I mean, I guess I've got ironic badges to spare. Mmmmm, that patronizing tone, though. is not good enough for me. So you're saying that because racism is a thing, I should just roll over for it? That's a very defeatist attitude, imo. The only reason why there'll be inequities and injustices is if people sit down and let them happen, which you seem keen on doing. You also seem to be mistaking me hating the fact that people are racist in my university as blaming them for my failures. You'd be wrong there. All I've been doing is succeeding here. Every day I show up to class is a success. Every class that I do well in is a success. Statistically, I should be in jail or dead right about now. But you're equating me wishing I didn't have to wonder every single day why I'm here as "blaming" other people for something that I failed at? You don't even know anything about me, what led you to that conclusion? And thanks for the reminder that everyone isn't racist. I genuinely wasn't aware of this fact, and honestly thought that every White person I've ever met has been out for my scalp, and in no way is racism dependent on geographical circumstances -- you know, like being in Boulder, the Whitest city in Colorado. Even the White people on Hubski are secretly plotting my downfall. Really, thank you for reminding me! I suppose the entirety of time I've spent at my school and the circumstances that have occurred there are all invalid now. Woops. Not to be rude, but, ya know, for someone who talks about how bad and pretentious Hubski is, you've been sticking around for a while now. Weren't you, you know, going to leave? I mean I've never muted somebody before because I feel it adds a layer of censorship in discussion that I'm not comfortable with, but gat-damn.That's just life
Tangentially related, are you familiar with the #NotAllMen phenomenon? It's a hashtag on twitter that basically serves to say "well we aren't all sexist! #notAllMen" which of course does nothing to alleviate the fact that sexism is still a problem and does occur, even if a precious put-upon male does insist that he, at least he of course, is not like that. This expression, which usually does come from a man of some sort, has been considered both progress and whiny, irrelevant blather by different feminist voices. "so what if you claim you aren't sexist? (Racist?) it is still a thing that happens and should not. There is an unequal male/female relationship going on here, I am not trying to blame you for it but uo does exist." The voices in favor say this weak protest is a move towards an acceptance by men that yes, there are men out there perpetuating misogyny and violence against women and the more common casual everyday sexism too. Because "NotAllMen" means "YesSomeMenDo." I am not trying to say I found the other commenter's sentiment necessarily to be the best, but with all that context I thought there were interesting parallels that could be drawn between "not all men" and "not all white people." Which side of the fence do you fall on? Is it progress, or is it flaccid denial?
I wish I could form an opinion on the #notallmen #yesallwomen thing. On the one hand, #notallmen is a clumsy approach at solidarity. On the other hand, #yesallwomen is a clumsy counterapproach at solidarity. it feels like one side is trying to say "sorry this happened, we aren't all terrible assholes" but the other side counters with "we know you're not all terrible assholes, but every single one of us has suffered from a terrible asshole at some point." I think it's valuable for women to remind men that sexism and gender violence is alive and well in 2014. I wish there were a way to do it without assigning blame. I also understand that the people who most need to hear it are the ones who think they're blameless... but I'm not sure how you get through that and I'm not sure the #yesallwomen approach is the best... but I can think of no way to improve it. Using the word "nigger" or "faggot" in a comment results in an instant ban in /r/movies. Using the word retard results in an immediate comment removal. The counterargument is that both words have been reclaimed by their respective cultures... but the counterargument to that is that neither word has lost its hurtfulness and that "reclaiming" is a sad alternative to "retiring." On the one hand, 8bit could scrawl "you insensitive racist cracker mutherfuckers" underneath the bathroom graffiti. Would it change anything? Maybe. On the other hand, should he bear that shit on his shoulders? fuck no; he's got plenty on his plate. So you're left hoping that somebody in a position to actually alter someone's behavior does so, and left realizing that if you're hoping for someone else to do something about it you're letting it happen. So in the end I'm just left feeling bad because a misogynist I don't know shot up a bunch of other people I don't know and blamed it on a lack of tail and what the fuck am I supposed to do about it? It's like those rape awareness marches on campus: hey, I'm sorry you all run the risk of rape but I haven't so much as kissed one of you yet so why exactly are you explicitly forbidding me from joining your vigil? Right, because I'm a guy, and I'm the enemy, and because you know I'd use this as an opportunity to pick up chicks. Which makes me a sexist, and in the end everyone's pissed off at everyone else because the targets of their rage are unavailable.
