Elsewhere (186)
Kevin D Williamson on Obama’s vanities:
In a pre-vacation interview with NPR, the president argued that (as the New York Times decodes the message) “some of the scorn directed at him personally stems from the fact that he is the first African American to hold the White House.” I.e, “It’s because I’m black, isn’t it?” This is kind of clever, in a way. The president says that much of the unhappiness with his administration is “pretty specific to me, and who I am and my background,” which is slippery in that by saying it’s about him, he’s really saying it’s about his critics, and their bigotry and prejudice. “It’s not me, it’s you.”
Heather Mac Donald on crime, policing, and the “Ferguson effect”:
The media and many politicians decry as racist pedestrian stops and broken-windows policing — the proven method of stopping major crimes by going after minor ones. Under such conditions, it isn’t just understandable that the police would back off; it is also presumably what the activists and the media critics would want. The puzzle is why the activists are now so intent on denying that such de-policing is occurring and that it is affecting crime.
Theodore Dalrymple on pretentious outrage:
Outrage supposedly felt on behalf of others is extremely gratifying for more than one reason. It has the appearance of selflessness, and everyone likes to feel that he is selfless. It confers moral respectability on the desire to hate or despise something or somebody, a desire never far from the human heart. It provides him who feels it the possibility of transcendent purpose, if he decides to work toward the elimination of the supposed cause of his outrage. And it may even give him a reasonably lucrative career, if he becomes a professional campaigner or politician: For there is nothing like stirring up resentment for the creation of a political clientele. Anti-racism is a perfect cause for those with free-floating outrage because it puts them automatically on the side of the angels without any need personally to sacrifice anything. You have only to accuse others of it to feel virtuous yourself.
And via Ace, a student recounts how he “de-converted” from the mentally dismal crab-bucket world of the “social justice warrior”:
I realised it wasn’t going to get better. I was in a university class about feminism, overrun with SJWs, and they had worse arguments than I’d seen online. There was no smarter next level to feminism that I was just too stupid to see. That was it. I was at the top and our arguments still sucked.
Feel free to share your own links and snippets in the comments. It’s what these posts are for.
the mentally dismal crab-bucket world of the “social justice warrior”
Snork.
Snork.
Well, it seemed apt. I mean, setting aside the more demented claims that such people make, and their self-induced theatrics and generally obnoxious behaviour, what’s often struck me is the psychology it implies. It seems narrow, dogmatic and intensely reactive. The kind of mental landscape that can be entertaining to drive through at speed, but in which you really wouldn’t want to break down or run out of gas.
Content of character is more important than skin color, right?
Wrong.
The only thing that counts is making the statistics mirror background demographics, which defaults to active discrimination against over-represented identity groups and bias towards under-represented groups. So, if we have a few mid-air plane collisions because the air traffic controller requirements have been dumbed down so as to not *discriminate* against protected identity groups, no problem.
Eggs, omlettes, etc
And the air traffic controller applicants who were actively discriminated against and lied to, what about them?
Fuck em. Beneficiaries of un-earned white privilege one and all. Serves them right.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2015/05/20/trouble-in-skies/
Trouble in the Skies
http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2015/12/30/reverse-discrimination-suit-filed-against-faa-hiring-fallout-continues/?intcmp=bigtopmarketfeatures
Reverse Discrimination Suit Filed Against FAA, Hiring Fallout Continues
Remember: up is the new down.
Dalrymple is of course spot-on. The entire Leftist/Progressive agenda is predicated upon obtaining accolades without any underlying merit, value or virtue. Thus we see the constant references to a “War on [Fill-in-blank with the latest social justice outrage.]” Winning the “battle” of the problematic Mexican food buffet thus is the same as storming Omaha Beach, the absence of mortar fire notwithstanding.
It provides him who feels it the possibility of transcendent purpose, if he decides to work toward the elimination of the supposed cause of his outrage
The thing is, there is no real purpose. They can pretend – to themselves and others – that they have a purpose. But they’re frequently more negative than purposeful.
