Without fail, PantheaCon has offered another embarrassing crisis only months out from its annual spectacle of online bloodsports. Seems the latest row is over self appointed trans activists vs what they call TERFs, or Trans exclusive radical feminists. It seems this year the activists successfully deplatformed a feminist Pagan by the name of Max Dashu, claiming she was a that to trans folk art the con and shouldn't be that'll owed to speak or vend.
I'm no fan of radical feminism, and I think any event has the right to choose who does and doesn't participate. I reserve judgement on the whole argument over who's right here, because I frankly don't think either side would support any position I hold.
But the whole thing got me to thinking: what is the deeper motive here? As one who was threatened with deplatforming at Pcon a few years ago, I've seen the process from the inside. And quite simply it all boils down to territory.
In 1966, Robert Audrey published an amazing book called The Territorial Imperative. In it, he makes a beautiful case that the primary motive for behavior in most higher organisms isn't mating rights, but the acquisition and defense of territory. Territory is a visual indicator for fitness to breed, inasmuch as one has to clear it off rivals and other species, and defend it constantly. It becomes the coin of the realm four mating rights, and includes securing valuable resources and giving clear views of incoming predators and challengers. It may also be areas that are secure or easier to secure against threat.
Prime territory is something the most successful organisms compete over, and the better the territory, the fiercer the competition. Successful acquisition means instant status boost and often access to better mates and better food
Audrey further claims that organisms instincts and behaviors are shaped by this territorial imperative, including humans. In fact he devotes a section to discussing the application to human behavior on both the individual and national levels.
So turf wars are not uncommon in any organism community, and certainly not ours. And I hit upon this fact: none of this is being fought for the reasons claimed. The activists claim to be fighting for those who are marginalized, and the feminists claim the same thing. But in reality they are just fighting for territory.
Pcon is arguably the biggest pagan gathering in the world. And being able to control who can and can't present there is a huge territorial advantage. Once upon a time, the feminists were on top, but now it's the activists. Through both direct intimidating and the chilling effect, they determine who is and isn't "approved" pagans through deplatforming.
One day they will be replaced, but today it's all about enforcing groupthink. And it works to the degree that organizers cave into that kind of thuggish intimidating.
