Hxstory

[Ryika]

trans-womxn

That's such a domestically created problem. Just call them trannies.

 

[Commodore]

Anonymous asks: What does the x in hxstory represent?
Hi anon, thank you for asking this question! I’ve only recently begun to spell “hxstory” with an “x” and “womxn” with an “x.” I used to spell each word with a “y” which signifies, I’m sure you know, how hxstory is often thought and taught in such sexist, patriarchal terms. The “y” was meant to be an inclusive, progressive term that not only sheds light on the prejudice, discrimination, and institutional barriers womxn have faced, but to also show that womxn are not the extension of men (as hinted by the classic Bible story of Adam and Eve) but their own free and separate entities. The “y” was to promote female empowerment and liberation, but in reality, as I have learned recently, the terms “hystory” and “womyn” are not as inclusive or empowering as some feminists (mostly white liberals) make it out to be.
The usage of the “y” began at the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival, a celebration of womyn-born-womyn and the contributions they have made to music and art. This is exactly the reason why I no longer wish to spell womxn with a “y.” This specific festival doesn’t allow men or even trans-womxn to be a part of the event. Although I am all for a movement and a space that empowers womxn through music, the fact that they do not let trans-womxn attend shows how a lot of feminist movements have chosen to ignore the many struggles, identities, and intersectionalities of what it means to not only be born as a womxn, but to identify as a womxn. The “y” does not account for marginalized womxn groups or the many other feminist movements that have occurred throughout hxstory, such as third world feminist movements. In short, the “y” is a very white liberal way to look at feminism. It excludes womxn of color, trans-womxn, and other folks who may identity as womxn from the conversation and the movement.
I first saw the spelling of “hxstory” and “womxn” on a Tumblr post. Although I do not remember the post or the author (Sorry!), she wrote that she preferred to spell “hxstory” and “womxn” with an “x” because not only is it less transphobic and less racist, but because the “x” can represent anything really. Whether you identify as a womxn-born-womxn, trans-womxn, or a womxn of color, the ambiguity of the “x” stands for the many different identities, struggles, and movements womxn have been a part of and have overcome. All-in-all, it’s a more inclusive and more progressive term (at least to me anyway).

There are some serious racial and sexist tones in this response. Not to mention that since this is from Tumblr, it's pretty safe to dismiss it out of hand as being illogical and stupid.

 

[Arakhor]

"Just because it's on Tumblr, doesn't mean that there might not be a point in there."

 

[Commodore]

"Just because it's on Tumblr, doesn't mean that there might not be a point in there."

I have never seen a single, original good point made on Tumblr. Any good point made by Tumblr users have always come from other, more respectable people in society. The problem with Tumblr users is they just parrot what the leaders of their chosen cause say and pretend like those points are their own.

 

[Bootstoots]

I have never seen a single, original good point made on Tumblr. Any good point made by Tumblr users have always come from other, more respectable people in society. The problem with Tumblr users is they just parrot what the leaders of their chosen cause say and pretend like those points are their own.

I don't spend much time there because it's a cesspool of nastiness, but I suspect you're not giving it enough credit for innovation. Obnoxious people come up with new and interesting arguments to provoke maximum outrage and discord, and the most successful battle-tested outrage memes are then introduced into the wider internet. It's like an R&D plant for self-righteous outrage.

 

[Ryika]

Tumblr actually has 2 sides. There is the mental institute that produces one crazy trend after the other.


And then there's the other side that actually has a decent art commun has a lot of blogs with nice, adult content.

 

[Bootstoots]

Right, it also contains a bunch of porn. That's not very unusual for the internet though, it's the outrage side that really sets it apart.

 

[Ryika]

That's why I love me some /r/tumblrinaction from time to time. The condensed insanity without all the boring parts where people just hug each other.

 

[classical_hero]

Some people have weird ideas, but it's the motives behind them that are far more important.

Those weird ideas do come from a weird source, you can't separate the two.

 

[Lexicus]

This is what she was replying to:

So this post is obviously complete nonsense. Ancient Greece along with ancient Rome was about as patriarchal as it gets. Women were completely dehumanized by these societies, as a matter of indisputable fact.

This does not even come close to summing up what is written in the text. You can't just pick the somewhat reasonable parts and then act as if the rest didn't exist.

Actually, I rather think I can argue whatever I like.

I find it absolutely ridiculous that people seem to believe that the teaching of history, or any subject really, can possibly be "neutral" in any sense.

Obviously people are simply overreacting to this stuff in general. I mean, remember Andrea Dworkin? To this day reactionaries bring her up as an example of the perils of feminism, but most people just sort of ignored her and that is undoubtedly what will happen with the more hysterical stuff these college students are saying.

