January 2011
“As a matter of fact, all debates of side, I find the language policing when...”
– Things could be worse: I’m starting to get really wary of language policing
(how many ways can you reblog a post, and still keep it in the thread?)
language policing - a straw situation? not really.
quixotess:
a couple of other posts on language policing that are especially pertinent
Yes, I agree that a privileged B who eschews an discussion full of merit to yell and scream at A that what A says has no validity because of one single *ist word, and who does this in order to score points with B’s peers or self-image, is a detriment to the conversation.
I also think that’s kind...
a couple of other posts on language policing that... →
fiercelynative:
tiaramerchgirl:
And while I’m here, I would like to address something else I’ve noticed: people are picking apart my specific examples (“crazy”, “homophobia”, “Transman” vs “trans man”) and answering specifically what’s wrong with those words - which, well, is rather proving my point: it’s not those specific words I’m asking about, I’m talking about missing the forest for the...
Radical Hott Off Notes: I am really really sick... →
This is the BFP I was referring to in my earlier post; here she gives her own perspective on the events that transpired. The paragraph I bolded below really spoke to me, but read the whole thing anyway.
radicallyhottoff:
I am really really sick (finally got whatever the kids had) and my back collapsed on itself today—so I can hardly sit for more than a few minutes without being in pain. I have...
Amie thinks harder: tiaramerchgirl: A common... →
amiethinksharder:
tiaramerchgirl:
A common attribute amongst the knee-jerk language police (the ones who just go “That’s X-ist!” without much context) I’ve noticed is that they have no stake in the word itself. For example, on this very thread I’ve seen quite a few people go “well someone with mental illness would be totally hurt by the word ‘crazy’” even though they have no mental issues...
a couple of other posts on language policing that... →
Wow, there’s nearly 400 notes on this piece and it doesn’t show any sign of stopping.
I know there are a number of you that are following the reblogs on this post to check out other discussion. I want to direct your attention to two other posts that weren’t technically part of this reblog chain, but deal with this topic head-on.
They both deal with an issue that crops up over...
replies to replies
haterina said: It is just SO strange what part of your life people like to dive into D: do the concern trolls go to bed with a smile on their face, knowing that they have dispensed their wisdom?
I personally wish they’re just jealous they’re not my lover and therefore not being talked about on my blog ;)
agentcupcake said: Eeeee this is so wonderful! It’s pretty and adorable and...
thee marvelous fairycakes ❀: I'm starting to get...
wild-cosmia:
thee marvelous fairycakes ❀: I’m starting to get really wary of language policing
verdigrisfille:
Here’s how I feel.
(1) “Language policing” cannot be a substitute for substantive change, but dislodging -ist language is important. If you walk around saying “gay” derogatorily without really thinking about the rhetorical implications of what you’re saying, then you’re...
Irrellievancy: I'm starting to get really wary of... →
irrellievancy:
+ 2 MILLION.
It’s getting to a point where I feel censored on the internet and more free to say things in “meatspace”. And by “censored” I mean “oh no, if I say this it’s going to start a long, tedious internet argument and I have shit to do today”.
Internet people love pointing out that insulting words are insulting. No shit, Sherlocks. They’re not meant to inspire everyone to...
to clarify:
ourcatastrophe:
every time this language issue comes up (see Tiara’s original post for context), a bunch of people say that there’s a false dichotomy being drawn between reforming language and “real action”. In theory I agree — it should be possible to pay attention to language and also be part of a social movement . but in practice… the dichotomy exists, in people, in our actions. there...
mamavh asked: I'm just catching up on my Tumblr dash, but I wanted to add to the chorus of praise for your language policing post. I've been thinking about this lately and you articulated quite a few of my issues very succinctly. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
language policing, lefty politics, and imperialist...
so-treu:
somethingtoobrave:
lovelyladyplant:
[removed a whole bunch of conversation about a South African invention: a female condom with teeth]
It’s so frustrating that, once again…. it’s the woman’s job to protect herself from rape. Why on earth does anyone have to be prepared to such extremes? I am angry right now (about a lot of things, but this, too). Besides, what about women without...
so-treu asked: Hey Tiara, just wanted to let you know i ended up writing a response to your post about language policing on a seperate thread here: http://so-treu.tumblr.com/post/3014086823/somethingtoobrave-lovelyladyplant
i had read your post earlier and was letting it steep when i came across that thread and was like, this is EXACTLY what she's talking about, lol. but i agree with your...
i had read your post earlier and was letting it steep when i came across that thread and was like, this is EXACTLY what she's talking about, lol. but i agree with your...
