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I’m a Disgrace to My Species. . .

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Clarissa

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. . . according to the most fashionable “feminist” website:

We love the bump-watches and the ridiculous celebrity baby names and the stories about the impending royal child because we’re human beings, and we’d be in a bad place as a species if most of us weren’t at least a little predisposed to getting excited about the entry of a new human into the world.

I’m so totally not one of those “we” that even the word “bump-watch” makes me want to vomit. And I wouldn’t read a story about “impending royal children” to save my life.

Make sure you do as many bump-watches as you can, folks, to compensate for the traitors to the species such as myself. I will go work on my new article instead.

40 responses to “I’m a Disgrace to My Species. . .”

  1. David Gendron Avatar
    David Gendron

    This webside should be called “Sluts” ;), not “Feministe”.

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    1. David Gendron Avatar
      David Gendron

      test

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  2. anon Avatar
    anon

    Actually, the excerpt above is from an article in The Guardian and was simply quoted in the Feministe. It is not clear (to me at least) the extent to which the Feministe blurb-writer actually agrees with the whole of the other author wrote.

    David – what is with all the “sluts” comments as of late?

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    1. bloggerclarissa Avatar
      bloggerclarissa

      The article was written by the Feministe’s founder, so I guess it reflects the website’s official position. 🙂

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      1. anon Avatar
        anon

        Ah, I see that now. Interesting.

        Well, you’re not alone because I don’t care about celebrity babies either. I only “bump watch” my friends/family who have said they want to conceive, and I pay attention to celebrities only because I like fancy clothes (I happen to love Kate Middleton’s style).

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        1. bloggerclarissa Avatar
          bloggerclarissa

          At this baby shower I visited recently, we played a game where we had to match names to celebrity babies born recently. The game was a complete flop because everybody but one person was from a professional / university crowd and we didn’t recognize a single name on the list. 🙂 Except that one person who guessed them all. 🙂

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    2. el Avatar
      el

      David, your struggle for purity within the ranks is actually very Puritan. Or Soviet.

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      1. David Gendron Avatar
        David Gendron

        This is not a feminist site. So they should stop to use this title.

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    3. David Gendron Avatar
      David Gendron

      Because those patriarchal women are stupid.

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  3. Stringer Bell Avatar
    Stringer Bell

    If you want to do something, just own it. Be honest. It seems they’re ashamed of following celebrity gossip so they have to come up with these tortured explanations to justify their behavior.

    “..we’d be in a bad place as a species if most of us weren’t at least a little predisposed to getting excited about the entry of a new human into the world…”

    Well, they’re failing their own test here. 5 new humans enter the world per second but you don’t see feministe.us gushing all over it.

    Most of these sites seem like giant echo chambers where everyone reassures everyone else that their actions are feminist. ‘I’m gonna buy Mizuno shoes right now. This is a political act, right girls??’ They’ve outsourced their conscience and decision-making to the crowd.

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    1. el Avatar
      el

      // It seems they’re ashamed of following celebrity gossip

      Yes. Partly because there is the sexist stereotype about it being a “female thing.”

      In fact, most people share the desire to know what others, especially “higher ups” are doing. Gathering the information about one’s boss or tribe (and other tribes close to you) can be helpful.

      I don’t view this as either feminist or not.

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      1. bloggerclarissa Avatar
        bloggerclarissa

        “In fact, most people share the desire to know what others, especially “higher ups” are doing.”

        – Let’s not generalize. I can’t imagine all that many people having the leisure and the energy to invest emotionally into a baby of somebody they will never meet.

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    2. bloggerclarissa Avatar
      bloggerclarissa

      “Well, they’re failing their own test here. 5 new humans enter the world per second but you don’t see feministe.us gushing all over it.”

      – Burn!! 🙂 🙂

      “Most of these sites seem like giant echo chambers where everyone reassures everyone else that their actions are feminist.”