Those words shouldn't be used for a very simple reason. When someone uses those words, they put themselves at odds with those who are offended by those words... by not using those words they are at odd with no one and experience concordUsing the word "nigger" or "faggot" in a comment results in an instant ban in /r/movies. Using the word retard results in an immediate comment removal. The counterargument is that both words have been reclaimed by their respective cultures... but the counterargument to that is that neither word has lost its hurtfulness and that "reclaiming" is a sad alternative to "retiring."
feminism is about equality. How can you say younger feminists have lost "perspective", when you're not demonstrating one yourself? Without generalizing every single young feminist in the world your narrow scope falls apart. Maybe you get that vibe because you admit you have an agenda of male politics vs female politics? You seem to complain about being excluded or singled out by feminists, yet you're doing exactly what you disparage! Unbelievable.I resonate very strongly with equity feminism, but not gender feminism.
There's a reason why I much prefer the material put out by many older feminists instead of the younger. I think the younger movement has lost perspective.
I don't want to hear about how I'm a terrible person because I don't run around pushing their agenda when they don't run around pushing mine (male politics vs female).
I know it sounds ridiculous, and I'm not sure whether or not you meant this as a joke when you first wrote it, but this shit does happen. I've had one roommate who used to declare that women who spoke up for women's rights were feminazis and another who would use those sorts of grievances as a way to appear as a good listener and end up in bed with their tellers. </tangent>Right, because I'm a guy, and I'm the enemy, and because you know I'd use this as an opportunity to pick up chicks.
I was totally serious. At my school, at least, they held that rally two weeks into the Fall quarter. You barely know the kid you're sharing a dorm room with, half the "parties" you get invited to are some form of YoungLife or Christian Campus Crusade trying to convert you to Jeezus, you've somehow ended up with four credit cards (because hey - free T-shirt!) and they invite all the girls to come out to a thing that you actually support but you, as a male, better goddamn well stay away. It always seemed exceptionally cruel to me. I mean, what's wrong with "Hey, aren't you in my English class? Look at that! We're both against date rape! Wanna get coffee some time?" but instead the message is "all these men you're surrounded by are potential rapists. It's so bad we can't say this stuff in their presence, or even during the day. Watch yourself, girls, for there are monsters in the deep." Which meant the dorms filled with awkward conversations like this: "So... how was your... rape thing?" "Get away from me, male oppressor, I have a bra to burn." "Right. If you need me, I'll be playing Doom with my shitty Packard Bell speakers turned up to eleven."
Shitty people exist, but someone shouldn't be punished for having the potential to be a shitty person. Let someone's own words and actions define them.but this shit does happen.
I don't know that I'd call it punishment, though. There's a huge difference between calling an individual sexist and requesting they give you space to feel comfortable among your own gender. A public vigil may be pushing the grey area slightly, but if you think of it as an extension of women's circles, it makes sense.
The latter. It's more than obvious that not all white people are racist, it's obvious not all men are sexiest, and it's counter-progressive to not focus on the actual issue. It's an attempt to undermine the experiences that someone has, and makes out that particular cause as something that shouldn't be talked about because not all X does Y. "911, some men have broken into my home and are threatening to rape me." "Well not all men would do that, I wouldn't do that."
Thank you for saying what I think about the whole situation in a much better way than I could formulate it and giving me a way to respond if someone brings it up in real life. I feel like telling those who say #notallmen that 1. I never thought it was all men an
2. That's not what were talking about.
But i doubt that would be as effective as saying what you did.
Tried to see things from your perspective 8bit, really did. Only thing you've proven here is how insensitive you can be. Kind of ironic considering your post.Not to be rude, but, ya know, for someone who talks about how bad and pretentious Hubski is, you've been sticking around for a while now. Weren't you, you know, going to leave?