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[[File:Richard Dawkins at the Reason Rally.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Richard Dawkins]] ]]

[[File:Richard Dawkins at the Reason Rally.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Richard Dawkins]] ]]

'''Elevatorgate''' is a term commonly used to describe a 2011 controversy involving [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]]' comments made to atheist [[Rebecca Watson]] which are perceived to have been inappropriate by a sizable portion of the [[Atheism|atheist]] community and to the public at large.<ref>

'''Elevatorgate''' is a term commonly used to describe a 2011 controversy involving [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]]' comments made to [[Atheism|atheist]] [[Rebecca Watson]] which are perceived to have been inappropriate by a sizable portion of the [[Atheism|atheist]] community and to the public at large.<ref>

*[https://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/07/08/atheist_flirting Richard Dawkins: Skeptic of women? - Salon, July 8, 2011]

*[https://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/07/08/atheist_flirting Richard Dawkins: Skeptic of women? - Salon, July 8, 2011]

*[http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/david-allen-green/2011/07/richard-dawkins-chewing-gum Sharing a lift with Richard Dawkins by David Allen Green - New Stateman - 06 July 2011]

*[http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/david-allen-green/2011/07/richard-dawkins-chewing-gum Sharing a lift with Richard Dawkins by David Allen Green - New Stateman - 06 July 2011]

*[https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jun/09/is-richard-dawkins-destroying-his-reputation Is Richard Dawkins destroying his reputation?] by Sophie Elmhirst, ''The Guardian'', June 9, 2015

*[https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jun/09/is-richard-dawkins-destroying-his-reputation Is Richard Dawkins destroying his reputation?] by Sophie Elmhirst, ''The Guardian'', June 9, 2015

</ref>  Watson is a [[feminism|feminist]].<ref>Rebecca Watson (July 5, 2011). "[http://skepchick.org/2011/07/the-privilege-delusion The Privilege Delusion]". Skepchick</ref>  

</ref>  Watson is a [[feminism|feminist]].<ref>Rebecca Watson (July 5, 2011). "[http://skepchick.org/2011/07/the-privilege-delusion The Privilege Delusion]". Skepchick</ref>  

== Rebecca Watson's video about the elevator incident ==

== Rebecca Watson's video about the elevator incident ==

''See also:'' [[Sexual harassment at atheist conferences]]

''See also:'' [[Sexual harassment at atheist conferences]] and [[Atheism and women]] and [[YouTube atheism]]

On June 20, 2011, Rebecca Watson of [[Skepchick]] uploaded a YouTube video in which she complained about a man in an elevator asking her up to his room for coffee at an atheist conference in Dublin, Ireland.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKHwduG1Frk#t=376 About Mythbusters, Robot Eyes, Feminism, and Jokes]</ref>  The incident occurred at around 4am in the morning.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKHwduG1Frk#t=376 About Mythbusters, Robot Eyes, Feminism, and Jokes]</ref>  Watson was upset by this incident and subsequently blogged about it.  

On June 20, 2011, Rebecca Watson of [[Skepchick]] uploaded a [[YouTube]] video in which she complained about a man in an elevator asking her up to his room for coffee at an atheist conference in Dublin, Ireland.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKHwduG1Frk#t=376 About Mythbusters, Robot Eyes, Feminism, and Jokes]</ref>  The incident occurred at around 4am in the morning.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKHwduG1Frk#t=376 About Mythbusters, Robot Eyes, Feminism, and Jokes]</ref>  Watson was upset by this incident and subsequently blogged about it.  

Watson declared in her June 20, 2011 video:

Watson declared in her June 20, 2011 video:

=== Allegation that Rebecca Watson was behaving hypocritically ===

=== Allegation that Rebecca Watson was behaving hypocritically ===

[[File:Rebecca-watson.jpg|thumbnail|150px|Rebecca Watson]]

[[File:Rebecca-watson.jpg|thumbnail|150px|[[Rebecca Watson]]]]

Amanda Read wrote in the ''[[Washington Times]]'' that she believed Watson was behaving hypocritically and declared:

Amanda Read wrote in the ''[[Washington Times]]'' that she believed Watson was behaving hypocritically and declared:

