Monday, October 1, 2018

I Am Perplexed

So Donald Trump insulted a female reporter and I'm not sure I understand what lesson I'm supposed to draw from this. The reporterette in question is Cecelia Vega. Trump told her, "I know you're not thinking. You never do." And the response from feminists has been outrage. But not just outrage, outrage that implies there is something sexist or anti-woman about what he did.

Hmm.

Here's what bothers me. There is nothing sex-based about what he said. He just called her a moron. The identical could have been said to anyone of any race or gender or religion without having any racial, gender or religious connotations. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've said it to lots of people and I've heard other people say it to lots of other people. So what makes this somehow sexist?

Do you see the problem here? If they had said, "He needs to stop insulting reporters boo hoo, we're so weak we can't take it!" Then I can understand where they are coming from. I can't respect it, but I get it.

But by implying that the problem is that he said it to a female reporter, they've change the whole meaning of their whining. Now they are suggesting that female reporters are delicate and can't stand the same insults lobbed at male reporters.

Are they? Are they delicate flowers we must protect from the mean old world? Or are they, as we're told, actual reporters?

You know, I was always told that female reporters should be treated like men, but apparently not. Apparently, they need to be coddled and protected... like children. Maybe they shouldn't be in the field if they can't handle a little insult like this?

Has it dawned on anyone that the feminist view of women is super condescending and oddly Victorian? "We are equals, just don't say anything mean... or do anything that might raise the specter of sex... or cause me to be upset 40 years from now... or that goes beyond the way the Victorian stereotype of how little girls behave." Get me to a convent to protect my delicate virtues! Why is this how feminists see women? The non-feminist women I know are a good deal tougher than that. Is feminism just about protecting pathetic, weak women?

Thoughts?

By the way, if you're a liberal, a feminist or a reporter and you need me to define any of these words, just email me and I'll be happy to dumb things way down for you.

18 comments:

Tennessee Jed said...

of course it is not sexist on its face, but that is not the point. The left is convinced he and his supporters are that plus racists, homophobes, nationalists ad nauseum so they try and use is statement to rip him: e.g. he clearly must have meant because she is a woman so there!

Curiiusly, the whole Kavanaugh situation underscores the problem. While women rightfully state they would not report rape because defense lawyers would drag their name through the mud, treating them with kid gloves while dragging the accused smacks of differential unequal treatment

AndrewPrice said...

Jed, I think they've really taken the stance that to insult a woman is sexist regardless of sexist intent or wording. If that's the case, then either their definition of sexism is a total joke (true) or they view women as the most helpless creatures. This says so much more about them than it possibly says about Trump.

Anthony said...

So Trump called on a reporter and insulted her, then she thanked him, then he insulted her again, then he whined about how the media is mean to him and the media tried to characterize that exchange (which is pretty much how Trump treats everyone who doesn't blow smoke up his butt) as sexist. Sounds like a day that ends in 'y'.

BevfromNYC said...

Hi Andrew! Long time, no write...sorry about that. It's been a long and very trying year. All that being said...

I am so tired of the manufactured "moral" outrage from women these days. You are right. He said something that he could (and frankly would and should) say to any reporter regardless of gender or any other group. As a woman of a "certain age" they betray everything that I have worked to achieve.

And don't get me started about the new Carrie Nations sprouting up in the media who now have suddenly declared the evils of that "old demon rum".

AndrewPrice said...

Hi Bev! Welcome back! I hope you can stay awhile. We have missed you. Sorry to hear it's been a hard year.

I am sick to death of it to. No matter what happens, someone whines how it's an outrage that blah blah blah. It's driving me nuts!

Anthony said...

Bev,

Glad you're back. Sorry you've had a tough time.

tryanmax said...

It's pure confirmation bias. Take whatever Trump does, isolate it, blow it up, pretend that's all there is. Rinse. Repeat.

Anonymous said...

Standard Identity Politics. Make a generic insult that has nothing to do with race or gender to a non white or a non male and it becomes a gender/racial slur. BEV! I'm so glad you're back! I'm sorry that your year wasn't good. I hope things are going better, I've missed your insights and I've missed. Just, you here at the site. Welcome back.
GypsyTyger

AndrewPrice said...

tryanmax, Definitely, but what's interesting is the implication of what they are using to attack him. Their basis for whining is everything they claim not to be true.

AndrewPrice said...

GypsyTyger, It is. But the basis of what they are using is what's interesting. They are confirming the stereotype they claim to fight against.

BevfromNYC said...

Test: What's your definition of "boof"? Remember this is a defining moment and could have long lasting reprecussions...

Btw, thank you all for the kind words. You missed me? I am truly touched. I've missed you here. One day I will explain.

ArgentGale said...

First, welcome back, Bev! For whatever it's worth, I've missed seeing you around too and I'm sorry things have been so bad.

As for the topic at hand, yeah, not much to add except how exasperating identity politics is. These nutjobs are going to give themselves heart attacks one day from all this flipping out they do.

Critch said...

I call reporters dumbasses, etc. all the time...it's not sexist...I think most of them aren't qualified.

AndrewPrice said...

Bev, I'm sure the term "boof" is evidence of Republican racial-sexual crimes. Am I right?

And yes, we did miss you! :)

AndrewPrice said...

Critch, Apparently, it's racist-sexist depending on who you say it too. You can't say it to liberal women or liberal ___, but you can say it to Republican women or Republican ___s or to any white man.

And no, almost none of them are qualified.

AndrewPrice said...

Daniel, I would be thrilled if they gave each themselves heart attacks. They would finally be doing something useful.

Critch said...

So now I see Democrats saying that because Kavanaugh liked to drink beer and raise a little Hell in high school and college that's he unsuitable to be on SCOTUS. There is still no proof whatsoever that he raped anyone or assaulted anyone. Unless a person is raised from childhood to always be totally mindful of things they do, you know as in being raised to be a politician, then how are we to find judges? I know a lot of judges and prosecutors; I went to high school and college with them. Some of them , like me, liked rock-n-roll and beer. None of them did anything illegal. I actually do know a guy who was raised by his politician dad to always be careful what he said and who he ran with. He got into office eventually, hated it, and now is so much happier to be out of the limelight. BTW, I will never run for office...I had a lot of fun when I was younger, nothing illegal, but a lot of fun...I guess that makes me a bad person.

AndrewPrice said...

I'm told he threw a temper tantrum as a child. The outrage that someone like that would be nominated!

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