tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post7698058796935750255..comments2023-10-29T10:32:36.914-04:00Comments on Philosophy, et cetera: Motivated IncomprehensionRichard Y Chappellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725218276285291235noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-10414287968743388092008-01-17T09:21:00.000-05:002008-01-17T09:21:00.000-05:00I really needed to read this right now! As a femi...I really needed to read this right now! As a feminist blogger I bang my head against this type of logic all the time: since we're dwelling within patriarchy, it's impossible to see outside of it, therefore everything you think is part of it and therefore tainted and possibly mistaken. Hence, any reference to a woman is sexual because we're all living within patriarchal structures that won't have it any other way.<BR/><BR/>Because I argue against that insistant withdrawal of free will or intent, I'm often labled a traitor. But I'd rather be a traitor than a looney. <BR/><BR/>And I while I understand <I>why</I> some women see threats where there are none (abuse in formative years and beyond...) and why they might insist, for example, that a man who asks for sex more than once in a row is a rapist, I cold-heartedly assert there's no good reason for bad logic.Sagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14481252201307998355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-80577487576784870342008-01-15T06:42:00.000-05:002008-01-15T06:42:00.000-05:00Work in psychology has shown that while men may se...Work in psychology has shown that while men may seek attractive women for some jobs (typically 'feminine' jobs, such as receptionists, and hecne that attractive women have social advantages in that respect), that in fact they prefer *unattractive* women for certain jobs (such as leadership type jobs, which are typically thought of in masculine terms, as in politics).<BR/><BR/>You might draw in the case of Helen Clark as consistent with that finding Richard!<BR/><BR/>In any case, this tends to throw a spanner in the works of the person you were responding to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-90488996682880911682008-01-14T18:26:00.000-05:002008-01-14T18:26:00.000-05:00The whole thing is ridiculous - Leiter is comparin...The whole thing is ridiculous - Leiter is comparing Clinton to Cheney - a *man* - , saying that they're both unappealing: Clinton because she's fake, Cheney because he's creepy and scary. So, Leiter is saying *both* a man and a woman are unappealing, therefore Leiter is sexist. Yes, mind does boggle. <BR/><BR/>I've been seriously considering taking that blog off my RSS reader for a while now, precisely because of such generalizations: one cannot even criticize a female monstrum without being labeled sexist. Apparently only white "Richlets" of European descent would even consider making such accusations. RM is just plain scary in her immaturity.Tea Logarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12988083093668660064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-64412964063895970022008-01-14T13:30:00.000-05:002008-01-14T13:30:00.000-05:00we know the public thinks that Hillary seems 'fake...we know the public thinks that Hillary seems 'fake'. And it is valid for Leiter to point that out for the purposes of wining an election (Dems vs Repubs) but he seems to go further to imply that he and you also have and probably should have that opinion without any argument regarding 'why'. <BR/><BR/>For example Richard, I think, talked about Hillary being fake about the war - which is a debate that could have happened in this case - but did not. <BR/><BR/>I think one of the major reasons why we are now presented with a woman who has a 'fake' label and a 'authentic' black man is in part due to the 'niche' that we cut for those steriotypes. I.e. sexism and racism which probably works better for Obama than for Hillary (although Hillary does get to cry for votes).<BR/><BR/>It seems that from a feminist perspective a person could easily talk about sexist cliche and further misogyny without actually consciously considering it - and that maybe they should, and maybe feminist blogs are right to highlight it.<BR/><BR/>of course I think RM goes too far - used poor logic and was unnecessarily insulting.Geniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11624496692217466430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-47731484919434118522008-01-14T11:46:00.000-05:002008-01-14T11:46:00.000-05:00While I think RM's reference to the historical con...While I think RM's reference to the historical context is undoubtedly correct, I think her interpretation of Leiter's statement is completely unwarranted, particularly since Leiter explains what he means by "unappealing." In fact, he does so in the very next sentence, when he writes:<BR/><BR/>"Dick Cheney is creepier and scarier, to be sure, but “fake” is the only word that captures the impression Ms. Clinton makes every time she opens her mouth."<BR/><BR/>In other words, Leiter finds her unappealing because she seems "fake" to him (I think she seems "fake," too, but I think most politicians seem "fake").Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08417970139690159046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-29750528742180752212008-01-14T05:23:00.000-05:002008-01-14T05:23:00.000-05:00What's especially worrying is that RM felt able to...What's especially worrying is that RM felt able to make such a... curious comment without expecting to be discredited in the eyes of (?)her colleagues. Hopefully some of her logic students will read your response and learn a healthy scepticism about academic authority.Robert Seddonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01716313716335678798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-1371237224932258082008-01-14T04:22:00.000-05:002008-01-14T04:22:00.000-05:00I certainly didn't read that as 'sexually unappeal...I certainly didn't read that as 'sexually unappealing'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-5535590040115479972008-01-14T03:21:00.000-05:002008-01-14T03:21:00.000-05:00Hillary probably does appear fake in some part as ...Hillary probably does appear fake in some part as a result of sexism. And there is a question regarding whether working around such sexism (for example never putting forward a female candidate) is not the same as becoming part of the problem.<BR/>Of course there make be bigger fish to fry, or maybe Hillary has already benefited from sexism (the pro female sort) if two wrongs make a right.Geniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11624496692217466430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-45245147502837572632008-01-14T02:20:00.000-05:002008-01-14T02:20:00.000-05:00I am with you on this one as well. When I first re...I am with you on this one as well. When I first read Leiter's blog post, the interpretation of "appealing" as "sexually appealing" didn't appear to me at all. It still strikes me as nonsense.<BR/><BR/>"Paranoia leads ideologues to see threats and insults where none exist."<BR/><BR/>So true.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-82761199708626894602008-01-13T23:52:00.000-05:002008-01-13T23:52:00.000-05:00I'm glad you didn't leave RM with the last word (R...I'm glad you didn't leave RM with the last word (RE: Modus Tollens). Clowns like this don't deserve to be taken too seriously, but a clean refutation is still nice to see every once in a while... =)Andrew M. Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12606675886229313577noreply@blogger.com