Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Elevatorgate Timeline

Elevatorgate Timeline
Eric Pepke
Version 1.8
July 31, 2011

This is a timeline of the events surrounding what has come to be known as Elevatorgate, a bit of an Internet explosion surrounding Skepchick founder Rebecca Watson.

This is not intended to be partisan but rather to provide an informative framework in which to decide what was being said at what time, and what people were responding to.

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women atheists.mp4 (Panel on Women in Atheism)

Amongst others, Paula Kirby gives a panel presentation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_O33OsA-vM

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World Atheist Convention
June 3-5 2011

Watson used her portion of a panel with Dawkins on a forum about education about atheism to talk about sexism and feminism in the atheist community.  Talks about rape threats. Makes statements about Paula Kirby's talk, which Kirby finds misrepresentative.

Elevator incident is placed later on this day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W014KhaRtik

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ABOUT MYTHBUSTERS, ROBOT EYES, FEMINISM, AND JOKES
Posted June 20, 2011

Rebecca Watson's initial video describing the elevator incident.  Watson says she is extremely uncomfortable about being sexualized that way.

http://skepchick.org/2011/06/about-mythbusters-robot-eyes-feminism-and-jokes/

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My response and take on sexism in the atheist community
Uploaded June 21, 2011

Rose St. Clair criticizes Watson's video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfA5AZutpCs

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Fursdays wif Stef #32
Posted June 22, 2011

First reaction by Stef McGraw to Watson's initial video, criticizing Watson's video.

http://www.unifreethought.com/2011/06/fursdays-wif-stef-32.html

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CFI Student Leadership Conference
Weekend of June 26, 2011

Watson speaks on The Religious Right against Every Woman on Earth, in which she calls out Stef McGraw.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqzE16UsNW4

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ON NAMING NAMES AT THE CFI STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Posted June 28, 2011

Watson continues to criticize McGraw, indirectly associating EG with the term "objectification" for the first time on the web.  She refers to a tweet @rebeccawatson "[@stef_witha_f]'s post was a pretty standard parity [parody?] of misogynistic thought," clarifying later that she meant "parroting" in "@AaronFriel "parroting." This is what's known as "attacking the argument, not the person." Nothing to do with ridicule."

http://skepchick.org/2011/06/on-naming-names-at-the-cfi-student-leadership-conference/

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Fursdays wif Stef #33
Posted June 30, 2011

McGraw responds to Watson.

Watson replies, citing 10,000 visitors to Skepchick, claims "Dawkins or Christina have never to my knowledge dismissed misogynist thinking."  Corrected it later to say that she meant the opposite.

http://www.unifreethought.com/2011/06/fursdays-wif-stef-33.html

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Bad form, Rebecca Watson
July 1, 2011

ERV criticizes Rebecca Watson for calling McGraw out.

http://scienceblogs.com/erv/2011/07/bad_form_rebecca_watson.php

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Always name names!
Posted July 2, 2011

P.Z. Myers supports Watson.  Later that day, Dawkins makes his "Dear Muslima" response in the comment section at 11:11 AM Eastern.  Later, he made another explanatory comment.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/07/always_name_names.php

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Richard Dawkins and male privilege (Discover blogs)
Posted July 2, 2011

Bad Astronomer and Skepchick fan Phil Plait criticizes Dawkins.  Dawkins responds at 11:35 AM Eastern

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/07/05/richard-dawkins-and-male-privilege/

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The Decent Human Being's Guide to Getting Laid at Atheist Conferences
Posted July 3, 2011

P.Z. Myers says something.  I can't figure out what the point is.  It uses too many goofy metaphors to be serious, and it is too long and unfunny to be burlesque or satire.  See notes.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/07/the_decent_human_beings_guide.php

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Podcast 312 (SGU)
July 5, 2011

Watson talks about Dawkins' response, also states that the guy in the elevator had been in the bar group.

http://hw.libsyn.com/p/9/a/7/9a78abd9c071ede9/skepticast2011-07-05.mp3?sid=32932eea2060064b4b881e0deaca7d41&l_sid=19482&l_eid=&l_mid=2648192

