Dean Altman
Straight women generally want the men they date to be emotionally open and available. They want a guy who can talk about problems and express his feelings. But we as a society still tend to make fun of men when they’re passionate about certain things, things that are not, say, sports or cars. And especially when those things are sci-fi or comic book-related.
Take Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley on Twitter). No, really, please take her, because she might just be the worst. The “conservative freedom fighter” and all-around obnoxious woman smugly declared on Twitter that men who love Star Wars and superhero movies are “undateable.” That’s a pretty big segment of the population and a really presumptuous statement.
St. Clair, whose Twitter header features a Ronald Reagan quote, posted her tweet after seeing vlogger and filmmaker Eric Butts’ highly emotional reaction to the first trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, writing, “Star Wars and super hero movie obsession culture has revealed a whole new population of undateable men. Might be worse than men who wear cargo shorts.”
https://twitter.com/stclairashley/status/1117495087049482245
Her tweet obviously got a lot of backlash, but she’s a troll (think Tomi Lahren), so that’s what she was aiming for. And she didn’t just make her point once and drop it—instead she kepttweeting about it, thirsty for attention.
https://twitter.com/stclairashley/status/1117919314009444352
https://twitter.com/stclairashley/status/1117973498603945984
https://twitter.com/stclairashley/status/1117976190567047169
Another woman, @StephanieHazen on Twitter, jumped in to support St. Clair, writing “People like @stclairashley and myself are just trying to help men realize they have been unknowingly poisoned by SJW culture. It’s out of love.” She also included the hashtag @MakeMenGreatAgain. Hazen, another “free speech activist,” might be friends with St. Clair or she might just be a fellow troll.
https://twitter.com/StephanieHazen/status/1118184014450503680
Weird that she’s attributing Star Wars and superhero movies to “social justice warrior” culture when they’ve been around for so very long and “SJW”is a relatively new term.
Alanah Pearce, reviews director for InsideGaming, responded to one of St. Clair’s tweets, writing, “Please note: you’re mocking someone for being happy about something. I wouldn’t date someone who thinks the way you’ve illustrated that you do in this tweet. I would date someone who’s so passionate about something it makes them emotional.” And St. Clair took that opportunity to snarkily ask, “Why don’t you slide into his DMs then?”
https://twitter.com/stclairashley/status/1117905483573207043
And Pearce responded that Butts is married and she’s not available and also, that’s NOT THE POINT.
He’s married, I’m not available (but I did ask if he wants to hang out!). My ex boyfriend actually also has a public video of him losing his shit over Star Wars, and that passion is awesome. I am in full support of people who aren’t hurting others being happy x
— Alanah Pearce (@Charalanahzard) April 15, 2019
The point is, St. Clair is mocking people for being ardent fans of something she herself is not interested in. Hopefully St. Clair has already found her mate, because with an attitude like this, she’s going to be alienating a whole LOT of people, for such a stupid reason.
People on Twitter struck back though, much as the Empire did in Star Wars (I’d apologize but I’m not sorry).
You’re the type of girl dudes cheat on with interesting people.
— Justin Chandler (@KOSDFF) April 16, 2019
I ❤️ cargo pants. And superhero movies.
— Cory Barlog ???? #undateable (@corybarlog) April 15, 2019
Remember boys, if your really passionate about something don’t be going around showing that emotions about it. That’s an undateable quality ????
— Geektron (@Geektron3000) April 16, 2019
jokes on her I stopped vocally enjoying things eons ago and instead hate everything I used to enjoy, forcing myself to like what’s trendy even though I can’t afford half these trends!
— NiftyBongos (@spicybongos12) April 16, 2019
Guys I hope you can enjoy your things again people love to see that and is absolutely okay for everyone to like whatever they do like ❤️
— mira yo que sé (@Lae_brown) April 16, 2019
Even Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker himself, actor Mark Hamill, spoke up.
Why anyone would ridicule someone so passionate & clearly enjoying what he’s seeing is beyond me. #UPFsAreTheBestFans ????
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) April 15, 2019
He also sent a special message to Butts.
Hi Eric- Thanks for sharing your amazing reaction to the trailer. It was inspiring to see you transported with joy in anticipation of IX. Makes what we do seem all the more worthwhile.
All the best, Mar????
PS: I salute you, sir: pic.twitter.com/7xOEVm3iju— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) April 16, 2019
And one woman, a teacher-in-training named Emily Chaney, who came across St. Clair’s tweets felt that they were about something much deeper than just mocking men who love Star Wars. She wrote an important thread about St. Clair’s toxicity on Twitter.
Liking one or both of these is a PREREQUISITE for dating me. Mostly because 1. having similar interests is important and 2. I almost exclusively have a thing for nerds.
How about instead we talk about the toxic culture of entitled, self-absorbed women? https://t.co/f00BnGdRMw
— Emily 🍄✨ (@XTowerofHeavenX) April 16, 2019
<pdir=”ltr” lang=”en”>Also why in the HELL would you bash someone for being passionate? ESPECIALLY in a time where the “I don’t give a shit about anything” persona is so popular? Being passionate about something is so attractive. Actually it’s sexy as fuck. Who give a shit if he’s a nerd?
— Emily (@emily_chaney9) April 16, 2019
I am so sick and tired of women bashing men for having interests because they think it isn’t “cool” or “masculine”. And this goes for anything! LET MEN BE EXCITED ABOUT THINGS! LET MEN BE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE THINGS THEY GIVE A SHIT ABOUT!
— Emily (@emily_chaney9) April 16, 2019
I cannot even begin to count the times my previous significant others have tried to downplay their interests about the things they enjoy because they were worried I wouldn’t want to hear it, or I’d find it boring. Doesn’t that bother you? Because it pisses me off.
— Emily (@emily_chaney9) April 16, 2019
We teach men that we aren’t interested and then wonder why they have trouble expressing themselves? Are you kidding me? The double standards we set in our society are detrimental to men’s mental health, and we don’t talk about that enough.
— Emily (@emily_chaney9) April 16, 2019
Nearly 80% of all suicides are male, and we could break down the “why” because there are multiple factors, but my point is we, as a society, do not care enough about men. Which is probably a taboo saying in this day and age but it’s true.
— Emily (@emily_chaney9) April 16, 2019
We have been so hell bent on ending stigmas surrounding women, and while that is incredibly important, we need to start doing the same for men. They could be your brothers, fathers, best friends, significant others, ANYONE. Chances are you know someone that is struggling.
— Emily (@emily_chaney9) April 16, 2019
St. Clair, who devoted part of her Twitter bio to proclaiming Amy Schumer not funny, is a sour person with no heart. She claims she’s all for free speech, but I guess not when that speech is in any way related to loving Star Wars or superheroes.
h/t: Bored Panda