The matter which appeared to spark the contention was how to properly deal with the significant amount of [[misogny]] within the atheist community (see: [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]] and Elevatorgate and [[Women's views of Richard Dawkins]] and [[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships|Atheist leaders and immoral relationships]]).<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/07/01/thunderf00t-check-your-email/ Thunderf00t, check your email - PZ Myers]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuKH3trPpgY&list=UUmb8hO2ilV9vRa8cilis88A&index=1&feature=plcp Thunderf00t on how to handle misogny in the atheist community]</ref><ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/thunderf00t/2012/07/01/skepchickcon-and-the-harassment-lol-icy/ SkepchickCON and the Harassment LOL-icy]</ref><ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/thunderf00t/2012/06/29/is-it-freethoughtblogs-or-group-think-blogs/ Is it ‘Freethoughtblogs’ or ‘Group-think-blogs’?]</ref>

The matter which appeared to spark the contention was how to properly deal with the significant amount of [[misogny]] within the atheist community (see: [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]] and Elevatorgate and [[Women's views of Richard Dawkins]] and [[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships|Atheist leaders and immoral relationships]]).<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/07/01/thunderf00t-check-your-email/ Thunderf00t, check your email - PZ Myers]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuKH3trPpgY&list=UUmb8hO2ilV9vRa8cilis88A&index=1&feature=plcp Thunderf00t on how to handle misogny in the atheist community]</ref><ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/thunderf00t/2012/07/01/skepchickcon-and-the-harassment-lol-icy/ SkepchickCON and the Harassment LOL-icy]</ref><ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/thunderf00t/2012/06/29/is-it-freethoughtblogs-or-group-think-blogs/ Is it ‘Freethoughtblogs’ or ‘Group-think-blogs’?]</ref>

[[Vox Day]] wrote that Thunderf00t's removal from [[Freethought Blogs]] exemplified [[PZ Myers]]'s unwillingness to intellectually engage his opponents and his lack of integrity.<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/07/free-fascistthoughtblogs.html Vox Fay on Freethought Blogs]</ref>

Thunderf00t's removal from [[Freethought Blogs]] exemplified [[PZ Myers]]'s unwillingness to intellectually engage his opponents and his lack of integrity.<ref>[https://voxday.net/2012/07/06/free-fascistthoughtblogs/ FreeFascistThoughtBlogs]</ref>

=== Rebecca Watson response to Thunderf00t and his fans  ===

=== Rebecca Watson response to Thunderf00t and his fans  ===

[[File:Michael Nugent.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|[[Michael Nugent]] is an Irish atheist.]]

[[File:Michael Nugent.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|[[Michael Nugent]] is an Irish atheist.]]

Richard Dawkins is still widely criticized for igniting deep fractures in the atheist movement through his Elevatorgate controversy. For example, on November 26, 2013, the atheist activist and blogger [[Jen McCreight]] posted at Twitter the message: "Did anyone on Dawkins AMA ask how he feels about singlehandedly destroying the [[atheist movement]] with the Dear Muslima yet?"<ref>[https://twitter.com/jennifurret/status/405391218273554433 Jennifer McCreight on the Twitter about the Elevatorgate scandal]</ref> In December 2013, atheist Jack Vance at Atheist Revolution called July 2, 2011, which is the day that Elevatorgate occurred, "The day the atheist movement died."<ref>[http://www.atheistrev.com/2013/12/the-day-atheist-movement-died.html The Day the Atheist Movement Died] by Jack Vance at Atheist Revolution</ref>

Richard Dawkins is still widely criticized for igniting deep fractures in the atheist movement through his Elevatorgate controversy. For example, on November 26, 2013, the atheist activist and blogger [[Jen McCreight]] posted at Twitter the message: "Did anyone on Dawkins AMA ask how he feels about singlehandedly destroying the [[atheist movement]] with the Dear Muslima yet?"<ref>[https://twitter.com/jennifurret/status/405391218273554433 Jennifer McCreight on the Twitter about the Elevatorgate scandal]</ref> In December 2013, atheist Jack Vance at the [[Atheist Revolution]] website called July 2, 2011, which is the day that Elevatorgate occurred, "The day the atheist movement died."<ref>[http://www.atheistrev.com/2013/12/the-day-atheist-movement-died.html The Day the Atheist Movement Died] by Jack Vance at Atheist Revolution</ref>

=== Many secular leftists strongly criticizing Richard Dawkins post-Elevatorgate ===

=== Many secular leftists strongly criticizing Richard Dawkins post-Elevatorgate ===

