Posted by PeteDude at vsat-148-71-100-82.ssa4.mcl.starband.net on June 13, 2001 at 00:05:17:
In Reply to: No offense to you, but you're talking out your ass posted by Isis on June 12, 2001 at 16:09:24:
. . . send me the college catalog. I'm signing up for THAT class. You seem to know your stuff.
: Here's where you're talking about what you don't know. First of all, feminism is a social theory; if you took the time to study it you'd realize it is not at all about imposing gynocentrism. Understandably, many women feel the need to assert their opinions given that they have not been considered socially important for about 6000 years. However, matriarchy is not the goal of feminism and never has been; matriarchy and patriarchy are two sides of the same coin. Egalitarianism is the opposite of patriarchy. If you're not a feminist, and your lack of understanding of what it means indicates to me that you aren't, how do you presume to define what it is? As a white man (if you are), would you attempt to define the civil rights movement and its goals? And yes, equality includes everyone having the right to enjoy what ever they like as long as it does not impinge on another's freedom. Therefore, yes, anyone has the right to laugh about stupid shit, and I have the right to point out that they are emotionless jackasses. THAT's equality -- everyone has a right to have their opinions heard.
: : * Actually, I'm kind of offended by the premise of Vulgar. I'm going to exercise censorship the way any and all of us should, if we care to. I'm not going to watch it.
: Me either. Unless someone explains to me how this scene is justifiable, or even what is its purpose, which still ain't happened.
: : * Rape can be funny. Not in a "ha ha" sense but in a "that's so gross I can't believe I'm laughing" way. Case in point being the "Singing In The Rain" bit from Clockwork Orange. Or the boss man being butt raped in Pulp Fiction.
: Maybe you found those scenes amusing, probably because as I say you've NEVER BEEN RAPED. Personally I was disgusted by both of them, more so by PF since the scene was solely for comedic purposes. Tarantino is a *dick*. This is not a good defense you're making.
: : Finally, we all sympathise with your personal situation. I don't choose to share mine here but I have childhood scars also. This does not give you, or me, the right to censor other people. That way lies Sheila Broflowsky (South Park movie). I gave Kevin shit right here on this Board about Jay's "Sucker Pump" of Trish in the comics. Please distinguish between the fantasy of movies and reality...and if you can't, then realize that you're joining the same camp as the religious conservatives that you rail against.
: I'm able to distinguish between fantasy and reality, but I still think it's absolute shit for someone to make a movie that depicts rape as comedy and then not stand behind it. If you believe it's justifiable, that's one thing. But fuck that "it's just fantasy, it's artistic expression" bullshit. Eminem is hateful, Woody Allen is perverted and it shows in the products that they make. Offensiveness for its own sake, rather than to skewer society's standards, isn't daring or funny -- it's just crap. I'm NOT in favor of censoring it, but I'm also not in favor of censoring people's opinions about it.
: And before anyone tries to assert that this is skewering society's standards, the idea that rape is an indefensible action is one of the few social standards that I can't see any value in tearing down. I'm a big fan of Kevin and have been for many years, and I've never seen Brian be anything but gracious on this board, but I'm disappointed in both of them if that's what they're trying to do. Funk that.
: Now, all you little unpaid VA toadies, since I've made the unfortunate mistake of laying my personal trauma, my heartfelt opinions on the line, go on picking 'em apart all you like. Unlike some folks in this world of denied responsibility, I'll stand by what I actually believe.
: -- i