I've been getting quite a few concern trolls being...
Or rather, how I write about my relationships on here.
“How does your boyfriend feel about you saying stuff like [my lesbian leanings/queer sexuality] online?”
“How would you feel if your lover discussed your looks on the Internet?”
“Don’t you feel weird sharing with your [non-existent] brother?”
etc etc. Pear gets the ZOMG REVERSE RACISTS, I get the...
I'm starting to get really wary of language...
dinokitten:
A few people on my dash reblogged this disagreeing with it. I’m not going to reblog their input, because honestly, I agree with the main post. At least somewhat. I view certain words as similar to swearing — that is, sensitive to context. If I’m around someone who has expressed discomfort with me swearing, of course I won’t. And I won’t swear around someone new unless I hear them do...
Listen up people. When you have giant boobs EVERY...
jemimaaslana:
theoceanandthesky:
williamaweasley:
lady88:
EVERY. SHIRT.
It’s not slutty…it just happens.
Now move along.
skellington is following lady88. two worlds meet. yayyyy
oh my god gpo-twenty years of my life.
My life. Oh the slut-shaming… :-(
I now wear mostly hoodies. Hides my body. Still gets me looks, but I can deal better with the “What a weirdo”-looks than with the...
on the other hand, Tiara is seducing me via...
allthebloodinmyveins:
and I LIKE IT A LOT.
tee hee hee ;D
LookingOut: I'm starting to get really wary of... →
leonineclaire:
tiaramerchgirl:
…mainly because it seems a little too easy.
Instead of engaging with points of view that are challenging to yours (or just even working from a very different perspective), instead of looking within yourself to see how you’re perpetuating and practicing discrimination and…
tumblr cut off krona’s bit…arggh. I agree with them for the most part.
That thing with...
WatchTiara the Merch Girl does (Most of) “The Chaos” (The English Language Poem Misattributed to B. Shaw Going Around Tumblr) (by Tiara The Merch Girl)
So there’s this poem going around Tumblr attributed to B. Shaw (George Bernard Shaw?) with this claim attached:
If you can pronounce correctly every word in this poem, you will be speaking English better than 90% of the native...
hey meridian this is you isn't it?
andtheskygoesblack:
Because you look very much like my Delicious Mystery, though she has a more prominent chin I think (hers is a bit too close to TROLOLOL for my comfort, ack).
But ZOMG LOVER LOOKALIKES ON TUMBLR ARE YOU REALLY MY LOVER AND IF YOU ARE WHY ARE YOU NOT IN MY BED
amanda palmer's ninja gigs and the san fran plan →
OK, given all the problematic aspects of Amanda Palmer’s politics, she still has some really interesting business and marketing ideas that are worth looking into. The account below is of a backyard gig that happened from a purchase of her BBQ Bundle, where for $5000 Amanda would play for you and up to 50 of your friends.
In the excerpt of the story below she talks about how she feels that...
ourcatastrophe:
Tiara the Merch Girl: I’m starting to get really wary of language policing
I agree very strongly with pretty much all of this.
I saw a post on tumblr the other day that said “there is basically nothing I would rather do then pick apart oppressive language”. it made me feel ill. ugh.
…wait, what, seriously!?
How about picking apart internal...
“If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely...”
– E.B. White (via quote-book)
SOMEBODY UNDERSTANDS!
sometimes I forget that people are usually...
thejuthikakid:
misterstibbons:
sciolismsir:
introvertsarepeopletoo:
Dude, all the time, and then when I remember/find out all over again that people are usually heterosexual AND cisgender, MIND: BLOWN.
Honestly, I think the weirdest one is remembering my sister is straight and cisgender. I’m not sure why that blows my mind but it always does.
WHY IS SHE SO NORMAL.
I HAVE THE SAME...
ZOMG NEW FOLLOWERS HELLO :D
This was pretty much my face (actually that is me up there :P) when seeing the zillions of emails with reblogs and “XYZ is now following you” on them. I think Tumblr’s given up on trying to email me all the new updates though.
Hi! :D I’m Tiara, often known as the Merch Girl, also more recently Mendhi Henna when I’m feeling porny. I’m mostly an emerging...
I'm starting to get really wary of language...
atheist-fire:
I have to agree for the most part with this. The exception being the “your/you’re” debate. “Proper” English can be a lot of things, the way people interpret “art” as being abstract, Impressionistic, etc. “Your/You’re” is a fundamental distinction in English. Going back to the art analogy, it’s not like arguing that you can’t paint with a pair of pliers. You most certainly can....
