Roosh V
Roosh V | |
---|---|
Born | Daryush Valizadeh June 14, 1979 Washington, D.C., United States |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Writer |
Known for | Pickup artistry |
Daryush Valizadeh[1] (born June 14, 1979),[2][3] also known as Roosh Valizadeh, Roosh V and Roosh Vorek, is an American[4] writer and pickup artist[5][6][7] known for his controversial writings on the seduction community and antifeminism.[8][9] He is a leader of a movement that he terms "neomasculinity".
Roosh writes on his personal blog[2] and also owns the Return of Kings website[10] where he publishes articles by others on related subjects. Roosh has self-published 15 books, most of which offer advice to men on how to pick up and have sex with women in specific countries.[11] His writings have received widespread criticism, including accusations of misogyny and promotion of rape.
Background and views
Roosh was born in the United States in 1979. His parents were immigrants from Armenia and Iran.[12] Roosh graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2001[13] with a degree in microbiology.[14] He began blogging about his attempts at having sex with women[5] but once his internet anonymity was broken, he turned to blogging and writing full-time as a means to supporting himself,[15] first with the publication of Bang: The Pickup Bible That Helps You Get More Lays (2007) and then with sex-themed travel guides on the countries he visited.[5]
His ideas have been described as "red pill" (a reference to the movie The Matrix), and as based on "politically incorrect realism".[5] In a Washington Times Communities interview, he states that feminism has left a legacy of weaker men who are more androgynous. He went on to say that women abstain from having sex with them in preference for "bad boys".[16]
Roosh advocates adherence to traditional heteronormative roles for men and is against female promiscuity. He says that his rhetoric does not call for violence or hate against women, feminists, or any other group.[17] Roosh encourages men to improve themselves, especially in physique and style, and become more masculine in order to be more attractive to women.[18] In addition, he states that men and women are physically and mentally very different and that much of women's value comes from their fertility and beauty.[19]
Despite being described as a "Men's Rights Activist" Roosh has actually criticized the men's right's movement [1] and has said he "I don’t see myself using their methods of petitioning the state for changes or adopting the tactic of painting men as victims who desperately need government help." [2]. There is no record of him ever advocating for political change other than his "legalise rape" post, which he states was satire.
Controversy
United States
In a March 2012 report on "The Year in Hate and Extremism", the Southern Poverty Law Center included Roosh in a list of manosphere sites which it described as hateful and misogynistic.[20][21] His inclusion on the list was reported by several publications, some of which mocked the inclusion for being extreme.[11][22][23][24] Business Insider's Michael Brendan Dougherty opined that the SPLC was undermining its credibility by listing Roosh.[25] In response to criticism, the SPLC later clarified that it was not labeling the sites as members of a hate movement, but wished to draw attention to "specific examples of misogyny and the threat, overt or implicit, of violence".[26]
In February 2014, The Daily Dot magazine named Roosh "The Web's most infamous misogynist" and observed "his extraordinarily vitriolic and misogynistic views about women and society as a whole".[27]
In February 2015, Roosh was criticized for a blog post that he wrote titled "How to Stop Rape" in which he proposed legalising rape.[28] In the post, he said "If rape becomes legal under my proposal, a girl will protect her body in the same manner that she protects her purse and smartphone. If rape becomes legal, a girl will not enter an impaired state of mind where she can't resist being dragged off to a bedroom with a man who she is unsure of—she'll scream, yell, or kick at his attempt while bystanders are still around. If rape becomes legal, she will never be unchaperoned with a man she doesn't want to sleep with. After several months of advertising this law throughout the land, rape would be virtually eliminated on the first day it is applied."[29] Alex Wellman at the Daily Mirror wrote "a self-styled pick-up guru appears to have called for rape to be legalised in certain situations so that women learn to protect their bodies".[30] S. E. Smith at the online magazine xoJane asserted that "we need to talk openly not just about how many MRAs [men's rights activists] like Roosh promote rape and violence against women, but how many of them may be rapists themselves".[31] Roosh has since said that the post was meant as satire.[18][32]
