Useless Conversation

[Sky]

I live in the Mohawk Valley, I'm fucking entitled to the haircut, bitches.

Also, TIL I want to be the Dean of Discipline, you naughty little scamps.

[Bunk]

Being one eighth Mi'kmaq, I've always just said native because its a lot easier to spell.

[Samwise]

Native American are mildly offensive because their people were here prior to it being called America. Indigenous Peoples is the most safe term.

What?  How do you distinguish whether you're talking about indigenous people in the Americas vs, say, Australia, if even the NAME OF THE CONTINENT is offensive?  I have never heard of this before.

[Rendakor]

I don't think I'll ever feel bad about being "mildly offensive."

[Paelos]

We deal mostly with the Cherokee Nation so we just call them by tribe or by American Indians.

[Hawkbit]

Native American are mildly offensive because their people were here prior to it being called America. Indigenous Peoples is the most safe term.

What?  How do you distinguish whether you're talking about indigenous people in the Americas vs, say, Australia, if even the NAME OF THE CONTINENT is offensive?  I have never heard of this before.

I know, I know. But put yourself in the position of their ancestors. America wasn't the name of a continent. It was the name of the explorer who was part of a process that "took their land". To some of the currently existing cultures, any reference to being "American" could be disrespectful. Each culture is different, so each culture accepts or rejects our nomenclature based on their needs and desires.

That said, most indigenous people I have met don't care what they're called; in academia 10 years ago we referred to the entire "American and Mexican Indian" cultures as First Nations because it's the most PC term. However, it looks like First Nations was really supposed to refer to Canadian indigenous cultures.

Another thing I found completely fascinating during that time of my life: Dying languages.  Imagine being the last one to know a language and it dies with you. That's so strange to me. Trying to teach new generations a language that only a handful of people will ever know? The younger generations often don't see the point, so that aspect of the culture dies with the last member. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_endangered_languages_in_North_America

[Samwise]

In many cases the languages die because the surviving elders make the deliberate decision not to teach it to anyone -- they want the language to die with the culture rather than being preserved in a book or museum.  Which I can understand even though the preservationist in me hates to see anything lost forever.

One assumes these aren't the same cultures who are offended by other people using the term "America" instead of the word from their own language, though.

[Chimpy]

The label that the majority of US tribes/scholars now prefer to use is American Indian.

"Injun" is a pejorative that has similarities to "Jap" or "Chink".

[Maven]

 I believe racist and other charged terms are ways to shut down conversations and put someone else in a social penalty box. It is already difficult for me to navigate social mine fields; I'm introverted, tech-saavy, grew up on gaming in a mostly white Indiana town, and we'll throw my mood disorder on top. (Those are generlizations to paint a picture of me, not every introverted, tech-saavy, gamer, Indiana resident, or persons with mood disorders have these issues).

I know I am straight up ignorant and can be insensitive on many social and cultural issues. So I view this as an opportunity to be educated. Cultural anthro sounds cool, given the diversity at my school I would be well served to take it.

I've had to go back over the events of yesterday in my head; I have a pretty strong case against the other student based on reason and facts. Could I have handled it better? Absolutely. But the police got involved once he threw racist out there. It transformed the conflict from a minor to a major student code violation.

Is it even possible for a European American to be the target of hate speech based on ethnic background? The norm seems to be No.

[Merusk]

Awww.  Poor white boy. Your life is so hard.

[Rasix]

Good luck with this. I'm sure it'll go really well for you in the end.

Anyhow, decided against the school.  They're response to the whole vax thing is "it should be decided at the pediatrician's office".



I want to argue, but it's not worth it. No private school is going to reverse policy on something that could cost them 50% of their enrollment. OK. Onward.  

[ezrast]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RovF1zsDoeM

[lamaros]

Good luck with this. I'm sure it'll go really well for you in the end.

Anyhow, decided against the school.  They're response to the whole vax thing is "it should be decided at the pediatrician's office".



I want to argue, but it's not worth it. No private school is going to reverse policy on something that could cost them 50% of their enrollment. OK. Onward.  

I don't understand why you think it should be the school that decides an enforces?

Awww.  Poor white boy. Your life is so hard.

Also this. Try to take a step back and realize before you make minor things huge issues for yourself because you can't just let go. Especially if you're not really in the right, or its ambiguous.

[Chimpy]

The schools should require the basic vaccination schedule for public health reasons before allowing children to enroll is I am sure what he means.

[Rasix]

It's a complicated issue.  It's part fault of the state, it's also part of the wet noodle stance the school takes on it. 

[Morat20]

The schools should require the basic vaccination schedule for public health reasons before allowing children to enroll is I am sure what he means.

Public schools generally require it. How effective it is depends on the state's stance on exemptions. "Personal beliefs"? yeah, anyone whose Mom glanced on Facebook even once doesn't have vaccinations. "Religious Exemptions"? Depends on how much work it is to get it. Do you just check a box? Do you have to get a form? If you have to fill out a form or make a special trip, probably higher vaccination rates.

