Random Thoughts 3: A Little Bit of This, and a Little Bit of That...

[Arakhor]

An Angl? A misspelt Teuton, a native of ancient Armenia or something else?

 

[Traitorfish]

There are 158 candidates that are being considered for 27 seats in this election. 21 candidates for mayor.

Most are either deranged or right wing.

So I googled it, and, uh,

Maynard Aubichon is running for mayor of Vancouver as an independent candidate. (...) He pledged to lower taxes for marijuana-related businesses, and identified himself as “the best street fighter” in his election bio.

You weren't kidding, huh?

 

[Synobun]

So I googled it, and, uh,

You weren't kidding, huh?

No... I was not kidding.

Spoiler :

https://vancouver.ca/your-government/candidates-mayor.aspx

They are real bad.

I don't know if that should be spoilered. It's a government site meant to be accessed by anyone and everyone, but one of the candidates has the name of a girl and they are groping their bare breasts in their photo. I mean, it's not "explicit", but... uh... I dunno? I guess I'll spoiler it.

An Angl? A misspelt Teuton, a native of ancient Armenia or something else?

It's supposed to be 'angel'. I think.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

@riyika

So you have a non-derogatory (in your opinion) use of the word, therefore everyone should accept that use and not be offended by the use of the word. Gotcha.

The word can't be used in any context without offending people but you want to carve out this little niche. This is functionally the same as demanding no one be offended by it.

You:

have you lost the ability to read?

Also you:

Get over your emotional reaction and read my actual posts.

 

[Ryika]

But we're not talking about two isolated subcultures that have stumbled into using the same series of letters to mean different, subculture-specific pieces of jargon. The context in which "trap" means this one, specific weeb thing exists within the world in which it's a transphobic offensive slur. The explicitly transphobic use is not an alternative jargon, it is the conventional usage; the usage within anime fandom is a specific application of that usage.

It's not really enough to point out that anime "traps" are mostly cis-gendered cross-dressers, because as a general rule, transphobes reject the claim of trans people to identify otherwise than their birth-assigned gender, and therefore categorise trans people as, essentially, cross-dressers. The difference, from the transphobe's perspective, is whether the "trap" understands that they are a cross-dresser, or whether they are invested in what the transphobe would see as the "delusion" of a trans identity. The usage is functional identical from the transphobe's perspective, whatever caveats the anime fan might add about their own rejection of non-transphobia, so we're not on stable ground demanding that trans people accepting these distinctions. It's not clear that we can expect trans people to recognise this supposed nuance when people who hate trans people sure as hell won't.

Now this is a post that actually addresses what I wrote - thank you! I do disagree with your argument however, because I do not see both as the same thing. The word trap makes sense in the context of the anime genre, because the context in anime is literally that you're being trapped into thinking, by the creators of the series, that a character is of a sex that they are not. A trap character is not, for example, "a man who feels like they're a woman and therefor presents as female", it's simply a "man who is presented as a woman", and might have a number of reasons for doing so - or sometimes doesn't have any reasons, and is just presented that way by the creators of the anime. This does, once again, not refer to trans individuals.

An accusation that you might reasonably level at the genre is that it is, for the most part, blind towards actual trans individuals, and due to this blindness, actually provides a potential "safe haven" for transphobes. I do agree that this is potential problem with the genre, but at the same time, the big trap anime communities have very strict content rules when it comes to that, to make sure that those potential "safe havens" don't manifest into actual safe havens. If you look into the trap anime community, you see people who celebrate trap anime characters, not people who say: "Eww, but trans people, right? Icky!"

I'm prepared to back up from my original statement and concede that the use in anime fandom may not be "repugnant", insofar as it isn't meant with any inherent malice. But I don't think that a term which would otherwise be understood as an offensive slur becomes acceptable because a particular subculture has adopted it as jargon. Something does not need to be wicked for it to be a mistake; something does not need to be malicious for you to stop doing it.

Yeah, but again... if you concede that, then the trap anime community has used the word since... forever. As I learned today, the pejorative use of the word actually originated from trap anime (which I didn't know, but have looked up and it seems to be true). They have not "reclaimed" the word, it is a word that is inherent to their vocabulary and refers to a different thing. You do not "own" the word, that's the point. You are ascribing an inherent value to the word, but the word does not have that, it is the context in which a word is being used that determines the meaning, and therefor the value.

Saying that they have to stop using the word in their context, because in your context it's offensive to you, simply does not seem reasonable to me. Reasonable to me, would be to say: "Okay, if they use it in their context, then that's not something that I should care about." - the moment a person uses it to refer to a trans individual, that's a different story.

