Bats and fellatio
May 19th, 2010 at 4:00 pm by David FarrarSage at No Minister blogs:
A British scientist has been disciplined for sexual harassment by his Irish university for showing a female colleague a research paper about fellatio in bats, triggering an outcry over academic freedom.
Leading scientists and academics including Steven Pinker and Daniel Dennett have rallied to support Dylan Evans, after University College, Cork (UCC) placed him on probation for two years and ordered him to have counselling.
Supporters of Dr Evans, a behavioural scientist, said the university’s actions sent a dangerous message that areas of legitimate academic debate can be deemed off-limits if certain people find them offensive for personal reasons.
Who can be offended by fellatio amongst bats? Now if it had been a video of said activity I can imagine the upset, but a research paper??
While an investigation cleared Dr Evans of sexual harassment prior to his showing her the bat fellatio paper, it found that this incident amounted to a joke with sexual innuendo, though it accepted he had not intended to offend.
Professor Michael Murphy, the UCC president, declared that the complaint of sexual harassment had been upheld, and punished Dr Evans by imposing a two-year period of “monitoring and appraisal” and requiring him to complete special training.
What an hysterical over-reaction.
May 19th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
First the story on the spider bitten penis, now one pointing out that bats perform fellatio. Is there something you want to share, DPF?
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
British tax dollars hard at work.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
Na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na
…………….
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
[DPF]:Who can be offended by fellatio amongst bats?[/quote]
In fairness, we don’t know HOW Mr Evans presented the paper to the female colleague. Was it “Hi, here’s that paper you requested…” or was it more like “Hey, babe, check out page 7 of this to see what your sister did for me last night, I thought maybe you could do better…” or something in between?
***Waits for resident uber-christians to turn this into a thread about God, morality, and unnatural acts… ***
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Why the fuck would any British tax dollars be spent in an Oirish university?
Sponsoring degrees in potato farming?
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Adam West and Burt Ward are denying everything
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
The story has been fully reported elsewhere and there were witnesses who have corroborated that the paper was cited in the context of a discussion on sexual behaviours, and was not offensive.
I am falling down on the side of an hysterical over-reaction.
The paper is itself, umm, is widely known at least in the biologist community.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
RRM 4:27 pm,
As long as the bats mentioned in Mr Evan’s paper were married, then I have no problem with whether or not they practiced the art of intelligent linguistics.
[DPF: Heh. Even if the female bat can't get pregnant from the male bat doing it that way? And what if both bats are male?]
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
From Evans
The colleague to whom I showed the article complained to HR that the article was upsetting. I had been engaged in an ongoing debate with the colleague in question about the relevance of evolutionary biology to human behaviour, and in particular about the dubiousness of many claims for human uniqueness. I showed it the colleague in the context of this discussion, and in the presence of a third person. I also showed the article to over a dozen other colleagues on the same day, none of whom objected.
HR launched a formal investigation. Despite the fact that external investigators concluded that I was not guilty of harassment, Professor Murphy has imposed a two-year period of intensive monitoring and counselling on me, and as a result my application for tenure is likely to be denied.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Hmmm, it all depends on context and manner doesn’t it? If he shows her the paper, reads the paper’s title in a seductive way, and gives her a wink, doesn’t this qualify?
On the other hand if it was all very matter of fact then there can’t be a problem.
The bits you quote don’t allow us to work out which of these two angles the Professor took.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Unbelievable. It could also be argued that since he was cleared of sexual harassment she should be counseled on separating the subject matter from her own personal views of the subject. It’s all a bit over blown if you ask me.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
It’s a funny world when children are given gay erotica to read in schools but an adult who shows another adult an academic paper about bats fellating gets punished.
Vote:(just one of many references: http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=117978 )
May 19th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Perhaps the motives of the complainant run deeper. It could be a denial of evolutionary biology and the comparing of humans with bats.
Vote:The politically correct continue to mount attacks on academic freedom; this will be exacerbated by the demands of Muslims (who are a large fee paying cohort) for recognition of their particular beliefs. Unversity authorities will bend over of course..
