Don't Just Go Away, Go Away Mad
So an interesting discussion has sprung up over whether to block these folks who have come in with the standard anti-feminist attacks we have all heard, thought about, and dismissed a million times over. Because I have heard them a million times and they have never convinced me in any way to change my mind, I don't bother to reply to them. It's not like I don't deal with these questions over and over, it's just that I am not going to do it here with a bunch of angry anonymous miserable souls. I have a classroom where I am only too happy to talk with students about these issues, particularly when asked in good faith, and I do it, with wisdom and peace and compassion. Therefore my evaluations and job performance reviews always comment on how comfortable students of all stripes feel in my classes and that I encourage open debate on all issues without silencing anyone. In fact I just got this email from a WRIT 340 student of mind and post it with his permission:
"Hey Dr. Blaine! Brad Williams here...Here is my paper #3....I am e-mailing it to you as I sit in LAX about to fly to the east coast for some comedy shows. I just wanted to say that I enjoyed the class and your opinions. While I agreed with some and disagreed with others, it was a pleasure being your student."
Guess this conservative Christian male student doesn't feel all oppressed by the evil man-hating feminazi. But I don't expect this to matter to my attackers. They don't care about the truth, which over 1000 student evaluations attest to as do 6 years of job performance reviews and a number of teaching awards. Gosh, I almost wonder how they are going to twist this all around like they do everything else, but as I told them to begin with, they do not interest me and I have no intention of reading their hateful blogs. People who do read them tell me that one of them has accused me of fraud, which I am going to let pass, and published a private email after asking my permission to and not getting it. (Nice and ethical, Andrew. You are responsible for the behavior of only one person on the planet. How do you think you are doing?) They also say that I have deleted posts of theirs, which is obviously untrue as well. My site abounds with their many attempts to cripple me; I've not altered a word. So now along with my funny feminist observations about the world around me, which I began writing because so many students have told me they want more of me after our class time has ended, there's a whole bunch of really frantic mean-spirited crap, included the hysterical charge that this woman with three degrees in English cannot write.
So why let them post? I am moved by arguments for and against. Women are hounded and silenced in billions of ways. I am brave enough to withstand the hateful attacks, so that's why I speak up--for women who cannot. Perhaps these women ought not have to see such blatant anti-female propaganda when they visit a space set up to advance our dignity, not shred it as so many of our institutions do every day all over the world.
But. I have learned in teaching that people who speak up and say appalling things teach far more than they ever intend by espousing their views. When I was a young instructor, I dreaded hearing the hateful opinions of students who speak out of fear, as do so many of these, upholding hegemonic ideologies, consciously or not, that perpetuate oppression, including hierarchies of racism and sexism among others. I wanted to protect the other students, especially those directly implicated by such bile, and I wanted to change the world by explaining the faults in the logic of the prejudiced voices. Then I started noticing what happened when people like these speak. Other students visibly recoil, and begin to move away from them, intellectually if not actually, because what they say is so ugly that few want to be like them. They teach by negative example.
So I stopped having to meet every ridiculous thing I heard in classrooms with sane responses. I intend to do the same thing here. Let the haters speak for themselves and let the readers choose who they want to be like. I have already told the people who have declared their intention to mock me that I do not want what they have; their preposterous attempts to discredit someone like me who is demonstrably talented and effective only makes me more certain of that fact and discredits them even further.
Somthing key here to consider: they keep trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. This is a good definition of insane behavior. If I were them I would accept reality, that they have no power over me and they never will, so they may as well move on. That would be the reasonable and mature thing to do. Their choice in this matter will speak volumes about them, not like they haven't already nakedly revealed their characters to us over and over again. But there's hope for them of course. Change is possible, and as I said in my last post, I was more like them than people who know me now can probably imagine.
In the meanwhile, feel free to skip the junk they write. I do.
Meanwhile, rock on girlfriends and boyfriends. Life is absolutely amazing and I absolutely insist on enjoying it. Hope you can too, and hope I can help you do that by continuing to share my vision. I ain't going nowhere.
Comments
Yay Dr. Diana! As a blogger, I had a couple of people set up a message board to talk about me! They would copy and paste my words and re post my pictures reading into everything with their own brand of hate. I had no interest in what they were doing and eventually they were posting to one another about the same things over and over (theres that crazy thing again).
My blog is about me. If you don't like it go else where. I welcome FRIENDLY discussion and debate, not attacks.
Let them rant and rave. I'm sure they are few in numbers, my detractors were. I won't notice because I will be busy reading The Adventures of Dr. Diana!