In 2014, The Washington Post columnist Caitlin Dewey stated that Roosh was one of a number of internet writers considered misogynist, writing: "Valizadeh owns the website ReturnofKings.com, which bans 'women and homosexuals' from commenting." Dewey noted that recent articles on ReturnofKings.com included titles such as "5 Reasons to Date a Girl With an Eating Disorder," "Don’t Work for a Female Boss" and "Biology Says People on Welfare Should Die."[33]
Canada
In July 2015, Vancouver resident Sara Parker-Toulson launched a petition on Change.org that called for Roosh to be barred from entering Canada, accusing him of violating Canadian hate speech laws.[34] It gathered over 42,500 signatures.[35] Concordia University student Fannie Gadouas publicized the petition and was interviewed by the media following her efforts, with Montreal resident Aurelie Nix, to organize a protest event in Montreal. Nix also lodged a complaint against Roosh with the police, claiming that he had incited his followers to make rape and death threats against her.[34] The petition and protest were in response to plans by Roosh to give paid speeches in Toronto and Montreal.[36][37][38][39][40]
Quebec Member of the National Assembly Carole Poirier called on Stéphanie Vallée, Quebec Minister of Justice for Conditions for Women, to ban Roosh and his rhetoric from the province.[39][41] Vallée responded by condemning Roosh's statements, but declined to make further comments regarding whether he should be denied entry to Canada.[42] Reportedly in response to the negative publicity and threat of protest, the Hotel Omni Montreal, where the speech had been scheduled to be held, cancelled the event.[43] He asked that his followers assist him in a "counter-attack" against the demonstrators by collecting personal information about them.[44] A café owner, who surreptitiously took a photograph of Roosh sitting in his establishment and published it to Instagram with an invitation to others to come confront Roosh, later said he felt threatened by the ensuing response from Roosh's followers.[45]
Roosh stated that the event location was changed to a different venue and took place on August 8 as scheduled with about 34 people in attendance.[46] Afterwards, a crowd of protestors confronted Roosh at a local bar and threw drinks at him, prompting him and his companions to leave the bar as the protestors followed while continuing to scream and curse at Roosh.[47] Roosh filed a complaint with police over the incident, and police said they were investigating a person known as "Jennifer" who was alleged to be one of the assailants.[19][48][49] Commentators in the National Post and Toronto Star, while taking exception to Roosh's opinions, later criticized the protestors for trying to deny Roosh his right to free speech, for assaulting him in the bar, and then for celebrating the assault.[32][50]
Before Roosh's scheduled speech in Toronto on August 15, city councillor Norm Kelly and mayor John Tory denounced Roosh and encouraged city venues to turn him away, declaring publicly that he was not welcome in Toronto.[47][51][52] On August 15, a protest against Roosh, attended by Member of Parliament Cheri DiNovo, was held at Queen's Park.[53][54] Later that day, Roosh tweeted a photograph of himself at what he said was the event venue in Mississauga and said he delivered his speech to 56 people. Both Roosh and the protestors declared victory in their dispute over his appearances in Canada.[46][55][56][57]
Nordic countries
The Icelandic publication DV published a number of stories about Roosh's release of his book Bang Iceland, calling it "derogatory".[58][59] Icelandic feminist organization Femínistafélag Íslands condemned the book as a "rape guide."[60] Another publication labelled it "slander."[61] Icelandic writer and media persona Egill Einarsson said the book was "as wrong as possible".[62]
Danish Ekstra Bladet published five articles on the release of Roosh's book Don't Bang Denmark,[63] and Danish TV aired several discussions sparked by the book.[64][65]
Norwegian Dagbladet newspaper questioned the morality of Roosh's seduction tactics in an article warning about the rise of the "manosphere".[66]
Baltics
His books Bang Estonia, Don't Bang Latvia, and Bang Lithuania were met with a generally negative reaction from media outlets of those respective countries, where he was described as a "sex tourist".[6][67] During an interview with Delfi in response to a question about whether he was a sex tourist, Roosh responded that he was a love tourist, not a sex tourist.[68]
Books
- Bang: The Pickup Bible That Helps You Get More Lays (2007) ISBN 1438214235
- A Dead Bat In Paraguay: One Man's Peculiar Journey Through South America (2009) ISBN 1442136367
- Bang Colombia: Textbook On How to Sleep with Colombian Women (2010) ISBN 1452877475
- Roosh's Brazil Compendium: Pickup Tips, City Guides, and Stories (2010) ISBN 1456517171
