I am all for free speech, really, I think everyone has the inherent right to speak whatever they want. This does not assume that there is not repercussion on the whole free speech ideal. I got an earfull, deserved it BUT, it was the way that it happened that irritated me.
This week, a part of my blog was deemed offensive and derogatory to a certain group, who then without my permission, took my words and used them, without my prior knowledge. Now, if they had asked me, I would have said, "sure use part of the post" or maybe I would have said, "please don't use part of my post." At least I would have been given the opportunity to say "oui" or "non." I do have a disclaimer which is blatant and visible, but obviously not worth the keystrokes they were tapped with.
The two posts in question this week, have been on my blog for a while, and really, no one ever gave much thought to them (and actually by viewing my stats, they weren't popular pages). They were, I admit, sarcastic and judgemental but, and the big BUT, is that they were my words.
If there was a problem with what I was saying, I would have appreciated, someone from this radical feminist group shoot me a quick email, rather than auto-quote me. I took the posts down, as I felt that "hmmm, maybe there could be some truth to what they were saying." I am not disputing that they were at times correct in their estimation of my prose.
At the time of writing the posts, I found them funny. The same way I find Tom Cruise an idiot, I feel that this bunch, although I did zero in on one in particular, was more irritating than Tom or S.J. Parker.
Here's a short list of other irritating, nauseating people, and it is well balanced, and these are people who are in the spotlight, people who jump on couches, people who put themselves out there for public opinion and what it ensues, I could be mean, and make fun of them right now, but I am not in the mood. This list is not exclusive, and could be changed at any time :
Tom Cruise
Katie Holmes
George Bush
Stephen Harper
Dr. Phil
Janice Dickinson
Mr. Rogers
Rosie O’Donnell
Brian Mulroney
Me (I make fun of myself all the time, not that I am in the spotlight, but in just writing, I assume that someone out there could label me an "idiot", "moronic" or just an "asshole").
Yet I was not posting as a feminist, and certainly my intent was not to be anti-female. I am certainly not "radical." I don't see a problem with a guy opening a door for me, really, I won't kick them in the junk.
I don't have a problem with "men" in general. I like men. I have a problem with people. To me, people in general are a problem. It is not gender based, it is not culture based, it is not ethnicity based, location based, sexual preference based or based on if you have webbed feet.
To me, everyone is equal, but if you make a public spectacle of yourself, and are actively promoting something that I don't agree with or find nauseating, I should be able to comment on it, satire it, or write sarcastically, or hyper imaginatively.
The group in question had every right to comment on my blog, but not to take things without my knowledge, sure link to it, but don't take my words via the "cut and copy train." I don't quote people without their knowledge, and I expect the same respect of other Bloggers or Internet posters.
I think, for me, my feminism is actually a mixture of a bunch of stuff. I enjoy the liberties of freedom of choice. I am very Pro-Choice, but I do have my limits. Meaning I don't think it is a great idea to go out and have an abortion every week, I don't feel that mass procreation should be idealized either. My pendulum swings in the middle, even though to some, this may seem hypocritical. I think certain kinds of porn are actually liberating. I am really glad that there is emergency contraceptives, and even more happy that contraception is legal. Not for myself, but for others. I am very glad that women have been active and have made these things like voting, owning property, and divorce, available to all in my country. I am glad that I do not have to ask my husband for permission to have my fallopian tubes twisted into a bowline knot. I am glad to be able to wear slacks and not have my dress getting caught in my shoelaces, should I choose not to wear a frock. Thanks y'all!
And if you don't like the content, as my disclaimer reads. . . go elsewhere, comment or e mail me. But thanks for the bit of enlightenment and for the women and men before me, who made it "okay" to speak my mind. |
5 comments:
I read your post yesterday and again this morning, and I can not reconstruct just what the controversy is about, but clearly, judging by the intensity of your response, it certainly struck a nerve with you as well as your nameless attackers.
Perhaps another consideration is the question for you - just what is your blog about? If indeed, it serves mainly to provide you the opportunity to chat innocently about whatever pops into your head, and also provides your readers the opportunity to enjoy a momentary smile as they charge through the pressures of life, then if something becomes potentially controversial, by all means eliminate it. Just as a pebble in the shoe make the leisurely stroll impossible, controversy has no place in the mannered propriety of "High Tea."
But I cannot help but notice that your scones and preserves have not always been readily available, and while the tea has been consistently delightful, there have been times when perhaps the downstairs maid has been a bit lackadaisical with the silver polish. You know, now that I think about it, if High Tea is your goal, along with the mannered propriety that tradition requires, you have fallen down on the job, for I distinctly remember some prickly moments, and even (shudder) some possibly controversial and tactless commentary. Of course, if homogenized blandness is desired, by all means, tear down the offensive statements, but if, as I suspect, your goal has been to provide, and to give form to the feelings, thoughts, observations and and cleverly constructed viewpoints of a creative and rather free thinking young woman, I think you acted a bit precipitously. Your wit, acumen, well crafted sentences and droll take on life have been a true delight to read.
Why not re-post the "offending", statements, along with the criticisms they elicited, and let the fresh air and sunlight illuminate all of it. You know (and I admit this is highly controversial statement, and I ought to be ashamed for even mentioning it), sometimes there are even grey areas instead of black and white. While rhetoric, cant and bile often make one feel momentarily better, it rarely adds to the general discourse, and ill-serves our universal need for thought, reflection and moral, ethical and spiritual growth.
Write On! my friend. Bob
Nice one stink eye. Don't let the bastards get you down! Everyone is entitled to your opinion. Just like i always say, society as a whole is a hole. It's not just one group of retards that screws things up for us, its all of them. But then again i always say things like "fuck you cocklunch" and "like I told my last girlfriend, 'hunny i never drive faster than i can see, and besides that its all in the reflexes'"
I am mulling over your comment artquest. . . I am still in mid ponder, thanks, I appreciate your thoughts.
Lisa
And "anon" or should I say Rutiger Bagwell The Third. . . you are a bad, but funny man.
Hey, and Rutiger. . .you know what, a day or two prior to your post I emailed someone with "nolite tes bastardes carborundorum", I think I have the latin right. That is pretty cool.
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