blog Network

[modernprimate-blog]

If this woman was alive today, she’d have my vote. Shit.

[modernprimate-blog]

As a startup we’re always on the lookout for tips and tricks that might help lead us toward success. Today, we’re thankful for this list by Anil Dash.

Be raised with access to clean drinking water and sanitation. (Every tech billionaire I’ve ever spoken to has a toilet!)

Try to be born in a region that is politically and militarily stable.

Grow up with a family that is as steady and secure as possible.

Have access to at least a basic free education in core subjects.

Avoid being abused by family members, loved ones, friends or acquaintances during the formative years of your life.

Be fluent in English, or have time to dedicate to continuously improving your language skills.

Make sure there’s enough disposable income available to support your learning technology at a younger age.

If you must be a member of an underrepresented community or a woman, get comfortable with suppressing your identity. If not, follow a numbingly conventional definition of dominant masculinity.

Be within a narrow range of physical norms for appearance and ability, as defined by the comfort level of strangers.

Practice articulating your cultural, technological or social aspirations exclusively in economic terms.

[modernprimate-blog]

Certain ModPrimate viewers have asked "what about when women rape little boys?" So today, I'm addressing the recent case of Elizabeth Garner, the woman who sexually assaulted a 12 year old boy.

[modernprimate-blog]

Who doesn’t love love?

[modernprimate-blog]

Three cheers for liberal indoctrination! 

[modernprimate-blog]

Is there such a thing as advice that works for "every man?" Let's find out!

[modernprimate-blog]

elliot mother fuckin stabler

[modernprimate-blog]

“men’s right activist redditors create a “Feminist Victims Fund” to raise Bitcoins to help men who have been oppressed by feminists” sounds like the setup to a text post joke but it is apparently real

I feel like we accidentally willed this into existence

[modernprimate-blog]

But are we really that surprised that these two young men didn’t think their actions were wrong? Videos of men running up to women they don’t know just to grab their ass or stomach and run away are played for laughs on shows like Tosh.0. (The show is run by a comedian who garnered tremendous support after he “joked” about a woman in his audience being gang raped.) A “funny” montage of women’s breasts shown at the Oscars included rape scenes. We have handfuls of qualifiers—date, legitimate, forcible, gray—that we throw in front of “rape” because we want to know if an assault was a “real” rape or one of those non-rapes Republican politicians keep talking about. And it’s not just rape that’s the joke—it’s women. Our very existence is presented to young men as fodder for sex and laughs, our humiliation and pain as goalposts for their masculinity. While mainstream culture fools itself into thinking that Americans take rape seriously, most women know better. We get the joke. We’re just tired of being the punchline.

What’s So Funny About Steubenville, my latest at The Nation (via jessicavalenti)

[modernprimate-blog]

Just so we’re all clear on what we just read. Black people make up 22% of the poor but only 14% of the government benefits. Meaning, 8% of poor Black people are not taking government benefits when they need them.

While, white people make up 42% of the poor but receive 69% of the government benefits. Meaning, there are white people who are classified as middle class who are receiving government benefits. 

…but welfare queens and stuff.

[modernprimate-blog]

I used to think that the only people who spent any significant amount of time watching and commenting on Youtube videos were high school kids without jobs. But ever since I focused my efforts on making more and better Youtube videos, I’ve found that the audience I’m reaching are… grown-ass adults. Highly-engaged grown-ass adults.

I kind of love the idea that most of my viewers are middle-aged people. It reaffirms that I’m making content on issues that really matter to people, and not spinning my wheels cranking out whatever sugary pop viral hits the kids are into. Knowing that there is another way to build an audience that doesn’t rely on paper-thin gimmicks is incredibly gratifying.

Who knew adults watched Youtube?

[modernprimate-blog]

I just found my new favorite Youtuber.