- Roosh's Argentina Compendium: Pickup Tips, City Guides, and Stories (2011) ISBN 1460972155
- Day Bang: How to Casually Pick Up Girls During the Day (2011) ISBN 1463765045
- Bang Iceland: How to Sleep with Icelandic Women in Iceland (2011) ISBN 1466206748
- Don't Bang Denmark: How to Sleep with Danish Women in Denmark (If You Must) (2011) ISBN 1466480823
- 30 Bangs: The Shaping of One Man's Game from Patient Mouse to Rabid Wolf (2012) ISBN 1470198924
- Bang Poland: How to Make Love with Polish Girls in Poland (2012) ISBN 1477457054
- Don't Bang Latvia: How to Sleep with Latvian Women in Latvia Without Getting Scammed (2012) ISBN 1477481540
- Bang Estonia: How to Sleep with Estonian Women in Estonia (2012) ISBN 1477648852
- Bang Lithuania: How to Sleep with Lithuanian Women in Lithuania (2012) ISBN 1478331461
- Bang Ukraine: How to Have Sex with Ukrainian Girls in Ukraine (2012) ISBN 1481088599
- Poosy Paradise (2014) ISBN 1500399841
References
- ^ Price, Rob (February 2014). "The Web's most infamous misogynist regrets nothing". Daily Dot. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
- ^ a b "About Roosh V". Roosh V. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ^ "Roosh V – About". Facebook. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "American Stereotypes Are So Hurtful". Rooshv.com. May 4, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Dalrymple, Theodore (January 13, 2013). "A Sex Tourist Swallows the Red Pill – Taki's Magazine". Takimag.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ a b "Seksiturist: Eesti naised on paksud ja ülbed, aga välismaalased neile meeldivad – Publik". Publik.delfi.ee. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "Controversial Pick-Up Artist Gets Beer In His Face In Montreal (NSFW)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- ^ Rensin, Emmett, "The internet is full of men who hate feminism. Here's what they're like in person", Vox, February 5, 2015
- ^ Bruenig, Elizabeth Stoker, "Pick-Up Artists and Pro-Family Conservatives Agree: Women Only Marry for Money", The New Republic, February 5, 2015
- ^ "About". Returnofkings.com. April 23, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ a b Greenwood, Arin (March 10, 2012). "Southern Poverty Law Center Lists 'Roosh V' On Misogyny Report". Huffington Post. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
- ^ Ali, Mumia. "Bang: The Definitive Interview With RooshV (Part One)". A Voice for Men. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
- ^ "Full text of "Commencement"". Archive.org. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ Jule Banville, "Blogger Stud Living in Dad’s Basement, Writing Second Book on How to Get Laid", "Washington City Paper", 2008
- ^ "Roosh Cribs". YouTube. May 7, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ Stutzman, Christy (September 12, 2002). "Communities – Voices and Insights – Washington Times". Communities.washingtontimes.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; November 12, 2014 suggested (help) - ^ Plucinska, Joanna, "Toronto’s Mayor Says a Tour by ‘Neo Masculine’ Author Roosh V Should Be Cancelled", Time, August 11, 2015
- ^ a b McInnes, Gavin, "The Gavin McInnes Show 015", The Anthony Cumia Show, August 10, 2015
- ^ a b Sheridan, Kate, "Roosh V files police report after Montreal woman throws beer in his face", Montreal Gazette, August 10, 2015
- ^ SPLC, "Misogyny: The Sites", "Intelligence Report", 2012
- ^ Greenwood, Arin (March 10, 2012). "D.C. Blogger Makes Misogyny Watch List". The Huffington Post.
- ^ Mike Riggs, "The Southern Poverty Law Center Is Now Writing About Pickup Artists as Hate Groups", "reason.com", 2012-03-09
- ^ The Corner, "What’s after ‘Jumping the Shark’?", "National Review", 2012-00-00
- ^ ekstrabladet.dk, "Scoreguide pusher kvindehad", "ekstrabladet.dk", 2012-03-27
- ^ Michael Brendan Dougherty, "A Civil Rights Group Is Now Criticizing Random Jerks For Not Calling Women Back After Sex", "business insider", 2012-03-09
- ^ "Intelligence Report Article Provokes Fury Among Men's Rights Activists". Southern Poverty Law Center. May 15, 2012.
- ^ Winkie, Luke (March 5, 2015). "The Web's most infamous misogynist regrets nothing". Dailydot.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ Cowburn, Ashley (February 1, 2016). "Militant pro-rape 'pick up artist' has organised events in eight UK cities". The Indepencent. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- ^ Roosh V, "How to Stop Rape", RooshV, February 16, 2015
- ^ Wellman, Alex (February 19, 2015). "Roosh V: 'Make rape legal on private property' – Mirror Online". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "MRA Roosh V Wants To Legalize Rape To Teach Women A Lesson". Xojane.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ a b Menon, Vinay (August 12, 2015). "How Canada turned a blogging Casanova into a martyr". Toronto Star.