They’re almost self destructive. They accuse any white person of racism at the drop of a hat – but are keen to find excuses for muslims on marches around UK cities saying unpleasant things
A consequence of the obnoxious behaviour is that they get several reactions from people fed up with being lectured to. Ordinary folk will make slightly more offensive jokes than they would have done – partly to retain their freedom of speech, partly to wind up sanctimonious progressives.
The leftists/SJWs just think it’s more evidence of racism and misogyny, which is more evidence that they’re not “to their own selves being true”
The Chum Bucket Chronicles, Chapter 1: Smells Like Tuna
Did I miss the memo? Where is Friday Ephemera? I want my Friday Ephemera!
No better exemplar of Dalrymple’s point is Michelle Obama pictured holding up a sign with #BringBackOurGirls. One of the most fatuous images (from a fatuous woman) in 2015.
Firstly, the girls did not belong to the Obama’s or even for that matter Americans. They were Nigerians. Secondly, even though Michelle is married to a president able to command immense resources not one single thing was done (by Michelle or Barack or indeed everyone of the re-tweeters who echoed Michelle’s message around the globe) to help the girls. They were kidnapped by Boko Haram with whom many, to this day, remain.
These days all that a person requires to be on the side of the angels is to be seen to be caring. Results or effectiveness are irrelevant. Concerns have decoupled from ever bothering to do anything. Show that you care and then move on to some other campaign.
Let others pick up the twitter campaign and on we go to the next situation needing your caring.
This.
https://twitter.com/voxday/status/683275308259213312
For those of you seeking environmental justice, just a friendly reminder that according AlGore™ we only have 24 days left until, “the world will reach a point of no return…”
Do your part now while there is still time ! Buy your carbon offsets, send cash or money order (no stamps) and three boxtops to AlGore™ Carbon Credit Company Inc. Ltd., 3rd Wacking Huge Mansion on the Beachfront to the Left, Montecito, CA, US and A.
Well, Muldoon, I bought a two and a half ton 7L-engined classic in the past few months. That thing will offset a lot of carbon when I get it repaired, so that’s me taken care of. Or have I got that mixed up?
Florida cops enjoy siccing police dogs on people
And yet people will still shriek “obey or die” and get their rocks off on being bottoms to police officers.
That thing will offset a lot of carbon when I get it repaired, so that’s me taken care of. Or have I got that mixed up?
If you act quickly and get the appropriate lift kit on, you’ll be able to ride out the 0.1972 mm of sea level rise that will take place in the next 24 days, but after that it is Katy Bar The Door.
Official AlGore™ Kat-A-Klysm Lyft Kits can be purchased direct from AlGoreCo™, send cash in small unmarked bills, or money order (no stamps) and two boxtops to Big White Mansion On The Hill, Nashville, TN, US and A.
As a member of the plant kingdom, I fully support increases in atmospheric CO2 and any warming that may ensue (causally or coincidentally).
We plants thrive at 1200ppm. We’re at a mere 440ppm.
Bring.
It.
On.
We plants thrive at 1200ppm. We’re at a mere 440ppm.
Indeed, and they start dying off at about 225, which means we are on thin ice, please to pardon the pun.
I suspect there’s a story behind this image.
Not a good one necessarily, but a story.
I suspect there’s a story behind this image.
Hmmm. Judging from the pictorial evidence . . .
Oooohhh!!!! Watch me leapfrog this pole while totally drunk off my ass!!!! Oh, wait, there’s a dress involved isn’t there.
Siiigggghhhh.
I’ve spent the last year and more putting up with people who absolutely, franticly require some sort of ongoing mechanism of such instant karma . . . according to the current grapevine, the idiots I’ve been having to endure are not having a good start to 2016, and soooo much could have been prevented . . . .
I suspect there’s a story behind this image.
Shorter Hal: The story begins, “Here. Hold my beer.”
It could also be a “planking” attempt. A fairly good one, no less.
Let’s just hope it was staged.
Indeed, and they start dying off at about 225,
Excellent datum. Thanks!
