redux

[gfrancie]

Oh yeah...people suck.
There is a new girl at work. She seems nice enough in her own fashion. (She has blown-out hair, a tan and is very Seventeen Magazine looking) I was sitting with a co-worker and I made some mention of some gay person I know. When I mentioned that this friend was gay (it made sense in reference to the comment) she said and I quote, "Gay people can be so nice. It is amazing. Aren't they the best? I was at a concert one time and one said he liked my shirt. I thought that was so sweet." There was a moment of silence. She didn't notice it of course but I looked over at my friend Tom and he raised his eyebrow. I said in a tone of voice that indicated such broad sarcasm that even a three year old could pick up on it, "yeah they are almost like regular people." I don't think she caught that because at that moment she said, "Oooooh look Wayne Brady is in town."
I think it is time to educate this girl a bit. Especially if she is going to be working where we do. The fact is we have a number of people on the staff that are gay and she damn well better understand that they are human beings who are completely unique in every way. Like every other person on this planet.

I suppose I should be happy that she thinks "they can be so nice." but it irritates me to no end when people say things like that. As if it is a genuine surprise. "It is amazing Edna, Those gays won't bite you or steal your car. One even did my hair. I didn't tip him of course because he will just spend it on his perverse lifestyle."

It is right up there with telling a black person that they speak so well or telling a woman she is really good at doing math.


Oh I met the writer Anne McCaffrey today. She is a bit of a bitch.

Comments

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Always.

[artemis-moon.livejournal.com]

both bitches need a lashing.

[thiscantbesoy.livejournal.com]

Those writers...they sure are bitches.

(Sorry, I had to.)

And hahahahahahhahaha @ "they are almost like regular people." Cracks me up. Look. I just laughed out loud again, even.

It's as good as, "Asian babies...ahh, they're so cute when they're young."

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Well don't you know, Asian people are amazing at math and business. They lose their cuteness by concentrating on big numbers.

[thiscantbesoy.livejournal.com]

They all look alike.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

And girls aren't worth anything unless she is married and at home.

[wankle.livejournal.com]

It's as good as, "Asian babies...ahh, they're so cute when they're young."

Hmm, see, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I happen to think most Asian babies are really freakin' cute. I also happen to think that certain types of woman with certain features are pretty, etc.

Do you think there's something wrong with statements like "I think blondes are boring and brunettes are hot"? how about "I think black women are beautiful." ?

Are we so PC that I can't say a particular race's typical physical features are attractive or not? Or I am just at fault for assuming that all asian babies look the same, and all black women look the same?

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I suspect she was implying that there is a notion held by some that certain groups are only cute when they are babies and they get ugly when they are older. (Might I introduce you to my Father's Mother who once said, 'I saw a cute little black baby, it is too bad they get funny looking when they are older.')

[wankle.livejournal.com]

Well yeah, everyone knows that all asians over the age of 3 are ass-ugly, that goes without saying.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

*snorts* Personally I think visigoths are oogly.

remember this isn't the seattle community so we must play gently.

[thiscantbesoy.livejournal.com]

See, you know me.

[thiscantbesoy.livejournal.com]

It's the ".....when they're young" part that makes that statement so eye-rolling-worthy. "Gee, aren't they cute, but only until they grow up."

[instantkarmma.livejournal.com]

How did she know the guy at the concert was "one"? Was he wearing his rainbow button?

A few years ago in my Linguistic Anthropology class I wrote my final paper in response to the readings we were assigned about "African American Speech". It seems ebonics is decended from stupid slaves who never learned to speak correctly. My paper was on Paul's family, one of the most prominent in American History and very eloquent speakers all. I was marked down for disagreeing with my professor...

Amazing what goes on in our "Value diversity, politically correct" society, no?

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Maybe he was having sex with another man? *snorts*

How fascinating about the origins of ebonics.

[kirinqueen.livejournal.com]

This is a good article describing the origins of the dialect and explanation of the controversy on the subject.

[kirinqueen.livejournal.com]

If your professor told you "ebonics is decended from stupid slaves who never learned to speak correctly", he is no linguist. AAVE (African-American Vernacular English--"ebonics" is a crappy term) is generally believed to have origins as a creole influenced by social isolation. If he didn't teach you that, then he needed some education. Of course, he may have been reporting based on some ill-reported news stories, which were wrong.

Prominence in history doesn't have much to do with the way language works. I assume that is not what you focused on, but what your professor chose to attack. Linguistics is science, and must be dealt with as such--that is, theories must be quantified, and notions about the way language works must be clarified, debunked, and constantly reexamined.

Sorry, got a little ranty there. I get angry when I see that linguistics has been abused.

People do say the darndest things, don't they? I thought only old folks made such biased assumptions about groups they haven't had exposure to.

[instantkarmma.livejournal.com]

Believe me, I pointed all of the findings about AAVE out in my research, this professor just chose to think otherwise. I focused on his family and their early prominence because they are Creole and can be traced back to the slave ship they arrived on. My issue was that here is a family decended from slaves who have always spoken proper English, so if AAVE comes from slaves....well then gosh- that theory doesn't hold a lot of water.

I totally understand the ranty-ness, it's my rant too.

