I guess this is the forum you have chosen for discssion so I will be accomodating and respond here as well. First off, how can you know I have read your blog or these comments at all? You should have communicated with me directly if there was something you wanted me personally to see. Our problem lies in this statement "This is a man who has tremendous influence in pop culture and the very fact that he would post something so outrageously degrading about women in truly frightening. How many men, or worse yet, boys will read this and agree, absorbing the belief that it is in their nature to rape and therefore it should be acceptable." Am I correct? You did in fact call rape natural, but you have stated that your definition of natural does not include acceptable. Let us look at the definition then:
: based on an inherent sense of right and wrong
2a : being in accordance with or determined by nature b : having or constituting a classification based on features existing in nature
3a (1) : begotten as distinguished from adopted; also : legitimate (2) : being a relation by actual consanguinity as distinguished from adoption b : illegitimate
4: having an essential relation with someone or something : following from the nature of the one in question
5: implanted or being as if implanted by nature : seemingly inborn
6: of or relating to nature as an object of study and research
7: having a specified character by nature
8a : occurring in conformity with the ordinary course of nature : not marvelous or supernatural b : formulated by human reason alone rather than revelation c : having a normal or usual character
9: possessing or exhibiting the higher qualities (as kindliness and affection) of human nature
10a : growing without human care; also : not cultivated b : existing in or produced by nature : not artificial c : relating to or being natural food
11a : being in a state of nature without spiritual enlightenment : unregenerate b : living in or as if in a state of nature untouched by the influences of civilization and society
12a : having a physical or real existence as contrasted with one that is spiritual, intellectual, or fictitious b : of, relating to, or operating in the physical as opposed to the spiritual world
13a : closely resembling an original : true to nature b : marked by easy simplicity and freedom from artificiality, affectation, or constraint c : having a form or appearance found in nature
14a : having neither flats nor sharps b : being neither sharp nor flat c : having the pitch modified by the natural sign
15: of an off-white or beige color
— nat·u·ral·ness \-nəs\ noun
See natural defined for English-language learners »
See natural defined for kids »
Examples of NATURAL
furniture made of natural materials
The river forms a natural boundary between the two countries.
natural foods like whole grain bread and fresh vegetables
Gray hair is one of the natural consequences of getting older.
a natural increase in the population
the natural course of the disease
It's perfectly natural to feel nervous before a test.
Origin of NATURAL
Middle English, from Anglo-French naturel, from Latin naturalis of nature, from natura nature
First Known Use: 14th centuryMerriam-Webster would lead me to believe that the word "natural" is often used synonymously with acceptable. So then, our disagreement becomes the definition of words. I am not "backing down". I am not saying that you should write whatever you want and not care about how it may make other people feel. I agree with the diclaimer you have put on your site and I believe you should keep it up. I have not commited libel and I know what has happened here will help people better understand the consequences of what they say, or rather, publish in public forums. However, I shall take note from what I have learned thus far in my life. I will accept this battle as one which, while the outcome was not exactly what I had hoped for, brought attention to the usage of words by public figures and their effect on certain populations. Perhaps that was its purpose after all.
That being said, I have a purpose. My purpose is to help victims of human trafficking escape their situation and heal. Rape is often a consequence of being trafficked sexually, therefore I find this to be tied in to what I do.
However, I have now spent hours upon hours reviewing developments in this campaign. Those hours could have been spent in one on one counseling with a victim. The things I have read here have hurt me and I have lost sleep over the fact that something I brought forward caused people to be insulted. This is energy that should be devoted towards my mission. I am not happy about the time I have wasted to prove that, if nothing else, you are quite mean. What you yourself have posted on this and other sites are facts which people can review and judge for themselves. I will learn from this lesson and move forward accordingly.
You may now go pat yourself on the back, though I want you to know that I am doing the same.
Scott,
You do realize we could have surpassed most of this if you would have just picked up the phone and called me, don't you? If you believed I had misinterpreted what you had written, we could have discussed the situation and come to an agreement which would have shown what your motives were in writing the piece(if they were not to belittle rape victims and showcase rape as something that men need help not to do) and I could explain to you why the blog is unnacceptable to me and the other who have signed here. We could have talked out a plan so that in the future you would not hurt rape victims by your posts. You could have avoided having to defend yourself and may have even been able to look like "the good guy" for considering the implications of your actions and using them to further the good of society.. or at least internet blog readers. I do want to point out that I am not doing this to "further my career" or anything of the sort. That hurts my feelings. You would know that if you would have just picked up the phone and called me or sent me an email. I posted this blog http://tinyurl.com/67e6tzy the other day after a friend pointed out that you had put the disclaimer on your blog. It might help show you where I am coming from. It outlines what I desired from you then and what I do now. Perhaps it can help us learn from this situation and move forward. I cannot forgive you for attacking me personally, because I never did that to you (well... except for saying you are not Mr Swift, but I do not believe that is on par with "You are a disgrace to your cause"). I should also let you know that I have held back from going any further with this while "the media was hot on it" because I gave you certain terms and I stand by my word. I would really appreciate it if you could read what I wrote in the above blog and call me. You can have your lawyers on the phone if that would make you feel better. I do not mind as I am doing what I know is right in my heart and mind (which is actually quite sharp though you claim it is not). I sent you my contact information as soon as you asked for it, though I would be more than happy to send it again if you cannot find it. Also, as far as your comments to the below supporters I would appreciate if you stopped personally attacking them. I have been in your position before. For instance, when I was working on having the Craiglist Adult services removed I had a woman say on a public forum "You only took them down because no one would pay a dollar to f*#k you". There are have been many more and I never personally reacted. There is no point in this. It just takes energy away from what we all want as an outcome...which is to understand each other. Thanks for reading this very long post and I look forward to hearing from you.
Nikki
P.S. I also think it is ironic that you have given readers of the Huffington Post a "free pass" of reading comprehension in order to understand what you write. I am not only a reader of the Huffington, but have been published there as well, ergo that gives me a free pass, I believe... just something I thought interesting.
Therese- You are my hero.... You have said so eloquently exactly what I have been trying to get across myself. Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!
Scott Adams: Nikki Junker here... I am not quite sure why you took to writing a response via a social network rather than contacting me as I had asked, but in doing so I believe you have just proven again that you do not understand the situation of violence against women. You are a public figure. Therefore, you have certain responsibilities. One such responsibility is that you do not put original information into the public sphere which could endanger the lives of others. I have studied your career and understood that you often possess a satirical tone in your sociological views. This did not stop me from creating this campaign because, in the end, you have created a seemingly intelligent blueprint for a rapist to justify his actions. I would also like to point out that one of the very few people supporting you on this site has told me that "anybody who signs this petition has too much free time and probably no personality. too [sic] bad your mothers didn't celebrate their right to choose and leave you in a dumpster somewhere." Perhaps you should stop using superfluous words to justify expressing your Super Id via the internet seeing as your supporters are obviously incapable of anything but ‘Argumentum Ad Hominem’. Perhaps it is they who should be “embarrassed”. You have my contact information. I am not a "man hater" on a rampage and I am surely not uneducated about you or your history. I am more than happy to sit down and discuss how you can rectify this situation... and please remember, Jonathon Swift you are not.
|
68 Actions
17 Recruits
|
25 Actions
6 Recruits
|
|
18 Actions
6 Recruits
|
7 Actions
2 Recruits
|
|
4 Actions
|