Auld Crabbits

**Bugbear** · 18th July 11, 01:00 AM

Originally Posted by DWFII

I like this and think it's apropos:

"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'" - Isaac Asimov, column in Newsweek (21 January 1980) [emphasis mine]

I grew up reading Isaac Asimov's writing, more the nonfiction than fiction; very interesting person, including the wicked sideburns... Thanks for posting the quote, it brings back some memories.

**Chirs** · 18th July 11, 02:33 AM

Originally Posted by Cowher

This is off topic regardless…
You take no power out of it. If I was to walk up to your group in a pub and said "hey! Look at all these micks over here!!! How ya doin? Ya bunch of Micks!!!" I would most likely be knocked out.

If I may: identity is a complex issue. Broadly, identity can be seen as assumed and imposed. An imposed identity may or may not be demeaning while an assumed identity may or may not be empowering. However, should a person choose to identify him/herself using the n-word, m-word, b-word, g-word or d-word (or any other _-word) it is most certainly dis-empowering to deny them that. So, if you think that using the m-word in a pub filled with m-people would get you into trouble, what do you think would happen if you told them all that they cannot use it?

**Chirs** · 18th July 11, 02:35 AM

Originally Posted by DWFII

"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'" - Isaac Asimov, column in Newsweek (21 January 1980) [emphasis mine]

That is a keeper!!

**Cowher** · 18th July 11, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by Chirs

If I may: identity is a complex issue. Broadly, identity can be seen as assumed and imposed. An imposed identity may or may not be demeaning while an assumed identity may or may not be empowering. However, should a person choose to identify him/herself using the n-word, m-word, b-word, g-word or d-word (or any other _-word) it is most certainly dis-empowering to deny them that. So, if you think that using the m-word in a pub filled with m-people would get you into trouble, what do you think would happen if you told them all that they cannot use it?

TELLING them would be offensive. Your right on that one.

I guess I look at things differently.

**Cowher** · 18th July 11, 08:12 AM

I just want to add that I don't want this to turn into a thread about race or racial slurs. It was about the auld crabbit title and my ignorance in it's use.

**creagdhubh** · 18th July 11, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by MacMillan of Rathdown

You're joking, right?

Quite! Speaking as an Auld Crabbit, I can't believe this is even a discussion. Let's get back to Highland dress please.

Cheers,

**creagdhubh** · 18th July 11, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

First pint is on me.

T.

I'll get the second...or a dram if your prefer.

**creagdhubh** · 18th July 11, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Not worth arguing about.

Quite (as Hector Naismith Macdonald would say)!

**creagdhubh** · 18th July 11, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Well said that man!

T.

That's precisely it...well said indeed!

**Bugbear** · 18th July 11, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Chirs

If I may: identity is a complex issue. Broadly, identity can be seen as assumed and imposed. An imposed identity may or may not be demeaning while an assumed identity may or may not be empowering. However, should a person choose to identify him/herself using the n-word, m-word, b-word, g-word or d-word (or any other _-word) it is most certainly dis-empowering to deny them that. So, if you think that using the m-word in a pub filled with m-people would get you into trouble, what do you think would happen if you told them all that they cannot use it?

That's an interesting point. I keep pondering the tension between the group and the individual identities that could cause a group to turn on itself when the group does not have outside challenges. In other words, sometimes a group is together partly because the "enemy" poses a greater threat to each individual than the other members of the group; even the thread of subverting the individual's identity to the group identity.. I'm thinking along the line of complexity theory and thresholds, but I'm sure there's other models.