Here’s an interesting case study in how one’s ideology can color one’s perception of the world:
The blogger behind Gucci Little Piggy – he used to comment here, but alas I can’t remember his name — took notice of my last little post about Scott Adams. Here’s what he wrote about it:
Many are calling Adams a misogynist – none are screeching this pejorative louder than David Futrelle who may finally get that honorary castration that he’s been working so hard for.
Setting aside that somewhat surreal bit about castration, what’s interesting about this comment is that I didn’t actually “screech [that] pejorative” — loudly or otherwise – in my recent posts about Adams. No need to shout, or screech, something that at this point is pretty obvious. In my last post on Adams, I mocked his narcissism, not his misogyny. In my earlier post on the Pegs and Holes nonsense, I wrote this:
It goes without saying that Adams’ notions of human sexuality are profoundly insulting to both men and women . On the one hand, he’s suggesting that men are basically all potential rapists walking around with, er, turgid pegs; and, on the other, he seems to regard women as little more than passive (if stubbornly recalcitrant) receptacles for these male “pegs.”
I think it’s pretty clear to anyone who has been paying attention that Scott Adams is a misogynist. I also think it’s pretty clear that he’s a misandrist as well. (Two great prejudices that taste great together!) I’ve explained why I think this, and cited the specific things he’s said that have led me (and rather a lot of other people) to these conclusions. The only “screeching” going on here is in Gucci Little Piggy’s imagination.
erm.
why did larry …
“Whats so funny about my girlfriend cheating on me?”
After “finding out” that you were in an open relationship?
That’s a “this bathroom smells like shit” kinda joke for starters. And there’s a definite surrealism aspect to it (kneejerk response: What did you think was gonna happen?).
Careful now. Don’t go playing the victim card. You wouldn’t want people to think you were all, like, victim-y and shit.
Should have said African and Mid -Eastern culture, as Morocco is in Africa.
Hmm, yes, Larry Summers… his life was TOTALLY RUINED after that! He could never find work anywhere…
Oh wait, isn’t he one of the top economic advisers to the President of the United States??? You’d think that if feminists really dominated this place, he would be denied such a high-ranking position. Hmmm. Perhaps Louie is talking out of his ass. PERHAPS, I said. Geez! Don’t get your panties in a bunch! Don’t be so hypersensitive! Can’t you take a JOKE?
“Whats so funny about my girlfriend cheating on me?”
After “finding out” that you were in an open relationship?
That’s a “this bathroom smells like shit” kinda joke for starters. And there’s a definite surrealism aspect to it (kneejerk response: What did you think was gonna happen?).”
She should have respected the fact that I was in an open relationship.
I’ve lived in africa and morocco. believe me the white american middle and upper class women that pretend that they are under constant attack from the patriarchy aren’t the victims.
Yes, other cultures are more patriarchal than the US. That doesn’t prove that everything is fine here.
Also, I can’t find out if this:
She should have respected the fact that I was in an open relationship.
is a joke or what?
It’s funny (in a sad sort of way), but you seem to keep taking it seriously!
So cute. You sound just like Republicans talking to black people. “If you idiots weren’t so brainwashed and stupid, you’d see how right we are!!”
Yeah, NOW I really want to join your cause. Insult my intelligence some more, please, because I’m not yet entirely convinced.
Holly
The white american middle and upper class women that pretend that they are the ones that are really oppressed are the most privileged group out side of the ruling class to have ever lived and the more you pretend that you are oppressed, the more privilege you will be given, by ze patriarchy that you say is oppressing you so badly.
The white american middle and upper class women that pretend that they are the ones that are really oppressed are the most privileged group out side of the ruling class
We are privileged in many ways! And gender ain’t one of them. See above stories about healthcare and groping and objectification–do you deny these happened, or deny they’re a problem?
(Not every American feminist is white and upper/middle class, by the way.)
Sally Strange
You have been brainwashed.
Professing Feminism: Cautionary Tales from the Strange World of Women’s Studies (written with Noretta Koertge; Basic Books, 1994)
Professing Feminism: Education and Indoctrination in Women’s Studies (with N. Koertge; new and expanded edition; Lexington Books, 2003)
And the plantation owners party/democrats are the real racists, they co-opted the civil rights movement with feminism, and the focus was moved on to middle class white women.
As with NWOslave, it’s becoming more and more clear that Louie sole purpose here is to troll.