V. Uil
These days all that a person requires to be on the side of the angels is to be seen to be caring. Results or effectiveness are irrelevant.
I think of this as Princess Anne vs. Princess Di. In the event of your life turned upside down, which would you rather, Princess Anne hectoring relief services on your behalf or Princess Di turning up for a photo op with your bedraggled kids?
Not a good one necessarily, but a story.
As Dave Barry would say, we suspect alcohol was involved.
Our new Social Justice Warriors at #BlackLivesMatter have new demands:
We’re talking about a system. The whole damn system is guilty as hell. There is no justice for us in this current system. So we’re not just protesting we are demanding a new world. And a new world means, I want you all to hear me, a new world means defunding, disorganizing and dismantling the police. It means defunding, disorganizing and dismantling the police.
If you thought urban ghettos were anarchic already…
Regarding belated awakenings from the “social justice” stupor, this may be worth revisiting.
Remember, brave warriors, the outrage must never end.
“Passports and driving licences should not state if the holder is male or female.”
http://www.timworstall.com/2016/01/03/dear-lord-how-wonderful/
Vaguely aside but sorta related, I like this quote: “Politicians find themselves crippled by sex scandals rather than by financial scandals because almost everybody understands sex but almost nobody understands futures trading. (Bill’s loss is Hillary’s capital gain.)”
Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/428873/barack-obama-black-identity
No better exemplar of Dalrymple’s point is Michelle Obama pictured holding up a sign with #BringBackOurGirls. One of the most fatuous images (from a fatuous woman) in 2015.
Oh, hell yeah! As I said at the time:
This abduction did not come out of a clear blue sky to a functioning society. The West’s response, if they were going to make any at all, should have been to first call Nigeria for what it is: an utter basket-case where almost every individual from the feckless president down is a despicable shit who would sell out his best friend for ten bucks rather than get off his arse and do an honest day’s work; and then to say, quite accurately, that the 200 girls are lost forever, that the fault lies squarely on the shoulders of Nigerians (Boko Haram or not), and they should all hang their heads in shame.
Instead, we got [a picture of Michelle Obama holding up a sign].
https://twitter.com/PennyRed/status/683602365279277056
Scroll down for *that* photo.
Scroll down for *that* photo.
What, this photo?
Hey, I’m only reproducing it for reasons of clarity. As a public service.
I’m only reproducing it for reasons of clarity.
The quintessence of feminine form?
Mx. Penny is an example to us all. Of what not to do or be.
Of what not to do or be.
For instance, vigorous nose-picking is probably best saved for when you’re not in public, onstage, under lights, being interviewed, in front of an audience and lots of cameras.
#RuralLivesDon’tMatter
If you can handle reason’s saucy comment section, there are several links to people who would defend Black Lives Matter calling for all sorts of state violence against these ruralites.
“vigorous nose-picking is probably best saved for when you’re not in public”
Unless, of course, attention (ANY sort of attention) is what motivates you most, I suppose. Or maybe she was just mining for inspiration in a location that was different from the usual bodily orifice.
Oh, Dear.
Not being the expert on every possible variation and date of occurrence in music is apparently the newest microagression, at least at at this moment of typing.
David Rubin: College campuses need fewer listening sessions, more edgy dialogues
“vigorous nose-picking is probably best saved for when you’re not in public”
Did this at traffic lights once while behind a school bus.
That learned me, and continued to learn me for quite a few intersections.
It’s 2016 and I rather expect that the writing of bad headlines will continue past 2015 . . . .
Man Attacks Soldiers Guarding French Mosque With His Car
I rather doubt any of the several stories with that headline bother to explain why the soldiers were using some fellow’s car to protect a mosque.
Perhaps our Laurie was simply trying to decide where a nose piercing could be placed. In any event, she looks repulsive.
Incidentally, over at Peter Risdon’s we’re discussing Sherlock and updating Holmes for the modern day.
This:
https://twitter.com/CathyYoung63/status/684058085816713216
Translation: “Please spend your money somewhere else.”
Translation: “Please spend your money somewhere else.”
