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The Inaugural Bad Graph Thursday!

Yesterday I announced the creation of a new feature here at Skepchick: Bad Graph Thursday. Well, IT’S THURSDAY MOFOS, GET READY TO GRAPH!

Friend, badass, and super-genius Jen McCreight wrote in to Skepchick HQ to point to her post from last year about one sexy heartthrob who thinks that women get uglier as they get more educated, thus decreasing their mates’ total happiness. You may say “bullshit” but he backed it up with a graph, so it’s science:

stupid mra graph

 

This inspired me to create a graph that that guy would appreciate. The following graph shows a clear inverse relationship between the ever-decreasing fertility of men and the population numbers of the Florida manatee, also known as the gentle sea cow:

Fertility and Manatees

 

I don’t pretend to know exactly what this means – is the manatee purposely doing this to men? Is the manatee excreting some hormone into our drinking water that is, unbeknownst to him, threatening our species’ future? You decide. All I’m doing is reporting the data.

Rebecca Watson

Rebecca is a writer, speaker, YouTube personality, and unrepentant science nerd. In addition to founding and continuing to run Skepchick, she hosts Quiz-o-Tron, a monthly science-themed quiz show and podcast that pits comedians against nerds. There is an asteroid named in her honor. Twitter @rebeccawatson Mastodon mstdn.social/@rebeccawatson Instagram @actuallyrebeccawatson TikTok @actuallyrebeccawatson YouTube @rebeccawatson BlueSky @rebeccawatson.bsky.social

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69 Comments

  1. I’m reminded of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster’s graph showing a clear inverse correlation between global temperatures and the number of pirates in the world.

  2. I believe that he got part of the graph incorrect and it should have shown “His appeal to Women” on the left side. It has been my observation that intelligence/education/job have only incidental impact on femininity.

    Of course I also know at least one waitress with a doctorate so that throws the entire graph in the toilet…..

    1. I was going to point out the exact same thing. I was actually more offended by the idea that as an artist I wasn’t well educated than that this douche thinks I’m more likely to be really feminine (I’m not, hot pink hair notwithstanding).

  3. Since when does femininity = attractiveness? It depends on who is being attracted. In my case, femininity is repellent and intelligence is attractive. Give me an athletic Ph.D. with no makeup over a bimbo any day.

    Another thing that inversely correlates with male fertility is the extent to which the Republican Party is beholden to the Religious Right. I can definitely see the resemblance between Jerry Fallwell, Pat Robertson and your average manatee. It’s like Separated At Birth!

    1. Firstly, Why So Serious? You do realize this graph is a joke, right?

      Secondly: Really? Femininity is “repellent”? And it is somehow mutually exclusive from “intelligence”? You ?seem to be implying that “intelligence” is the opposite of “feminine” which is sexist bullshit.

      Additionally, you think feminine women who wear makeup are “bimbos”? Really? Bimbos? I suggest dropping the gendered and sexist insults if you expect to stick around long or be taken seriously. This is a feminist blog, dude.

      I am generally a tomboy, but occasionally I like to get dressed up, and sometimes I even wear makeup! I am ?not a “bimbo” although I’m not so sure what’s wrong with that (Coco, Ice T’s wife, is probably what you’d consider a “bimbo” and I think she’s fuckin’ awesome).. I am a feminine tomboy (butchy fem? lol). Does that BLOW YOUR MIND??

      Seriously, why are you making such large assumptions (makeup = bimbo) about women you’ve yet to even taken the time to know? Why is how a woman looks SO VERY important to you? And “Give me an athletic Ph.D. with no makeup over a bimbo any day.” — can Bimbos not be athletic?!

      If you think you’re somehow enlightened, you’re so wrong.

      1. He (or she) quite clearly states “In my case.” They are free to find whatever they want repellent/attractive. Also, they might be implying that intelligence is the opposite of femininity, but they don’t say that explicitly. You’re reading into what was said. I could say hairlessness is attractive and height is repellent. That doesn’t mean I’m saying hairy people are tall. So, they could be making a comparison comprised of two points, intelligence and femininity, not a juxtaposition. So, they like smart and unfeminine as opposed to not smart and feminine. That doesn’t mean they see a correlation between those two (although, yes, I know that there is enough precedent of people doing so as to make it more likely – especially with the ill-considered use of the word bimbo).

        1. WOW.

          Thanks for the mansplaining, dude. My poor little female brain is just too stupid to understand feminism. Clearly, however, you got this!

