From: mmmirash@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Mandar M. Mirashi)
Subject: Re: Radical feminists
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 23:05:11 GMT
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

In article <1992Dec22.060721.14701@ra.msstate.edu> wkl1@Ra.MsState.Edu (Wing-Keong Loke                                               the consummate chronic prevaricator) writes:
>In article <BzMzC5.Inq@constellation.ecn.uoknor.edu> mmmirash@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Mandar M. Mirashi) writes:
>>
>>    Just how far should we allow this assault on the English language
>>
>>      Clearly, words such as "mankind" weren't deemed to be sexist by
>>most women, before these radical feminists started their tirade. Stop
>>misguiding people, you chauvinists!
>>
>>                                                             Mandar.
>>-- 
>
>	You engage in the fallacy that most people mean what they say
>and say what they mean, which implies that most people don't always
>know what they think and think what they know.

I really have no idea what you're talking about. Could you please
elaborate on that?

>	On a side note, what do you mean by "Clearly?"  Should I take
>it that you didn't have the intention of being precise but wanted to
>convey a certain tone by the usage of "Clearly?"  You know, if someone
>argues with your logic, then it cannot be clear enough.  

Depends upon to *whom* it isn't clear.

>Or perhaps I
>should read something extra into your usage of the word "Clearly" by 
>saying that your tone is one of angry frustration and the metaphor
>"Clearly" is intended to put down the opposing side by making them
>look stupid for not seeing what is clearly so clear to you?

I wasn't angry or frustrated; simply disgusted. And the usage of the
word "clearly" wasn't intended to "put down" anyone. The fact is
supported by the statements I had made.

>	Similarly, am I trying to mock you by my usage of the word
>"clearly" or am I just trying to show you how slippery language]
>can be?  

I *agree* that language can be slippery. I just hope these "unambiguous"
writers would realise that.

>
>	You really don't seem to understand the value of feminism--radical
>or not.  

I *do*. As long as it isn't applied to irrelevant purposes - such as
"reforming" the language.

>Like all good literary theories: deconstruction, Saussurean
>linguistics, reader response criticism, marxism, structuralism, formalism,
>or hermeneuitics, 

I'll have to look up some of those. Anyway, did any of these "reform"
language?


>feminism opens the way for all of us to view things in
>another different and new way.  

Exactly!

>Your reaction, I sense, is not against
>the feminist movement itself but, perhaps, to the threat you feel at
>having heretofore open space closed to you.  That is, you may be reacting
>out of personal inadequacies.  

No. I don't feel any kind of threat from feminists (except the radical
ones who believe that "woman is better than man in all ways"). In fact,
I appreciate their cause. I, however, deplore their misguided attempts
at "reforming" language which has NOTHING to do with prejudices.


>Now, this analysis of mine is NOT meant
>to be some deep psychoanalysis of any kind.  Rather, what I just did is
>to ask a question that leads to a questioning of the self and the seeking
>of the motives that drive the self.  

The motive which drives me is the prevention of wicked assaults carried
out by misguided, radical feminists on the English language.


>In this vein, one can use the question
>and learn how and why one reacts to whatever and perhaps even learn to
>live with ideas/things previously viewed as threats.  In a very important
>way, feminism is making us question what we do or have done, or what
>others do or have done.  The detached questioning one takes to approach
>such new information as feminism helps one integrate that new information.
>

Indeed!

>blah, blah, blah ... 
>

chatter chatter!   ;)

>wing
>

                                                            Mandar.
-- 
"Imagine there's no countries. It isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill or die 
 for, and no religion too. Imagine all the people living life in peace.
 You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope some
 day you'll join us, and the world will be as one." - John Lennon.
Newsgroups: alt.usage.english