The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Bill Nye the Science Guy: Harasser?

Posted on | August 8, 2013 | 148 Comments

In the wake of the atheist sex scandal we reported Tuesday, someone in the “skeptic” community (as these soi-dissant rationalists refer to themselves) created a Tumblr blog called “More Will Be Named” that expanded the list of accused harassers beyond Skeptical Inquirer deputy editor Ben Radford. Before that Tumblr was deleted (for reasons unknown) former children’s TV host Bill Nye “The Science Guy” was among those named, as referenced in Tweets here, here and here.

Is there anything to such accusations? I have no idea, but if it seems wildly improbable that Nye could be suspected of such behavior, remember that no one outside the “skeptic” community (and relatively few insiders), had any reason to suspect Ben Radford before Karen Stoltznow went public with her account this week.

Now more women are coming forward to testify that the “hostile climate” for women in the atheist movement is not limited to the Radford situation. Atheist podcaster Stephanie Svan described a case involving Jim Frenkel, while Carrie Poppy describes her problems at the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF), which hosted the conference where Stoltznow claims she was sexually assaulted by Radford.

The most interesting aspect of Carrie Poppy’s accusation is the finger she points at JREF President D.J. Grothe, whom she denounces for “constant duplicity, dishonesty, and manipulation.” See if you don’t notice something in this sentence:

I was assured on more than one occasion by James Randi that D.J. Grothe would be fired (I hear Randi denies this now, though he repeatedly promised it to another staff member as well, and that staff member and I represented the entirety of JREF full-time staff other than D.J. and his husband, Thomas), but after several months of waiting and being asked to wait, it became clear that D.J. was not going to be fired.

WHOA! D.J. Grothe is a gay man and an atheist and (according to Carrie Poppy) complicit in this kind of foul misogyny?

Damn, I’m gonna need more popcorn. Meanwhile, feminist maniac Amanda Marcotte has weighed in to say that the answer to this problem — you guessed, didn’t you? — is more feminism.

OK, forget the popcorn. One of you ladies fix me a sammich.

 

Comments

148 Responses to “Bill Nye the Science Guy: Harasser?”

  1. richard mcenroe
    August 8th, 2013 @ 2:48 pm

    There are no atheists in labor, soldier!

  2. politics_right
    August 8th, 2013 @ 2:51 pm

    “@OhioCoastie: It’s almost like atheists expect no long-term consequences for bad behavior. Imagine that.

    http://t.co/hYUgB7UdYU”. Good one

  3. rsmccain
    August 8th, 2013 @ 2:53 pm

    RT @AmPowerBlog: More cowbell (feminism). Bill Nye the Science Guy: Harasser? http://t.co/JpoAJPkNJ8 via @RSMcCain @AmandaMarcotte

  4. rsmccain
    August 8th, 2013 @ 2:54 pm

    @AmPowerBlog It’s a bigger scandal than @BobBelvedere getting hacked. http://t.co/YKdo9pBxeZ

  5. rsmccain
    August 8th, 2013 @ 2:54 pm

    RT @DaTechGuyblog: If there is a problem within the skeptic community as per @rsmccain post http://t.co/QrKupgGh2U let me tell you better t…

  6. rsmccain
    August 8th, 2013 @ 2:59 pm

    @MichaelHill51 Speaking of which, did you hear about Bill Nye? http://t.co/WodVc82Dwb @sejones101

  7. McGehee
    August 8th, 2013 @ 3:01 pm

    I never tell my wife to bring me a sammich. She offers. #WellTrained

  8. richard mcenroe
    August 8th, 2013 @ 3:05 pm

    Well, seeing as how Bill Nye believes in anthropogenic global warming, he’s probably one’a them gay kiddy-diddling preverts too… I mean, it stands to reason….

  9. robertstacymccain
    August 8th, 2013 @ 3:09 pm

    Your refusal to make me a sammich? Hate.

    Because, you see, I am entitled to sammiches in the same way that atheist women are entitled to equality. The difference, of course, is that my right to a sandwich — why do you hate me? — is not recognized under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, nor is there any judicial precedent recognizing my victimhood in the “hostile environment” imposed by sammichphobes like you. But the fact that the U.S. legal and political system recognizes some victims as more equal than others, does not mean that I am not actually a victim.

