Botkin Alert. They are back on the conference circuit!

[Monstrous Black Sheep]

I came here to check if anybody's posted the 10Talents audio, since I got a delightful email from the Botkin's newsletter saying that they're up! I'm glad we're keeping updated on this.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcTmi1GPIleiAk-5lZOyOxw

 

Quality content.

[Howl]

4 hours ago, LurkerOverThePond said:

WTF is wrong with these idiots?!

Well, at least she has a frilly skirt on.  Standards must be adhered to! 

[MamaJunebug]

Would pay $5 to see the size & composition of the crowd attending the 10 Talentless vanity revival. 

[Columbia]

Has anyone checked out Western Conservatory’s webpage lately? The “about us” section has been completely removed, and about half of their merchandise is gone. No more DVDs about the Egypt trip. No more “Father to Son” talks. And of course Geoff hasn’t posted on there in almost three years. It almost looks like WC is closing down. 
 

Equally interesting is that the Botkins’ church sermons aren’t available on Sermon Audio anymore. I can’t imagine someone who would want other people to hear him more than Geoff. Unless of course the church is locking down after Ben and Audri left. 

Some day there are going to be some horrifying stories that come out of that church. 

[Marmion]

7 hours ago, LurkerOverThePond said:

Speaking of the Botkins... David has - once again - blessed us with a delightful ig post: 

And look who is commenting: Marscel Thomas, of that oh-so-funny-and-merry Thomas family. He thinks this 5 or 6 year old little girl is "way to cute" when she's shooting with a rifle.

WTF is wrong with these idiots?!

Is that an actual firearm ?  I remember a time when girls and boys , in Vision Forum , were expected to play with different toys from each other . Like , the boys would play soldier with replica guns , and swords , while the girls were supposed to be playing house .  But now it would appear that instead of using even the more feminine marketed toys , such as the Nerf Rebelle line , they are now permitting their girls to train with real guns .   

Spoiler

 

Do you suppose that these girls will end up growing up to be like the soladeras , and the YPJ , for instance ?  Or , at least just as likely , might they wind up becoming the Christian counterparts to Islamic terrorist women ?  { https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-do-women-become-terrorists  ,  https://www.salon.com/2015/04/07/6_modern_day_christian_terrorist_groups_our_media_conveniently_ignores_partner/  }  

Spoiler

 

[The Mother Dust]

On 4/23/2020 at 4:12 PM, Monstrous Black Sheep said:

I came here to check if anybody's posted the 10Talents audio, since I got a delightful email from the Botkin's newsletter saying that they're up! I'm glad we're keeping updated on this.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcTmi1GPIleiAk-5lZOyOxw

 

Quality content.

My immediate reaction to a Botkin sermon.  / I still want to know what the Disco Whistle sounds like.

[dripcurl]

On 4/23/2020 at 4:21 PM, Columbia said:

Has anyone checked out Western Conservatory’s webpage lately? The “about us” section has been completely removed, and about half of their merchandise is gone. No more DVDs about the Egypt trip. No more “Father to Son” talks. And of course Geoff hasn’t posted on there in almost three years. It almost looks like WC is closing down. 
 

Equally interesting is that the Botkins’ church sermons aren’t available on Sermon Audio anymore. I can’t imagine someone who would want other people to hear him more than Geoff. Unless of course the church is locking down after Ben and Audri left. 

Some day there are going to be some horrifying stories that come out of that church. 

Interesting. I thought they would have tried to distance themselves from their reformed roots back when their firearms company was starting to get so popular, but your point about the Ben-Audri exodus shows that since their little kingdom is falling apart, now there’s really zero point in keeping up with the 200 year plan. With this pandemic, I bet they are capitalizing on (and probably themselves are subscribing to) the conspiracy that these shelter-in-place orders are just excuses to groom our country for socialism. Their business is probably gaining more traction than ever. I will still never understand why the most intellectual of the fundies became the biggest gun-toters. I myself enjoy guns to an extent, but the Botkins are the last fundie family I could see doing what their doing now. Especially because they are so gun crazed (toddlers and babies with guns? seriously???)

 

All that’s to say is I bet the Botkins are going with a lifestyle that is just more mainstream conservative, with their company, the type of conference they had, and how things have fallen apart in their family. I suspect the Botkin girls will start to exude a more Ivanka type of image now, if they ever come out of hiding.

[Howl]

16 minutes ago, dripcurl said:

I suspect the Botkin girls will start to exude a more Ivanka type of image now, if they ever come out of hiding.

I'd say genteel spinsterhood for now and into the foreseeable future.  I don't see a Prince Charming showing up, unless it's some obnoxious widow patriarch who wore out Wife # 1 with relentless childbearing and is ready for someone to help raise the arrows in his quiver. 

When I listened to the first few minutes (literally 2 or 3) Geoff was already veering towards women not something something.  By definition in that sick cult, daughters can only ever be helpmeets and never rise above their station in life. 