Unlike NWOslave, Louie appears to be capable of actual humour (how funny that humour is, well, that’s up to debate, but it’s there…)
“We are privileged in many ways! And gender ain’t one of them. See above stories about healthcare and groping and objectification–do you deny these happened, or deny they’re a problem?”
I’ve been groped and objectified, I’ve had to pay for a few abortions along the way too, am I being horrifically oppressed?
@Louie:
Opression isn’t a single group thing; there isn’t a limited quantity of opression to pass around. Women are subjected to a lot of shit no matter what class they are in. Are you saying there can only be one opressed group at any one time?
Also, I too thought you were joking about the open-relationship thing… Until you started acting serious about it.
“She should have respected the fact that I was in an open relationship.”
You should have told her you were in one in the first place.
Louie
When I was in elementary and high school, I learned in history classes about the women’s rights movement. Everyone talked about it in the past tense, as if women’s equality had already been achieved.
That’s a funny way to brainwash a girl into thinking she’s oppressed.
Why do you think I later got the impression that there were significant disadvantages to being a woman in this society? Go on, take a wild guess. Hit me with some quotes from that book you mentioned. Who indoctrinated me? And why?
If Louie wasn’t joking with that open relationship thing, then I think I might have to lower my expectations for humanity yet another peg on my Expectations for Humanity pegboard.
I’ve been groped and objectified, I’ve had to pay for a few abortions along the way too, am I being horrifically oppressed?
I’m sorry to hear you’ve been groped and objectified. That’s wrong. It’s also wrong when it happens to women. The point of feminism is to work towards a world where it doesn’t happen to *anybody.*
As for the abortions, I’m not sure what your point is. That’s not oppression, that’s biology. You make fetus, you not want fetus, fetus has to come out, this costs money. I don’t know how to get around that politically.
And (speaking as someone who’s actually in one) it’s not an open relationship unless everyone involves knows about it. The whole point of an open relationship is that it’s something all parties have agreed to (and possibly put limits on–in our relationship “you have to tell me who you sleep with and when” and “the primary relationship comes first” are hard limits). Otherwise it’s just garden-variety cheating.
“When I was in elementary and high school, I learned in history classes about the women’s rights movement. Everyone talked about it in the past tense, as if women’s equality had already been achieved.”
Of course, because universal suffrage hasn’t been achieved yet.
By equality you obviously mean equal out come through cohesion, equality in equal rights has been achieved and surpassed.
EDIT
By equality you obviously mean equal out come through COERCION, equality in equal rights has been achieved and surpassed.
Of course, because universal suffrage hasn’t been achieved yet.
Ah, the old “we gave you the vote, what more do you want?”
Because the day women got the vote, all violence and discrimination against women stopped COLD. “Whoa whoa whoa guys, back off, they can vote now!”
I always read the verb ‘screech’ as being coded misogyny. Since women tend to have voices at a higher pitch than men, it seems as though if a woman raises her voice, she’s likelier to drift into screeching.
Not yelling, though. Yelling is all manly and shit. Only women and manginas screech.
Also, I’m sure if David really wanted to be castrated, there are easier ways to go about it than start up an Internet blog that has nothing to do with castration.
Taxpayer funded abortions for EVERYONE!! Wheee!
Holly
There is less violence against women than there is men, there is now and there was then.
Women have equal rights…. the goal now is equal or better outcomes through coersion.
I see that women wanted to sue Walmart because of “discrimination” or in other words people that worked harder and for longer hours got promoted more often and those people more often happened to be men.
There is less violence against women than there is men, there is now and there was then.
This is true! But most violence against men is by other men, and most violence against women is by men.
Also, really, I’m not trying to win the Victim Olympics. I don’t have that much of a stake in proving that being a woman is the Worst Thing Ever. What I want to prove is that there’s a need and room for improvement. I don’t talk about groping because I want someone to go “there there, dear, it must be so hard”–I talk about it because I want bystanders and police to take it seriously as a crime, and potential gropers to know that they will be held accountable.
How can you say “sexism is dead” and then in the next breath say “women didn’t get promoted because women don’t work as hard?” That sounds like… ohhhh, it’s not sexism if it’s true, I see your problem.
Tell me more about this “open relationship.” I’m fascinated.
Equal outcome through coercion, yeah that sounds fun.
1. Free daycare for children starting from age 1.
2. Mandatory paid parental leave for new mothers AND new fathers.
That right there would take care of pretty much all the issues that lead to systemic pay inequalities like the ones we saw in the Wal-Mart case.
I’m so coercive!