tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251720128835008809.post7901359325053030760..comments2023-10-11T13:05:59.830+05:30Comments on Rumi Nations: Privilege and other thoughts -- Rebecca Watson and Richard Dawkins on my mindUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251720128835008809.post-81858657075368927902011-07-20T08:53:58.562+05:302011-07-20T08:53:58.562+05:30@Tam Rebecca had to ride in an elevator with a man...@Tam Rebecca had to ride in an elevator with a man and he told her that she was interesting. Oh, the horror! The guy didn't do anything wrong, and instead of addressing actual problems, we're discussing this. As if the fact that Rebecca felt uncomfortable in a perfectly normal, safe situation is of any import to anyone. At the same time, Rebecca felt justified in launching a rabid attack on Dawkins and a CFI student. Is that privilege? You betcha.<br /><br />No, you can't compare two harms or two wrongs, but there was no harm done here. Or are men not supposed to take elevators with single women? Because what he said did not increase her "danger" one bit.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04025404621960228054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251720128835008809.post-9925016474995139222011-07-12T21:17:43.028+05:302011-07-12T21:17:43.028+05:30I wanted to say that I entirely agree with you. I...I wanted to say that I entirely agree with you. I have been trying to get this point across but - you cannot imagine the level of privileged narcissism that dominates much of the first-world "atheist" and "skeptic" scene.<br /><br /> I wish, I wish that I could say that there was some evidence that the 'skepchicks' will do anything at all about horrors such as the ones you describe.Hugohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14237434266749990632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251720128835008809.post-3287441599470620572011-07-12T12:18:42.172+05:302011-07-12T12:18:42.172+05:30I am absolutely privileged compared to Saudi and A...I am absolutely privileged compared to Saudi and Afghan women. If I was in their shoes, I might then be privileged to the woman who lived down the street from me who had a more abusive husband than me. Would that then strip my right to complain? <br />The fact is, somewhere in the world at this exact instant there is someone who has it worse than you. Is it possible to care about those people and take care of your own needs at the same time? Absolutely! To say X happened and I didn't like it in no way diminishes suffering elsewhere in the world.<br />Let me frame this another way:<br />Hunger happens in America. Hunger happens in a larger scale in other parts of the world. People who are hungry in America are better off. People hungry in America should sit down and shut up.<br />Wow. That makes me sound like a jerk. Not a big jerk, mind. It's not a crime against humanity, but my ignorance is showing. Maybe I should talk to some of those people who are hungry in America and see what I can do to help. After all, if the problem here isn't as large as it is else where, than it takes smaller steps to fix. If all lending a hand would require of me would be a small, occasional inconvenience, I should probably stop being such a jerk and do that small, inconsequential thing.<br />All that Watson was asking was for men to listen (she'd said she was tired and going to bed) and failing that, to at least take into account how their approach might be perceived ("don't take this the wrong way," 4am, foreign country, enclosed space). Is this really such a huge inconvenience? If someone asks you politely not to repeat a specific behavior ("Guys, don't do that") how difficult is it to respect that request? And, should that request be ignored, is it any wonder that person might exercise their rights for free association by avoiding you?<br />I think it is also important to note that Dawkins was the one comparing the situation to the plight of systematic abuse of women's rights; Watson was offering constructive criticism to a small minority of awkward men who might otherwise come off as creepy and not get a date.<br />I fail to see how this sage advice was so offensive that Dawkins felt the need to belittle Watson in a public forum for asserting her preference regarding how men approach her.TamiTheNannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05828290676974742427noreply@blogger.com