      – So true! This is what I hate so much about these websites. There is zero self-awareness and no attempt at an actual analysis of anything.

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  4. David Bellamy Avatar
    David Bellamy

    But, if you are analyzing a character’s motivation in your research, will you miss it completely if his or her sole motivation is royal bump-watching, and that it affects everything he or she does??

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    1. bloggerclarissa Avatar
      bloggerclarissa

      I have just realized that I can’t think of a single recent Spanish novel that mentions the royal family. The British royals are a lot better at making themselves relevant, it seems!

      But there is hope because I believe I heard there is some scandal concerning Juan Carlos’s suspected mistress. 🙂

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  5. Stringer Bell Avatar
    Stringer Bell

    “In fact, most people share the desire to know what others, especially “higher ups” are doing.”

    Speak for yourself. Quite telling that you think of celebrities as ‘higher ups’.

    ‘Gathering the information about one’s boss or tribe (and other tribes close to you) can be helpful.’

    Stop adding the word ‘tribe’ to nonsensical arguments to make them sound like they have a scientific/anthropological/evolutionary basis. This kind of thinking is why fraud fields like evolutionary psychology still exist.

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    1. el Avatar
      el

      // Quite telling that you think of celebrities as ‘higher ups’.

      Err. I don’t. That’s why I used ” ” .

      Btw, while Britney Spears is only a (formerly?) scandalous celebrity, Obama or Nataniahu are higher ups (can’t think of a better expression now), since they have real power you or I don’t. F.e. a citizen can’t choose whether to begin a war or (in Israel) whether to serve in an army, unless he is ready to go to jail.

      // Stop adding the word ‘tribe’ to nonsensical arguments to make them sound like they have a scientific/anthropological/evolutionary basis.

      Being interested in other people does have an evolutionary basis. How interested and in whom is culture and temperament specific. In totalitarian countries many are interested in the leader f.e. and I don’t think only out of fear.

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      1. Stringer Bell Avatar
        Stringer Bell

        “Btw, while Britney Spears is only a (formerly?) scandalous celebrity, Obama or Nataniahu are higher ups (can’t think of a better expression now), since they have real power you or I don’t.”

        Jesus Christ, you do need everything spelled out for you. As a citizen it’s almost a duty to be informed about the political actions of your leaders. ‘Political’ being the operative word here. Worrying about Michelle Obama’s biceps or bangs is crossing over to celebrity worship here, no different from being interested in Britney Spears’ latest boyfriend. That you do not see a difference between the two comes as no surprise, unfortunately.

        “Being interested in other people does have an evolutionary basis.”

        Nice goalpost shift here. Tell us how does it benefit me evolutionarily to be interested in royal weddings and baby names. I and my unfit-genes thank you in advance.

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      2. bloggerclarissa Avatar
        bloggerclarissa

        “Obama or Nataniahu are higher ups (can’t think of a better expression now), since they have real power you or I don’t. ”

        – This is a very very Russian vision of power that most people outside of the Russian-speaking cultures do not understand.

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  6. el Avatar
    el

    // Except that one person who guessed them all.

    See? Partly it’s you are the one in the iron tower. 🙂

    // – Let’s not generalize. I can’t imagine all that many people having the leisure and the energy to invest emotionally into a baby

    Many British seem to follow their Royal family quite closely. Other people in different countries like gossip too. It’s more a sort of entertainment, not true emotional investment, imo. Don’t Americans enjoy this too? Clinton scandal, Snowden now, etc. Doesn’t necessary require much leisure or energy. On the contrary, like telenovellas or not-to-be-named magazines (or numerous easy books you described reading for several days without stopping to clear the head , iirc while changing thesis topic) it can give energy.

    Precisely when one is very tired, there is no energy to read more serious literature or think about the universe.

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  7. el Avatar
    el

    // – This is a very very Russian vision of power that most people outside of the Russian-speaking cultures do not understand.

    I left in early teens, so I don’t think Russian culture can be the source in my case. I was a child yet. Or can it?