          Can you sense the sarcasm?

          (although, yes, I know that there is enough precedent of people doing so as to make it more likely – especially with the ill-considered use of the word bimbo).

          YOU FUCKING THINK SO? Holy shit.

          Why are you defending this crap?

          What this person finds attractive or not IS NOT FUCKING RELEVANT.

          And I am DAMN tired of the *first thing* that people comment on about a woman is their attractiveness. He didn’t comment on the stupid, ridiculous graph first; oh, no, the first thing he had to do was make sure we KNEW what gave him a chubby.

          1. It depends on who is being attracted. In my case, femininity is repellent and intelligence is attractive.

            And calling femininity “repellent” is indeed, fucking repellent and sexist. Do you know how much shit women go through because of their perceived femininity or non-femininity?

            And, yes, he died STRONGLY imply that “intelligence” is the opposite of “femininity,.”

            Do I really need to go through Feminism 101 with you? I’m too tired for this shit.

          2. “He (or she) quite clearly states “In my case.” ”

            And you know what? I really don’t give a shit what he finds attractive “in his case”, and I don’t think anyone else here does either. It adds nothing to the discussion.

            You mean people find different things attractive?

            Holy shit! I never knew that! I thought everyone found Adrian Brody’s gigantic attractive. Huh. Thanks for the information. You learn something new every day, man. Next time you’ll tell me that not everyone likes the same sex!

          3. I knew I would regret breaking my “don’t bother engaging Marilove” rule. You know, honestly, the first time you raged at me it actually did some good. I took a step back and reevaluated some things. How newcomers can’t expect others to have the energy to explain things for the 1000th time, how it takes all kinds of approaches – including ridicule – to snap people out of erroneous ways of thinking. I guess the one lesson that I didn’t learn well enough was how much I just plain dislike talking to you. Oh well, fooled me once.

        2. “I knew I would regret breaking my “don’t bother engaging Marilove” rule. You know, honestly, the first time you raged at me it actually did some good. I took a step back and reevaluated some things. How newcomers can’t expect others to have the energy to explain things for the 1000th time, how it takes all kinds of approaches – including ridicule – to snap people out of erroneous ways of thinking. I guess the one lesson that I didn’t learn well enough was how much I just plain dislike talking to you. Oh well, fooled me once.”

          I don’t know why you think mariloves’ response would be different than anyone elses. Your comment was just plain stupid.

          1. But! But! Calling feminine women who wear makeup repellent bimbos is SO ambiguous!! We should give men who judge women on their looks and call those who don’t turn them on bimbos the benefit of the doubt. Didn’t you KNOW THAT? tsk tsk my friend.

            Also … Interesting that mr. Bimbo has yet to reply. SHOCKER.

          2. That too, but I was more interested in Wilsons comment:

            “He (or she) quite clearly states “In my case.” They are free to find whatever they want repellent/attractive. Also, they might be implying that intelligence is the opposite of femininity, but they don’t say that explicitly. You’re reading into what was said. I could say hairlessness is attractive and height is repellent. That doesn’t mean I’m saying hairy people are tall. So, they could be making a comparison comprised of two points, intelligence and femininity, not a juxtaposition. ”

            Roosh posted, in a public blog, a graph attempting to show that women get more unattractive as they get more educated, and how dare they do things that make them less sexually interesting to us. (Only unattractive women bother to get educated?) It was typical MRA bullshit, and we’re calling him on it. The idea of ‘It’s just my opinion and you can disagree’ doesn’t make any difference. It’s a load of mysoginist crap. And Wilson’s trying to say it’s not what it actually is, and it’s OK anyway ’cause it’s just his opinion, whish is stupid BS.

          3. Exactly, that too — but thank you for the clarification; it’s important to spell it out for these doofs.

            Sometimes I just get so tired of dealing with this crap.

      1. Even though looks can’t tell you how intelligent someone is or is not, the fact that rcreative1 thought using “Bimbo” would go over well here gives us a pretty good idea of how (not) intelilgent they are. Heh.

      2. nose* His gigantic nose. hahaha. oh my goodness. that was the WRONG WORD to pass over (I do that a lot, but it’s because I type 120 wpm even when I’m distracted by a kitten trying to eat my homework).

        1. It’s alright. We all already knew that it was his nose you like, even though it’s inappropriate to share what gives you a “chubby” here. ;)

          1. Yes, because at that point we were specifically talking about what it is that people find sexy. And it was relevant then. Seriously, dude, get a clue.

