Feb 20
loopback commented on China Mieville Selects 50 Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels That Socialists Must Read.
loopback commented on China Mieville Selects 50 Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels That Socialists Must Read.
I imagine NateMan has a shelf full of Robert Heinlein novels.
Feb 19
loopback commented on A Theory of White Native Americans.
loopback commented on A Theory of White Native Americans.
"Because blacks are here"? Honestly Charles? That's exactly the kind of cultural essentialist behavior I would expect from someone who doesn't pontificate endlessly about race. Native Americans are still here and have a thriving, vibrant culture.
You should take a step back and unpack your weird cultural attitudes around Native Americans. It's especially strange that someone who spends so much time on these sorts of issues would be so blind to the fact that we have a good number of tribes, federally recognized & not, in this area.
To say that Native Americans are 'extinct' is to say that the only valid NA culture is the one that was in existence before 'the white man' showed up. Which puts a burden of stasis on their culture that nobody else is expected to live up to.
You should take a step back and unpack your weird cultural attitudes around Native Americans. It's especially strange that someone who spends so much time on these sorts of issues would be so blind to the fact that we have a good number of tribes, federally recognized & not, in this area.
To say that Native Americans are 'extinct' is to say that the only valid NA culture is the one that was in existence before 'the white man' showed up. Which puts a burden of stasis on their culture that nobody else is expected to live up to.
Nov 21, 2012
loopback commented on B&O Espresso Finally Closing.
loopback commented on B&O Espresso Finally Closing.
I hope it won't seem too callous of me to say "I've heard B&O say this before about a dozen times that "OUR LAST DAY IS COMING IN A FEW WEEKS" and then ... they're still there. If it's finally true, bummer, but it's not like B&O hasn't had, oh, a shitload of years to figure something out.
Feb 21, 2012
loopback commented on SL Letter of the Day: Outside the Gay Bar.
loopback commented on SL Letter of the Day: Outside the Gay Bar.
You know what? being uncomfortable is one thing. "Not sure you want to go in" is another.
I recently was invited, very graciously, to take part in an incredibly important cultural event for a culture which was not only not mine (Hi2U straight white european male), but was one that had been treated mighty shittily by white people for a long ass time.
I went, and I was nervous as hell, and worried I might say or do something that would be a social faux pas in that environment. And you know what I did? It's hard to believe, but I shut my mouth, I listened, and I let things be about everyone else, and not about me or my experience. I learned a lot, and it was an experience I'm going to remember for a very long time, not least because it kicked me in the cultural crotch and pointed out that there are entire communities that live & breathe right next to me, every day, and I know literally nothing about them. And I should probably fix that, if I can.
You can feel as uncomfortable as you want for being timid or introverted or unsure of yourself in cultural waters that aren't your own. That doesn't excuse you from the choice of showing up, and choosing not to show up because "it's weird and I won't know how to act" is, in fact, an act of cowardice. It's letting fear rule your life.
More...
I recently was invited, very graciously, to take part in an incredibly important cultural event for a culture which was not only not mine (Hi2U straight white european male), but was one that had been treated mighty shittily by white people for a long ass time.
I went, and I was nervous as hell, and worried I might say or do something that would be a social faux pas in that environment. And you know what I did? It's hard to believe, but I shut my mouth, I listened, and I let things be about everyone else, and not about me or my experience. I learned a lot, and it was an experience I'm going to remember for a very long time, not least because it kicked me in the cultural crotch and pointed out that there are entire communities that live & breathe right next to me, every day, and I know literally nothing about them. And I should probably fix that, if I can.
You can feel as uncomfortable as you want for being timid or introverted or unsure of yourself in cultural waters that aren't your own. That doesn't excuse you from the choice of showing up, and choosing not to show up because "it's weird and I won't know how to act" is, in fact, an act of cowardice. It's letting fear rule your life.
Feb 15, 2012
loopback commented on Black Racism and Lin.
loopback commented on Black Racism and Lin.
He wasn't doing a "Japanese Style" bow, and his hand motions weren't for forming a 'T' or anything like that. It was the open hand/fist salute that's standard in a lot of martial arts circles. So yeah, potentially a prejudicial thing, but I'd chalk it up more to cultural appropriation. Even Charles does it with his "Does he think he's RZA?", because, hello, the Wu-Tang Clan was all about appropriation of a variety of kung-fu moviehouse stereotypes and tropes. Because doing a kungfu bow to RZA would have been appropriate, apparently? Really though, if Lin doesn't have a problem with it, all the non-Chinese people should mention it being "a bit weird" and then get on with their lives.
May 31, 2011
loopback commented on Hipster Headdressing Down.
loopback commented on Hipster Headdressing Down.
