8bit here, ready to throw you all another dose of University Disillusionment™, because it's late at night and I'm going to be fasting, so why not!
HERE YA GO.
I'm glad my university bathroom is a prime method of reminding me of the city I'm in. I mean sometimes I forget, you know? Luckily I can sit in a bathroom stall and ponder about these sorts of things.
It's like I decided to funnel myself down the tube of bad racial odds.
- Colorado -
- Mountain Colorado -
- University -
- Engineering -
- Computer Science -
Gotta say, this is an improvement, though. Racism used to be my brother getting forced into a fight with a bully in elementary school, because "a black kid shouldn't have been smarter than him." Now it's in university bathrooms. No one's nose is bleeding, so that's good, in my book.
It was the kid that had his nose bloodied, by the way. Not my brother's.
When I mentioned the quote to a friend of mine, her first response was "did it have quotes around the N word?" We both had a hearty guffaw over that. The longer you stick around here, the more you start to just know the tone of things. The quotes around the word imply so many things about the tone, in this instance. Like the whole thing is a joke, like they're outing themselves in their inability to understand the ramifications of writing that in a bathroom stall. Like the assumption is, "it's fine to scribble this here. I mean, no Black person is going to be in the Engineering Building to read this anyways."
Or maybe I'm making a mountain out of a graffiti mole-hill! Who knows. I was told about a week ago that I "complain about this a lot." I didn't know how to respond to that. Well of course I do! And it isn't even complaining, I don't think. I'd like to think that I'm not accepting the parameters for engagement that I've been given. 'Cause they're shitty parameters! I'd like to believe that pointing this kind of garbage out means people will start noticing, but who knows.
Ever since that episode with the officer a while back, I decided to visit the school's counseling services, because I was going to explode otherwise. I had a discussion, and something that came up was the possibility of creating some sort of organization that deals with this issue.
I don't have the specifics yet...but I think it's about time I got around to getting that started.
Hate to break it to you, chief, but you have chosen a profession in which a large proportion of your peers are likely to underestimate you for the simple reason that they lack the imagination and empathy to regard you for your strengths rather than their narrow, preconceived notions of the world greater than them. So that's one huge advantage you enjoy. Minority status? That's another one. Let's say you and whoever wrote "nigga" on the bathroom stall both decide to explore your entrepreneurial sides. You both form sole proprietorships for the purpose of providing B2B programming solutions. One of you gets to register with the government as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise/Minority Business Enterprise. Guess which one of you? There are circumstances in which it is appropriate to feel bad for taking advantage of the stupid. This is not one of them. You can be pissed off, or you can gloat over the simple fact that you are not left handed.
I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or attempting to be sincere. But regardless, acting like you should be thankful for minority status, and equating being upset about racism with frustrations of not being "left handed" is bullshit, I'm sorry for my potty mouth, but that's the most entitled, privileged drivel, I think I've read in recent memory.
Nah, I get what Klein's sayin. Akin to this, I was discussing the concept with a professor of mine, and I said something along the lines of "it built my character." Even though that's something people say a lot when shitty things happen to them, it's certainly true. Yeah, the position sucks. But I have a culture and perspective that a large majority of my university will never experience. With that perspective, I have an advantage. Just being aware of things that go on around me has its own advantage, too.
Hey! I'm left-handed and it's...okay...I guess. If anything being left-handed forces you to be more useful with your right-hand than a right-handed person would be with their left-hand. Silver linings? On-topic, keep complaining, make your voice heard and keep thinking and talking about it. It expands the way you think about everything, and yes, definitely start an organization if you feel that would help. At my college there are organizations for just about every minority group, if that's not already a thing at Boulder (...probably a less diverse place) then I would recommend it. It's an empowering thing, especially if you're the one founding the organization.
I've...uhm...how do I say this...never seen that movie... Edit: Dear lord, is this movie really that good? This might be the most outrage I've seen at a non-Theory-of-Hubski post this week. I will watch it tonight and report back.