On August 6, 2014, three years after Elevatorgate, without mentioning Rebecca Watson's name, Richard Dawkins issued a one sentence apology for his Elevatorgate comments.  He posted the apology near the bottom of one of his blog posts.<ref>[https://richarddawkins.net/2014/08/who-is-belittling-what/ Who is “belittling” what?] by Richard Dawkins</ref> In response, Rebecca Watson wrote in Twitter post: "Richard Dawkins did the blog-equivalent of coughing into his hand while mumbling "sorry" to me. Eh I'll take it."<ref>[https://twitter.com/rebeccawatson/status/497087309805027328 Rebecca Watson's Twitter post about Dawkins' apology]</ref>

On August 6, 2014, three years after Elevatorgate, without mentioning Rebecca Watson's name, Richard Dawkins issued a one sentence apology for his Elevatorgate comments.  He posted the apology near the bottom of one of his blog posts.<ref>[https://richarddawkins.net/2014/08/who-is-belittling-what/ Who is “belittling” what?] by Richard Dawkins</ref> In response, Rebecca Watson wrote in Twitter post: "Richard Dawkins did the blog-equivalent of coughing into his hand while mumbling "sorry" to me. Eh I'll take it."<ref>[https://twitter.com/rebeccawatson/status/497087309805027328 Rebecca Watson's Twitter post about Dawkins' apology]</ref>

However, as noted below, on November 18, 2014, Richard Dawkins publicly declared that Rebecca Watson's elevator incident was "rather trivial" compared to some incidents Muslim women experience.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/richard-dawkins-stands-by-remarks-on-sexism-pedophilia-down-syndrome/2014/11/18/a2915cd8-6f64-11e4-a2c2-478179fd0489_story.html Richard Dawkins stands by remarks on sexism, pedophilia, Down syndrome], by Kimberly Winston | Religion News Service November 18, 2014</ref> In addition, he complained about "thought police" muzzling his speech.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/richard-dawkins-stands-by-remarks-on-sexism-pedophilia-down-syndrome/2014/11/18/a2915cd8-6f64-11e4-a2c2-478179fd0489_story.html Richard Dawkins stands by remarks on sexism, pedophilia, Down syndrome], by Kimberly Winston | Religion News Service November 18, 2014</ref>

However, as noted below, on November 18, 2014, Richard Dawkins publicly declared that Rebecca Watson's elevator incident was "rather trivial" compared to some incidents Muslim women experience.<ref>[https://archive.md/kk5nO  Richard Dawkins stands by remarks on sexism, pedophilia, Down syndrome], by Kimberly Winston | Religion News Service November 18, 2014</ref> In addition, he complained about "thought police" muzzling his speech.<ref>[https://archive.md/kk5nO Richard Dawkins stands by remarks on sexism, pedophilia, Down syndrome], by Kimberly Winston | Religion News Service November 18, 2014</ref>

(see additional information below)

(see additional information below)

== PZ Myers' prediction that the atheism movement will stagnate or shrink unless atheists change ==

== PZ Myers' prediction that the atheism movement will stagnate or shrink unless atheists change ==

[[File:PzMyers2.jpg|thumbnail|251px|right|[[PZ Myers]]  

[[File:PzMyers2.jpg|thumbnail|251px|right|[[PZ Myers]]   ]]

 

<small>(photo obtained from [https://www.flickr.com/photos/reuvenim/4426093513/ Flickr], see [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en  license agreement])</small>  ]]

''See also:'' [[Atheist movement]] and [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]]

''See also:'' [[Atheist movement]] and [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]]

I don’t know that we can.<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/09/27/the-atheist-disillusionment/ ''The Atheist Disillusionment''] - PZ Myers, September 27, 2014</ref>}}

I don’t know that we can.<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/09/27/the-atheist-disillusionment/ ''The Atheist Disillusionment''] - PZ Myers, September 27, 2014</ref>}}

== Vox Day on the Elevatorgate controversy ==

== Theodore Beale on the Elevatorgate controversy ==

See also: [[Essay: Atheism and gamma males]]

See also: [[Essay: Atheism and gamma males]]

Theodore Beale wrote:

[[Vox Day]] wrote:

{{Cquote|I know, I know, it's simply astonishing news that women hate atheists. [https://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/07/03/oh-no-not-againonce-more-unto Even atheist women don't like them].

{{Cquote|I know, I know, it's simply astonishing news that women hate atheists. [https://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/07/03/oh-no-not-againonce-more-unto Even atheist women don't like them].