So you have a non-derogatory (in your opinion) use of the word, therefore everyone should accept that use and not be offended by the use of the word. Gotcha.

No, you still haven't understood what I said, I'm still not saying that you should "not be offended by the use of the word", I'm saying that you should "not be offended if the word is used outside of the context that you find offensive". Again, you would not get offended at a pest controller for saying that he's going to lay out a trap, would you?

Also you:

Maybe that's a cultural difference, but I generally expect people to realize when they're having an emotional reaction at some point, and then take a step back to actually look at the overall picture that they've missed. It has been a day now and you're still claiming I'm making an argument that I did not even come close to making.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

No, you still haven't understood what I said, I'm still not saying that you should "not be offended by the use of the word", I'm saying that you should "not be offended if the word is used outside of the context that you find offensive". Again, you would not get offended at a pest controller for saying that he's going to lay out a trap, would you?

It has been explained multiple times that there is no way to avoid offense to some people regardless of the context the word is used in. That's not how offensive words work. It's not my fault you refuse to acknowledge, much less refute, the fault on this point on which your entire argument rests.

Also,
trap the noun is not trap the verb

Maybe that's a cultural difference, but I generally expect people to realize when they're having an emotional reaction at some point, and then take a step back to actually look at the overall picture that they've missed. It has been a day now and you're still claiming I'm making an argument that I did not even come close to making.

I guess the emotional reaction I'm having is amused

Not even sure why this is relevant to be honest except as an ad hominem

 

[Ryika]

It has been explained multiple times that there is no way to avoid offense to some people regardless of the context the word is used in. That's not how offensive words work. It's not my fault you refuse to acknowledge, much less refute, the fault on this point on which your entire argument rests.

Words are not inherently offensive, it's context that makes them offensive. I mean, I can prove that you don't believe that.

"I really love this trap anime for its characters." said by an Anime fan.
"That trap should have to identify themselves as a man." said by a transphobe.
"We will need to set up traps to get this rat infestation under control." said by a pest controller.

I know that two of these uses are offensive to you, one is not. So clearly, it is not the word, it is the context in which it is used.
The problem here is that you consider its use within trap anime to be the same as its use towards trans individuals, which it is simply not.

If you want to maintain that it is, then that is the argument that you need to make. "It is offensive to people, therefor it is bad." does not address that at all, because your offense to the word in the context of trap anime is nonsensical. Again, that's the initial argument I made: "I am offended, therefor the word is offensive." is not a proper argument and not a justification for anything.

Also,
trap the noun is not trap the verb

I will trap that rat.
I will use a rat trap.

Neither are offensive to you.

 

[The_J]

No... I was not kidding.

Spoiler :

https://vancouver.ca/your-government/candidates-mayor.aspx

They are real bad.

I don't know if that should be spoilered. It's a government site meant to be accessed by anyone and everyone, but one of the candidates has the name of a girl and they are groping their bare breasts in their photo. I mean, it's not "explicit", but... uh... I dunno? I guess I'll spoiler it.

If every Oompa Loompa can run for mayor in Vancouver, then I'd suggest that you maybe run for it the next time .
(not suggesting that you are comparable)
I'd still recommend to vote for someone, who at least filled out the information on that website with proper grammar and not too many typos, and who doesn't sound too nutty.

 

[Synobun]

I'm voting for Kennedy Stewart. Fret not, I'm doing my civic duty...

 

[Takhisis]

You could stand for election yourself.

 

[Synobun]

I could. Or I could vote for a no-platform, no-picture candidate named Mrs. Doubtfire for the school board.

 

[Takhisis]

Just to try and spur you into doing it I'll point out that if you become a public official you can make me illegal.

 

[Synobun]

Just to try and spur you into doing it I'll point out that if you become a public official you can make me illegal.

You already are illegal, though.

 

[Takhisis]

That is technically untrue, which, any D&D fan would know, is the best form of untrue.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

There are 158 candidates that are being considered for 27 seats in this election. 21 candidates for mayor.

Most are either deranged or right wing. I'm not looking forward to this. There's one candidate whose image is her holding a sign saying "vote for an angl".

Edit: Her bio:

"Biography
I've lived in Vancouver for 17 years, I'm loving, caring and helpful. People look at me as inspiring, helpful and a hero. Some people come up to me and thank me for saving their lives. I like when people are happy, and Vancouver should be more entertaining and more sporty. I love to give people my warmth. Sponsor me."

Okay, seriously? Even the worst mayoral candidate we've ever had here is better than that.

