Current Tunes: Children of Bodom – Hate Crew Deathroll
So a friend directed me to this provocative little video the other day, and my reactions were complex enough to warrant that I document them here.
He astutely informed me the women featured so prominently in this video are indeed members of some group of competitive gaming females dubbed “Team Unicorn,” who my friend asserted are associated with the Fatal1ty gaming empire. So right off the bat, make no mistake, these girls are definitely involved in major money-making. For me, that makes their intentions a little suspect.
But we’ll leave money out this. It's pretty clear what the true purpose of this clip is: eliciting erections from a host of young American males aged 16-99 who have a more than passing interest in comic books, video games, and fantasy/sci-fi literature. Which, ok, admittedly comes close to including every breathing male in the country.
Regardless, it’s pretty insulting to think that if they spend a hunk of cash on flashy costumes and retarded lens flares and a Stan Lee cameo, they’ll suddenly monopolize the attention and affection of the above-mentioned demographic. It’ll work on plenty of men, I’m sure, but I’m not falling for that. I’m hopeful there’s a right honorable contingent of men who looked at this and had the same reaction I did, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there weren’t.
Insulting us in that regard is one thing, but how about the insult this is to gamer/geek women? First off, no one in their right mind thinks a majority of geek culture girls are potential underwear models. These gals are the exception, not the rule. Which is good for them, sure, bravo. You’re physically attractive and you know who Stan Lee is. You deserve a damn trophy, don’t you?
Back in reality, by doing this video you’re just setting a bad example for young girls who are part of the culture. You’re sending a message that guys are easily manipulated, but you can only achieve that level of power and attention if you’re super-beautiful like us. What a crock. This is no different than the criticism you’ve heard before in this argument, I’m sure.
But full disclosure comes now. This is what peeves me the most about this video. I’m of mind that it’d be wonderfully fulfilling to have a relationship with a geek chick. I would love to have that kind of gal to sit around and talk to about which “Star Trek” captain was the greatest. But I don’t want it to be the kind of girl that’s being represented in this video, that says to geek women you have to dress provocatively and sing incredibly pathetic pop music (actually, its probably not them actually singing at all) to attract my attention. I want a woman smarter than that — plain and simple. And it’d be nice if those women knew that was what was really desired, not these over-sexualized scale-sized dolls.
I’d be amiss to have this discussion without mentioning “The Guild’s” cute little “Do You Wanna Date My Avatar?” video. This video was the precursor to the Team Unicorn video, and should be where I direct a significant portion of my blame to.
But disregarding the debate over whether or not a music video giving merit to having a romantic relationship with a full-fledged simulacrum is or isn't a sign of the coming Apocalypse, I really don’t have much of a qualm with “The Guild” video. Felicia Day does not strike me at all as an attention whore for this simple reason: if she was, she could have far, far more attention than she has now. She only takes roles that interest her, which from what I understand should be read as “roles that set a positive standard for geek women.” She's popular among all of geekdom, but she hasn't done a lot of mainstream material. The highest she ever ranked on the mainstream ladder was probably her two whole episodes she did of "Dollhouse." Which, you know, got cancelled.
If anything, “Do You Wanna Date My Avatar?” is a critique of gaming culture. I could probably do an extended post just explaining that.
But this filth that came from Team Unicorn is degrading, insulting, and just garbage in general. Geek and gaming culture was, I thought, doing a great job in the fight to bring the sexes onto a field of equity and respect. But material like this is regressive, with little redeeming value.
I say little redeeming value because, I’m sorry, I can’t help myself… Katee Sackhoff with red hair is a force of sexual power this world is not prepared for.
22 September 2010
19 September 2010
Tea Time
Current Tunes: Tom Waits – Black Market
So terribly sorry about missing a Friday post. Between working early and having to run and errand or two after work, time just slipped away from me. It had been my intention to do a “catch up post” on Sunday, but I realized I wasn’t going to have any time on Monday either to do that post, so I’m putting this post together on Sunday.
