Political Correctness: How bad is it at Brown?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
101

<p>I like to think that i make myself clear; obviously this is not the case. The fact that Princeton went coed in 1969 doesn't change anything. Access to education has been restriced by society to women. What exactly is your point and how does that invalidate my statements?</p>

<p>Yes women have been more successful in education. 4/4 of my high school's valedictorians, and at least 15/20 top students in my class were female. If you think about this a little deeper, this actually strengthens my point in that feminist claims of dicrimination is completely pointless. </p>

<p>In fact, as a great move to justify thousands of years of discrimination towards women Brown recently filled 4 high University positions with women. Alas it would be too much to ask to discuss something like that, in some capacity related to the University, instead of trying to make me feel bad about my terrible obnoxious self.</p>

<p>"Tell me again that women aren't suited for higher education?"
If you can not comprehend english, you are probably not smarter than i am. If you took the time to look into "post #68", i would hope that you would take some time to look into all the other hundreds of posts that i made in this thread. Please find me where i said or implied the aforemetioned statement. </p>

<p>"if you told me "GO MAKE DINNER WOMAN" I would be offended. "
Ok then, you have a right to be offended, i dont care.</p>

<p>I am incredilby sorry for condescending you, clearly i have on many occasionals expressed that women are stupid, and should not study mathematics or enjoy chemistry. (Also your teacher is probably condescending because you're blonde and to me appear fairly obnoxious)</p>

<p>"Chances are I'm smarter than you anyway."
Words cannot express my happiness for this. </p>

<p>I really truly am happy for you. I would hope that you would use this intelligence for something other than a long tirade about how much of a chauvinstic pig i am, while picking out my sentences (often out of context but thats unimportant) to make me sound like a big fat meanie</p>

102

<p>I know that i may not be as smart as some people, but i can give a couple of people a piece of wisdom, something i've learned over many years and experiences under various circumstances.</p>

<p>Don't assume things too quickly. I know that everyone, me included, on some level think that we know best. But the truth is, that it probably isn't so. Being jumpy at people is never a good characteristic to have. This is especially so for most people that consider themselves intellectuals, which most of the people on this board do. It's very interesting seeing the reaction my comments get. This actually goes back to Larry Summers, when one quote taken out of context caused a scandal when all the "smart" people became outraged. If you take the time to read my comments, you will see that i do not carry an agenda and am actually trying to have a fairly reasonable conversation becuase i have nothing better to do. If you wanna make this about me condescending on women, about me justifying evil, or going personal go right ahead. If you call yourself openminded, i call you arrogant and full of yourself .</p>

103

<p>
[quote]
The fact that Princeton went coed in 1969 doesn't change anything. Access to education has been restriced by society to women. What exactly is your point and how does that invalidate my statements?

[/quote]

You stated that women have less access to higher education as a result of getting pregnant. Clearly that is an erroneous statement.</p>

<p>
[quote]
This actually goes back to Larry Summers, when one quote taken out of context caused a scandal when all the "smart" people became outraged.

[/quote]

I am not "outraged" at Larry Summers's statement. I have read this speech and recognize the remark as one hypothesis of many, even if it is one I disagree with. A key word here is hypothesis, not fact.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Yes women have been more successful in education. 4/4 of my high school's valedictorians, and at least 15/20 top students in my class were female. If you think about this a little deeper, this actually strengthens my point in that feminist claims of dicrimination is completely pointless.

[/quote]

Women have come a long way in gaining recognition academically, but they are still underrepresented in the hard sciences. The reason I brought up my own experience was to show you that in certain fields women still have to struggle to reach even a basic level of credibility.</p>

<p>Consider these numbers alongside the statistics I posted earlier,</p>

<p>
[quote]
The proportion of women who received undergraduate degrees in science and engineering (45 percent in 1993) remains smaller than the proportion who earned degrees in all other fields (58 percent). Within the sciences, the field with the highest share of bachelor's degrees awarded to women in 1998 was psychology (73 percent).