Heh. Absolutely. But haven’t you seen HOW VIRTUOUS AND FASHIONABLE THEY ARE?
The puzzle is why the activists are now so intent on denying that such de-policing is occurring and that it is affecting crime.
It is leftist magical thinking. They want everything to be better, that criminals are just misunderstood or oppressed so giving them a pass on their behavior will, of course, allow them to see the error of their ways and all will join hands and sing kumbya!
In California our property AND violent crimes have gone up dramatically — and so unexpectedly
Please don’t look at Gov Moonbeams AB109-Prison realignment (with upwards of 10K state prisoners let loose in the state) or Prop 47, which pushed a whole lot of felonies into misdemeanors plus made it easy-peasy to be a career petty thief — you all just get a citation as long as your haul is $949 per incident!
No no, those things have nothing to do with the increase in crime. Nothing to see, move along.
Speaking of conspicuous piety.
Ms Angyal tells us, “I’ve got a PhD in pop culture.”
‘I’m only reproducing it for reasons of clarity’.
Is that a clip from Eddie Redmayne’s new film?
“Ms Angyal tells us, “I’ve got a PhD in pop culture.”
David, I think one can only charitably empathise with young Chloe’s evident life frustrations really….
After all, like so many of her ilk it’s always a phenomenally ‘hard sell’ to convince others that life is so insufferably cruel, oppressive and challenging…..when one is an under-employed, socio-economically privileged, middle-class western woman with an enviable (yet clearly squandered) education.
Still, I must cruelly limit my otherwise boundless empathy for Ms Angyal on account of her blatantly ripping off some other bird via The Guardian (where else) who pulled this exact same ‘no books written by nasty white blokes for me’ stunt for attention a couple of years back, if memory serves.
Ms Angyal bases her reading selections by gonads & melanin …
and she’s a Senior Editor at HuffPo
Fills one with confidence over the content at that esteemed publication, eh?
More “cultural enrichment” in Germany.
http://althouse.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/german-authorities-said-on-tuesday-that.html
Diversity!
More “cultural enrichment” in Germany.
From the NYT piece:
The ethnicity of the perpetrators, their origins and culture, is hardly “irrelevant” if you want to understand the problem at hand and reduce the likelihood of similar mass assaults – 90, is it? – happening again. Say, by not inviting more culturally incompatible scum into your county where they can prey on women, in organised gangs, fearlessly and with impunity. And when your politicians are left saying they’ll have to “explain” to such people, “who come from other cultures,” that violently groping random women, robbing them and then raping them isn’t how we do things here, then you may want to rethink your immigration policy. And your choice of politicians.
Still, I’m sure our brave campus feminists will be on this in no time. No?
then you may want to rethink your immigration policy. And your choice of politicians.
The Mayor of Cologne is now telling women to “stick within your own group” to avoid being robbed and raped.
http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/223195/
The Mayor of Cologne is now telling women to “stick within your own group” to avoid being robbed and raped.
How quickly it happens. See also the second item here.
And when your politicians are left saying they’ll have to “explain” to such people, “who come from other cultures,” that violently groping random women, robbing them and then raping them isn’t how we do things here, then you may want to rethink your immigration policy.
“Norway Offers Migrants a Lesson in How to Treat Women.”
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/12/20/world/europe/norway-offers-migrants-a-lesson-in-how-to-treat-women.html?referer=
If you have to give them lessons on not raping women maybe you shouldn’t have invited them in in the first place.
#QualityControl
Apparently “rape culture” only counts if it’s (1) imaginary and (2) doesn’t involve brown men.
David, “Hey, I’m only reproducing it for reasons of clarity. As a public service.” Ah yes, she is clearly demonstrating an excerpt from the book on her lap “Unspeakable Things.”
Hell, I lived in Paris back in the 1980s and every metro station was a gauntlet of “utes” grabbing and pinching and slavering and drooling back then. Knew this chick from The Bronx–she knocked one “uteful” ass-grabber onto the tracks one merry morn. Dammitall, he missed the third rail….