Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: The Philosopher who wrote (44064)	7/6/1999 12:40:00 AM
From: jbe	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Christopher. 1) The definition of "stereotype": A conventional, formulaic, and usually oversimplified conception, opinion, or belief. --American Heritage Dictionary An unvarying form or pattern, specif., a fixed or conventional notion or conception, as of a person, group, or idea, etc., held by a number of people, and allowing for no individuality, critical judgment, etc. --Webster's New World Dictionary A prejudicial notion or set of notions a person uses to define members of an ethnic or other social group outside one's own direct experience. Introduced by Walter LIPPMANN, a stereotype is a simple and erroneous idea, gained secondhand,that negatively affects one's ability to understand members of other social groups and that is resistant to change. ----encyclopedia.com That's a fair sample of definitions, I think. And not one of them fits the kind of situations you describe. For example, all nicely brought-up boys were taught to open doors for women, and to stand up when their elders entered the room, to say "yes ma'am" and "yes sir," and a whole host of other things. That is traditional politeness, not behavior based on an "oversimplified" or "prejudiced" attitude towards women or one's elders or anyone else. Thus, not one of the things you 'fess up to is an example of "sexist" behavior. (I notice you did not include cracking jokes about women in your confession.) And notice how all these "sexist sins" you admit to somehow manage to make you look very noble indeed. 1) You are a "one-woman" man; 2) you are polite and gentlemanly -- you hold doors open for women (and for handicapped men, too, I would hope); 3) you are willing to entrust children to their mothers. And notice how the "sexist sins" you want me to admit to would somehow manage to make me look ignoble, or at least exploitative. Too bad, because it won't work. a) Have I ever used my charms as a woman to gain an advantage over a man in business or social circles? No, I have not. Have you ever used your charms as a man to gain an advantage over a woman? b) Have I ever let a man buy me dinner when I would have split the check with a woman under similar circumstances? No. As I've said before, I like poor men (starving artists, refugees, etc.). Always have. I've bought THEM dinners. Or cooked at home for them. Still do. As for better-heeled men friends , I insist on splitting the check. Or we take turns paying. His turn one time, mine the next. The only exception I've made to this rule is in the Caucasus, where it is considered to be a mortal insult for a guest, of any sex, to pay his or her host -- or hostess. Look, Christopher, you are doing almost the same thing as Terrence did with his "greed" and "fear." You are taking words with negative connotations -- "stereotype" and "sexism" -- and trying to turn them positive, or at least neutral. But only when they are applied to you. Joan