      3. Oh for fuck’s sake.
        Get over yourself.
        I also don’t care if you dislike me: You’re still defending obviously sexist bullshit.

        1. Yeah, yeah. Well, lucky you that you won’t get a chance to dispel any more of it for me. Guess if that’s what you’re after.

          1. I think I just realized you can only reply so far before the reply button disapears. There is so much white space. Oh, lordy, I am getting old.

            rcreative1 CALLED WOMEN BIMBOS. You do realie how utterly offensive that is, right? Why are you so quick to defend someone who calls women he doesn’t find attractive “bimbos”? Why are you so quick to defend someone so very quick to judge a woman’s intelligence based on whether or not she wears makeup? And if she wears makeup, she’s branded a bimbo?

            Please, tell me why you are defending this sexist crap. It doesn’t make any sense. Unless, of course, you’re just a silly little troll.

          2. And not only is he very quick to judge a woman’s intelligence on whether or not she wears makeup, he ?uses that as a way to determine whether or not she is intelligent.?

            This is some seriously basic shit. Please go read up on feminism and objectification and get back to me ?before you embarrass yourself further. Thanks a bunch.

          3. And not only is he very quick to judge a woman’s “attraction level”**

            I give up today haha. It’s Friday and I’m running on 3 hours of sleep, and seroiusly, going through this feminism 101 bullshit over and over and over gets so damn obnoxious.

          4. Well, quite literally because you said please… Eh, screw it. I just read your other responses.

            Honestly Marilove, I am earnest to a fault, and part of that fault is that I have to struggle to let things slide so as not to be a pedant. I realize this sets me up for your… more freewheeling and abrasive retorts, and I just don’t handle them well. I have such an unpleasant time squashing my “fight!” response so I can think reasonably (or learn anything) that I just prefer to avoid it. Enjoy calling me names and insulting my intelligence. I’ll be elsewhere.

          5. I never called you names OR insulted your intelligence. Not even once. Wow.

            You are the one that tried to tell me that “bimbo” is some how not sexist. Seriously? I am not the one with the problem.

    1. I think I may have responded to the wrong person? Trying to get used to the new format. This is in response to Wilson.

      1. Well, shit. I think the format is all screwy for IE 8. And my work IE browser is totally limited, anyway. It’s obnoxious.

  4. Damn manatees, I knew it was them

    Wait, maybe this means that the real culprits of spermjacking isn’t women looking to entrap men, but actually those dastardly sea cows! Scroll up to the top picture, members of the Men’s Rights movement, and gaze into the face of your TRUE enemy.

  5. As you may know, many suspect that the Manatees used to be confused by sirens. Could this mean that when there are more manatees in the oceans, more manly men get confused and believe they are sirens, and as they become worried to attract these mythical beings they lose their chance at actual intercourse?

    1. “To be confused as sirens”. Excuse my terrible, terrible English that is the cause of being careless and not a native a speaker. But mostly careless.

  6. The first is of course, a straight out assholery and the second is more a graph of the correlation fallacy. I would like to see examples of “bad graphs” that are more subtly deceptive, using inconsistent scales, abusing extrapolations, etc.

  7. As an educated male artist, my take-away from these two graphs is that I don’t actually exist. I am only a figment of the imagination of the gentle sea cow, whose portrait I shall now paint.

  8. I’m amazed that the graphist seems to think that middle managers are highly educated…
    I know how to inprove that graph!
    Label femininity units from 90 to 100%
    Label education from 90 to 100%
    Ta Da!

    (On a sidenote I find typing comments on IE with flyspeck zero pitch font and in grayscale with 10% contrast is …challenging)

  9. Wait a minute, I dropped out in middle school and am completely unfeminine! I can’t fit myself into that graph!

  10. “Non-profit drone”.

    Bigots are always so offended by charity workers, aren’t they?

    “How dare anybody try to make the world a better place! Clearly, these non-profit workers must be humourless drones hell-bent on ramming their agenda down our throats! They must only be in this line of work to make themselves superior! It can’t possibly be out of genuine interest or compassion, because then I’d have to face the fact that I’m an awful, horrible person for not caring about anyone but myself!”

