Just watched the last philosophy tube. It is excellent, but there is a minor point that bugged me a little, so I thought I'd exorcised it by making a post. (Yes, I know, random tumblr user has notes for extremely successful youtuber, more at 6)
So around minute 9, she talks bout how a strict legal definition is not necessary in order to protect women. The example given is the one of hate crimes: If an applicant for a job is rejected on the grounds that they are perceived as a woman, it does not matter whether or not they are a woman. The employer is still guilty of illegal discrimination. Good point. A bit later in the video, she brings up the fact that in the UK, trans women are jailed in men's prisons. The point made is that trans women are labelled as dangerous to other inmates without any evidence of this danger. Also a good point.
But this is an example of when one does need a working definition of women, since prison are segregated by gender. Moreover, a definition is needed in order to protect women, since as she puts it "this policy makes prison significantly worse for a segment of the population".
I started typing about how we use categories as shorthands for the diversity of humans experience for practical reasons, even though no strict definition will work 100% of the time, and about the consequence of this, which is that any defnition used should be chosen while keeping in mind why this gender segregation exists, what does it seek to accomplish, and whether or not gender is the most appropriate criteria.Then I remembered that Mia Mulder has an excellent video on this about women's sport, so I'll just put it there.
I find it hard to write about this subject without getting sucked into tangents (which perhaps explains why it is glossed over in the video). Just writing this, I looked up how the gender segregation in prison worked in my country, then the overpopulation in women's facilities, then the overpopulation in general (114% occupancy rate, third worse in the EU), then the rise in the carceral population and its de-correlation with the crime rate, then the expeditive measures being adopted which will without a doubt make things worse as the Olympics Games loom ever closer (no prizes for guessing which country that is).
I also know that I am getting a bit internet-poisoned because I fought the urge to pre-emptively answer every bad faith argument that could possibly be made, so I'll cut it short. Let me reiterate. I fully agree with the points that are made in the video. I understand that time is a factor in what is and is not included in a video. I just wish this particular point was made a little better.
Dernier post sur Mélenchon et après j'arrête avec lui mais je voulais juste dire que ce qui me frustre le plus, c'est que je le trouve impeccable sur les questions de la transidentité, clair (il me semble, les personnes concernées me corrigeront) sur l'islamophobie, excellent en débat, bon orateur, courageux face à certaines saloperies, quand Zemmour s'est foutu de sa gueule en disant qu'il était sourd et qu'il a répondu du tac au tac "je suis sourd de naissance. Vous avez un problème avec les handicapés ?", incroyable ! Et en plus, il aime la littérature ! Et il défend la Palestine ! Et il nous a tous donné espoir en 2012 ! Et si j'avais pu voter en 2012, j'aurais voté pour lui (mais j'avais 17 ans).
Son défaut est, comme beaucoup d'hommes, et en particulier des hommes blancs âgés ET EN PARTICULIER (je parle d'expérience) des hommes blancs âgés lettrés, c'est qu'il est têtu et qu'il a trop d'égo et qu'il n'admet pas qu'il ait pu merder. Et je ne pense même pas qu'il soit antisémite, je ne pense même pas que ce soit une stratégie électorale, je pense juste à mon grand-père, qui s'appelle aussi Jean-Luc, un vieux militant communiste, qui n'a jamais admis qu'il pouvait avoir tort, qu'il pouvait s'être trompé au moins une fois dans sa vie et je pense qu'ils ont plus qu'un prénom comme point commun.
I am not trying to ruffle any feathers, but I have to say this before Season 2 comes out, so I can act smug when I’m right. Here is my number one prediction for Good Omens Season 2:
There won’t be a voice-over.
Now hang on. I know it’s a controversial opinion. Let me explain.
I have noticed that virtually every adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s books has some sort of voice over, either diagetic (like Going Postal, where it’s part of the framing device) or non-diagetic (Hogfather). And I get it ! If you’ve read any of the Discworld book and have this weird brain quirk where a part of you is always thinking about how this would translate on screen, you’ve probably noticed two things:
1. There’s visual humour in text form. How ? This man was a genius and a will be missed forever.
2. There’s so much that just can’t be translated on a purely visual level. The footnotes! Should we just leave the footnotes out ? They’re so great! They add so much to the world in general. There are running jokes that only appear in the footnotes ! Should we just accept that it won’t make it to screen ?
Yes. I’m sorry, but yes. Some things will be lost. Maybe you can integrate one of these jokes as recurring background events ? A lot of people are not going to notice though. There’s an expectation that the reader will read all of the words, while the viewer may not see all that’s happening on screen (although, to be fair, you will be noticing new puns on every re-read for years in the case of the Discworld).
(In comparison, adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s work are less prone to voice over. If I remember correctly, Coraline didn’t have one. Sandman starts with a bit of voice-over from the main character, but nothing more after that. I don’t remember any in American Gods. MirrorMask has left me nothing but the memory of a fever dream, so I can’t be sure. )
This is not to say that the voice-over in season one was pointless. It establishes the tone, to start with. If you remember, the opening narration is about the age of the Earth, in which we learn that it was created on the 21st of October, 4004 B.C., and therefore learn its star sign. It’s a good way to show that yes, there are angels in this, and demons, and the garden of Eden, and if you want to think too hard about this, they’ve got you covered. But if you think that these depictions are either blasphemous or religious propaganda, it might be a good time to learn to take a step back (and a joke, in my personal opinion).
But there are definitely instances of narration that would never have happened if season 1 wasn’t a book adaptation. I am thoroughly convinced that Dog’s experimentation with chasing and being chased by cats would have been screen only. Maybe a scene. Maybe something happening in he background. Who knows.
And here’s the thing. Season 2 isn’t the adaptation of a novel. I remember a tweet by Neil Gaiman about how he and Pratchett had a sequel plotted out, but even that isn’t season 2. According to the same, tweet, Season 2 is how we get there.
My number 2 prediction is that there will be a an intense heist scene during which Sadie and Dottie both try to steal some incriminating letters unbeknownst to each other.
Je dois dire j'y croyais pas.
Attal qui appelle au désistement quand Renaissance est 3ème !!! Qui appelle à voter contre le RN !!!! ENFIN !!!!
We've always appreciated the attention to detail in Charles Lee's "The Golfers."
[spoilers] my beloved
Enjoy your Magnussing, Early Access Folk!
We'll have the first results of the French legislative election in 5 hours. On the off chance that someone who reads this is still on the fence, go vote for whichever candidate isn't RN.
John being reasonable and helpful
I miss when everyone on my dash listened to Welcome to Night Vale so there’s be a good chance that on any ole day someone would reblog a quote that would grab me by the throat and forcibly ascend me to a higher plane where I understood myself and the universe better and with more kindness but also a little spook
A small update: A few hours later, here are the two other comments that make up the top 3.
So the trailer for Our Flag Means Death Season 2 just went live on youtube, and this is the top comment. I agree with it wholeheartedly.