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THE PRIVILEGE DELUSION
July 5, 2011

Watson criticizes Dawkins, refers to him as a "wealthy old heterosexual white man" and "stinking rich."  Talks more about rape threats.  Says she's not going to buy or recommend his books.

http://skepchick.org/2011/07/the-privilege-delusion/

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DEAR RICHARD DAWKINS
July 6, 2011

A bunch of letters selected within Skepchick criticizing Dawkins.

http://skepchick.org/2011/07/dear-richard-dawkins/

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Take Back the Elevator
July 6, 2011

Alison Smith criticises Watson.

http://skeptoid.com/blog/2011/07/06/take-back-the-elevator/

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Elevator Guy Hits the Wires (updated)
July 6, 2011

A very interesting suggestion that Dawkins lost patience with Watson during the panel in Dublin.

http://kazez.blogspot.com/2011/07/elevator-guy-hits-wires.html

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Rebecca Watson on Richard Dawkins’ sexist comments and the atheist community
July 7, 2011

Citizen Radio has a story about this.

http://wearecitizenradio.com/2011/07/11/20110711-rebecca-watson-on-richard-dawkins-sexist-comments-and-the-atheist-community/

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Who is the Elevator Man? For me, he's someone I know
July 7, 2011

Emily has an interesting slant and obviously knows what it's like to be at a conference.

http://biologyfiles.fieldofscience.com/2011/07/who-is-elevator-man-for-me-hes-someone.html

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Dublin panel: Women atheist activists (comment)
July 8, 2011

Paula Kirby, whom Watson misrepresented, explains it to everyone who didn't get it the first time.

http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/dublin-panel-women-atheist-activists/#comment-116920

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Why does everyone keep leaving out Stef McGraw as if she doesn't exist?
July 12, 2011

Rose Schwartz asks, well, the title says it all.

http://jewmanist.com/2011/07/12/why-does-everyone-keep-leaving-out-stef-mcgraw-as-if-she-doesnt-exist/

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Mr. Deity and the Opposition
July 13, 2011

Some funny comments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKAO_ieeqTo

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The Amazing Meeting 9 (TAM 9 from Outer Space)
July 14-17, 2011

Sasha Pixlee sends emails to most of the speakers at TAM 9, asking them to reserve a portion of their speeches to denounce Dawkins.

http://www.pixlee.net/?p=623

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ELEVATORGATE @ SGU
July 16, 2011

Watson talks about the events.

http://soundcloud.com/ufo-keke/elevatorgate-sgu

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Rebecca Watson - Skepticism and Feminism
July 18, 2011

Watson is a guest on Point of Inquiry.

http://www.pointofinquiry.org/rebecca_watson_skepticism_and_feminism/

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Cocktail Party Physics: Is It Cold in Here?
July 20, 2011

Jennifer Oullette weight in on the Scientific American blogs.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cocktail-party-physics/2011/07/20/is-it-cold-in-here/

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Update!  Plus dating advice
July 22, 2011

Watson talks more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m1sm8z7i0I

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Richard Dawkins, chetah the evidence on the 'chilly climate' for women
July 24, 2011

The Guardian picks up.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jul/24/richard-dawkins-women-chilly-climate

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bloggingheads.tv
July 26, 2011

Watson actually describes Elevator Guy, describing him as being in his mid-50s.  She also admits to having "face blindness."

http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/37611

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Atheists Address Sexism Issues
USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-09-15/atheist-sexism-women/50416454/1

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Notes:

1) For events on July 2, 2011, either the time stamps are funky or people were typing extremely fast.
2) This is obviously not complete, and any additions and revisions are welcome.  I'm not trying to include everybody, mostly the major players and events.  I have thrown in a few things that seemed to me atypical and interesting.  To report an error or suggest an addition or revision, go to http://theismatheism.blogspot.com/
3) There's some evidence that Watson also criticized St. Clair, but I cannot find a link to anything substantial.
4) If anybody can figure out what in the blue blazes P.Z. Myers is on about in his July 3 entry, please clue me in.