>>> Item number 16707 from WRITERS LOG9309A --- (119 records) ---- <<<
Date:         Wed, 8 Sep 1993 11:38:49 JST
Reply-To:     WRITERS <WRITERS@NDSUVM1.BITNET>
Sender:       WRITERS <WRITERS@NDSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         Mike Barker <barker@AEGIS.OR.JP>
Subject:      stems... (blue-collar flaming)

[pseudo-flame - about medium rare, I think]

scott, I know you were rambling, so perhaps should be allowed some
latitude, but have you really considered this statement?

- We in academia, as I'm
- sure 98% of the people subscribing to this list are related, tend to
- realize that stereotypes and unconfounded generalizations stem from a lack
- of education, understanding and perhaps intelligence.

Stripped of intellectual self-congratulatory ploys, what you said is: "I
think stereotypes and generalizations stem from lack of education,
understanding, and intelligence."  scott, did you really mean to say
that?

(I'm not even going to touch the self-referential problem buried in your
statement, but you might want to think about it.)

Any sentence that starts with "we in ..." and ends with a collection of
shortcomings of those "others" is at best problematic, and at worst
deceptive and divisive.  Try talking about "I", "you", and "we" (no IN
or OUT).  Otherwise you is just being offensive and snotty...

I suppose (with my limited understanding) the stereotypes and confounded
generalizations that prevail among academics - with their great
education, understanding and doubtful intelligence - are some sort of
magical quirkiness, not to be confused with us poor folks' confusions
and bafflement.

careful, scott, you might disturb me, and I'd fly into a fit of
uneducated, lacking in understanding, unintelligent nonsense full of
stereotypes and generalizations.  Might even spit on the ivory towers...

Academia don't hardly do nothing for none of them problems you mentions,
except make it easier to avoid looking at yourself... and provide a
wonderful set of stereotypes and generalizations that has less to do
with the day-to-day world than those of them ordinary folks...

I'm going to get my blue collar shirt out in a second and start
marching...

Let me quickly sketch several myths that you have wrapped up in one
statement.

First, there is no relationship between education and intelligence.
However, you imply that one exists.

Second, there is no relationship between education and understanding.
However, again, you imply there is some relationship.

Third, while academe might like to claim all education as their
exclusive property, 'tain't so.  Miseducation, now, that they do supply
a large amount of...

Fourth, while a minority may learn something about stereotypes and
generalizations in academe (often in shocked protest to what the
academic teaches!), most merely acquire a more elaborate and
self-fulfilling set of stereotypes and generalizations.  I would even go
so far as to say that professors promote some of the most rigid and
thoughtless stereotypes and generalizations, backed by the awesome
authority of the academic community.

I will grant that academia provides training and skills in protecting
and extending the set of acceptable stereotypes and generalizations, and
in chasing out the heretics.  Perhaps you meant that "our" stereotypes
and generalizations are the pampered pets of the educated folk like
yourself who share your prejudices?

Paradigms - looks like stereotypes or generalizations in academic dress,
don't it?

Fifth, while it may be nice of you gentlefolk in the white towers to
spit on those outside the towers, in general (love that phrase) you are
in no position to have your stereotypes and generalizations challenged.
Indeed, the whole trend of academe is to strengthen, elaborate, and
continue those stereotypes and generalizations without the interference
of "the real world."  It is not the scrubwoman cleaning floors who
dreams madly of abstract classifications, properties, and other airy
dreams - she thinks of concrete people in her life, who live in her mind
with all their contradictions and reality, no matter what the academe
may postulate.

I've got news for you - take any wonderful revelation of academe for a
walk outside the walls, and it will probably break.  The range and
breadth of those dirty unwashed barbarians is simply too much for the
simplicity of academic thought.  This is one of the first lessons the
University of life often teaches those who make the mistake of thinking
that learning stops when they exit the white towers...

Do you recollect the tale of the greek philosophers and the arab?  the
philosophers were busily arguing over how many teeth a horse had, and
finally decided to call on the expert.  he left the bar for a moment,
came back in, and said, "the horse outside has this many teeth."  When
they angrily asked how he knew, he said he counted them.

Before you tell me how wonderful the understanding of academe is, count
some teeth.  be careful - some of those rascals bite!

don't imagine for one second that academic connections protect you from
stereotyping and idiotic generalizations.  Out of the mouths of
professors and grad students... come the WORST!

(prolly all that beer he drank with his wurst and sauerkraut lunch...
prolly, don'tcha think?  makes 'em belligerent, when they drink like
they do...)

feeling prole today?  send for our academia kit.  includes gown, chips
for your shoulders, ivory tower, and other impedentia guaranteed to
block out the grimy real world.  only 2,999 dollars special price for a
limited time only.  now you too can be Elmer, Ph.D.  What's up, Doc?

prole day!
tink