    It’s not as if US people are unaware that f.e. there are elites, ~0.1% of population, with much more power. Bureaucratic, political and economic elites. People in ecomonics study the “revolving door” mechanism (from being a politician to joining lobby groups, or from a regulator to a member of bank’s management board) and how it affects economic growth of a country and all of us.

    // Tell us how does it benefit me evolutionarily to be interested in royal weddings and baby names.

    It’s a bit like asking how desire for sex benefits one evolutionarily, if one religiously uses birth control. Evolution =/= benefits me right now. It can harm one or even kill too.

    // As a citizen it’s almost a duty to be informed about the political actions of your leaders.

    Do you think most people read on political topics only or even mainly because they think it’s their duty and/or think they will change the situation by their 1 vote? I think for most people, who follow politics, there is “gossip” kind of interest *too*. (I don’t say “only.”) Otherwise, why be interested in anything in not democratic countries f.e.?

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  8. el Avatar
    el

    I am now imagining
    the dutiful, 100% logical Citizen opening New York Times out of democratic duty, like one can force fish oil down the throat as a medicine,
    VS.
    happy as hounds on a hare’s trail political enthusiasts, eager for update on their politicians and on world’s news (many of the latter are irrelevant for American voters)

    I think the moment the thrill goes away and only duty remains is the moment activists burn out. If so, thrill (“mere” curiosity) is not unimportant.

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  9. Stringer Bell Avatar
    Stringer Bell

    “It’s a bit like asking how desire for sex benefits one evolutionarily, if one religiously uses birth control. Evolution =/= benefits me right now. It can harm one or even kill too. ”

    Let’s recap: you made the point that reading gossip magazines comes with an evolutionary benefit. When pressed, you then made the point that ‘being interested in others’ (which, mind you, is NOT equivalent to reading gossip magazines) comes with an evolutionary benefit. When pressed, you wrote some gibberish.

    Are you David Gendron’s long lost sister?

    And, for God’s sake, stop with this ‘most people..’ bullshit. If you like gossip, good for you. Please don’t claim it’s an evolutionary advantage.

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    1. el Avatar
      el

      // Are you David Gendron’s long lost sister?

      For a moment I wondered whether to google the name to find out who he is. 🙂

      // Let’s recap: you made the point that reading gossip magazines comes with an evolutionary benefit.

      May be I wasn’t clear enough. What I meant was:

      A – “Being interested in other people does have an evolutionary basis. How interested and in whom is culture and temperament specific.”

      B- This general trait of interest in others may also be expressed via reading gossip magazines.

      Hopefully, it’s clear now?

      Btw, a somewhat unrelated point now: I don’t see how being interested in politics comes with an evolutionary benefit in today’s US or Israel either. 🙂

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      1. David Gendron Avatar
        David Gendron

        I have a long lost half-brother.

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      2. musteryou Avatar
        musteryou

        Everything has an evolutionary basis. Apes in capes has an evolutionary basis. Picking my nose has an evolutionary basis.

        http://unsanesafe.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/trust-your-instincts.html

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    2. el Avatar
      el

      // If you like gossip, good for you.

      At first I wanted to say I didn’t, but then … what are we doing now, if not gossipping about feministe? Serious political activism? 🙂

      The definition number 2 below seems especially suitable for this post:

      gossip
      Noun
      1 light informal conversation for social occasions
      2 a report (often malicious) about the behavior of other people; “the divorce caused much gossip”
      3 a person given to gossiping and divulging personal information about others

      Clarissa, I hope it’s OK. I didn’t mean gossip is bad here.

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      1. bloggerclarissa Avatar
        bloggerclarissa

        “At first I wanted to say I didn’t, but then … what are we doing now, if not gossipping about feministe? ”

        – I have to say, this is a very unexpected definition of my blogging efforts. 🙂 I don’t mind, so it’s OK. As I recently said, a text stops belonging to its author once it gains at least one reader. 🙂

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      2. David Gendron Avatar
        David Gendron

        Okay, so this is gossip, and we admit that this is gossip. They never admit that their “empowering posts” are pure gossip.

