lightcastle

A fascinating article from a 1941 issue of Harper's Magazine, Who Goes Nazi?"

It is an interesting and somewhat macabre parlor game to play at a large gathering of one's acquaintances: to speculate who in a showdown would go Nazi. By now, I think I know. I have gone through the experience many times - in Germany, in Austria, and in France. I have come to know the types: the born Nazis, the Nazis whom democracy itself has created, the certain-to-be fellow-travelers. And I also know those who never, under any conceivable circumstances, would become Nazis.
[...]
Nazism has nothing to do with race and nationality. It appeals to a certain type of mind.

It is an interesting read, and I started it not realizing it was written in 1941. I thought it was more recent but mimicking an older style.

And in a strange way, this story Shira linked to speaks to some of the same issues.

See title.
Also, I have the Roadrunner theme song in my head for some ungodly reason.

DADT repeal is dead.

I can't believe I missed noting the anniversary of the first recorded performance of a woman actor playing a female part on the British stage. (The afternoon of Saturday, December 8, 1660)

From Ari: If this sign is true, this is quite possibly the saddest place in the world.

Another from mzrowan, describing the still face experiment, which you might want to mention the next time someone tells you they aren't influenced by how others react to them. (We are social creatures.)

For instance, see this two-year old who has clearly absorbed how one is supposed to express devotion in her culture.

And speaking of social connection, From Teresea Nielsen Hayden and Roger Ebert - a bit on loneliness and how the internet interacts with it. Ebert seems not to be disposed to loneliness, and so wants to attribute it to causes. Hayden sums things up pretty well, and unsurprisingly, Ebert seems to be classy about learning from his audience. As someone who is lonely by disposition, this was an interesting read.

Placing the responsibility for education back on the other is a fine derailing tactic with a long history.

So, since I am dripping with white, heterosexual, cis-male, able-bodied privilege (I'm sure I've left some out), I'm going to keep trying to get some of this to stick.

(I promise to post giant spider pictures or something else fun later, though. ^_^)

For those willing to do some 101 reading, I'll point to the excellent Schrödinger’s Rapist post by Starling and the Rape Culture 101 post at Shakesville.

Both of those should have trigger warnings, btw. (Also, the comments are not 101, but well worth it.)

However, I am going to take another tack concerning the whole "approaching a woman on public transit".

I understand that using the word "rapist" makes men uncomfortable and defensive. Of course, that's part of the point. Nonetheless, I am going to take a different tack to try and make the point and remove rape and sexual politics from the equation entirely.

I ask my readership a simple question.

Do you feel that you have the right to be left alone if you don't want to talk to someone? More generally, do you have the right to set your own boundaries for personal interaction? Finally, does someone have the right to impose themselves on you until you have sufficiently proven to their satisfaction that you really don't want them there?

Given my last few posts, I find it somewhat amusing that I had a totally random conversation on the bus in this morning with a co-rider her reading material, another in the coffeeshop about the netbook my neighbor was using, a small discussion of molecular gastronomy with the family next to me, and just had a brief interaction with the stunning young woman who couldn't figure out where to bus her own dishes.

Since, you know, I am obviously against strangers interacting in public spaces. ^_^

I still expect to be stood up today and am consoling myself with hot chocolate, mind you.

So to help those who like rules, I present Soshie's rules for talking on public transport:

1. Be aware of your bus. Are you in a sketchy part of town? People may not want to talk to you because they’re already wary. Also if it’s night.

2. Don’t walk to the other end of the bus just to talk to someone. It’s creepy and looks like you’re a stalker.

3. Don’t approach anyone who’s reading/working/has headphones on/is staring out the window/is staring at the floor/is staring into space. They don’t want to talk to you. They’re busy. Don’t be creepy.

4. Open ended questions/statements are good because they can either be answered with one word or a lot of words. Example: “Cute hat!” One word answer = don’t talk to me. A couple sentences usually = sure, I will talk with you. If you complement someone’s hat and they just say “Thanks,” don’t keep talking. You’re being creepy.

5. Don’t ask about significant others unless I mention one and we’re already having a decent conversation. This is very creepy and makes me think that you’re trying to pick me up.

6. No touching. Ever. Under any circumstance. It’s creepy and may cause me to hit you, especially if you don’t move your hand when I ask.

7. Don’t take it too personally if people are rude. You were probably being creepy. If you weren’t, they were probably just having a bad day. The world doesn’t revolve around you, you know.

So, should I extend my Montreal run at the end of the month to try and work remotely and go to WorldCon?

Kind Venezuelan woman helping me with my groceries for the win.

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Entries tagged with people

Who Goes Nazi?

Damn it's cold.

Boundary-setting

A coffee shop, conversations in public, and hot chocolate

WorldCon

I like humans

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February 2015

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