You need to fix this (meaning you need to watch it tonight). Also, fwiw KB, I immediately understood the reference. For those that haven't seen the film, what I think KB was implying is that when people make assumptions about your abilities based on superficial observations, YOU have an advantage. People may assume 8bit is less capable because of his race/ethnicity and this will allow him to sleigh them all the more easily because, as we all know 1. Such assumptions are ridiculous at best and 2. 8bit is a bad ass. Ps. You killed my father, prepare to die.
Ohhhhh, come now. Really? You must remedy this. I saw Princess Bride in theaters twice. It's that good. It's also probably one of the movies that had the most impact on the girls you date so you oughtta know it. Directed by Rob Reiner. "Introducing" Cary Elwes and Robyn Wright (not-yet-Penn). Music by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. Wallace Shawn, Mandy Patinkin and Andre the F'ing Giant. William Goldman (who won an oscar for All The President's Men and also wrote a large percentage of all the good movies you've ever seen) wrote the book it's adapted from under a pen name because his daughters wanted a "good fairy tale" when they were little. It took him fifteen years to finally get someone to adapt it and he got Rob Reiner, who had almost no budget. It's cheaper-looking than some television shows of the time but it is truly a thing of beauty.The Princess Bride was not a major box-office success, but after its release to the home video market, it became a cult classic. The film is widely regarded as eminently quotable and has been referred to as "The Wizard of Oz of our time."
In 2000, readers of Total Film magazine voted The Princess Bride the 38th greatest comedy film of all time. In 2006, William Goldman's screenplay was selected by the Writers Guild of America as the 84th best screenplay of all time; it earned the same ranking in the Guild's 2013 update. The film has a percentage of 96 on Rotten Tomatoes. The film was selected number 88 on The American Film Institute's (AFI) "AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions" listing the 100 greatest film love stories of all time. BBC Radio 5's resident film critic, Mark Kermode, is a fan of the film, frequently considering it a model to which similar films aspire.
I watched it. It was good, great even. A nice, refreshing take on a classic story. And yes, the cast was absolutely top notch. I wasn't completely blown away by it, but I think if I watched this movie with some friends as opposed to be myself I'd have enjoyed it even more. Probably would hold true if I watched it five years ago as opposed to now. Now this part though, are you being serious when you say this?It's also probably one of the movies that had the most impact on the girls you date so you oughtta know it.
I don't see any situation where I would end up going cougaring. Fun story, I once lived in a place where one of the bars was named "Cougars". Lets just say I never, ever set foot in there. I currently don't know a single person in my "main demographic" ( / what I'm looking for) but that's an entirely separate issue.
Chicks in their 30s aren't so bad. Experience and all. Hell, I took a 44 year old home when I was like 26 (election night '08; crazy time that was). There's no shame. You'll probably learn something, and she'll feel good about herself. It's a complete and utter win/win.
Hi. This appears to be something that warrants a story, I think. For my previous comment, see also: I don't know a single girl older than...26? Excluding family members.Hell, I took a 44 year old home when I was like 26 (election night '08; crazy time that was).
Well I never said she was attractive :)
Billy Crystal for crying out loud! The cast is amazing. ButterflyEffect, I'll admit that I'm a bit envious of your position. I would love to be able to see this movie for the first time again. No pressure though, if you never see the film I'll still consider you a good fella. See it, don't see it... as you wish.