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  10. Stringer Bell Avatar
    Stringer Bell

    “A – “Being interested in other people does have an evolutionary basis. How interested and in whom is culture and temperament specific.”

    -As they say, citation needed.

    “B- This general trait of interest in others may also be expressed via reading gossip magazines. ”

    This general trait in others may also be expressed via stalking. I wonder if these stalkers can use your brilliant evolutionary argument in court. ‘Your honor, I was just expressing my essential humanity by stalking Angelina Jolie!’.

    How you ‘express’ your general interest is, of course, key. You can be interested in people around you in an effort to make a genuine connection with someone, or you can read The National Enquirer and TMZ.com.

    “Hopefully, it’s clear now? ”

    Yes, it’s clear you’re talking out of your ass, once again. I’m done talking about this.

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  11. David Gendron Avatar
    David Gendron

    Stringer Bell is mad right now. And there’s not emBELLishment here!

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    1. bloggerclarissa Avatar
      bloggerclarissa

      I’d much rather people gossiped about me because THIS IS MY BLOG!!! 🙂

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      1. el Avatar
        el

        Your blog is turning into community, Clarissa. The inter-family squabbles is the first swallow, so to speak. 🙂

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        1. bloggerclarissa Avatar
          bloggerclarissa

          I knew the c-word would come up eventually. 🙂

          It’s ok, as long as I can be the matriarch.

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  12. el Avatar
    el

    // It’s ok, as long as I can be the matriarch.

    🙂

    Can’t it be one of reasons for the blog’s creation? In RL to choose the model of equality, while playing with family of origin’s model on the Net.

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    1. bloggerclarissa Avatar
      bloggerclarissa

      Do you think I really can escape my nature in RL to this extent? 🙂

      If somebody told me I would have more than 3 readers when I first started the blog, I would have thought this person was insane.

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  13. el Avatar
    el

    This is a crazy world:

    State troopers are confiscating tampons, maxi pads and other potential projectiles from those who are entering the Texas capitol to watch the debate and vote on a controversial anti-abortion bill. Guns, however, which are typically permitted in the state capitol, are still being allowed.

    UPDATE — 4:43 p.m.: According to a tweet from Stand With Texas Women, the Department of Public Safety has stopped confiscating tampons and maxi pads. According to Burnt Orange Report, state Sen. Kirk Watson convinced the DPS to stop confiscating the items.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/12/tampons-confiscated-texas_n_3588177.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

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  14. el Avatar
    el

    Egypt’s upheaval makes waves across region
    The state of play in Tunisia, Libya, Gaza, Israel, Turkey, Jordan and Morocco after the ousting of Mohamed Morsi in Egypt
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/12/egypt-upheaval-region-mohamed-morsi

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  15. Tim Avatar
    Tim

    At first I thought a bump-watch was some kind of new hipster clock.

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  16. el Avatar
    el

    This week’s “The Weekly Sift” is quite interesting. I liked the most:

    – “the secret FISA Court … doing a lot more than just signing search warrants. It’s issuing sweeping legal opinions about the meaning of the Fourth Amendment … Its interpretation of the Fourth Amendment could be overruled by the Supreme Court, but since the unrepresented non-government side never finds out that it lost, who is going to appeal the case?

    ”

    – Meanwhile, House Republicans are working on their ransom letter for the fall, when they once again plan to take the full-faith-and-credit of the United States hostage by provoking a debt-ceiling crisis. (“Nice country you’ve got there. It’d be a shame if something happened to it.”) The National Journal says they’re willing to extend the debt ceiling for the rest of Obama’s term in exchange for, say, privatizing Medicare — a highly unpopular concession they could never get through any legitimate democratic process.

    http://weeklysift.com/

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A conservative literary critic and college professor

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