ETA; it would be wonderful if those two women ever came into their own but I can't see how they could ever find that path.  They've only ever known the Botkin Bubble; they have no other point of reference.  I don't know what they'll do when Geoff shuffles across the Rainbow Bridge. 

Edited April 25, 2020 by Howl

[RosyDaisy]

2 hours ago, Howl said:

I'd say genteel spinsterhood for now and into the foreseeable future.  I don't see a Prince Charming showing up, unless it's some obnoxious widow patriarch who wore out Wife # 1 with relentless childbearing and is ready for someone to help raise the arrows in his quiver. 

Or until Daddy dies and their brothers don't want to support their asses.

[Pecansforeveryone]

Do you think they could be earning any significant royalties on It's Not That Complicated or any of their books for matter? I don't remember hearing about it the way I heard about I Kissed Dating Goodbye. 

Edited April 26, 2020 by Pecansforeveryone
Add a word

[Marmion]

6 minutes ago, Pecansforeveryone said:

Do you think they could be earning any significant royalties on He's Just Not That Into You? I don't remember hearing about it the way I heard about I Kissed Dating Goodbye. 

Why would they be receiving royalties from this ?  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/He's_Just_Not_That_into_You  

Spoiler

 

 

[Pecansforeveryone]

I wrote the wrong title and corrected it above. I obviously don't read their books. 

[Columbia]

4 hours ago, Pecansforeveryone said:

Do you think they could be earning any significant royalties on It's Not That Complicated or any of their books for matter? 

No. So Much More is out of print since it was published by Vision Forum, and I don’t imagine they’d ever put it back in print or try to pick up the SAHD spiel again given: they’re still at home, the Doug Phillips fiasco, and former supporters for the SAHD lifestyle have spoken out against it (specifically Jasmine Baucham.)

As far as It’s Not That Complicated, I know they produced an audiobook for Audible, but I just don’t see it becoming that popular. If they were well known in the mainstream evangelical churches their family tends to sneer at, it might be another matter. But I think probably all of the girls/families who knew them from the VF days have purchased a copy and that’s it. 

[AnnaSofia]

On 4/23/2020 at 7:21 PM, Columbia said:

Has anyone checked out Western Conservatory’s webpage lately? The “about us” section has been completely removed, and about half of their merchandise is gone. No more DVDs about the Egypt trip. No more “Father to Son” talks. And of course Geoff hasn’t posted on there in almost three years. It almost looks like WC is closing down. 
 

Equally interesting is that the Botkins’ church sermons aren’t available on Sermon Audio anymore. I can’t imagine someone who would want other people to hear him more than Geoff. Unless of course the church is locking down after Ben and Audri left. 

Some day there are going to be some horrifying stories that come out of that church. 

A while back (2 years ago? 3?) when Lucas and his bullshit started to piss off various gun forums/chans/subreddits, some of the members there started to Google the Botkins. The photo grid from the "about us" section of the Western Conservatory site was posted in quite a few of the threads, with various derogatory comments. I think the Botkins removed that section shortly after.

I'm really not sure why they didn't remove the whole site, I doubt it's made enough money to justify it's server space in years. The "about us" photos they removed were from the re-design they did shortly after The Fall O'Tool. It baffles me a bit, because they obviously put some effort into that, but never seemed to do anything with it. From what I recall, they produced almost no new content after that point. I guess all of their energy became wrapped up in T.REX ARMS. Even Geoff's blogging efforts seemed to shift over there for awhile (though it's been quiet lately).

[Howl]

20 hours ago, Howl said:

unless it's some obnoxious widow patriarch

I was lying in bed awake at 4 am  this morning when it came to me that it should have been "obnoxious widower patriarch".  

[Howl]

On 4/25/2020 at 12:16 PM, The Mother Dust said:

I still want to know what the Disco Whistle sounds like.

There's a disco whistle at the very beginning of this youtube: 

The Swiffering being reported on the Botkins' web presence makes me hopeful that  pretentious gas bag Geoff Botkin's musings have been removed.  He fancies himself quite the intellectual power house.  Western Conservatory indeed.  

Edited April 27, 2020 by Howl

[CyborgKin]

On 4/26/2020 at 3:12 PM, Columbia said:

As far as It’s Not That Complicated, I know they produced an audiobook for Audible, but I just don’t see it becoming that popular. If they were well known in the mainstream evangelical churches their family tends to sneer at, it might be another matter. But I think probably all of the girls/families who knew them from the VF days have purchased a copy and that’s it. 

Yeah the audiobook only has a single review.

[The Mother Dust]

If anyone is interested in some rival patriarchal pontificating of the gas bag variety, check out the catholic competition.  https://theimaginativeconservative.org/ I havent seen this mentioned on fj before, apologies if you all are already familiar.

