Comments on: False reality http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/ Independent Student Newspaper of the University of Virginia Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:54:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Faithful Readerhttp://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2765 Faithful Reader Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:22:35 +0000 http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2765 It seems the Cavalier Daily has been running a lot of article about stereotypes lately: fraternity guys versus hipsters, sorority girls versus emo girls, men versus women, chuck taylors versus jack rogers, but let me tell you about a different type of stereotyping. Much as some have denounced our gender bias as a “binary system,” I denounce our society’s species bias as a “singular system.” You see, I am mostly human but I also tend towards unicorn characteristics. Sometimes I wish to eat meat and potatoes, but sometimes I find myself tempted to graze on all fours on the Lawn with a wooden horn strapped to my head while young children stare in awe and yell at their ignorant parents for telling them unicorns didn’t exist. It has not even crossed some of your minds that perhaps in our society more than one species deserves respect. By buying into this singular system, we are merely perpetuating the dominance of our humanist omnivore society. I have heard people around Grounds saying that unicorns only exist in the imaginations of young children, but this is simply not true, there is a man among you with a unicorn inside of him. Don’t conform to the trends, if you ever feel like you may want to let out your inner unicorn, Minotaur, Centaur, or other mythical creature, unleash it! Humans exist to oppress. It seems the Cavalier Daily has been running a lot of article about stereotypes lately: fraternity guys versus hipsters, sorority girls versus emo girls, men versus women, chuck taylors versus jack rogers, but let me tell you about a different type of stereotyping. Much as some have denounced our gender bias as a “binary system,” I denounce our society’s species bias as a “singular system.” You see, I am mostly human but I also tend towards unicorn characteristics. Sometimes I wish to eat meat and potatoes, but sometimes I find myself tempted to graze on all fours on the Lawn with a wooden horn strapped to my head while young children stare in awe and yell at their ignorant parents for telling them unicorns didn’t exist. It has not even crossed some of your minds that perhaps in our society more than one species deserves respect. By buying into this singular system, we are merely perpetuating the dominance of our humanist omnivore society. I have heard people around Grounds saying that unicorns only exist in the imaginations of young children, but this is simply not true, there is a man among you with a unicorn inside of him. Don’t conform to the trends, if you ever feel like you may want to let out your inner unicorn, Minotaur, Centaur, or other mythical creature, unleash it! Humans exist to oppress.

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]]> By: stating the obvioushttp://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2697 stating the obvious Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:26:47 +0000 http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2697 Notice how most of these comments ignore the obvious fact that this piece was co-authored by a man, not just a woman. It makes it easier to attack if you pretend that only women hold these "radical" beliefs, because thanks to sexism those shocked to the point of disbelief by these axioms can just marginalize the argument rather than force themselves to intellectually engage with it, or harder yet, recognize it's validity within their own lives. Notice that none of the commenters were able to disprove the authors' arguments.Hilariously, many of the commenters themselves exemplify the points the authors make when the commenters claim the article is filled with "jargon" and attempt to write it off as nothing else but. Jargon like what though? Race, class, patriarchy, social construction? It's sad if you don't know what those words mean, and it's probably a result of never looking beyond the status quo into the world around you.Even better yet, the number of people "outraged" enough by the sentiments the authors express to come to this website and leave a comment shows how threatened people feel when they're forced to encounter ideas that shatter the nicely constructed "norms" they otherwise unquestioningly believe. The commenters ought to ask themselves what stake they have in attempting to discredit the authors' arguments? Is it that recognizing the source of and motivations behind "social norms" would burst the fragile bubbles of identity and reality many people live in? How could anyone possibly try to tell me that I could still be a man if I didn't wear my Vineyard Vines fleece to my comm school classes?! What would I use to constitute myself as woman if not Jack Rogers sandals?! The possibility that I am/could be neither?! Does not compute...@#@)!!! Notice how most of these comments ignore the obvious fact that this piece was co-authored by a man, not just a woman. It makes it easier to attack if you pretend that only women hold these “radical” beliefs, because thanks to sexism those shocked to the point of disbelief by these axioms can just marginalize the argument rather than force themselves to intellectually engage with it, or harder yet, recognize it’s validity within their own lives. Notice that none of the commenters were able to disprove the authors’ arguments.

Hilariously, many of the commenters themselves exemplify the points the authors make when the commenters claim the article is filled with “jargon” and attempt to write it off as nothing else but. Jargon like what though? Race, class, patriarchy, social construction? It’s sad if you don’t know what those words mean, and it’s probably a result of never looking beyond the status quo into the world around you.

