I think like everything else the culture wars come into it because today the culture wars HAVE TO come into everything we talk about. Media outlets owned by billionaires demand it.
However, I think what we should focus on is that this really is a 'Let them eat cake moment' for the 21st century.
Yes, it's possibly more obvious because it's women so the vitriol is dialed up a notch (not just towards the women involved but towards each other, regardless of what side you're on) but I think the really really crucial point that none of us should lose track of is that the world is burning, we are ALL getting poorer each year, and it is all Jeff Bezos and his billionaire chums' fault.
I really really hope we can at least all come together and agree that Jeff Bezos is a **** and every year he steals a little bit more of our collective wealth and gives us circuses to distract us from this inevitable fact.
Posted : 19/04/2025 9:32 pm
pondo reacted
But none of that stuff's Katy Perry's fault and she seems to be taking a lot of shit for it.
Fair point, but I think a her participation in the whole thing gives her a potion of culpability perhaps (at least an equal measure with rest of the "crew"). Katy does seem notably lacking in wider awareness though, and perhaps needs someone advising her about the public perception or related social issues that might end up damaging her own brand when considering which gigs to take...
More generally anyone taking a ride on Jeff's dick rocket needs to consider that it's a Billionaire's vanity/propaganda project, involvement does nobody any favours (IMO). you can't really 'Space wash' Bezos or the things his wealth is built on (same goes for the new oligarchy really).
Basically if you don't want people to think you're a bit of a vapid moron, don't accept a ride on the cock rocket...
Posted : 19/04/2025 10:28 pm
pondo reacted
But of course it's not just about that. In the current "delete women from space history" "row back on decades of progress on equality and women in STEM", etc etc of course you can't separate this stunt from that. And neither can you separate out Bezos's space tourism ****ing with the current trillionaire-ocracy of him and Musk and Thiel, and from the overall american climate.
But none of that stuff's Katy Perry's fault and she seems to be taking a lot of shit for it.
This is what I'm bristling about. In column A we have "privileged white lass riding a jolly into space for 11 minutes," in column B we have "privileged white lass strapping a missile to her back for 11 minutes."
I've seen this shit first-hand. Stepping through the door into a spacecraft takes a degree of bravery. It's utterly nuts. If I were Katy Perry I'd be kissing the tarmac when I got back as well.
Posted : 20/04/2025 12:24 am
Basically if you don't want people to think you're a bit of a vapid moron, don't accept a ride on the cock rocket...
I'd take it in a heartbeat. Does that make me a bit of a vapid moron?
I can't think of a more astonishing experience. I've thrown myself out of aeroplanes, piloted a helicopter, driven an Ariel Atom round a racetrack...
Well, people might think I'm a vapid moron. But WGAF what they think.🤷♂️ I'm out having experiences whilst they're living it large watching Tottenham vs Arsenal.
Posted : 20/04/2025 12:37 am
The sending of these (celeb) women into space so they can inspire and be role models for young girls is rather at odds to all the long serving, successful female NASA employees being fired/bios being removed from their website ‘because DEI’
Now that I couldn’t agree with more! The current administration’s desire to remove any reference to the achievements of women and people of colour in science and technology is utterly disgraceful and abhorrent.
Posted : 20/04/2025 1:09 am
pondo reacted
I can't think of a more astonishing experience. I've thrown myself out of aeroplanes, piloted a helicopter, driven an Ariel Atom round a racetrack...
Apart from throwing myself out of an airplane, and that I’d only do under the most extreme circumstances, I really envy you for having the chance to do the others. Especially the Atom - it wasn’t the insane V8 version, was it?
But anyway, given the opportunity for a free ride on a rocket to that sort of altitude, I’d be there in a heartbeat!
Posted : 20/04/2025 1:14 am
I can't think of a more astonishing experience.
I don't know if there's been much criticism of it for not being enough of an experience - it's more that, from the 4th post on the topic...
Im not saying I wouldn’t fancy a trip to space, I’m saying the whole thing looked like a very poorly executed PR stunt with elements of it undermining all of its credibility.
I'd love to go into space, even if it's just recreating Shepherd's first flight. But if Bezos called me today and made the offer, I'd tell him GFY.
Posted : 20/04/2025 2:18 am
oceanskipper reacted
I'd take it in a heartbeat. Does that make me a bit of a vapid moron?
It would make you a vapid moron if you were genuinely unaware of what Bezos and friends are doing right now. Or it would make you an arsehole if you were.
You can do whatever you want. What you can't do is dictate how people should feel about your choice.
Posted : 20/04/2025 12:12 pm
oceanskipper and pondo reacted
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