- ^ Dewey, Caitlin (January 24, 2014). "Hunter Moore is in jail, but that just means some other despicable character is "the most-hated man on the Internet" now". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ a b Campbell, Emily, "Movement underway to bar U.S. 'pick-up artist' from coming to Montreal", CJAD News, August 4, 2015
- ^ Roosh V, Controversial Pick-Up Artist, Gets Beer Thrown In His Face In Montreal, Huffington Post (Canada), August 9, 2015.
- ^ Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), "Roosh-V Pickup Artist Shouldn't be Allowed in Canada Says Petition"
- ^ CBC, "Montreal woman wants 'pickup artist' banned from Canada", July 24, 2015
- ^ Bein, Sierra, "How Canadian Women Fought Back Against a Pickup Artist Who Was Secretly Filming Them", Vice, July 26, 2015
- ^ a b Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (ICI Radio Canada), "Protestation contre la venue à Montréal d'un blogueur qui banalise le viol", August 4, 2015
- ^ Boucher, Marie-Pier, "PÉTITION contre la venue d'un blogueur sexiste à Montréal", Rouge FM, August 4, 2015
- ^ Poirier, Carole, "Venue à Montréal d'un blogueur misogyne – La ministre de la Condition féminine va-t-elle laisser Daryush Valizadeh propager sa haine des femmes au Québec?", Government of Quebec, August 4, 2015
- ^ Richer, Jocelyne, "La ministre Vallée ne s’oppose pas à la venue du blogueur Roosh V", Le Devoir, August 5, 2015
- ^ Dumont, Marie-Eve, "Roosh V aurait perdu sa salle pour sa conférence à Montréal", Le Journal de Montréal, August 5, 2015
- ^ Laframboise, Kalina (August 6, 2015). "Controversial blogger facing strong opposition over upcoming Montreal appearance". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ Noel, Marie-Christine, "Le proprio d'un café menacé par Roosh V?", Le Journal de Montreal, August 8, 2015
- ^ a b Adams, Joanna, "Roosh V's Toronto Lecture Held In Mississauga, Despite Protests: Report", The Huffington Post, August 17, 2015
- ^ a b Russell, Andrew, "Mayor John Tory says controversial pick-up artist Roosh V has ‘no place’ in Toronto", Global News, August 11, 2015
- ^ Deland, Maxime, "Roosh V: deux enquêtes policières en cours", Le Journal de Montreal, August 10, 2015
- ^ Beer thrown on pickup artist Roosh V. probed
- ^ Soupcoff, Marni, "Marni Soupcoff: In defence of a dreary individual", National Post, August 10, 2015
- ^ Shah, Maryam, "Pickup artist Roosh V. not welcome in Toronto: Tory", Toronto Sun, August 10, 2015
- ^ CTV News, "CTV News Channel 'Sounding the Alarm Bells'", August 11, 2015
- ^ Vella, Erica, "MPP Cheri DiNovo petitions for Roosh V ban", Global News, August 14, 2015
- ^ CityNews, "Protest against 'pick-up artist' Roosh V held near Queen's Park", August 15, 2015
- ^ Westoll, Nick, "Controversial Roosh V. says he spoke in Toronto Saturday", Toronto Star, August 15, 2015
- ^ Rosella, Louie, "WATCH VIDEO: Roosh V. says he held his Toronto event 'in the original hotel'", The Mississauga News, August 16, 2015
- ^ Taekema, Dan, "Roosh V. claims he ‘conquered’ Toronto; critics disagree", Toronto Star, August 16, 2015
- ^ Ritstjórn, "Ráðleggur fólki hvernig á að sænga hjá íslenskum konum", "DV.is", 2011-11-02
- ^ "Mælir með því að hella konur fullar og einangra þær – DV". Dv.is. November 3, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "Femínistar fordæma flagarabók Vöreks – DV". Dv.is. November 5, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "Icelandic Womanhood (JB)". Iceland Review. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "Gillz um flagarabók Vöreks: "Eins rangt og hægt er" – DV". Dv.is. November 4, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "Derfor skal du ikke knalde danske piger – Ekstra Bladet" (in Danish). Ekstrabladet.dk. June 10, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ Katrine Bøg Larsen, "Danske kvinder er grimme og usexede", "GO TV2", 2012-00-00
- ^ Katrine Bøg Larsen, "Danske kvinder: Vi er feminine og sexede", "GO TV2", 2012-02-09
- ^ MAGNUS BERNHARDSEN, "Kvinneforakten på nett", "dagbladet.no", 2012-08-07
- ^ "Seksiturist üllitas Eesti kohta juhusuhte-reisijuhi – Publik". Publik.delfi.ee. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ Kristaps Zālītis (December 1, 2012). "Intervija ar sekstūristu, kurš izbrāķēja Latviju". Delfi.