I've been following your twitter messages about this. I don't know how you can insist that anyone else "take a moment . . . and think" when you're clearly not. Railing against anything that mentions race or racism as if it were itself racist does not give you the facade of being hip and enlightened that you so desire. It isn't independent thought, it's mob mentality. There are millions like you, who think they "get it", and by "get it" they mean they've figured out "racism, bad. Mention of racism, also bad. I'll look sympathetic if I always speak out against racism any time it comes up. There, that was easy." You end up contributing to the problem, because the moment anyone brings up the topic it triggers you and those like you to immediately shout them down, like robots: "Racist, bad! Racist, bad! Whew, that was a close one! Good thing we were here, someone nearly had a thought."
I'll grant that the CU column by Karson was poorly executed. It wasn't very funny, and it was a bit more stinging than it probably needed to be. But it couldn't be more obvious that he was aiming for satire. If you insist that he wasn't, then you have to believe he was actually planning to round up Asians with butterfly nets.
You're not *that* dumb, are you?
micah
· 1 year ago
@bill - here is my point: it wasnt satire. It was a poor attempt at satire. It therefore missed its mark. It was therefore just racist. Yes, racist. Perhaps unintentionally racist, but racist nonetheless.
My post was not to "rail against anything that mentions race or racism." My post was to rail against poorly executed documents and the discussion around the document. If I was going to do as you suggested I did, why did I take a week to respond?
If his intent was to foster discussion about racism, then he failed. He put the spotlight on himself rather than the problem, and for that, I condemn his misguided actions.
Read my words. I didnt DISMISS the piece as racist. I said his intent was poorly executed. (although the piece, since it was lacking satire, was then nothing but racist).
Read my words. I say specifically that the issue of diversity is important UNTIL it is part of who we are.
Read my words. As someone who has experienced both sides of this conversation personally I take offense to your implication that I am simply trying to sweep the issue under the rug. My point is simple. Max's intent was good (foster communication) his execution was poor.
Read my words. do I think racism is bad? Yes. Do I think it should be discussed? Yes. Do I think it can be solved by avoiding it? Fuck no.
That doesnt mean he should be cannonized or condemned, it means he should be taught, and he should learn.
And it means that we all should think and act. What Max wrote fostered neither.
Bill Kocik
· 1 year ago
I have read your words. I was responding - perhaps unfairly - more to things you said on Twitter than here. "It was not satire, it was racist and stupid."
That doesn't sound to me like separating intent from execution, it sounds quite dismissive. Granted, you can't say a ton in the 140 characters Twitter allows. But even here, you declare your decision never to read the Colorado Daily again, thanks to their take on the matter. Their take appears to be "The kid was trying to write satire and blew it." (As they also point out, no one's noticing that he was far more down on whites than Asians in the piece.)
Since the first part of that seems to be quite in agreement with what you're now saying (good intention, poor execution), why is it exactly that you're never reading them again?
I am reading your words. This comment reply is the first time I've seen you mention his intent separately from what he wrote.
I am reading your words. I have no idea what your note about diversity has to do with any of this. Did Max Karson speak out against diversity? Did I? To whom are you responding, besides those who have asked you in the past why a diversity committee is needed? To bring that up here, when there seems to be no appropriate context for it, looks like posturing.
I am reading your words. Yes, the point as you've stated in your comment is simple, but I still don't see where you state it prior. I certainly don't see anywhere where you've called his intent "good", or noted that he intended to foster communication. Noting that he needs to take more writing classes sounds more like insult than insight.
I think your comment in response to mine has offered far greater insight into what you're trying to say than your blog post did, and your remarks on Twitter seemed exactly contrary. If what you say in your comment is what you really meant, then we are largely in agreement. But until you posted it, it didn't seem like that at all.
One last point: I assume that when you say you've "experienced both sides of this conversation personally" you don't mean that you've been racist, but rather that you've been the target of discrimination. Do you really think there are many among us who have not? I regret that you felt offended, but don't think that you carry some membership card that gives you insight into the matter that is not shared by many.
micah
· 1 year ago
@bill - that makes sense, what I was doing on twitter was reacting to a friend, Andrew, seemingly approving and supporting this kid Max.
my comment on diversity was simply to note that discussion needs to occur that affects real change, not just sparks discussion.
In re-reading my post, it was perhaps not as complete as it needed to be. It started out being a post about expectations of reactions, slipped into a diatribe on poor execution and ended about diversity. A little too ADD for sure.
Finally, I have experienced both sides. I have been both discriminated against (for being Jewish, for having tattoos, for not looking white) and discriminated against (people for being too white, for being too privileged, etc.) Honestly, who hasnt taken actions or made decisions that werent tainted with stereotypes or preconceived notions?
I do think that in many ways I have a unique perspective because I dont look at this issue through a single lens, and I look it based on experiences I have had. Most people react (like I did on Twitter), but most people dont DO anything.
spades man
· 1 year ago
why would you want to do other stuff than get stoned and play spades all night long? isn't that what college is all bout? :-)
Paula
· 1 year ago
Yes, Micah, this post was a little unfocused. But I'm not saying that because I think you're a douche bag, or a douchebag.
I'm saying it because I'd like to see you write a post focused on this:
Every day, I try to live my life diversely. What does that mean?
For me, it means that each day I try something I have never tried before. I try to be better at something I am mediocre at. I review things about myself that I dont like, and figure out how to change them. I am respectful and accepting of difference.