I’m not going to lie, I am absolutely fascinated by the Tea Party movement. I’m excited about it too. Not because I agree with their policies or ideology, I’m just stunned and amazed that someone is standing up and proving that a viable third party can exist in America. That’s what has me so captivated by what’s going on with the Tea Party. All I’ve heard from anyone who claims to be a politics expert or a member of the two major parties is that a third party cannot thrive, but the Tea Party is doing it.
At first glance the Tea Party is still something to be somewhat concerned about. Most accounts directly associate membership in the Tea Party with fervent religious associations and obscenely dumb ideas about President Obama’s imagined practice of Islam and/or socialist ties. That’s an understandably troublesome trend that commands some concern and reservation. Anyone with reason and common sense is right and just to question the motives and mental stability of people who prescribe to those beliefs.
To be fair, I don’t know that you can concretely state that every single Tea Party proponent is of the mind that Barack Obama is a commie muslim. The stat that gets thrown around says roughly 20% of Americans think he is a practitioner of Islam. That’s 20% of Americans though, not 20% of Tea Party members. It could be 90% or it could be 9%. I’m not sure you can get a fully accurate picture of how many Tea Party proponents will actually confess to your face that they think this. What I find fascinating is how Gallup did a little demographic research on the Tea Party and found out they somehow represent a fairly even slice of America. As is often the case, media outlets (no matter their biases) have a tendency to concentrate on the loud, radical, attention-grabbing voices in movements because that drives ratings, of course. I have to wonder how much that tendency is at play in all of this.
When it comes to addressing their ideologies, here’s a few “core beliefs” that they describe as “non-negotiable,” which is, admittedly, a bit strong. Nevertheless, they actually have a few principles I imagine most Americans would be hard-pressed to say they don’t agree with:
- Illegal Aliens Are Here Illegally
- Pro-Domestic Employment Is Indispensable
- Special Interests Eliminated
- Bail-out and Stimulus Plans are Illegal
I’ve conveniently eliminated several other of their “core beliefs” that I disagree with, but looking at these few, I don’t think these are out-of-touch, wacko ideas.
Many of their ideas center around a very basic, elementary understanding of economics, of course tending towards conservative, fiscal responsibility. Which I found most interesting because no where in the list do they mention funding unnecessary, dangerous international wars, but did emphasize the “necessity” of a buffed-up military.
The one major goal of the Tea Party isn't specifically mentioned on that site though, which I find puzzling, because it's their most positive goal. They want to vote everyone out of Congress. I wholeheartedly agree with that. Where Tea Party critics get loud, though, is when they point out they want to replace all those vacant seats with candidates they support, candidates like Christine O'Donnell. Which should surprise no one. That's how political parties work. Sure, their candidates may not be wholly qualified or the best choice, but don't scold them for just doing what political movements want to do. If they get enough votes and enough support, they get to have their way. That's democracy.
I think the most telling “core belief” listed referred to accessibility of office for, as they put it, “average” citizens. That’s probably just not the best way to word this idea. I think what they’re really trying to say is they’re tired of the financially well-off stepping into office and making decisions about what the middle and lower class have to do with their money, and that’s a reasonable concern I think. The danger here is, again, the concentration on the “average.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t want “average” people running the government. I want the smartest, brightest, bravest, most confident human beings our country has to offer sitting in political offices all around the country. It just so happens that being bright, confident, and brave often results in plenty of financial and personal success, and as such we shouldn't hold that against good people who try hard to be a responsible public official.
The basic conclusion I’ve reached about the Tea Party isn't anything new. A lot of people in America are pissed, and the Tea Party gives voice to lots of those people. I’ll take it a step further though, and this goes to my point about viable third parties: the Tea Party might have some serious flaws in their ideology, and probably has its fair share of crackpot members, but at least they're doing something.
I have no doubt there is an analogous version of the Tea Party for the Left. People who are infuriated about the war in Afghanistan, who are pissed that the Supreme Court has been a right-leaning entity for decades, who are tired of seeing the tenet of separation of church and state being trampled on week after week. This unnamed party, if it ever arises, will probably have its share of cooks too, who might say things like Bush masterminded 9/11, or is a card-carrying Nazi or what have you. But, those folks haven’t showed up yet, or aren’t motivated enough to get up and do something. I suppose you could make the argument these sort of people don’t exist, but, to me, that’s incredibly naïve.