[kaligrrrl.livejournal.com]

huh--I loved Anne McCaffery's stuff when I was 12. she's a bitch, eh? dish!

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Very very needy and pushy.

[kikalicious.livejournal.com]

You're good at math.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Only on the weekends.

[photosexual.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhh. Let me at the new girl. I just want to play. Nothing evil. Well, not too evil. I will be her customer circus nightmare! And yet, I'll be so civil, throwing me out would seem drastic! ahah

I love hearing your feedback on the big names that roll through the store. Oh, so long ago, I tried to read an Anne McCaffery book and it never really worked for me. And now she's reached that "I am an author whose name is on the lips of every american! I am household common! Move aside!" sort of state of mind, has she? Does she fancy herself a rock star? using that ill-fated phrase "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!" or anything?

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I think you should be put in a semi-dark room with her. I will provide you with medical books, some caffeine and a slightly angry cat.

She is just another Sci-fi writer who thinks she is all that.

[freudian-slip.livejournal.com]

i dunno, it sounds like maybe taking it a bit too seriously. she sounds like she is still a child. makes you want to pat her on the head and think they are so cute when they are so young.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Oh but she is too old to act like that. She isn't 14.
I think someone should show her lesbian porn or something.

[freudian-slip.livejournal.com]

um...can i volunteer for that?

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

You would love that too much.

[ts-garp.livejournal.com]

My personal fav:

"I'm not homophobic - one of my best friend's is gay."

Well, fuck.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

*laughs*
people are delusional.

[cjhm.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I could come introduce her to all my children
And she could play - "pick out which daughter is gay"
Unfortunately they are all at that "bitchy" stage where they can criticize each other but god help any one not related who gets in their way - your "new girl" would have the queen bitches - gay and straight - on her case.

[la-sherazade.livejournal.com]

Why are you holding my cat????

[cjhm.livejournal.com]

Um *looking at the mop of fur at my feet*
I think she likes it?

If that's the case I have a rather large bill for you for all that tinned food (only the right kind - not the cheap stuff) that she makes me feed her in the mornings and the Vet bills for you..... ;-)
What she does after I go to work - I dunno..... ;-D

[la-sherazade.livejournal.com]

Well, maybe she's just Spooky's evil twin? Is she part Maine Coon?

[cjhm.livejournal.com]

I read your BIO and was going to ask a question - but then I realized that it didn't matter because my daughter is my little poochy face even if she's old enough to drink and drive (uh - er - well not at the same time ).
You have traveled a lot - sounds cool - and it sounds like you spent some time a stone's throw from where my husband grew up - cool (and I don't carry a purse / handbag either)

Alas, poor KC was a SPCA mutt (looking around to make sure she can't read this) but she thinks she owns the house and we are merely her servants. The other two cats are her maids, of course - but I must be the top servant because I have the honor of combing and brushing every morning.

Spoilt bitch that she is ;-)

[la-sherazade.livejournal.com]

I believe strongly that pets, young children, and old folks should be thoroughly spoiled at all possible opportunities.
Now you've piqued my curiosity--what were you going to ask me?? and where did your husband grow up?
Spooky was also a "rescue" cat but her traits are so clear that I'm pretty sure there's a LOT of Maine coon in there somewhere. She has a double coat, for one thing... helps with the snow. And she's almost twice as big as a "normal" cat!

[cjhm.livejournal.com]

My husband grew up in Sarnia, On but, of course, spent a lot of time in Michigan.
My little kitty cat girl (well, "little" being relative) should probably be shaved - her coat is way too heavy for the heat wave we've been having.
My last cat was 18 pounds when he died at the ripe age of 15 years - now *he* was big - and he was one of the smaller cats in the litter.

I hate to piss them off, you know - so I can sleep healthy at night and all ;-)

[la-sherazade.livejournal.com]

I think Spooky is 20+ pounds now. She's like a small dog!
I have relatives in Ontario, Sault Ste. Marie.

[kidwhatever.livejournal.com]

I'll come up there and show her exactly how nice those gays can be *cracks knuckles*

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Tell her how your boyfriend appreciates a good blowjob.

[unopeneddoor.livejournal.com]

That reminds me . . . a friend of mine got a compliment different compliment at the Gay 90's (trendy gay bar in downtown) a few months ago:
"Oh honey, you're so cute. If I were straight I'd hit on you."

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

hee! I like that.

[unopeneddoor.livejournal.com]

I was highly amused by it as well.

[la-sherazade.livejournal.com]

Do tell the gossip on Anne McCaffrey!!!! That dyke, I'm sure she's surly, they all are.
*grin*

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

She is just one of those types that needs to have their hand held the entire time they are shopping. Very very needy.

Did you know she has maine coon cats?

[la-sherazade.livejournal.com]

I'm not surprised, she seems like a cat person. If I remember correctly, she has horses and lives in Ireland. Is that still true, do you think?

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Yep.

[kindandgenerous.livejournal.com]

Yeah, everytime I see a hispanic woman, I always wonder if she works at Housekeeping at the Holiday Inn. And I want to ask her where all the Salma Hayek's are hiding.

And Germans, they're kinda ugly.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

*laughs*