Pretending that this represents some sort of existential threat to free speech is just pure paranoid fantasy. Not that you're doing it, but certainly some people are.

And, just as a general comment, everyone knows the source of all dank memes is (edit) a website whose name is for some reason censored by this forum. Interesting. Well, it starts with a 4 and ends with a chan.

 

[Borachio]

I think this is all very hxsterical.

Well, quite.

Nevertheless, seriously, when language itself is gendered what hope is there for sexual equality?

(Not that "history" is a gendered term, of course. And moreover in comparison with many other languages English is scarcely gendered at all. Looking at you especially, French.)

But, trendy guy with a finger on the pulse that I am, shouldn't it be h+story and h+sterical? At least according to the HLGBTQ+ taxonomy it should.

http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2013/01/a-comprehensive-list-of-lgbtq-term-definitions/

"QUILTBAG" ! Dear, oh, dear.

 

[Kyriakos]

Well, Thales was one of THE SEVEN HISTORS.

 

[gay_Aleks]

I have never seen a single, original good point made on Tumblr. Any good point made by Tumblr users have always come from other, more respectable people in society. The problem with Tumblr users is they just parrot what the leaders of their chosen cause say and pretend like those points are their own.

I have never seen a single, original good point made on OT. Any good point made by OT users have always come from other, more respectable people in society. The problem with OT users is they just parrot what the leaders of their chosen cause say and pretend like those points are their own.

Wow, that was far easier than I thought!

 

[Ailedhoo]

I have never seen a single, original good point made on OT. Any good point made by OT users have always come from other, more respectable people in society. The problem with OT users is they just parrot what the leaders of their chosen cause say and pretend like those points are their own.

Wow, that was far easier than I thought!

mate!

 

[Manfred Belheim]

Twelve people were murdered for drawing cartoons. The cartoons are at the center of the news story. At the very least it would have showed that the cartoons in question were remarkably benign.

But we don't need to know what the cartoons looked like as it is their mere existence that triggered the event. I've never seen the cartoons and I don't feel as though I understand what happened any less because of that fact. I know twelve people were murdered. Restating that yet again doesn't change anything.

By not showing the cartoons the media did take sides. By giving in to Islamic blasphemy laws it took the side of the Islamists.

I disagree. Reproducing the cartoons would be a much stronger indicator of taking sides.

When people are murdered for drawing cartoons, it is an essential part of the story to show the cartoons they were murdered for.

I really don't think it is and you can't just state this as a fact. This isn't necessary for reporting the story because of two main factors:

1) The specific content of the cartoons wasn't really a factor, it's just that they were of Mohammed (and no-one even knows what he looked like anyway so it's really just "generic stereotypical Muslim man").
2) Even if the specific content WAS relevant to their decision, it's not going to be to any normal person seeing the story as no normal person will thing that ANY cartoon content is justification for murder.

Nobody is going to base their opinion of the story on what was in the cartoons, therefore showing the cartoons is not requirement. Do you need to see an ISIS beheading video in full in order to consider the story to be fully reported? Or when a news reporter is shot on live TV, do you need to see that full footage?

 

[Hygro]

I have never seen a single, original good point made on OT. Any good point made by OT users have always come from other, more respectable people in society. The problem with OT users is they just parrot what the leaders of their chosen cause say and pretend like those points are their own.

Wow, that was far easier than I thought!

Man hook me up with these more respectable people in society; here I thought I was all alone in some of my musings.

 

[Commodore]

I have never seen a single, original good point made on OT. Any good point made by OT users have always come from other, more respectable people in society. The problem with OT users is they just parrot what the leaders of their chosen cause say and pretend like those points are their own.

Wow, that was far easier than I thought!

Except that's demonstrably false. One can quickly search OT and find plenty of original thought.

 

[Hygro]

I've seen a lot of amazing stuff on tumblr. A lot of bloggers, artists, etc use it as their primary platform.

Here's one such blogger who posts thought provoking material http://hotelconcierge.tumblr.com/

 

[Funky]

I disagree. Reproducing the cartoons would be a much stronger indicator of taking sides.

And whose side would the media be taking by showing the cartoons? All they would be doing is reporting the full story.

I find it disappointing that an otherwise intelligent poster like you has such difficulty to see that the media's self-censorship on this issue openly gave in to the demands of the terrorists, and by cowering to Islamic blasphemy laws caused a self-infringement on free speech which is not just unnecessary and misguided but extremely dangerous.

 

[Borachio]

That's easy to say, though. Provided it's not you that faces the real threat of getting "bombed".