So I say at least give the Tea Party credit for seeing something they’re mad about and trying to take a stand against it. That’s my greatest criticism of America: people in this country take things lying down far too often. In Europe, when their governments do something incomprehensibly stupid or unpopular, the people go out into the streets and bitch and bitch and bitch until the government fixes it. Which is what people should do.
Not continue to sit around on the couch drinking and watching those “Real Housewives” shows. Whilst bitching and complaining to their family members or social circle, but not actually getting up and becoming an activist.
In truth, though, how viable is the Tea Party after all? There’s lots of buzz that conservatives are going to take back Congressional control. I wouldn’t be so sure. All these victories by Tea Party candidates for the Republican nomination in these races, I wouldn’t be so quick to write these off as sure victories. If they were winning these nominations in landslides, I might be concerned. But the mainstream, average conservative candidates are still posting lots and lots of support in these races. Some of them that lose are even planning on running write-in or independent campaigns, ala Joe Liebermann. That turned out well for Joe, it could turn out well for these other folks.
Even in the case that Republicans actually do reclaim Congress from the Democrats, I have a fantastic strategy for the minority in Congress, a time-tested motto that never fails: If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
If the Republicans/conservatives/teabaggers control Congress, stall and sabotage every single bill they propose, just like they’ve been doing these past couple years. Filibuster. Go up to the podium and read David Sedaris or Chuck Palahniuk or "The People's History of the United States" until everyone falls asleep. Or just stand up there with a stereo and play Lady Gaga all day and night. Give em a taste of their own medicine. I normally stand by the usual "don't sink to their level" mentality, but sometimes dirty work has to be done.
Unless, of course, they propose a bill finally outlawing the filibuster strategy, which I say vote for it fervently. After that, win the Congress back in the next election cycle and get something done. How hilarious would that be?
So terribly sorry about missing a Friday post. Between working early and having to run and errand or two after work, time just slipped away from me. It had been my intention to do a “catch up post” on Sunday, but I realized I wasn’t going to have any time on Monday either to do that post, so I’m putting this post together on Sunday.
I’m not going to lie, I am absolutely fascinated by the Tea Party movement. I’m excited about it too. Not because I agree with their policies or ideology, I’m just stunned and amazed that someone is standing up and proving that a viable third party can exist in America. That’s what has me so captivated by what’s going on with the Tea Party. All I’ve heard from anyone who claims to be a politics expert or a member of the two major parties is that a third party cannot thrive, but the Tea Party is doing it.
At first glance the Tea Party is still something to be somewhat concerned about. Most accounts directly associate membership in the Tea Party with fervent religious associations and obscenely dumb ideas about President Obama’s imagined practice of Islam and/or socialist ties. That’s an understandably troublesome trend that commands some concern and reservation. Anyone with reason and common sense is right and just to question the motives and mental stability of people who prescribe to those beliefs.
To be fair, I don’t know that you can concretely state that every single Tea Party proponent is of the mind that Barack Obama is a commie muslim. The stat that gets thrown around says roughly 20% of Americans think he is a practitioner of Islam. That’s 20% of Americans though, not 20% of Tea Party members. It could be 90% or it could be 9%. I’m not sure you can get a fully accurate picture of how many Tea Party proponents will actually confess to your face that they think this. What I find fascinating is how Gallup did a little demographic research on the Tea Party and found out they somehow represent a fairly even slice of America. As is often the case, media outlets (no matter their biases) have a tendency to concentrate on the loud, radical, attention-grabbing voices in movements because that drives ratings, of course. I have to wonder how much that tendency is at play in all of this.
When it comes to addressing their ideologies, here’s a few “core beliefs” that they describe as “non-negotiable,” which is, admittedly, a bit strong. Nevertheless, they actually have a few principles I imagine most Americans would be hard-pressed to say they don’t agree with:
- Illegal Aliens Are Here Illegally
- Pro-Domestic Employment Is Indispensable
- Special Interests Eliminated
- Bail-out and Stimulus Plans are Illegal
I’ve conveniently eliminated several other of their “core beliefs” that I disagree with, but looking at these few, I don’t think these are out-of-touch, wacko ideas.