    “No Sammich! No Peace!”

  10. robertstacymccain
    August 8th, 2013 @ 3:11 pm

    Climate-change hysteria is just a diversion tactic to distract our attention from all these environmentalist perverts molesting each other.

  11. Dianna Deeley
    August 8th, 2013 @ 3:14 pm

    Oh, no! What did the Science Fiction Writers of America do? This time, I mean.

  12. Oh Goody, More Megyn Kelly on Fox News | Regular Right Guy
    August 8th, 2013 @ 3:16 pm

    […] Bill Nye the Science Guy: Harasser? […]

  13. JRose1965
    August 8th, 2013 @ 3:17 pm

    RT @Dana_TFSJ: @rsmccain @Bio_Logos @StephenChanges @CarriePoppyYES What, you didn’t send to @AmandaMarcotte ? http://t.co/93viOJR8LE Or a…

  14. RMNixonDeceased
    August 8th, 2013 @ 3:18 pm

    “Climate-change hysteria is just a diversion tactic to distract our attention from all these…” — robertstacymccain http://t.co/pbAH723ZFL

  15. RMNixonDeceased
    August 8th, 2013 @ 3:20 pm

    “No Sammich! No Peace! …” — robertstacymccain http://t.co/qQ7RRNTirq

  16. RMNixonDeceased
    August 8th, 2013 @ 3:20 pm

    “First the Science Fiction Writers of America, now the organized atheists (“a herd of independent…” — robcrawford2 http://t.co/tA5AfoENxw

  17. DaTechGuyblog
    August 8th, 2013 @ 3:20 pm

    RT @rsmccain: It’s so Old Testament: Atheists reject God; now afflicted with frogs, locusts, @AmandaMarcotte, rivers of blood … http://t.…

  18. OwainPenllyn
    August 8th, 2013 @ 3:21 pm

    RT @RMNixonDeceased: “No Sammich! No Peace! …” — robertstacymccain http://t.co/qQ7RRNTirq

  19. John Bradley
    August 8th, 2013 @ 3:59 pm

    Well, Ayn Rand, obviously. And “Atlas Shrugged” certainly counts as a horror story, I think.

  20. bet0001970
    August 8th, 2013 @ 4:01 pm

    You are having waaay too much fun with this, McCain.

  21. John Bradley
    August 8th, 2013 @ 4:02 pm

    Now, now. We all know that the only reason men hit on chicks, skeptically or otherwise, is because they’re so into having babies. The actual sex? Ick!

  22. concern00
    August 8th, 2013 @ 4:37 pm

    The left seem to have built an entire political and religious agenda based on victim hood. Your level of victim hood reflects your level in society. However, I believe the process for actually assigning victim hood is still somewhat arbitrary.

  23. Escher's House
    August 8th, 2013 @ 4:38 pm

    Pound away and think of England.

  24. ElliottBobert
    August 8th, 2013 @ 5:02 pm

    Bill Nye the Science Guy: Harasser? http://t.co/GKfgrUOVPv

  25. bartm
    August 8th, 2013 @ 5:30 pm

    RT @TheMadHessian: WHOA!: Bill Nye the Science Guy is a Sexual Harasser? http://t.co/XVyetdAQPW

  26. Quartermaster
    August 8th, 2013 @ 5:32 pm

    Your right to a sammich was recognized by God’s “Patriarchy Act of 4000 BC.” As soon as you elect me POTUS, I will faithfully execute the laws and see that every man gets the sammich he deserves.

  27. bartm
    August 8th, 2013 @ 5:35 pm

    RT @rsmccain: The phrase “hockey stick graph” now a double entendre? http://t.co/WodVc82Dwb @rdbrewer4 @AceofSpadesHQ @DrewMTips @ComradeAr…

  28. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    August 8th, 2013 @ 5:56 pm

    Let’s not exaggerate! She cute like an angry feral sow that eats its own piglets.