Honestly, I'm not sure ANY religious actually have anything against vaccines. Even the "No blood transfusions EVER" guys basically go "Yeah, get your vaccine. Then pray away any post-jab fevers".

But this is America. We solve everything through guns and/or sheer bullheaded stupidity. Honestly, I'm surprised the NRA hasn't come up with a way gun ownership wards off measles better than vaccines.

[Paelos]

I believe racist and other charged terms are ways to shut down conversations and put someone else in a social penalty box. It is already difficult for me to navigate social mine fields; I'm introverted, tech-saavy, grew up on gaming in a mostly white Indiana town, and we'll throw my mood disorder on top. (Those are generlizations to paint a picture of me, not every introverted, tech-saavy, gamer, Indiana resident, or persons with mood disorders have these issues).

I know I am straight up ignorant and can be insensitive on many social and cultural issues. So I view this as an opportunity to be educated. Cultural anthro sounds cool, given the diversity at my school I would be well served to take it.

I've had to go back over the events of yesterday in my head; I have a pretty strong case against the other student based on reason and facts. Could I have handled it better? Absolutely. But the police got involved once he threw racist out there. It transformed the conflict from a minor to a major student code violation.

Is it even possible for a European American to be the target of hate speech based on ethnic background? The norm seems to be No.

You're overthinking the shit out of things. 99 times out of 100, the correct response to any social situation that escalates beyond control is to leave. The other one time, you start throwing haymakers.

[Samwise]

As the size of an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of solving approaches zero.

[Nevermore]

But this is America. We solve everything through guns and/or sheer bullheaded stupidity. Honestly, I'm surprised the NRA hasn't come up with a way gun ownership wards off measles better than vaccines.

Can you Stand Your Ground against unvaccinated kids?

[Maven]

Not all details were communicated. I couldn't leave. It happened in a classroom I was scheduled for, and he was staying too even though he wasn't enrolled. There is more than the racist thing that would require far more writing and further reinforce my overthinking and hyperawareness with the audience.

I have trouble letting go. It is frustrating to hear the same advice your entire life and not be able to understand what to do. I'm too analytical, what is important to me isn't important, the way I communicate is flawed, I blow things out of proportion... I don't even know what in proportion looks like anymore. I don't know who this person is that everyone thinks I should be!

I'm overwhelmed with everything I have to deal with and everything I feel is expected from me by others and myself. Something others developed in their lifetime when it comes to emotional health didn't happen with me, it colors my entire world, and I'm distressed when I keep doing socially unacceptable behaviors with all I feel I have to balance.

I am super stressed out. I don't know how other people do it -- think differently, act differently, maintain composure.

[Maven]

I'm like the anti-schild.

[Furiously]

What's the failure rate on vaccinations?  I just looked and it varies by immunization. I would run as far from that school as fast as I could.

[schild]

the anti-whowhatnow

what'd I do now?

[Maven]

I don't know, man. I don't know what your life is like. You strike me as unapolgetic, less highstrung, and able to move on from things.

[schild]

I don't know what a lot of those words mean.

[Paelos]

I don't know what a lot of those words mean.

He's in love with you.

[Maven]

Sempai... 

[schild]

and now it's awkward

[Paelos]

My work is done.

[HaemishM]

I think he was saying while schild's Give-A-Fuck-Meter is perpetually broken, his is in perpetual overheat.

[Paelos]

In all serious Maven you should post more in the depression thread because you've got some seriously self-defeating talk you should probably work out with people over there that know the ropes.

[Maven]

I think he was saying while schild's Give-A-Fuck-Meter is perpetually broken, his is in perpetual overheat.

I'm stealing that. I couldn't state it better. Bravo.

[schild]

I donated all of my fucks to the red cross after katrina.

[Morat20]

You're overthinking the shit out of things. 99 times out of 100, the correct response to any social situation that escalates beyond control is to leave. The other one time, you start throwing haymakers.

I'm trying to get my teenager to grasp that. Sadly, I have problems with it myself.

There's always that urge to keep going, keep pushing, until they stop doing whatever the heck they're doing or saying and admit you're right/the winner/the one in charge/etc. There's like a little switch that's like "fuck it, whatever" that doesn't get tripped as easily in some people. (And we all hang out on the internet and argue for 200 pages about internet spaceships to get it out of our systems)

[Maven]

When someone is bothering me, I believe if I don't do something or shut it down right then and there, then that gives the other free license to hassle me. What precedent do I want to set with a hostile individual? Don't fuck with me.

If an authority is available, then I feel like I'm back at school tattling to the teacher instead of solving it myself. It's like there is no way to win without SOMEONE taking issue and seeking to "correct" me.

Too much bullying, not enough social connection.