Live data from Hacker News

Bat fellatio causes a scandal in academia

newscientist.com

21–30 of 47 posts

Re: Bat fellatio causes a scandal in academia

#23
post #11

I swing far more Republican than I do women's studies, but does anyone here seriously expect me to believe there is a perfectly innocent, professional explanation for a clinical psychologist to give a paper on bat fellatio to a colleague? There is almost certainly a researcher somewhere who does comparative anatomical measurements of land and sea mammals. If you bring the visual aids for the study to your friendly ne…

I believe it, because I've been the "victim" of similar behavior.

I've had at least two people point me to information about animal homosexuality in an attempt to get me to change my opinion on certain gay rights topics. I'm pretty sure there was no innuendo.

(It was a pointless exercise, since my objections to the gay rights movement have nothing to do with traditionalist or naturalist arguments.)

Re: Bat fellatio causes a scandal in academia

#24
post #6
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't seem like it was completely innocent. He was cleared of the "sexual harassment" charge but the investigation also concluded that "showing the paper was a joke with a sexual innuendo" (at least how I read that article). Depending on the relationship of the people involved, and what the innuendo really amounted to, it's hard to say. That at least seems unnecessary. Using bat reproduction papers to hit on co-…

Even supposing that it was sexual innuendo, that doesn't mean he was hitting on her. Straight men and women have conversations filled with sexual innuendo all the time.

Playing on the sexual innuendo of a paper on bat fellatio doesn't need to mean he was hitting on her. More likely it was a subtle form of sexual harassment.

Re: Bat fellatio causes a scandal in academia

#25
post #11

I swing far more Republican than I do women's studies, but does anyone here seriously expect me to believe there is a perfectly innocent, professional explanation for a clinical psychologist to give a paper on bat fellatio to a colleague? There is almost certainly a researcher somewhere who does comparative anatomical measurements of land and sea mammals. If you bring the visual aids for the study to your friendly ne…

I believe it, because I've been the "victim" of similar behavior. I've had at least two people point me to information about animal homosexuality in an attempt to get me to change my opinion on certain gay rights topics. I'm pretty sure there was no innuendo. (It was a pointless exercise, since my objections to the gay rights movement have nothing to do with traditionalist or naturalist arguments.)

Calling yourself a "victim" when your against gay rights?

That's like calling the white slave land owners "victims" when they were against the abolishment of slavery.

Re: Bat fellatio causes a scandal in academia

#26
post #6
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't seem like it was completely innocent. He was cleared of the "sexual harassment" charge but the investigation also concluded that "showing the paper was a joke with a sexual innuendo" (at least how I read that article). Depending on the relationship of the people involved, and what the innuendo really amounted to, it's hard to say. That at least seems unnecessary. Using bat reproduction papers to hit on co-…

Even supposing that it was sexual innuendo, that doesn't mean he was hitting on her. Straight men and women have conversations filled with sexual innuendo all the time.

They are co-workers. He should have showed some restraint. BUT academics are supposed to be famous for free and unfettered flow of ideas, so that gives him some slack.

Re: Bat fellatio causes a scandal in academia

#27
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe it, because I've been the "victim" of similar behavior. I've had at least two people point me to information about animal homosexuality in an attempt to get me to change my opinion on certain gay rights topics. I'm pretty sure there was no innuendo. (It was a pointless exercise, since my objections to the gay rights movement have nothing to do with traditionalist or naturalist arguments.)

Calling yourself a "victim" when your against gay rights? That's like calling the white slave land owners "victims" when they were against the abolishment of slavery.

I don't consider myself a victim. Please read up on the use of scare quotes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scare_quotes

Also, I don't recall saying I was against gay rights. For the record, I favor giving gays the same set of rights that straight people should be given (as opposed to the set of rights straight people are actually given). But this is widely interpreted by lazy people as meaning I'm against gay rights.

Re: Bat fellatio causes a scandal in academia

#28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Ireland you have to be a woman. Also in Ireland if two underage teens have sex, the male is convicted of statutory rape while the female is the victim. Another one for Ireland is recent introduction of some new blasphemy laws. The Irish government is also attempting to censor the net there, lucky for most Irish people they're mostly incompetent.

China looks like a pretty good alternative then, you'd feel right at home ;) edit: hey downmodder, if you missed the joke that's cool. Parent lives in China, emigrated from Ireland.

When China starts becoming too free and westernized - there's always Australia

Re: Bat fellatio causes a scandal in academia

#29
post #11

I swing far more Republican than I do women's studies, but does anyone here seriously expect me to believe there is a perfectly innocent, professional explanation for a clinical psychologist to give a paper on bat fellatio to a colleague? There is almost certainly a researcher somewhere who does comparative anatomical measurements of land and sea mammals. If you bring the visual aids for the study to your friendly ne…

does anyone here seriously expect me to believe there is a perfectly innocent, professional explanation for a clinical psychologist to give a paper on bat fellatio to a colleague? Yes. The article refers to "an ongoing discussion on human uniqueness"; I've personally been part of discussions where people have made (entirely incorrect) assertions along the lines of "animals don't engage in reproductively ineffective s…

"As part of what he says was an ongoing discussion on human uniqueness..."

Context is everything. Even if what he says is true, what's acceptable as a one-off joke takes an entirely different meaning when it's just the latest in a series of affronts. If you haven't read it already, the other side of the story paints a pretty different picture to the article: http://felidware.com/DylanEvans/c1.jpg http://felidware.com/DylanEvans/c2.jpg

Sounds to me like the guy is socially inept, and unable to tell when he's making her uncomfortable.

Re: Bat fellatio causes a scandal in academia

#30

If someone's words make me "hurt and disgusted", does it mean I can have them "monitored and counseled" for two years and take away their tenure? Or do I have to be a woman to do that?

You can if it's an ongoing pattern of behaviour. From the initial complaint, it doesn't sound like this is a one-off.
Post reply on HN