I'm not really coming late to this party. Have been peeking in the window but didn't want to go in until I read this quote from kleinbl00: Plus what starts in a stall, stays in a stall. 8bit, could you do that and send us the picture. I think you should take it personally in that way. I don't come across too much racist, anti-semitic, anti-Arab, anti-gay crap in my classroom anymore. Mostly because my students are older, but I only let one comment pass unquestioned in the last 35 years -- and at the moment, I'm wishing I hadn't. But what to say? I was walking behind some students (no one that I knew) at the start of the Canada's involvement in Afghanistan -- early 00s I guess -- and I heard one student say to another, "I can hardly wait to get over there and kill some ragheads." I wish I had had a set of comments at my tonguetip. I suppose minimally, I could just name it: "That's a racist thing to say." btw, 8bit, I loved the ironic badging. I wondered if along with the question "Do you want to badge this comment? Yes? No? There could be another option. Do you want to badge this comment? Yes? No? Ironically? and if we choose ironically, it could appear in a non-gold colour. What do you think?On the one hand, 8bit could scrawl "you insensitive racist cracker mutherfuckers" underneath the bathroom graffiti.
That somehow made sense to me. A graffito for a graffito.
Ironic badging does have a history on Hubski, although its use is almost exclusively limited to minimum_wage (will I get one here?!), as far as I've ever seen. I get the sense that m_w uses them both to make fun of the user (as is the case with 8bit's), and to make fun of the imaginary internet points system as a whole. m_w, please correct me if I'm wrong.
pretty sure flagamuffin gets it on with the ironic badges.
Ironic badging is something of an art. The associated comment usually begins "badged ironically." I went looking for m_w's use of ironic badging in order to add the #ironicbadging tag but couldn't find any incidents. I do recall seeing it though and giggling. I'm inclined to agree with kb though. Although it's hard to imagine something with the word ironic in it being misused.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 There might be more, those are the ones that stood out to me. Can't believe I just spent 5 minutes going through badge history and picking those out. Better than working on my exit presentation all afternoon, I guess.I went looking for m_w's use of ironic badging in order to add the #ironicbadging tag but couldn't find any incidents. I do recall seeing it though and giggling.
I actually regret the ironic badge and kinda want to take it back, and I agree with kleinbl00. It's an assholish thing to do and I wouldn't want to do it frequently. I'd rather said badges go somewhere worthwhile. That doesn't make it any less hilarious with the proper timing, though. But hilarious and "a good thing to do" aren't always on one side of the same coin. Dude brings a lot of anger out of me that he doesn't deserve to get, sure as hell doesn't deserve my badges, ya know. That being said, next time someone disagrees with me and does it in a way that I can actually work with and respond to on an intellectual and honest level, that person will be getting an un-ironic badge.
I like to give really terrible drivers thumbs-ups when I'm road-ragin'. And I shout at them, "Good job buddy!" But they can't hear me because even if my windows are down theirs are up. Usually. What 'choo gon do 'bout a thumbs-up, brah? Choo gunna fight? Also it's just really satisfactory because I do believe when most drivers are being shitty, they know they're doing a shitty job - and even if they think they're not doing a shitty job they're usually aware that other people on the road disagree. But I don't have to actively participate in a community in order to earn a thumbs-up to give away, which is why I think badges can be seen as inherently "valuable," and by giving them to shitty content a) you're potentially de-valuing badges and you're certainly altering the meaning of them, and b) the "badges" page becomes shittier browsing material. Although, potentially, funny. I actually regret the ironic badge and kinda want to take it back, and I agree with kleinbl00.
I don't, actually. An ironic badge is the only equivalent we have of a downvote. They're discordant. I think distinguishing between "good badge" and "bad badge" is a quick way to increase the combativeness of the site, which is already up by several orders of magnitude as our immigrants adjust to the culture around here.
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?
So there's blatant racism, like the above, then there's just complete and total obliviousness that ignorant or naive individuals just kind of leak into the world. As I was driving the other day, I had to slam on the breaks and take a closer look at a van that was parked on the side of the road, the logo causing me a complete double take. The company, Sawyer Services, is apparently an electrical services outfit who thought it cute to use its alliterative S's as lightning bolts to symbolize electricity. Makes sense, if not for the fact that that logo was already thought up and used oh, I don't know, 80 years ago. Really makes you wonder what rock some people are living under. Or is the naivete refreshing? I don't think so. Thoughts?
