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“It was still really fun because we had sex in the shower. Hospital sex is weird, when she’s drugged, it’s strange, but it’s really cool.”
“Could she give consent?” the Rutledge asks. “Could she give consent, Jay?”
“Uh oh,” Owens laughs. “That’s my bad. That is my bad.”
“You might’ve violated some California laws. Good thing we don’t live in California.”
This exchange is highlighted in a Jezebel.com story about West Asheville’s Waking Life Espresso owners Jared Rutledge and Jacob Owen. The quote is taken from a series of podcasts two produced under the name Holistic Game, graphically detailing their sexual exploits, outlining strategies for manipulating women into sexual consent or proceeding without clear consent, spewing misogynistic vitriol about female customers based on weight, ethnicity, age, attractiveness, and submissiveness or lack thereof. There is a corresponding Twitter account. Both the blog and the account are deactivated, but much of the content is archived online. Links to that treasure trove of vitriol is available on at Ashevilleblog.com.
“95% of women are just fucksocks.”
Asheville Blog broke the story last week and local media outlets followed up after public protests began outside Waking Life. Much of the information in those mainstream reports is sanitized, likely due to the graphic nature and amount of profanity that make publishing direct quotes problematic. It’s important to note that the public uproar is not about a simple less-than-puritanical stance or consensual kinky sexual behavior, but about manipulation and disparaging of women across the board and perpetuation of rape culture. Waking Life products were removed from the shelves of local stores, and Orbit DVD quickly cleared out remaining stock by letting customers know Orbit would donate $50 to Our VOICE rape crisis organization for every remaining $4 Waking Life bottled coffee sold. Several other local businesses are joining in donating profits this week to Our VOICE.
Both men released rambling apologies citing male insecurities as motivation for their actions. In the wee hours of Monday morning, Waking Life announced the business would be temporarily closed and offered to make amends by donating “business profits” to Our VOICE for a time -- though with protests continuing in front of the store, the establishment currently closed, and product pulled from retail shelves it’s unclear that there will be any business profits available. I have seen no word indicating whether Waking Life’s planned expansion to a second location at 89 Patton Avenue will move forward.
Our VOICE has rejected the apologies and declined Rutland and Owen’s offer of a theoretical donation with the following statement:
We were disturbed and outraged by what was posted by Jared and Jacob regarding women. We will not be taking their money because it is not our place to forgive. Our VOICE is not in a position of absolving them for their misogyny as it perpetuates a culture of danger to all women and girls. Jared and Jacob’s actions not only objectified women but also perpetuated rape culture and violence against women.
While Jared and Jacob apologized, Jared’s apology infers that he believes his inability to date well contributed to his actions. How damaged must our society be that he can reason in this manner and it be thought as an apology. It is disturbing to think he can rationalize violence against all women because he struggled with insecurities around dating.
On a positive note, while Jared and Jacob’s actions were deplorable, they inadvertently created an opportunity for our community to come together and dialogue about rape culture. We look forward to Our VOICE being part of that conversation.
While we will not be accepting Waking Life’s contribution, we will gladly accept support from concerned individuals and businesses to support Our VOICE’s sexual assault and prevention programs. They can donate online at ourvoicenc.org or contribute by mail at 44 Merrimon Avenue, Set. 1, Asheville, NC 28801.
For general background and context on this particular variety of predation, Google “manosphere” “PUA" (pickup artists) and “red pill.”
Much more information including archives of the podcast and Twitter account at Asheville Blog.
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