Should I change the name of the blog to “We Invented Your Fucking Tampoons, for Fucks Sake?”

@ Rabid Rabbit:

Language-wise: bassoon, buffoon (though in French the word almost only ever means “court jester” these days), cocoon, doubloon, monsoon (though in French the first syllable is different too, it’s “mousson”), pontoon, typhoon, pantaloon, rigadoon. Not that I own a rhyming dictionary for some weird reason or anything.

And then there’s another Wabid Wabbit who pioneered the term “maroon” (a self-aware malapropism)—which could be usefully applied to the self-anointed Tampoon Inventor. Bugs is also directly responsible for the mutation of the term “Nimrod”—sarcastically likening Elmer Fudd to the legendary hunter-king of the Tower of Babel—into a synonym for “nitwit”.

You said above they don’t think parents deserve respect. Those two stances are incompatible.

_______________________________________

Block quotes wouldn’t work again, so…

I said “one or two.” You don’t read too well, do you? Why do I have to say anything twice?

On antisentimentality, one of my favorite writers happens to be Katha Pollitt, who is a diehard lefty, somewhat optimistic, has a daughter and was married twice, and likes certain romantic movies. She’s also pretty tough and antisentimental. In other words, emotions and stoicism CAN coexist in a person. (Another example would be the former ACLU board member Wendy Kaminer – but in a way, I’d say she’s not stoic enough, since she can be kind of condescending and rude even to her FANS. I’ve seen it happen, and no, the fans don’t appreciate it. Pollitt is far more gracious.)

And “addicts and sellers” are clearly those who consume or sell huge amounts of candy or media pablum (Disney, for one) and get their health and perspectives twisted as a result.

And “addicts and sellers” are clearly those who consume or sell huge amounts of candy or media pablum (Disney, for one) and get their health and perspectives twisted as a result.

This seems abelist and narrow-minded. So far I can see your view of children seems to be a very specific stereotype, like a cartoon. When actually children have as many different behaviours like adults. I have never been out to a restaurant, on plane or train, and seen children disrupt like you say. Even in Macdonald’s. I travel a lot so I experienced a lot of different cultures and sharing small space with different nationalities and people. And generally who is most disruptive is other adults, especially white adults about much age (I am almost 30). Children generally, when they disrupt do so becuase they are children (babys crying on a plane, child hitting my seat because of game). Most of the time if you ask kindly, the child will stop. But if you ask adults? Normally it is an argument, they make excuses and now YOU are the bad guy for just wanting some peace and quiet.

To me it seems you are arguing against a stereotype of children from movies, not real life. And anyway, parents are not there to control or hurt or stop their children from having fun, they are there to protect that child and prepare them for the world. Children running around and giving migraines and breaking legs is so exaggerated and unlikely it is actually funny! This is not a real problem. Elderly and disabled people have a much bigger risk from other adults, children generally dont have the power to hurt like adults do to elderly and disabled people.

Do not celebrate traditionally strickt parents, this value is the value of abuse and patriarchy.

@Valentin

To me it seems you are arguing against a stereotype of children from movies, not real life.

This is basically how she acted regarding teens and sex in a previous thread, so it’s in character.

I don’t know anything about Stoicism, but I’ve seen enough (non-depressive) people bring it up in discussions about depression (if, as a depressive, you feel nothing/numbness, that’s great because you are free from passion!!) that I assume most people bringing it up in internet discussions are about to lay down some bullshit.

Hey, was “cartoon” on Rabid Rabbit’s list? Because that’s another one with the on->oon pattern (originally carton, or really the Italian cartone, was a piece of cardboard, then a quick line drawing on one, leading to the other drawing-related senses of “cartoon”).

Honestly, at this point I’m starting to be surprised that English let tampons keep their -on ending after all. 🙂

(Also, how did Lenona derail another thread to pointless arguments about issues that don’t actually exist, through quotes of texts that don’t matter? That’s kind of a weird dynamic.)

Also also, nobody is addicted to either candy or Disney movies[*], what the hell. Children (and adults) like them, some like them a lot; in some ways, especially in regard to candy, they might have more of it than is healthy for them (or they might drive their parents despondent by watching Moana every day for a month). That is still not a frigging addiction, and calling it one is minimising what addiction really is and what people who suffer from it go through. I don’t know if it would count as ablism, but kinda feels like it to me, on the same line as using terms like “cr*zy” or “ret***ed” (censored here for the sake of moderation) for behaviours you don’t like.

[*] I suppose there might be some people who have unhealthy psychological attachments to certain foods, possibly even to certain media, but that’s not what’s usually meant when people like Lenona talk about “sugar addiction” etc., so I allowed myself a bit of generalisation.

@ dali and lindsayirene

It’s basically a way to say “I’m a pretentious asshole, but that’s good because philosophy.”

At the risk of being a self demonstrating article, I’ll stick in a defence of ‘big S’ Stoicism.

I totally understand how annoying and ignorant it is to just say to people in distress ‘just pull yourself together and ignore it’; but that’s not Stoicism that’s just callousness.

I find there’s quite an overlap between Stoicism and Buddhism; and I personally find it helpful; but I appreciate plenty of other approaches to life are equally valid. To quote the Levellers: “There’s only one way of life, and that’s your own (your own, your own).

I do begin each day though with the guidance from Meditations. I found it a particularly useful tool for dealing with some people I encounter.

Stoicism doesn’t seek to eliminate emotions though, although some modern proponents seem to get it mixed up with being a Vulcan.

Stoicism recognises emotions are an innate part of being human. It only cautions against making judgements based solely on emotion not facts.

I wonder what the original Stoics would have made of Trump’s approach to campaigning?

@Alan
No, the Levellers said

We the free People of England, to whom God hath given hearts, means and opportunity to effect the same, do with submission to his wisdom, in his name, and desiring the equity thereof may be to his praise and glory; Agree to ascertain our Government, to abolish all arbitrary Power, and to set bounds and limits both to our Supreme, and all Sulwrdinate Authority, and remove all known Grievances.

There’s a great long rest of it, but it proclaims democracy with a widespread franchise, freedom of religion, and a wide variety of economic reforms. It serves.as a lovely counterpoint to people who blither about the allegedly unique ideals allegedly set forth in the founding documents of the US some century and change later.

Well, I think the actual reaction of stoic to Trump campaign would be “AH WHAT IS THAT SORCERY ? HOW DO YOU HAVE BOX WITH MOVING PICTURE ON IT ?? WHAT DOES THAT HORRIBLE SOUND ???”. Because it’s probably pretty hard to keep your cool and not let your emotion come out when confronted with a period as different as the modern era :p.

Maybe we should ask David to ban Lenona ? Each of his or her posts are deeply displeasant to me and novelty have worn off.

@ threp

much like earthquakes and pyroclastic rains.

Yeah, but with those they could have said “Ah well, at least now we can put in place that remodelling plan for the town centre and plant some nice vineyards.”

I think even Seneca would be hard pushed to find anything positive in Trump; and he worked for frikkin Nero.

@Alan

I was thinking of the crusty Brighton band.

I know, I just couldn’t resist.

@Alan

I think even Seneca would be hard pushed to find anything positive in Trump; and he worked for frikkin Nero.

He’d have managed something. Managed to talk Claudius (a fairly sensible guy for a Julian, but with whims of steel) into not only rescinding his exile, but make him one of Nero’s tutors. He had the gift of the gab, that one. Outclassed his old man seven ways from Sunday.