[/quote]

<a href="http://www.awis.org/resource/statistics/Data_from_Women.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.awis.org/resource/statistics/Data_from_Women.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="Also%20your%20teacher%20is%20probably%20condescending%20because%20you're%20blonde%20and%20to%20me%20appear%20fairly%20obnoxious">quote</a>

[/quote]

Is condescending me because I'm blonde somehow more justified than doing it because I'm female? As for obnoxious--are you really qualified to make that judgment after reading one post on an anonymous message board?</p>

<p>To me, this isn't an issue of political correctness, but one of respect. I may be arrogant, but at least I know enough not to make tasteless jokes about sensitive issues.</p>

104

<p>"You stated that women have less access to higher education as a result of getting pregnant. Clearly that is an erroneous statement."</p>

<p>I stated that it is ONE reason that women have less access.</p>

<p>Yes women are less represented in the hard sciences. Is this the "sensitive issue" you talk about? If so, you don't know anythihng about sensitive issues.</p>

<p>"Is condescending me because I'm blonde somehow more justified than doing it because I'm female? "</p>

<p>Unfortunately yes. To me, this is funny, to your idealistic self, it's offensive. I'm sorry you don't have a sense of humor? I hope that being looked down upon intellectually becuase you're blonde doesn't scar you forever and ever and that in 10 years you don't start a rant about how being a blonde has held you back because if that's a concern you just might need to start drinking now, not in 10 years.</p>

<p>i said "to me you appear obnoxious", not "you are obnoxious." Taking me out of context doesn't make your point that great.</p>

<p>And seriously, stop nitpicking at my words. Contribute to the conversation, i'm sure you have a lot of intelligent and rational things to say, that i, unlike some people, would love to hear. This is not about me and it is not about you; there need not be any hard feelings, when we don't even know each other.</p>

105

<p>The "sensitive issue" I referred to is the struggle women have always had trying to obtain what many men seem to take for granted--credibility. By reducing someone to a negative stereotype you are belittling her achievements, no matter how amusing it may seem to you. Again, it's a question of elementary respect.</p>

<p>I don't get offended by blonde jokes; I make them myself. There is a difference between that and being seriously looked down on intellectually for something so ludicrous as hair color. I honestly don't believe that many people would do that.</p>

<p>
[quote]
there need not be any hard feelings, when we don't even know each other.

[/quote]

I'm glad you recognize that.</p>

106

<p>I'm glad we're at least on the same page. I dont deny any stereotypes of problems, i just dont think they're as significant or important as people make them out to be. I understand the credibility issue may be a barrier but there is just one of many that many people have to face. Schoolwise, in my experience, similar things happen with guys in English classes; being one of 3 straight males in my 30 person AP class, a foreigner also, is not exactly a very welcoming atmosphere. Whether we like it or not, stereotypes are a part of life. Football players, cheerleaders, black guys, asians, everyone has some type of a stereotype. I probably have had more experiences dealing with opposing stereotypes than most people, especially in the USA, couldn't even think about and the only way they can actually hurt you or hinder your development is if you let them. It's human nature to group people by stereotypes. Being offended and making a big deal out of them only makes matters work. Seeking elimination of stereotypes through any radical means does similar things. Blacks and whites became legal equals 40 years ago, did the stereotypes dissapear? Now even the efforts to reduce these stereotypes (Affirmative Action for example) are even adding new stereotypes. Look at any ethnic conflict, how many do you know that were easily resolved? Unless you have any good immediate solutions, time is all it'll take.</p>

<p>Take the Democratic Party... do you like what's happening to it? Are Americans becoming more conservative or are they just getting tired of having problems fed to them with no solutions? I am getting and sick of tired of the constant losing, all because the party is full of people who complain and complain and few have any real solutions.</p>

107

<p>Perhaps I can clarify this stereotype issue with a personal story:</p>

<p>In my school, many of my friends know me as "Jewbert." They make jokes about the "covetous Jew" stereotype frequently, such as "All you Jews care about is gold." I find these jokes funny. Hell, I even created function known as the "Jew Quotient" to figure out exactly how Jewish you are based on answers to stereotypical questions. However, if someone just came up to me and called me a "dirty Jew" or something, NOT knowing that I was cool with Jew jokes, I would be extremely offended. Making fun of stereotypes can be hilarious, but when taken to an extreme, or stated without the mutual understanding of facetiousness, it just becomes bigotry.</p>