  29. BobBelvedere
    August 8th, 2013 @ 6:22 pm

    RT @rsmccain: @AmPowerBlog It’s a bigger scandal than @BobBelvedere getting hacked. http://t.co/YKdo9pBxeZ

  30. thatMrGguy
    August 8th, 2013 @ 6:36 pm

    Bill Nye the Science Guy: Harasser? http://t.co/7lZ6gDXLtI

  31. OwainPenllyn
    August 8th, 2013 @ 6:36 pm

    RT @thatMrGguy: Bill Nye the Science Guy: Harasser? http://t.co/7lZ6gDXLtI

  32. Bob Belvedere
    August 8th, 2013 @ 6:38 pm

    Same here…the icing on the cake would have been if her Father had owned a liquor store.

  33. Bob Belvedere
    August 8th, 2013 @ 6:41 pm

    You got my vote.

  34. Bob Belvedere
    August 8th, 2013 @ 6:42 pm

    For married men it may be: ‘No Sammich! No Piece!’

  35. Quartermaster
    August 8th, 2013 @ 7:28 pm

    Thank You Sir! As a reward for your support and endorsement, you shall be chief executioner. Your first mission will be to rid the world of all stupid people. Low info voters will be at the top of your list.

    I’m sure the work will fully engage your unique talents and keep you busy and out of trouble for awhile. You sure won’t have time to post NSFW pics of cute, very well built women for awhile. But, your work will be very important, quite enjoyable, and very fulfilling.

  36. concern00
    August 8th, 2013 @ 7:33 pm

    You’re guilty if you have a penis, except if:
    a) you have a desire to lop it off and pretend you’re a woman, or
    b) you like to shove it up another man’s anus.

  37. concern00
    August 8th, 2013 @ 7:35 pm

    I can understand why they’re keen on suicide (doublespeak: euthanasia) and murder (doublespeak: mercy killing).

  38. Bob Belvedere
    August 8th, 2013 @ 7:50 pm

    May I hire interns???

  39. richard mcenroe
    August 8th, 2013 @ 7:52 pm

    What more rational response to a life that is simply an unfortunate random accident, foredoomed to end in pain and fear with no significance whatever?

  40. richard mcenroe
    August 8th, 2013 @ 7:53 pm

    They wandered off into parlor-pink pinheadedry years ago.

  41. richard mcenroe
    August 8th, 2013 @ 7:54 pm

    Replace “Attica! Attica!” with “Arugula! Arugula!” you might be on to something.

  42. richard mcenroe
    August 8th, 2013 @ 7:55 pm

    You may need to, now that DHS lost all that ammo and you’ll be reduced to clubs.

  43. RMNixonDeceased
    August 8th, 2013 @ 7:55 pm

    “For married men it may be: ‘No Sammich! No Piece!'” — Bob Belvedere http://t.co/T3FgsjReFq

  44. DaveO
    August 8th, 2013 @ 7:56 pm

    Sounds like the standard tripe Feminazis give when purging a business of male rivals. If Bill Clinton were offered the top spot among atheists, the women wouldn’t bother to take off their well-used knee pads, but instead sing Hosannas and make worshipful noises at their sexual subjection.

  45. RMNixonDeceased
    August 8th, 2013 @ 7:57 pm

    “Sounds like the standard tripe…” — DaveO http://t.co/mlQYEmeFZp

  46. richard mcenroe
    August 8th, 2013 @ 7:58 pm

    Just none’a that minimum wage shit. Leave that for WalMart and the Nation.

  47. richard mcenroe
    August 8th, 2013 @ 7:59 pm

    Half a league, half a league, half a league onward…

  48. rustypaladin
    August 8th, 2013 @ 8:02 pm

    “… the Sammich he deserves.”

    Um, desereves? I have a bad feeling about how this might go…

  49. rmnixondeceased
    August 8th, 2013 @ 8:56 pm

    Nihilism in a nut-shell.

  50. RMNixonDeceased
    August 8th, 2013 @ 8:56 pm

    “Nihilism in a nut-shell.” — rmnixondeceased http://t.co/U5X7abwoMZ