Even better yet, the number of people “outraged” enough by the sentiments the authors express to come to this website and leave a comment shows how threatened people feel when they’re forced to encounter ideas that shatter the nicely constructed “norms” they otherwise unquestioningly believe. The commenters ought to ask themselves what stake they have in attempting to discredit the authors’ arguments? Is it that recognizing the source of and motivations behind “social norms” would burst the fragile bubbles of identity and reality many people live in? How could anyone possibly try to tell me that I could still be a man if I didn’t wear my Vineyard Vines fleece to my comm school classes?! What would I use to constitute myself as woman if not Jack Rogers sandals?! The possibility that I am/could be neither?! Does not compute…@#@)!!!

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]]> By: Dinny Laceyhttp://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2651 Dinny Lacey Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:42:46 +0000 http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2651 "you CAN “flick off the system” and expect people to listen. Maybe not people who are part of “the system” and conform to “the system”, but certainly people who don’t conform to the system and resent the system. And there are quite a few us. Don’t be so shortsighted."What is the point of flicking off the system if it results only in having only those who've already "gotten it" listen? One would be preaching to the choir and converting no one. Pointless “you CAN “flick off the system” and expect people to listen. Maybe not people who are part of “the system” and conform to “the system”, but certainly people who don’t conform to the system and resent the system. And there are quite a few us. Don’t be so shortsighted.”

What is the point of flicking off the system if it results only in having only those who’ve already “gotten it” listen? One would be preaching to the choir and converting no one. Pointless

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]]> By: Robhttp://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2650 Rob Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:08:21 +0000 http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2650 Also, to Potential new friend - Please recognize that you were 'indulging in a “binary system”' when you used the phrase "humble little Southern University". You are engaging in North vs. South. Get over it please. The south died in 1865. The South is not a country, its not a state, it just a geographic region. I don't think any good ever comes about from invoking "the South". I just don't see the point; all it does is act as propaganda ("the good ol' south) that reinforces prejudicial behavior (no northerners allowed). UVa is the state university of Virginia, not the "school of the south" or "humble little Southern University."Honestly, go back to your room, take out your confederate flag, and jizz on it (for the 200th time). Also, to Potential new friend – Please recognize that you were ‘indulging in a “binary system”’ when you used the phrase “humble little Southern University”. You are engaging in North vs. South. Get over it please. The south died in 1865. The South is not a country, its not a state, it just a geographic region. I don’t think any good ever comes about from invoking “the South”. I just don’t see the point; all it does is act as propaganda (“the good ol’ south) that reinforces prejudicial behavior (no northerners allowed). UVa is the state university of Virginia, not the “school of the south” or “humble little Southern University.”

Honestly, go back to your room, take out your confederate flag, and jizz on it (for the 200th time).

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]]> By: Robhttp://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2648 Rob Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:46:40 +0000 http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2648 nice article. It's always good to see people hating on and challenging corny UVa style.Jonah said "You can’t flick off the system and expect people to listen to what you have to say.1. First of all, if general UVa, preppy, rich kid style = the system, then the system in and of itself is a problem.2. Second of all, you CAN "flick off the system" and expect people to listen. Maybe not people who are part of "the system" and conform to "the system", but certainly people who don't conform to the system and resent the system. And there are quite a few us. Don't be so shortsighted. nice article. It’s always good to see people hating on and challenging corny UVa style.

Jonah said “You can’t flick off the system and expect people to listen to what you have to say.

1. First of all, if general UVa, preppy, rich kid style = the system, then the system in and of itself is a problem.

2. Second of all, you CAN “flick off the system” and expect people to listen. Maybe not people who are part of “the system” and conform to “the system”, but certainly people who don’t conform to the system and resent the system. And there are quite a few us. Don’t be so shortsighted.

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]]> By: Jonah Takaluahttp://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2641 Jonah Takalua Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:27:46 +0000 http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2641 Ashleigh,Learn how to read sarcasm in print. Even though we are men, we can still deal in subtlety. Do you even know who Judith Butler is? Please point your mouse to the upper right corner of your browser and do a google search.Respectfully, Miley Cyrus's future ex-husband Ashleigh,

Learn how to read sarcasm in print. Even though we are men, we can still deal in subtlety. Do you even know who Judith Butler is? Please point your mouse to the upper right corner of your browser and do a google search.