[Howl]

11 hours ago, The Mother Dust said:

If anyone is interested in some rival patriarchal pontificating of the gas bag variety, check out the catholic competition.  https://theimaginativeconservative.org/ I havent seen this mentioned on fj before, apologies if you all are already familiar.

Thanks for the link.  I did a cursory look -- three women contributors (I'll check them out first) and no women referenced as their influencers!  Why am I not surprised? 

Edited May 3, 2020 by Howl

[The Mother Dust]

2 hours ago, Howl said:

Thanks for the link.  I did a cursory look -- three women contributors (I'll check them out first) and no women referenced as their influencers!  Why am I not surprised? 

Ha! I didn't notice that, thank you for pointing that out.  Also, how kind of them to provide a timely buttress to my post here, by posting yesterday some Geoff-like gas-baggery about "western civilization."  https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2020/05/who-put-the-west-in-western-civilization-robert-royal.html  Geoff!  Geoff!  The Catholics are stealing your white supremacist dog whistles gig!   What are you gonna do about it Geoff?  

Edited May 3, 2020 by The Mother Dust

[Howl]

2 hours ago, The Mother Dust said:

Also, how kind of them to provide a timely buttress to my post here, by posting yesterday some Geoff-like gas-baggery about "western civilization."

I read and read and read and READ and finally got to this, and note that the author considers Augustine to be one of the greatest geniuses to have ever lived!  

Quote

There is good historical evidence to be­lieve Augustine was right. The church was carrying out a practical task, running health and support groups, slowly winning people over to differently oriented lives all over the West. For example, acting on the Mosaic law, it succeeded in eliminating the wide ­spread ancient acceptance of male homosexuality. Plato and Aristotle, and some of the later Roman Stoics, had already arrived at the view that it would be best for any society if sex only occurred between a man and woman in marriage. But given the morals of the ancient peoples, such views might have never gone further than sophis­ticated philosophical circles. It took the Christian church to shift social mores both among the elites and throughout the general population.  Along with homosexuality, the ancient practices of suicide, infanti­cide, and slavery slowly diminished in the West.

My head hurts. 

[Jigsaw3]

Well, Augustine tried (and enjoyed) lots of different types of debauchery, including most probably sex with other men. His Confessions gave us that famous quote... "da mihi castitatem et continentam, sed noli modo" -- give me chastity and continence, Lord, but not quite yet....

Maybe Augustine's not quite the role model the Botkins would like him to be?

[Marmion]

9 hours ago, Howl said:

Thanks for the link.  I did a cursory look -- three women contributors (I'll check them out first) and no women referenced as their influencers!  Why am I not surprised? 

As to their influencers , they altogether seem to represent a traditional conservatism , as contrasted with liberal conservatism .  One of them , Wilhelm Ropke helped to formulate the idea of the social market economy , but also supported the idea of colonialist apartheid .  

Quote

Röpke is also known for his pro-apartheid views on South Africa. In 1964, he published South Africa: An Attempt at a Positive Appraisal, which argued that apartheid was justified because the ‘South African Negro’ was not only of ‘an utterly different race’ but ‘a completely different type and level of civilisation’.[8]. Taking a position opposed to many Western governments, Röpke also supported the 1965 unilateral declaration of independence of Rhodesia, the racially-segregated southern African territory, from the British Empire

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Röpke#Work   What I found to be especially remarkably interesting though was their citing of Robert Nisbet as an inspiration .  

Quote

Nisbet began his career as a leftist but later confessed a conversion to a philosophical conservatism.[4] While he consistently self–described himself as a conservative, he also "famously defended abortion rights and publicly attacked the foreign policy of President Ronald Reagan."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Nisbet#Ideas   

[Tangy Bee]

Is Mrs Botlin older than her husband?Saw recent pictures and he's actually looking fit and well. Doesn't appeared to have changed much over the years. Feel bad for his daughters. What exactly do they do now? Must be still living off their old books and videos.

Edited May 4, 2020 by Tangy Bee
Punctuation

[Howl]

29 minutes ago, Tangy Bee said:

Is Mrs Botkin older than her husband?Saw recent pictures and he's actually looking fit and well. Doesn't appeared to have changed much over the years. Feel bad for his daughters. What exactly do they do now? Must be still living off their old books and videos.

AFAIK, she and Geoff are fairly near in age.  

The sisters may work for their brother's T. Rex Arms business, or at least that business is likely propping up the family financially.  Otherwise, they are on the slow slide into fundy spinsterhood. 

trex-arms.com/ 

I just found a post by Geoff on the T-Rex Arms blog.  What's at Stake with Red Flag Laws?  Summary: My God.  Everything.  Everything is at stake.   EVERYTHING. Every. Single. Thing.

Whichever Botkin sprog owns the business got some serious blowback in the past for posting homophobic rants on his T-Rex Instagram.