Dawkins, who as a scientific celebrity surmounted his natural gamma status some time ago, was naturally confused by all this extravagant feminized foolishness, and pointed out how stupid it all was. This caused more hissy fits to be directed his way; Dawkins, being the coward that he has shown himself to be on numerous occasions, was naturally quick to crumble.

Dawkins, who as a scientific celebrity surmounted his natural gamma status some time ago, was naturally confused by all this extravagant feminized foolishness, and pointed out how stupid it all was. This caused more hissy fits to be directed his way; Dawkins, being the coward that he has shown himself to be on numerous occasions, was naturally quick to crumble.

Now, I don't think it's absolutely necessary to be hapless with women to be an atheist... [[Atheism and hatred of God|No wonder they're so furious at God]]. He created all those lovely women with those beautiful breasts and they aren't even allowed to even talk to them in elevators.<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2011/07/atheists-in-gamma-hell.html Atheists in Gamma Hell]</ref>}}

Now, I don't think it's absolutely necessary to be hapless with women to be an atheist... [[Atheism and hatred of God|No wonder they're so furious at God]]. He created all those lovely women with those beautiful breasts and they aren't even allowed to even talk to them in elevators.<ref>[https://voxday.net/2011/07/06/atheists-in-gamma-he/ Atheists in Gamma Hell]</ref>}}

== Thunderf00t on the impact of Freethought Blogs and Rebecca Watson ==

== Thunderf00t on the impact of Freethought Blogs and Rebecca Watson ==

''See also:'' [[Richard Dawkins quotes]]

''See also:'' [[Richard Dawkins quotes]]

On November 18, 2014, Richard Dawkins indicated that: he stands by his recent remarks about women/men relations, he feels muzzled by "thought police" and that [[Rebecca Watson]]'s experience in the elevator was "rather trivial" compared to events some Muslim women experience.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/richard-dawkins-stands-by-remarks-on-sexism-pedophilia-down-syndrome/2014/11/18/a2915cd8-6f64-11e4-a2c2-478179fd0489_story.html Richard Dawkins stands by remarks on sexism, pedophilia, Down syndrome], by Kimberly Winston | Religion News Service November 18, 2014</ref>  

On November 18, 2014, Richard Dawkins indicated that: he stands by his recent remarks about women/men relations, he feels muzzled by "thought police" and that [[Rebecca Watson]]'s experience in the elevator was "rather trivial" compared to events some Muslim women experience.<ref>[https://archive.md/kk5nO Richard Dawkins stands by remarks on sexism, pedophilia, Down syndrome], by Kimberly Winston | Religion News Service November 18, 2014</ref>  

Specifically, the ''Washington Post'' reported on November 18, 2014:

Specifically, the ''Washington Post'' reported on November 18, 2014:

Dawkins, however, disagrees. He is, he said, not a misogynist, as some critics have called him, but “a passionate feminist.” The greatest threats to women, in his view, are Islamism and jihadism — and his concern over that sometimes leads him to speak off-the-cuff.

Dawkins, however, disagrees. He is, he said, not a misogynist, as some critics have called him, but “a passionate feminist.” The greatest threats to women, in his view, are Islamism and jihadism — and his concern over that sometimes leads him to speak off-the-cuff.

“I concentrate my attention on that menace and I confess I occasionally get a little impatient with American women who complain of being inappropriately touched by the water cooler or invited for coffee or something which I think is, by comparison, relatively trivial,” he said.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/richard-dawkins-stands-by-remarks-on-sexism-pedophilia-down-syndrome/2014/11/18/a2915cd8-6f64-11e4-a2c2-478179fd0489_story.html Richard Dawkins stands by remarks on sexism, pedophilia, Down syndrome], by Kimberly Winston | Religion News Service November 18, 2014 and syndicated to the ''Washington Post''</ref>}}

“I concentrate my attention on that menace and I confess I occasionally get a little impatient with American women who complain of being inappropriately touched by the water cooler or invited for coffee or something which I think is, by comparison, relatively trivial,” he said.<ref>[https://archive.md/kk5nO Richard Dawkins stands by remarks on sexism, pedophilia, Down syndrome], by Kimberly Winston | Religion News Service November 18, 2014 and syndicated to the ''Washington Post''</ref>}}

== Atheist community double standards: Muslim men misogyny vs. atheist men misogyny ==

== Atheist community double standards: Muslim men misogyny vs. atheist men misogyny ==