Respectfully,
Miley Cyrus’s future ex-husband

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]]> By: Ashleighhttp://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2621 Ashleigh Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:16:12 +0000 http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2621 I think you guys need to work on your reading comprehension. (Her letter isn't very hard to understand.)And.The claim that having a female Secretary of State somehow means that there are no longer inequalities between the genders has got to be one of the most intelligent things I've read in years... har har har I think you guys need to work on your reading comprehension. (Her letter isn’t very hard to understand.)

And.

The claim that having a female Secretary of State somehow means that there are no longer inequalities between the genders has got to be one of the most intelligent things I’ve read in years… har har har

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]]> By: Eamonhttp://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2615 Eamon Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:11:29 +0000 http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2615 "Even your declaration that majors such as sociology are “softies” compared to masculinized commerce is a manifestation of consumerist and patriarchal power. Classes in Sociology, African-American Studies, South-Asian Studies, and Studies in Women and Gender teach students about the social construction of identity and force students to think about or question the influence of socialization in their lives."They are "softies" because they contain no math and are generally easier than other majors. Just take a look at how many athletes are in those majors. Besides, what exactly can you do with those majors? (other than write letters like yours to make yourself feel superior to everyone else...and that doesn't pay well as you'll find out soon enough)It must be tough to be you, Meghan, amid this patriarchal consumerist society based on maintaining rich, white, heterosexual, male power. Especially considering we have a black president and a female Secretary of State. “Even your declaration that majors such as sociology are “softies” compared to masculinized commerce is a manifestation of consumerist and patriarchal power. Classes in Sociology, African-American Studies, South-Asian Studies, and Studies in Women and Gender teach students about the social construction of identity and force students to think about or question the influence of socialization in their lives.”

They are “softies” because they contain no math and are generally easier than other majors. Just take a look at how many athletes are in those majors. Besides, what exactly can you do with those majors? (other than write letters like yours to make yourself feel superior to everyone else…and that doesn’t pay well as you’ll find out soon enough)

It must be tough to be you, Meghan, amid this patriarchal consumerist society based on maintaining rich, white, heterosexual, male power. Especially considering we have a black president and a female Secretary of State.

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]]> By: is this for real?http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2613 is this for real? Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:25:31 +0000 http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2613 I can't tell what point the letter's authors are trying to make, amid the complex anthropological buzzwords. Do people really talk like this?Poe's Law is an Internet adage that says that it is impossible to create a satire of religious fundamentalism, because any such satire would be easily confused with the real thing. I'd like to create a corollary, the SWAG Law: It is impossible to write a letter about the "manifestation of consumerist and patriarchal power" that is intended to be taken seriously, because such a letter would contain so much SWAG jargon that it borders on self-parody. I can’t tell what point the letter’s authors are trying to make, amid the complex anthropological buzzwords. Do people really talk like this?

Poe’s Law is an Internet adage that says that it is impossible to create a satire of religious fundamentalism, because any such satire would be easily confused with the real thing. I’d like to create a corollary, the SWAG Law: It is impossible to write a letter about the “manifestation of consumerist and patriarchal power” that is intended to be taken seriously, because such a letter would contain so much SWAG jargon that it borders on self-parody.

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]]> By: Potential new friend?http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2605 Potential new friend? Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:40:21 +0000 http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/11/16/false-reality/#comment-2605 You guys sound super funny to hang out with! Reading that horrendous piece of self-indulgent garbage brimming with smug jargon from the Anthropology department made me want to puke. Frankly, tools like you are the reason that many stereotypes and class prerogatives still exist.If you are trying to change the world, you may try to make your message more appealing to your intended audience, that is, these people that you see indulging in a "binary system" and creating class stratification, by not insulting them and addressing their lifestyle in an extremely hostile way. However, I doubt you care too much about this, as you no doubt wrote this letter so that you and your fellow SWAG majors can high five each other and gloat amongst yourselves about how much more informed and better you are than everybody else at our humble little Southern University. You guys sound super funny to hang out with! Reading that horrendous piece of self-indulgent garbage brimming with smug jargon from the Anthropology department made me want to puke. Frankly, tools like you are the reason that many stereotypes and class prerogatives still exist.

If you are trying to change the world, you may try to make your message more appealing to your intended audience, that is, these people that you see indulging in a “binary system” and creating class stratification, by not insulting them and addressing their lifestyle in an extremely hostile way. However, I doubt you care too much about this, as you no doubt wrote this letter so that you and your fellow SWAG majors can high five each other and gloat amongst yourselves about how much more informed and better you are than everybody else at our humble little Southern University.

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