Posted by: Liz | May 8, 2006 06:19 AM
Thank you dear. Your comments I read. (Let me save them time: "that's because 'dr diana' though how you got a PhD is hard to comprehend because you clearly cannot write and don't know anything, you're locked in a delusional world where you refust to admit ideas that oppose you in any way because you are hypocritical, insane, stupid, illiterate, weak, blah blah blah.")
Posted by: Diana | May 8, 2006 08:15 AM
Diana;
I enjoy reading your blog, even when I disagree. I did not go to college to have my view of the world reinforced. I wanted to broaden my viewpoint,to be challenged and even provoked.
The most valuable tools I learned as an undergrad were critical thinking skills. I did not need my opinions endorsed on political, social or cultural issues. I find your work provacative and interesting, even when I disagree.
And that is the whole point.
So let them rant. They may one day cringe at the memmory of their youthful enthusiasm (or rabid ignorance). I recall one of your own posts of the memory of rudely refuting a visiting speakers assertions about linguistics and Black English speech patterns. Grant your detractors the same right to make fools of themselves.
PS And again, who is that dashing gentleman in the center of the fifth photo down? The one with the air of a burly rogue & a poet. I want to have his child.
Posted by: Seaneen | May 8, 2006 10:41 AM
I am not going to critique any the gross characterizations you've made here in this post. However, instead of merely dismissing any legitimate inquiry, I would invite you to take a look as some of the reasons why we are asking questions here: http://cardinalmartini.mu.nu/archives/cat_blaine_chronicles.php
And for commentators - it is rather blind to throw rhetorical support behind a situation where you haven't read the opposing perspective. We're not against you - we just want answers.
Posted by: Chairman of the Board | May 8, 2006 11:33 AM
You have more faith in the educational process than I do. But then, I'm older and I've been at this longer. What happens is that deluded women shore them up so they never have to learn. They'll always find another and another that will support their stupidity.
One lession they will never get, they and their enablers: you and I are not responsible for their education. They are. Oh. Wait. That was the lesson in grade six.
Posted by: Pony | May 8, 2006 01:47 PM
Well, it's nice to see you don't have any problems with self esteem.
BTW, my experience is that having a degree in writing doesn't prove that you can write any more than a degree in teaching proves that you can teach.
Sue me, I'm a bitch.
Posted by: Hieronymus Braintree | May 10, 2006 03:22 AM
Way to go, Doc! An idea's popularity isn't related to it's veracity, and vice versa. Just because folks disagree with you doesn't mean you don't have truth to impart. But please, for those of us who _aren't_ as articulate as you, or enjoy your understanding, or even just live too far away to enjoy your classes directly, a _few_ counter -arguments would be helpful. Just askin'.
Posted by: Ned Harrison | May 11, 2006 07:21 AM
"They don't care about the truth, which over 1000 student evaluations attest to as do 6 years of job performance reviews and a number of teaching awards."
I'm surprised to see you use the word "attest" with its blatantly misogynistic etymology. ;-)
Posted by: dogscratcher | May 11, 2006 01:41 PM
Cardinal Martini,
What conversational directions would you suggest to those of us who did bother to go to your website and read a substantial part of it, and who came to the conclusion that you're full of nothing better to do?
Posted by: vika | May 11, 2006 04:13 PM
Hi Prof Diana, I saw the article about you on Frontpage magazine, and I wanted to throw some support your way. I love your photos -- it is, in my opinion, empowering to women to show what real women's bodies look like, and especially poignant to show the contrast to the pictures on billboards, etc, the exploited, phonified, sexualized female bodies that the public is constantly forced to look at. I also agree with and appreciate your assertion that all men need to take responsibility for stopping rape. Isn't it interesting that call for collective responsibility is what enrages so many men, but not the reality of rape that goes on around them, 24/7? Thanks for speaking out, and for maintaining such a friendly and fun feminist website.
Posted by: Pearl | May 11, 2006 06:55 PM
I just found out this website and I want to thank you for being so strong and frank about issues that affect everyone, not just women. The fact that what you say offends so many people is a true reflection of how this society truly feels about women's empowerment. Please don't stop writing because you are my hero.
Posted by: Elena | May 11, 2006 07:57 PM
Rape and responsibility:
http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/05/11/no-time-toulouse/
Posted by: Pony | May 11, 2006 08:03 PM
I have never posted on a blog before, but I was moved to do so after reading several of your posts and the insulting responses to them. I also teach college English, though I am still in the early stages, and I wanted to say that I admire your courage, as well as your advice on how dealing with appalling comments in the classroom. I still get nervous about conflict in the classroom, especially when someone is speaking illogically and out of ignorance, but you are right about trusting the students in their responses. You are even mentoring me without having met me, and I thank you for it!
Posted by: lucy | May 11, 2006 08:52 PM
all I can say is read this website
www.lindsaymroberts.com
Posted by: Mike | May 12, 2006 02:13 PM