May 19th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Quoted from the linked article:
“The colleague, however, accused him of sexual harassment, alleging a pattern of inappropriate and disturbing behaviour including kissing her on both cheeks and complimenting her appearance.”
So it would appear that it’s not only the showing of the research paper, but more “overt sexual harrasment”.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
3 rules for avoiding claims of sexual harassment
1. Be handsome.
2. Be attractive.
3. Don’t be unattractive.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Some more of the story –
“Dr Evans was disciplined following a formal complaint from a colleague, to whom he had shown a peer-reviewed article from the journal Public Library of Science One entitled “Fellatio by fruit bats prolongs copulation time”.
He told The Times that he had given her the paper in the context of an ongoing discussion between them about the evolutionary origins of human and animal behaviour, and that it had been intended to prompt debate and not to cause offence.
The colleague, however, accused him of sexual harassment, alleging a pattern of inappropriate and disturbing behaviour including kissing her on both cheeks and complimenting her appearance.
While an investigation cleared Dr Evans of sexual harassment prior to his showing her the bat fellatio paper, it found that this incident amounted to a joke with sexual innuendo, though it accepted he had not intended to offend.”
Seems he just didn’t know when to leave something alone.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Put it away and Kris K – brilliant.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
It all depends on context, I’d say reading the full story on this one that Dr Evans has displayed a pattern of behaviour which is really unsuitable for the workplace.
I’ve seen plenty of lewd jokes and material discussed in the workplace, for me there has always been a clear distinction between those that do it solely for humour, and those that extract a degree of personal titillation from pushing the boundaries. It’s usually those in the second group that end up going to far.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
So, do bats swallow ?
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
As the item in full indicates, the woman had complained once about his behaviour, although that was dismissed, but he then in that context drops his batty article. Hell hath no fury like a woman already pissed off .
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Ask Bill Clinton
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Must be rather painful with vampire bats.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
he shoulda done it about gay bats blowing each other. no one woulda said a thing.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Makes a change to the batsh*t Smith was delivering in the House today over the ETS.
If anyone ever needed a cave it is the trog from Nelson.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
DPF – you do realise that you probably just got a number of people to google “fellatio”….
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Righto, so “complimenting her on her appearance” is now an offence in PC-land.
Marvellous news… next time I call some woman who’s crossed me a humunculous troll, I’ll no doubt get an honorary degree from University College.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
whta is the issue about performing fellatio on ones self. I do it regurarly
can you ?
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
btw
how is the most stupidest tax advisor in the world doing ?
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
And here’s the video to the whole incident.
Amateur bat porn, with night vision camera.
Vote:
May 19th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
My comment 4:35 pm,
[DPF: Heh. Even if the female bat can't get pregnant from the male bat doing it that way? And what if both bats are male?]
Heh. That I obviously (as a Christian) meant married in the biblical sense allows for your option 1, but precludes your option 2.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Looks like the negative comments come from those who have never had a ‘blow job’ and will never fucking get one lol !!!
Kris K, fuck off with the “(as a Christian) meant married in the biblical sense allows for your option 1, but precludes your option 2.”
Vote:Why does everything have to be christian? Bend and twist it. Only you are twisted
May 19th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Kreis K
Why are you ( as a Christian) such as a fat fuck ?
You are spitting in God’s face
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Top Ten WTF? US Sex Laws
I suspect the Bats made the sex laws in Virginia, clearly other species had a hand in other states.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
burt: I see “no fat chicks” is missing from that list. Then again, we are talking America, where such a law would render men celibate. I’d have thought a law was somewhat unnecessary to protect porcupines… if one could successfully achieve that, the appropriate outcome would surely be an entry in Guiness, not a fine.
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
hahaha had a few drinks rat man?
Vote:May 19th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Dime
Vote:I think I love you
May 19th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
What’s a blow job?
I thought that’s what surfers call windsurfers.
Vote:Can bats windsurf?
May 19th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Holy blow jobs, Batman!