I'm starting to get really wary of language...
andrewtsks:
This is an important point of view to consider.
I would like to relate an example that has nothing to do with the potential political implications of certain terms, in order to explain what it is about this post that I think we should all at least bear in mind (even if we don’t necessarily change our behaviors immediately).
In my last romantic relationship, things went really...
{F}Score: Brand Personality Test →
Your primary fascination is VICE. (Nicely done, you.) Even without realizing it, you’re already instinctively applying this trigger when trying to persuade others. Your secondary trigger is LUST, and your dormant trigger (the one you’re least likely to apply in your personality and behavior) is TRUST.
ahahahhahaahahahahaha nice!! (and yeah, I’m not very trusting of people, even as an...
Mainely Butch: Need video ideas! →
mainelybutch:
Looking for more ideas for videos addressing LGBTQ topics, issues and lifestyles. Got a question? Or want to know more about a certain topic, throw it at me and let me see what I can do. I am new to Tumblr and am looking to interact with others in the LGBTQ community via social networking sites like this one, Youtube, and Facebook.
Hello and welcome :)
There’s a bunch...
Anonymous asked: Thank you so much for the post on language policing. I personally get frustrated because I support the causes of people who do a lot of that policing, but I'm totally frustrated with both the way they go about it and their narrow-mindedness.
I think everybody should be treated as equals no matter who they are, but usually people are only worried about equality if it pertains to...
I think everybody should be treated as equals no matter who they are, but usually people are only worried about equality if it pertains to...
I'm starting to get really wary of language...
jhameia:
I’ve been hunting for a post that I think would speak very nicely to this, by redlightpolitics, about how it can be tiresome to hear people cry “sexist! Privilege! Oppresion!” all the time. Can’t find the post, but the point of it was that, people doing that are often exercising this new language they have, using the names they have just learned. Even if what they’re doing is ridic and...
Anonymous asked: I wholeheartedly agree with your language policing post. I've never heard the term ablesit outside of tumblr. I've never heard people refer to themselves as cisgendered. I don't like being called transphobic because I don't put an asterisk at the end of the word trans. People spend more time focusing on things that don't matter than things that do. I'm glad someone...
I'm starting to get really wary of language...
radicalranting:
[I reallllly want to respond to this, but it’s past 1 in the morning where I am and I feel like someone just shot my writing skills through the head. So please bear with me?]
Another reason why I think we should be more careful about language policing - we’re not always in the most optimal frames of mind while writing even if there’s something we really want to...
I'm starting to get really wary of language...
quixotess:
[my post]
Re: your first paragraph, I don’t think the problem there is language critiquing at all. There are many people I know who call out language in good faith and absolutely do not act like they are doing Good Activist deeds, and there is a lot of extremely thoughtful language critique out there that goes way beyond “crying ableist.” I’m frankly surprised to see you characterize...
nuditea asked: infinite hugs for you. infinite. mwah love ♥♥♥♥♥
mikroblogolas asked: Thanks for all your fantastic posts! I really appreciate your spot-on analysis and very necessary perspective. <333
1 tag
I'm starting to get really wary of language...
…mainly because it seems a little too easy.
Instead of engaging with points of view that are challenging to yours (or just even working from a very different perspective), instead of looking within yourself to see how you’re perpetuating and practicing discrimination and harm, all you have to do is pick out a word and go “Ableist! Classist! XYZist!” and dismiss the other...
I am from a third-world country. →
nwbtcw:
tiaramerchgirl:
…if you’re going to commit a massive fail by claiming that “if you’re in a third-world country I doubt you’d have internet access and a Tumblr” us third-worldies will come en masse and poke you in the eye.
Also? The first-world/third-world terms are deprecated. (Did you know it originally meant countries that were neutral during the Cold War?) Try terms...
mary finucane at disney princess recovery: The... →
emilyswash:
Has your tween been looking a little, well, old lately? Do you look at her across the breakfast table and wish she’d do something to prevent the wrinkles that will be here any minute? Or, do you gaze at her youthful complexion and wish there were a product to help her preserve that smooth countenance? Well, fear not. Walmart is here. The Geo-Girl beauty line will be in stores this...
definatalie's bits: Who sexualises children? →
fuckyeahgenderstudies:
I hear so much on the news, read so much in the paper and online, about how “our” little children (i’m sorry, i’ve heard it takes a village to raise a child, but—please!—-someone else’s children are nothing to do with me, a young, free and single twentysomething. I reserve a special hatred for the collective guilt-mongering thrust of that rhetoric) are being exposed to so...
