Or Novus Ordo Masculīnus Rectus Actīvus if you prefer, though I’m certainly butchering the Latin.

The Elliot Rodger affair may have had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Men’s Human Rights Activism but I think it has drawn a line under what was and what is. I believe it represents a transition and a jumping off point, an opportunity. The Elliot Rodger affair has exposed just how far people will go and how far and fast lies will spread in order to attack the MHRA and while it is – perhaps – tempting – to sink to the same level of abuse and misrepresentation it is a temptation which, in my view, it would be best to resist.

The best argument when accused of being dangerous, violent extremists is not to be. The antipathy to the ‘tone argument’ is bullshit, while anger doesn’t change the content of an argument it does make that argument more palatable and many people more likely to listen. Anger has its place but one need only look to one’s own reactions to being called ‘Cishet trash’, etcetera, to see how disinclined we are to listen to people who argue in such a way.

The Elamesque rhetoric served its purpose in the past, controversy did draw attention and exposure and helped build the movement. The vicious satire was payment in kind for much of the viciousness served up towards men in the past. However, it’s time to be better now.

The conference has been resisted so viciously in part because it was always going to be, but in part because of the joy some take in riling up the enemy. To those without humour satire is invisible and many regard even obvious jokes or fictions as some sort of indication of deep seated, unconscious misogyny or humour as a smokescreen.

If the MHRA can host a conference – which is an important thing to do – and can raise $25,000 for extra security, then it seems that the numbers and will can also be there to mobilise for other actions and campaigns of a more positive and less reactive nature. It is also, I think, important to decouple the MHRA from any political bent (it isn’t really coupled with one at the moment in reality, but is seen as libertarian right) and to take on a more cohesive set of ‘positions’.

Time to start thinking about it, not that I expect anyone to pay attention to me, but the thought is the first step.