  11. I think the first graph just needs a small tweak to recognise “femininity” is really a stand-in for how attractive this misogynist ass hat finds people, and keeping in mind knowledge is power and that sexist ass hats like broad sweeping assumptions about people, the graph correctly shows that misogynists find perceived powerlessness and vulnerability attractive and find powerful women frightening and repulsive. So really, it’s a big notice to the world that this man child ought to be tied in a big brown bag and swung into the walls a couple times.

    The manatee graph is alarming. Do conservation authorities know about this?

  12. I think I heard on the radio that a group of MRA Manatee hunters were spotted trying to drive to the Florida Keys.

    1. I constantly get crushes and lust after professors. The better they are, the more I am attracted to them, and the less it matters what they look like, haha.

  13. Rebecca Watson,

    There can be only one explanation for this, the manatees are really a bunch of radical feminists out to destroy men. The only explanation I can come up with now for why there are male manatees is that they must hate themselves. :)

  14. And you guys! Boo-oooh! I made someone trying to defend blatant sexism all sad and stuff. HOW DARE I.

  15. Also, wilson, I AM REALLY trying to find where I called you a name. Please point this out to me, becuase I have yet to see it. Thank you!!! :) :) :) There, is that nicer? lol

  16. Maybe I’m going overboard but I’ve always been annoyed by the “compliment” that smart women are sexy. I think it’s boorish for a number of reasons. First of all, there is a difference between smart and educated. If a woman works a low paying factory job and doesn’t have a higher degree that does not make her dumb, more like someone with an honest job and not as many opportunities as the more fortunate or wealthy. Second, contrary to popular television, smart women are not doing their research or work in order to turn on men.

    Lastly, I have to insist that the manatee graph is the best thing ever. Some say manatees shapes are what spawned the image of mermaids. Maybe mermaids are conspiring to reduce earthly sperm?

    1. I agree with you. Very well put, thank you. Not to mention, “smart” has a lot to do with opportunity, class, privilge, etc.

      1. Marilove says”I constantly get crushes and lust after professors. The better they are, the more I am attracted to them, and the less it matters what they look like, haha.”
        Luna says “Maybe I’m going overboard but I’ve always been annoyed by the “compliment” that smart women are sexy. I think it’s boorish for a number of reasons.”
        Marilove says “I agree with you. Very well put, thank you.”
        I am confused now, Can the apparent contradiction be resolved? Are you saying that it’s OK to lust after somebody so long as you don’t tell them they are sexy?

        1. Well, I was being gender-neutral for a reason, and I also made NO mention of intelligence level. I just have a thing for people (male and female) who are good at teaching others what they know.

          But yes, life is full of contradictions and I am only human. And WAS that Luna? It says OccuypforEath to me! I am so confused, haha.

          But, I will say that I didn’t consider that point until she (?? Luna?) made the point.

          I think context matters; it’s fine to find people sexy for whatever reason you find them sexy, but “compliments” such as that generally are not very helpful. Does that make sense? It would be like me saying, “I find fat people repellent, and skinny people hot.” I mean, it’s fine to be attracted to slim people, but do you really need to say that you find fat people REPELLENT?

          I am totally exhausted so if I need to clarify more, just let me know.

          And, for the record, I was mostly giving Jacob shit above. I would HOPE he finds his wife sexy, regardless of her profession.:)

          1. “Are you saying that it’s OK to lust after somebody so long as you don’t tell them they are sexy?”

            Conext does matter. It is perfeclty okay to lust after people. Do you think that we are implying it’s not okay?

          2. Thanks for the clarification, wow that was quick, I don’t know how you do it!
            If it was up to me you would score a thousand internets and a Skepchick Medal of Honour for your efforts against the trolls.
            Rest well.
            Much respect!

          3. Luna’s having trouble logging in, they’re trying to figure out why on the new formatting thread. Don’t know if the new name is permanent.

          4. I type 120 WPM. At least.

            People HATE getting into facebook arguments with me. Haha.

          5. Also, rest? HAH! My twin sister, her 5 year old daughter, and 11 year old son will be staying ALL WEEKEND in my tiny apartment. My dad got a hotel, the jerk!

          6. Cheers Marilove, I agree.

            And yes, that was me logging in under Twitter, lol. Funny you’re the second person to wonder if I was a girl, I always thought it was a feminine name although my real name is Kery and come to find out that’s also a female / male name. I took Luna from that interesting Harry Potter character but I suppose it does sound sort of masculine in certain contexts……

          7. Well, I was only wondering because I wasn’t sure if it was you :) I’ve always liked your nick, though (Luna).

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