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Re: Wonk, Wonk, Wonk...
Rebel (rpalm@UNM.EDU)
Fri, 17 May 1996 09:10:38 -0600
I would think the subject line would give it away...I took it as tongue in
cheek. I thought it was funny because I have often laughed at my husband
and myself when we choose a place to live because of the climate, job
availability, schools, etc. and then, after we've settled in, found out we
couldn't stand our neighbors, nothing to do with segregation or racism or
SES stereotyping, just that they were of a different mindset than we
are--maybe they were uneducated, ignorant, intolerant, or quintessential
ticky-tack (anyone remember the term "ticky-tack" from a song by Peter
Seegar I believe, about the mediocrity of tract-house design?). Nothing
"racist" or "segregationist" about our preferences in the usual sense,
although I will have to say I am prejudiced, not by color, but by
intolerance (intolerance or narrow-mindedness or ignorance, which 3 may or
may not be related, bore me, and when I get bored I get psychotic), so I
guess prejudice is one of the reasons I am unhappy with my neighbors, or
co-workers, or colleagues, or anyone else who takes themselves too
seriously.
My husband, who sells cars now, was just telling me this morning about two
customers he had who moved out of Montana because "those people up there
are crazy", i.e. the Freemen and Koszynski are just the tip of the iceberg
of right-wing, survivalist fanatics. So these people felt uncomfortable
and moved out. Personally, I find this stereotyping too, now all
Montanans will be stereotyped as right-wing crazies, which I have never
found them to be. (Is it okay to stereotype when it's an unpopular
political orientation? as long as the stereotyping isn't by color, or
race, or sexual orientation. I don't hear anyone protesting the
unfairness of stereotyping Christians as being narrow-minded or of
stereotyping businesspeople as being selfish capitalist pigs.)
Anyway, I assumed that Vance was making fun of just this phenomenon, of
making life decisions without a consideration of some essential criteria,
such as "will I like the people there? will I be able to make friends?"
and also of the unmarketability of a PhD, after you've spent years of your
life getting it, another life decision made and then being surprised when
the rest of the world isn't as impressed with it as you think they should
be.
On Fri, 17 May 1996, JOHN LANGDON wrote:
> In message <Pine.SOL.3.93.960516222925.17036A-100000@Pegasus> Vance Geiger
> writes:
> >
> > ANNOUNCING A NEW SERVICE! ETHNOGRAPHIC REAL ESTATE ANALYSIS
> > (E-REA) (USE IT TWICE AND GET...)
> >
>
> This is a joke, right? Tell me anthropologists are not using professional
> credentials to promote segregation, racism, and ethnic and SES stereotyping.
> Tell me I was exaggerating when I proclaimed last decade that the Reagan era and
> new conservatism meant it is OK for Americans to be prejudiced again. Tell me
> the American Anthropological Association will publically and loudly distance
> itself from such views. Tell me, please . . .
>
>
> JOHN H. LANGDON LANGDON@GANDLF.UINDY.EDU
> DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY OFFICE PHONE (317)788-3447
> UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS FAX (317)788-3569
> 1400 EAST HANNA AVENUE
> INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46227
> USA
>
"I don't need any new ideas. I'm confused enough as it is."
Jack, in _The Brothers McMullen_
Rebel Palm, MA, Evaluation Coordinator (& dilettante Sociology PhD candidate)
Education For Zero Infection/Coordinated School Health Evaluation Project
c/o Master's Public Health Program
Center for Population Health, University of New Mexico
FAX: 505/299-0965
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