The yoga issue would be a more coherent comparison if we'd nearly exterminated all of India, and kept a romantic view of their distant past as the only 'true' version, while marginalizing or otherwise excluding the modern culture that still exists to this very day.
Still, good to be reminded that nobody can be 100% for equality all the time. We've all got blind spots. Dan, I don't think you're a monster or a shitheel for your take on this, but I do think you're very wrong. Not for your opinion, but for your rather nasty way of making the other side out to be "handwringers". Should people just 'be quiet' and not bring things up that upset them? I don't think you'd suggest that.
People can engage in cultural appropriation and racial stereotyping and not be racists. That people might have that initial harsh reaction when they see the same stupid hipster headdress again and again should be considered and accounted for.
What is it about one specific piece of tribal ceremonial headwear is so attractive that it should be on that poster? what's the draw?
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Still, good to be reminded that nobody can be 100% for equality all the time. We've all got blind spots. Dan, I don't think you're a monster or a shitheel for your take on this, but I do think you're very wrong. Not for your opinion, but for your rather nasty way of making the other side out to be "handwringers". Should people just 'be quiet' and not bring things up that upset them? I don't think you'd suggest that.
People can engage in cultural appropriation and racial stereotyping and not be racists. That people might have that initial harsh reaction when they see the same stupid hipster headdress again and again should be considered and accounted for.
What is it about one specific piece of tribal ceremonial headwear is so attractive that it should be on that poster? what's the draw?
May 10, 2011
loopback commented on UW Study: State Exaggerated Delays Caused by Surface Alternative to Viaduct.
loopback commented on UW Study: State Exaggerated Delays Caused by Surface Alternative to Viaduct.
"For the routes that did use the viaduct, "There is not strong statistical support for the conclusion that removing the viaduct would lead to any increase in travel times.""
While I'm sure that is likely the case for 4 or even 6 of the routes under study, I can say with solidity that the white center/west seattle commuter who takes the viaduct and exits into downtown or belltown will see a significant commute-time increase. That said, if my choice is between tearing down the viaduct and the tunnel, I'd rather we tear it down. But lucky me, I'm only directly impacted by the travel, not the cost, since I'm not in Seattle City Limits.
While I'm sure that is likely the case for 4 or even 6 of the routes under study, I can say with solidity that the white center/west seattle commuter who takes the viaduct and exits into downtown or belltown will see a significant commute-time increase. That said, if my choice is between tearing down the viaduct and the tunnel, I'd rather we tear it down. But lucky me, I'm only directly impacted by the travel, not the cost, since I'm not in Seattle City Limits.
May 10, 2011
loopback commented on Lunchtime Quickie: When You're Old, Do You Get to Say Whatever You Want?.
loopback commented on Lunchtime Quickie: When You're Old, Do You Get to Say Whatever You Want?.
Honestly that clip and the article make me very uncomfortable in the same way that Grey Gardens did. It feels an awful lot like people who are Sane(tm) getting their rocks off by watching someone who is Crazy(tm) engage in their behaviors. It feels very mean spirited and exploitative.
Apr 28, 2011
loopback commented on What If Everything Undergrads Thought They Knew About Porn in 1987 Turned Out To Be Wrong?.
loopback commented on What If Everything Undergrads Thought They Knew About Porn in 1987 Turned Out To Be Wrong?.
@11 - You're missing the point, a little bit. The point isn't "look, because porn is freely available, and the sexcrime numbers are down, that shows a link to porn reducing crime."
The point is that the assertion/hypothesis of the antisex/antiporn people is that porn needs to be banned precisely because it can/will/may increase the sexcrime rate. The numbers show that hypothesis to be provably false. Porn is more freely available now than ever before, and the crime rates are lower than ever. That would seem to be a clear demonstration that the "porn leads to rape" assertion is, well, horsecrap.
The point is that the assertion/hypothesis of the antisex/antiporn people is that porn needs to be banned precisely because it can/will/may increase the sexcrime rate. The numbers show that hypothesis to be provably false. Porn is more freely available now than ever before, and the crime rates are lower than ever. That would seem to be a clear demonstration that the "porn leads to rape" assertion is, well, horsecrap.
Apr 6, 2011
loopback commented on For Me, Humans Acting Funny; For White Supremacists, a Fact of Black American Animality.
loopback commented on For Me, Humans Acting Funny; For White Supremacists, a Fact of Black American Animality.
@22, I would go one step further than that. My partner often says (and I agree), "if you've never worked in food service, you should not be allowed to go out to eat."
You can tell the difference between people who have worked on the service side, and those who never have, by how they treat the staff. Both at a Burger King or at the Herb Farm.
You can tell the difference between people who have worked on the service side, and those who never have, by how they treat the staff. Both at a Burger King or at the Herb Farm.
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