The Hyerdahl FAQ
                                    Version 1.2

You may have noted a poster named Hyerdahl.
Who is Hyerdahl?
How does Hyerdahl work?
How do you deal with Hyerdahl?
Read on.

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Who is Hyerdahl?

Hyderdahl is a long-time contrarian poster on soc.men. However, her
agenda is not, as it might first appear, either feminism or a rational
discussion of issues. Her agenda, as most posters have realized over
years of dealing with her, involves assuming the mantle of feminism in
order to empower herself. To understand Hyerdahl, you need to
understand that although she uses feminism as a cover, her purpose
here is purely personal.

She may strike you as one of those mumbling street people who grab you
by the arm and talk in endless streams without making any sense, lost
in their own world of disturbed need. Unfortunately, the analogy is
apt.

One of the most insecure people you'll probably ever meet, she is not
open to rational discourse, because the truth is not paramount for
her, as it is with innocent posters who reply to her. Only her own
empowerment is important, something that's quickly identifiable as the
common thread behind her rapidly shifting positions. As you'll find if
you reply to her, she'll change her point of view dozens of times or
more in a single discussion in order to assure herself she's the
winner.

She's gone by various pseudonyms over the years, including Carol Ann
Hemmingway, Parg2000, Pargeon, Hyerdahl, Hyerdahl1, Hyerdahl3, etc.


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How does Hyerdahl work?

Hyerdahl is intelligent, but her unrelenting sense of insecurity
drives her posts. She operates in four specific ways to reassure
herself that she's "winning":

1.) Uses formulaic answers that don't address the issue (e.g., Man:
"Fathers should have more visitation rights." H: "Men are no longer
allowed to shirk their child support responsibilities.") This allows
her to reply rapid-fire to many posts in an attempt to dominate
discussion without investing much real effort.

2.) Wants to speak for all "women," in a classic attempt at
self-empowerment (e.g., Man: "Fathers should have more visitation
rights." H: "Women no longer have to listen to what you say.")

3.) Uses outright lies to try to make a point, as in, "There is no
message of gender supremacy [from feminists]; there is only legal
equality."

4.) Says that women now have guns to control men; the power need here
is obvious.

5.) Posts many anti-male news items to the group in an attempt to bait
other posters and dominate and/or steer discussion. This is a standard
troll tactic. Flooding news groups is against the usenet charter.

Keep in mind that she'll quickly get abusive and personalize the
discussion if things don't appear to go her way. She has also
frequently accused women who argue with her of being men.


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How do you deal with Hyerdahl?

Do not take her at face value. When you realize that she's not arguing
the facts, but interested only in advantage over others and self
empowerment, you'll understand why she shifts ground so rapidly and
will ignore rather than concede a point. You'll also understand why,
when you corner her, she becomes abusive rather than give ground that
should be given.

Do not believe you can discuss issues with her rationally, arriving at
some sort of conclusion. Hers is a megalomaniac neurosis and if you
play into it without thinking, you'll find that her world has only one
paradigm: she must always win.

Most posters here have learned to ignore her. She's been here for many
years, and she's not about to change. That's a practical treatment,
but if you want a more humane solution, bear in mind as you reply to
her that you're dealing with a mentally disturbed person who has
become very needy. With that understanding, she won't get under your
skin and you can deal with her humanely. Don't drain a lot of energy
with her; we're here to discuss men's issues, not get sidetracked into
endless ad hominem attacks.





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