I had a look at some of the profiles, and there is one who sounds like she's got political experience and is willing to advocate for low-income, marginalized people in need of affordable housing and transportation. There's some reference to a party - I'd heard of some cities' municipal politics running along party lines. That's not how it is here, at least not formally. I do try to avoid voting for anyone who I know has run for, or supported, any variety of right-wing party at either provincial or federal levels.

Some of these people must have more money than brains. Even in municipal politics, the filing fees aren't cheap and the candidate only gets the money back if they get a minimum percentage of votes (this is meant to deter just anyone from running a frivolous campaign).

So I googled it, and, uh,
...
You weren't kidding, huh?

...He pledged to lower taxes for marijuana-related businesses,...

There's more pushback against legalized cannabis here than I'd thought. The cops in Calgary are forbidden to use it even when off-duty, and the company that owns the building I live in has banned smoking it or growing plants in every building they own, right across the country - which suits me just fine.

I'd still recommend to vote for someone, who at least filled out the information on that website with proper grammar and not too many typos, and who doesn't sound too nutty.

I skimmed some of the profiles, and there looks to be maybe a couple I'd consider at first glance. Of course I don't know anything else about them, nor what the local issues are. And it's best to attend an all-candidates' forum to hear them speak and evaluate whether their body language matches their words.

Funny how some candidates have no idea why they get eliminated from my list of possible choices - sometimes all it takes is a certain tone of voice or an indication that they really don't give a damn about what they say they do.

That said, if there are no worthwhile candidates (in the voter's opinion), the voter can always formally decline the ballot. That will have to be noted by DRO/Poll Clerk team, and it's a more effective way of announcing "none of the above" than spoiling the ballot.

You could stand for election yourself.

Most municipalities require $$$ to even file nomination papers.

 

[yung.carl.jung]

Born1955May21-10:44pm(forSeriousAstrologers), GeminiTaurusCusp, VulcanHospital-BibleBeltAlberta.

BeautyFull-PowerFull-Parents: Twin-Flame-Love-StableHome-SecureChildhood

bothMommy&iAlmostDied BecameMommysChildSoulmate: Bonding-withUltraStrict

DutchCalvinistTotallyDepravedBornAgainChristian youEverMet:

AbsoluteObediencetoAbsoluteANATHEMAObedience: 153ArchonDemon-Indoctrinations PossessingMe/

OwningMe-WindagoSoulEaterSpirits. IntenselyDrivenType"A"personality

WhereItGets "Interesting":

InterNationalEuropeanRoyaltyPolitics: German-RussianHouseofKaiser/Dutch-SpanishRoyalCourt,

PatriarchalIlluminati/FemalePatriArchonalIlluminati, Controllers/ControllersoftheControllers

When-i-realized-just-how-TOXICLY=INDOCTRINATEDiWas, it-SCARED-THE-HELL-OUT-OF-ME:iGotOut

SO IF i can SetMyselfFree from my153ArchonGeneticAncestoralEnslavement, so can you.

i know noOne MoreQualified to Implode TheNewWorldOrder: MilitaryIndustrialComplex allReligions

allDiseases CorporationsofRome/London/WashingtonDC

*40yearsVoratiousResearch/3Degrees:BA.Psychology,BEd-pdp,MastersofTheologyinChristianEducation

Spoiler :

*Am-i-the-OnlyOne-to-Discover-How-to- BreatheWithMyBreastNipples 5Billion/sec?
"We'reAllJoinedAtTheNip"--"We'reAllJoinedAtTheClit"
YouWillWantTo Oxygenate/Massage/Fondle YourNipplesOfLife-PertAlert 13hours/EveryDay Especially-in-
Front-of-Children-Ending-Child-Abuse-Forever

WhenYourNipplesGlowInTheDark WhenYour3rdEyeNONSEXUAL-PussyBrain Explodes 80-
88times/minute 9-10-11hours/day

Am-i-FromTheFuture-TimeLine2525?

Call-Candace(myInnerSightShamenPsychic):604-929-9892

just gonna leave this here. vote for Sophia Cherryes Kaur Kaiser

 

[Synobun]

You copy-pasting that here encouraged me to actually make an attempt at reading it.

This was a mistake.

 

[yung.carl.jung]

You copy-pasting that here encouraged me to actually make an attempt at reading it.

This was a mistake.

Is it an advertisement scam? Is it ramblings? Who comes up with a backstory like this? We'll never know

 

[Birdjaguar]

I wonder what his press conferences are like.

 

[Takhisis]

Random Thought: I wish there were a were to have text processors implement a reverse italics character style.