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 1:35 am
Sexual harrassment is what happens when ugly people try and do exactly the same thing attractive people do when they want to get laid.
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 8:08 am
Doesn’t this just show what a mistake allowing Women to be admitted into Universities was? How much has the forward progess and technologal advance of Man been held up by silly shit like this?
After all, everyone knows that it is Men that make all the important discoveries and are the leaders in the field of science. There is only one Woman of note in the entire history of science and that is Marie Curie, and she died as a direct of her efforts.
Discuss.
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 8:14 am
“***Waits for resident uber-christians to turn this into a thread about God, morality, and unnatural acts… ***”
Waits for RRM to get his hand off his rabid anti-Christian hard on… but not holding breath.
How fucked up do you have to be to see an oportunity to attack Christianity from a bat blow job story RRM? Seriously get some professional help for that phobia of yours.
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Wow, lucky he didn’t show her the paper on the homosexual necrophiliac duck!
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/09/gay_duck_honour/
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 8:54 am
Dylan Evans is a behavorial scientist. I would hope if he observed this then should report it, not leave it out of the paper. It shows how PC the universities are. Rotten to the core. It’s happening here.
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 9:08 am
“How fucked up do you have to be to see an oportunity to attack Christianity from a bat blow job story RRM? Seriously get some professional help for that phobia of yours.”
Re-read any thread with homosexuality or marriage in the keywords and you will see that it is not some imaginary phobia in my head Muzz.
Fortunately (for the thread) the xtians seem to see the funny side a whole lot better than you on this occasion.
Vote:Get a sense of humour.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:23 am
jinpy – I once sat down in Piazza San Marco in Venice to enjoy some lunch. The sights and sounds were interesting, if slightly ruined by a pigeon 5m away working feverishly to mount one of his own… who had obviously long since gone to that great pigeon sanctuary in the sky
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 9:23 am
An optical technician at the optometry dept Uni of Auck nearly got sacked for commenting a woman staff member’s hair looked good that morning. A casual remark while passing in the hall.
It was bloody risky even holding the door open for a women at the Uni, even though one would normally do this for anyone as a matter of courtesy.
The league of crazy feminists ruled supreme there.
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 9:34 am
Wow, lucky he didn’t show her the paper on the homosexual necrophiliac duck!
Blarrr-dee-hell!!
Haven’t they got anything better to do? like curing cancer or something?
The obituary for Western civilisation will read:
“This civilisation started well and made many achievements both socially and politically, sadly though, when the opportunity came to consolidate their success and refine their achievements to ensure their long term sustainability, their leading academics were more interested in studying cock sucking bats and corpse rooting gay mallard ducks”.
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 9:38 am
“more interested in studying cock sucking bats and corpse rooting gay mallard ducks”.
^^^ You wouldn’t look if it happened near you? Seriously?
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 9:40 am
@Shunda – LMAO
Vote:@RRM – The whole cafe was looking trying not let others know they were looking!
May 20th, 2010 at 9:56 am
I’ll see your necrophiliac duck and raise you one duck dick. ( NSFW or delicate souls).
Sorry but it’s not a mallard.
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 11:06 am
You wouldn’t look if it happened near you? Seriously?
Well actually……
The other day I did in fact see a gay Mallard duck doing his bid-ness, (and though his partner seemed less than consentual, at least he was alive!)
I didn’t however, feel the need to grab my note book and camera and photograph the dirty little rapist for 3 hours!!
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 11:35 am
New pop song will be along soon : Like a Bat out of Fell…
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Christians are to RRM as soap is to hippies.
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
^^^ See look, even Shunda gets it, and we usually can’t stand each other.
Smile Murray, it makes people wonder what you’ve been up to.
Vote:May 20th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Hmm, she could be a good Catholic girl who is lousy at giving blow jobs because the guilt factor when in Ireland for giving a blow job is around a million hail marys.
Vote:But, they do train up well when they come to NZ
May 21st, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Why look so closely?
Vote:May 21st, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Dirty Rat
Vote:It’s your tail ratty, you drunken fool.