I learn. I experience. I absorb. I enjoy. I wonder. I respect. I accept. I teach. I fail. I succeed.
Recently a friend told me how amazed and impressed he was about the experiences I've had in my life. I've never really thought much about them that way -- I just know that there's something that compels me to do the things you described above, which I guess has led to some of the interesting things that have happened to me along the way.
But his comment has made me want to think about my experiences in a more focused way, so that I can direct them in a direction that takes me where I want to go. So I'd love to hear your thoughts about that.
Yeah, Max Karson is a douche bag, but not as big a douche bag as you are. ;-)
micah
· 1 year ago
@paula I will do my best to focus some thoughts and put together a post. I think that when someone tries to inspire, they dont. They are either inspiring or not. Clearly, you are inspiring.
All Comments
I'll grant that the CU column by Karson was poorly executed. It wasn't very funny, and it was a bit more stinging than it probably needed to be. But it couldn't be more obvious that he was aiming for satire. If you insist that he wasn't, then you have to believe he was actually planning to round up Asians with butterfly nets.
You're not *that* dumb, are you?
My post was not to "rail against anything that mentions race or racism." My post was to rail against poorly executed documents and the discussion around the document. If I was going to do as you suggested I did, why did I take a week to respond?
If his intent was to foster discussion about racism, then he failed. He put the spotlight on himself rather than the problem, and for that, I condemn his misguided actions.
Read my words. I didnt DISMISS the piece as racist. I said his intent was poorly executed. (although the piece, since it was lacking satire, was then nothing but racist).
Read my words. I say specifically that the issue of diversity is important UNTIL it is part of who we are.
Read my words. As someone who has experienced both sides of this conversation personally I take offense to your implication that I am simply trying to sweep the issue under the rug. My point is simple. Max's intent was good (foster communication) his execution was poor.
Read my words. do I think racism is bad? Yes. Do I think it should be discussed? Yes. Do I think it can be solved by avoiding it? Fuck no.
That doesnt mean he should be cannonized or condemned, it means he should be taught, and he should learn.
And it means that we all should think and act. What Max wrote fostered neither.
That doesn't sound to me like separating intent from execution, it sounds quite dismissive. Granted, you can't say a ton in the 140 characters Twitter allows. But even here, you declare your decision never to read the Colorado Daily again, thanks to their take on the matter. Their take appears to be "The kid was trying to write satire and blew it." (As they also point out, no one's noticing that he was far more down on whites than Asians in the piece.)
Since the first part of that seems to be quite in agreement with what you're now saying (good intention, poor execution), why is it exactly that you're never reading them again?
I am reading your words. This comment reply is the first time I've seen you mention his intent separately from what he wrote.
I am reading your words. I have no idea what your note about diversity has to do with any of this. Did Max Karson speak out against diversity? Did I? To whom are you responding, besides those who have asked you in the past why a diversity committee is needed? To bring that up here, when there seems to be no appropriate context for it, looks like posturing.
I am reading your words. Yes, the point as you've stated in your comment is simple, but I still don't see where you state it prior. I certainly don't see anywhere where you've called his intent "good", or noted that he intended to foster communication. Noting that he needs to take more writing classes sounds more like insult than insight.
I think your comment in response to mine has offered far greater insight into what you're trying to say than your blog post did, and your remarks on Twitter seemed exactly contrary. If what you say in your comment is what you really meant, then we are largely in agreement. But until you posted it, it didn't seem like that at all.
One last point: I assume that when you say you've "experienced both sides of this conversation personally" you don't mean that you've been racist, but rather that you've been the target of discrimination. Do you really think there are many among us who have not? I regret that you felt offended, but don't think that you carry some membership card that gives you insight into the matter that is not shared by many.
my comment on diversity was simply to note that discussion needs to occur that affects real change, not just sparks discussion.
In re-reading my post, it was perhaps not as complete as it needed to be. It started out being a post about expectations of reactions, slipped into a diatribe on poor execution and ended about diversity. A little too ADD for sure.
Finally, I have experienced both sides. I have been both discriminated against (for being Jewish, for having tattoos, for not looking white) and discriminated against (people for being too white, for being too privileged, etc.) Honestly, who hasnt taken actions or made decisions that werent tainted with stereotypes or preconceived notions?
I do think that in many ways I have a unique perspective because I dont look at this issue through a single lens, and I look it based on experiences I have had. Most people react (like I did on Twitter), but most people dont DO anything.
I'm saying it because I'd like to see you write a post focused on this:
Every day, I try to live my life diversely. What does that mean?
For me, it means that each day I try something I have never tried before. I try to be better at something I am mediocre at. I review things about myself that I dont like, and figure out how to change them. I am respectful and accepting of difference.
I learn. I experience. I absorb. I enjoy. I wonder. I respect. I accept. I teach. I fail. I succeed.
Recently a friend told me how amazed and impressed he was about the experiences I've had in my life. I've never really thought much about them that way -- I just know that there's something that compels me to do the things you described above, which I guess has led to some of the interesting things that have happened to me along the way.
But his comment has made me want to think about my experiences in a more focused way, so that I can direct them in a direction that takes me where I want to go. So I'd love to hear your thoughts about that.
Yeah, Max Karson is a douche bag, but not as big a douche bag as you are. ;-)