I had a German roommate dress up as a shadow for a party once. People politely but firmly told him that painting himself all black was inappropriate. It was definitely cute (The theme was Plato's Allegory of the Rave), but a shower promptly followed.Or is the naivete refreshing? I don't think so. Thoughts?
To be fair, that's not the SS insignia, this is: But to be fair, that's close enough to the SS insignia that somebody prolly shoulda thought twice. I doubt he's oblivious. I expect the visit to the graphics shop went something like this: "Yeah, I'd like a couple cool lightning bolts for the S, sorta like in the AC/DC logo." "What color?" "Like, really bright chrome. That'd look awesome." "We've got silver. Chrome-look is another $20." "Okay, silver then. Done by tomorrow?" "Wednesday." ... "WTF, man!? This isn't even silver! It's, like, gray!" "Dude. Color chart on the wall over there." "But... it'll make my truck look Nazi and stuff!" "Relax, man, they look like lightning bolts." ... "Honey, why did you make your van look Nazi?" "D'oh!" ...and to be fair, it's not the worst example.
That Walmart t-shirt is jaw dropping. As to sawyer services, I get that it's not the insignia, but at the very least the person who came up with it must be, let's say dense, for politeness sake. I wasn't, however, nearly as put off by it as I was by the Zig Zags in Grand Budapest Hotel. I gotta hand it to you for swearing off Wes Anderson years ago. His movies are getting progressively more unwatchable, with his last being a grand trivialization of the nazis, a feat unto itself (but that's another subject for another day).
Problem with naiveté is that you get conversations like in my friend's Communications elective, which included the wondrous conclusion "well we have a Black president now, so I don't know why we're talking about racism. I mean if we just stopped talking about it it would go away." This leads to the three Black kids in a group of a 200+ lecture-hall students, only one of the three a girl, to look at you like they're wondering if you hit your head on a Wishful Thinking rock. Also it just leads to more resentment because of a lack of understanding. "How the hell could you not know this?", essentially. That logo is hideous, by the way.
There's this vibe I get in certain (almost) homogenous groups (I studied computer science and before that grew up in a very white area of the UK), that because the group is mostly made up of a certain sort of people, this means that they can throw common human decency to the wind. I'm sorry that you have to put up with these people. I'd like to think that hubski is somewhere that you can talk about these things.
I'm listening. As a white kid who grew up around black people (90% black high school), I find that I think about race a lot. The empathic distress module in my body is already over heated, I sincerely can't even imagine the frustration that comes with being the direct or indirect object of such persistent bullshit. I guess what I'm saying is, consider this comment a show of solidarity over the Internet, and know you have allies. And l second what kb says, find the advantage.Or maybe I'm making a mountain out of a graffiti mole-hill! Who knows. I was told about a week ago that I "complain about this a lot." I didn't know how to respond to that. Well of course I do! And it isn't even complaining, I don't think. I'd like to think that I'm not accepting the parameters for engagement that I've been given. 'Cause they're shitty parameters! I'd like to believe that pointing this kind of garbage out means people will start noticing, but who knows.
Who ever told you that was being incredibly invalidating! It's completely dismissive of your experience and it disregards your feelings instead of empowering you to discuss them. People will notice and you shouldn't feel bad for doing so and you shouldn't have to question yourself. Talking about these things, raising awareness, is how progress is made. Maybe right now it's on a small scale, but your story has certainly had an impact on me. For every example of progress you observe as the result of your efforts, there are going to be countless others you'll never get the chance to see.I was told about a week ago that I "complain about this a lot."
I'd like to believe that pointing this kind of garbage out means people will start noticing, but who knows.
you "complain about this a lot", is the equivalent of, "get over it", "I don't care about this", "you're pestering me", etc. That's invalidating. I classify it as invalidating, the same way someone would describe the color of flowers, thats blue, that's pink, that's white, etc. That phrase "complain about this a lot", is invalidating. We're all free to choose our friends, so it looks like you've done that :)It was annoying, and unjustified in my opinion.