I don't mind if you tell me I'm out of line here, but
nossy Send a noteboard - 31/01/2012 11:55:04 PM
As for Tolkien, are his views any different than how many of us (or our family/friends) are when it comes to someone of a different ethnic/social background? That's the real issue, I suspect and I would answer "Not really." I have my own race/class-based prejudices to work on, so why is there such defensiveness when it comes to the fact that an author made some comments and wrote some characters that current readers may find to be objectionable? Best to work on removing those specks from our eyes, I think.
I really have only one question. If we're saying that we can see how some would find it racist/sexist (even having an interesting conversation on the various degrees of personal agreement or disagreement), and one of us is even devil's advocating for just that side, which specks would those be, precisely?
I suppose maybe I'm not allowed to comment on it, since I can be properly racist while she cannot.
(I'm not trying to be snarky, but I don't think you understand just how far this person has gotten under my skin. It's not about Tolkien, though I obviously have opinions there as well. It's about how racism does exist and how people OF ALL COLORS are working to change that. If anybody can work to help and try to illuminate the masses, we should all be able to be part of the conversation. I feel very strongly that the kind of crap that writer was spouting damages exactly what she might say she's trying to foster. As it is, I get the really strong vibe that she's fostering nothing but her own opinion of herself.)
edit for clarification again: I'm talking primarily about her twitter conversation, not only her blog entry about Tolkien.
This message last edited by nossy on 01/02/2012 at 12:24:52 AM
The racist elements in Tolkien's writing
- 29/01/2012 01:31:02 PM
2702 Views
She has some points, of course.
- 29/01/2012 02:25:32 PM
1486 Views
Quite a few points
- 29/01/2012 02:40:45 PM
1619 Views
I don't find the tone blunt; I find it leading, patronizing and often wrong or inferring too much.
- 30/01/2012 01:43:27 AM
1490 Views
Agreed - reading it, I struggled to find any redeeming qualities
- 30/01/2012 07:32:58 PM
1550 Views
Agreed, in general. The tremendous bad faith and sophistry turn me off, though.
- 29/01/2012 09:31:04 PM
1702 Views
Mostly agreed with the article, but thought she undermined herself with her own racism.
- 29/01/2012 02:50:11 PM
1547 Views
Just read your Twitter convo... nice try, but looks like wasted effort. *NM*
- 29/01/2012 10:37:08 PM
694 Views
Well, I'll be honest.
- 29/01/2012 10:34:46 PM
1413 Views
Let me try to summarize some of her points with the invective filtered out, then.
- 29/01/2012 10:48:24 PM
1624 Views
Thank you.
- 29/01/2012 11:10:13 PM
1655 Views
What the hell, might as well go and play devil's advocate, right?
- 30/01/2012 04:50:30 PM
1563 Views
- 30/01/2012 04:50:30 PM
1563 Views
I expected that.
- 30/01/2012 05:39:59 PM
1451 Views
- 30/01/2012 05:39:59 PM
1451 Views
Of course you did. I'm predictable that way.
- 30/01/2012 10:28:10 PM
1488 Views
Re: Of course you did. I'm predictable that way.
- 31/01/2012 12:39:46 AM
1347 Views
Re: Of course you did. I'm predictable that way.
- 31/01/2012 08:38:46 PM
1410 Views
I <3 you, but there are several very key things we are not going to agree on.
- 31/01/2012 10:02:22 PM
1801 Views
- 31/01/2012 10:02:22 PM
1801 Views
Hmm?
- 31/01/2012 10:10:22 PM
1387 Views
Yeah. I got to reading Encyclopedia of Arda just now, and it told me the same thing.
- 31/01/2012 10:35:54 PM
1282 Views
As a sort of group answer (I've been mostly absent from forums the past two days)
- 31/01/2012 10:45:55 PM
1684 Views
I don't mind if you tell me I'm out of line here, but
- 31/01/2012 11:55:04 PM
1503 Views
I'm rarely ever offended
- 01/02/2012 01:54:58 AM
1703 Views
She was referring specifically to the Twitter "conversation" I had with the blogger.
- 01/02/2012 09:05:28 AM
1440 Views
Yes.
- 01/02/2012 10:47:22 AM
1622 Views
It makes me wonder what she thinks is happening in Zimbabwe, for example.
- 01/02/2012 11:13:11 AM
1631 Views
I've been thinking about that.
- 01/02/2012 11:29:18 AM
1413 Views
That blog post was mostly good, but the exception is a rather large one.
- 01/02/2012 08:35:57 PM
1338 Views
What's a neckbeard? And why am I supposed to care? *NM*
- 30/01/2012 01:29:07 AM
743 Views
neckbeards are when the person (either intentionally or through misfortunate genetics)...
- 30/01/2012 03:21:09 AM
1360 Views
acrackedmoon is a racist, sexist bore. And I don't even like Tolkien. *NM*
- 30/01/2012 01:14:17 PM
1416 Views