Many of their ideas center around a very basic, elementary understanding of economics, of course tending towards conservative, fiscal responsibility. Which I found most interesting because no where in the list do they mention funding unnecessary, dangerous international wars, but did emphasize the “necessity” of a buffed-up military.
The one major goal of the Tea Party isn't specifically mentioned on that site though, which I find puzzling, because it's their most positive goal. They want to vote everyone out of Congress. I wholeheartedly agree with that. Where Tea Party critics get loud, though, is when they point out they want to replace all those vacant seats with candidates they support, candidates like Christine O'Donnell. Which should surprise no one. That's how political parties work. Sure, their candidates may not be wholly qualified or the best choice, but don't scold them for just doing what political movements want to do. If they get enough votes and enough support, they get to have their way. That's democracy.
I think the most telling “core belief” listed referred to accessibility of office for, as they put it, “average” citizens. That’s probably just not the best way to word this idea. I think what they’re really trying to say is they’re tired of the financially well-off stepping into office and making decisions about what the middle and lower class have to do with their money, and that’s a reasonable concern I think. The danger here is, again, the concentration on the “average.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t want “average” people running the government. I want the smartest, brightest, bravest, most confident human beings our country has to offer sitting in political offices all around the country. It just so happens that being bright, confident, and brave often results in plenty of financial and personal success, and as such we shouldn't hold that against good people who try hard to be a responsible public official.
The basic conclusion I’ve reached about the Tea Party isn't anything new. A lot of people in America are pissed, and the Tea Party gives voice to lots of those people. I’ll take it a step further though, and this goes to my point about viable third parties: the Tea Party might have some serious flaws in their ideology, and probably has its fair share of crackpot members, but at least they're doing something.
I have no doubt there is an analogous version of the Tea Party for the Left. People who are infuriated about the war in Afghanistan, who are pissed that the Supreme Court has been a right-leaning entity for decades, who are tired of seeing the tenet of separation of church and state being trampled on week after week. This unnamed party, if it ever arises, will probably have its share of cooks too, who might say things like Bush masterminded 9/11, or is a card-carrying Nazi or what have you. But, those folks haven’t showed up yet, or aren’t motivated enough to get up and do something. I suppose you could make the argument these sort of people don’t exist, but, to me, that’s incredibly naïve.
So I say at least give the Tea Party credit for seeing something they’re mad about and trying to take a stand against it. That’s my greatest criticism of America: people in this country take things lying down far too often. In Europe, when their governments do something incomprehensibly stupid or unpopular, the people go out into the streets and bitch and bitch and bitch until the government fixes it. Which is what people should do.
Not continue to sit around on the couch drinking and watching those “Real Housewives” shows. Whilst bitching and complaining to their family members or social circle, but not actually getting up and becoming an activist.
In truth, though, how viable is the Tea Party after all? There’s lots of buzz that conservatives are going to take back Congressional control. I wouldn’t be so sure. All these victories by Tea Party candidates for the Republican nomination in these races, I wouldn’t be so quick to write these off as sure victories. If they were winning these nominations in landslides, I might be concerned. But the mainstream, average conservative candidates are still posting lots and lots of support in these races. Some of them that lose are even planning on running write-in or independent campaigns, ala Joe Liebermann. That turned out well for Joe, it could turn out well for these other folks.
Even in the case that Republicans actually do reclaim Congress from the Democrats, I have a fantastic strategy for the minority in Congress, a time-tested motto that never fails: If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
If the Republicans/conservatives/teabaggers control Congress, stall and sabotage every single bill they propose, just like they’ve been doing these past couple years. Filibuster. Go up to the podium and read David Sedaris or Chuck Palahniuk or "The People's History of the United States" until everyone falls asleep. Or just stand up there with a stereo and play Lady Gaga all day and night. Give em a taste of their own medicine. I normally stand by the usual "don't sink to their level" mentality, but sometimes dirty work has to be done.
Unless, of course, they propose a bill finally outlawing the filibuster strategy, which I say vote for it fervently. After that, win the Congress back in the next election cycle and get something done. How hilarious would that be?
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