Nurture vs. Neuter
Ecopunk* outweenies Neiwert. Must-read earns complimentary bottle-harness and neuticles:
On Sunday Dave Neiwert of Orcinus wrote one of the most heart-warming pieces I’ve ever read over at Firedoglake, “Manly Men.” The post is a rumination of the meaning of masculinity and the rejection of the rather one-dimensional gender stereotypes that are often presented as the model for “real men” to follow. I’ve always been tempted to dismiss these views of what it means to be a man as essentially straw-man arguments, but unfortunately I continue to meet just enough men who actually seem to believe in the damn things that I can’t.
…
He then goes on to deconstruct what might best be called the “Cult of Hyper-Masculinity,” and finally suggests that many men could probably benefit from exploring the more nurturing aspects of themselves.
For a piece with some very pointed criticism of how some folks — both men and women — approach the concept of masculinity, Neiwert’s tale was awfully “feel good” in the end. I don’t think it was ever intended to change minds; if anything, it’s greatest problem was perhaps that it was too easy to dismiss. Neiwert might be out of touch. He might be emasculated. He might even be well-intentioned but misguided. But after reading “Manly Men,” it would just seem mean-spirited to attack the guy. Better just to ignore the piece.
Apparently, however, that chain of reasoning is too sophisticated for some right-wing bloggers, since the next day both Jeff Goldstein and Jules Crittenden both weighed in with attacks on Neiwert’s musings. Crittenden’s response was extremely mean-spirited, vaguely xenophobic, and ultimately conjures up an image more akin to a caveman pounding his chest and screaming in fury at the sky than any sort of being we would consider rational today.
I believe that’s meant to be a compliment, though the “pounding his chest and screaming in fury at the sky” imagery is a tad overwrought. I was actually typing quietly on my couch. May want to consider submitting that in the “Dark and stormy night” writing competition. At least this eunuch is not a racist like those other dopes, and rendered me only “vaguely xenophobic.”
Not at all, actually. Allow me to clarify, as there seems to be some confusion. I have no problem with people of other races and nations that I don’t have with people of my own race and nation. I have lived happily among many of them. I just expect them to be moderately law-abiding, and prefer them gainfully employed, literate, upwardly mobile, with good table manners. Regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or nationality.
But I have to say I detected some some distinctly anti-Neanderthalist sentiments in those remarks, suggesting cavemen were less rational than modern humans, and I find that objectionable. You think bringing down woolly mammoths doesn’t require a lot of cold, hard calculation? You think fending off rival cavetribes doesn’t require strategy, psychology? You think flaking stone tools is easy, iPod boy? People look down on cavemen. I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss them. Think you’re good enough to walk a mile in their footprints? I doubt it.
Here’s the post that has prompted all this opprobrium.
Speaking of which, the originally manly man, all done getting in touch with his feminine side, inner child, etc., decides he wants compare penises. Chest-thumping an improvement over low mordant chuckles and chest-clearing! Can’t count, though.
UPDATE: Reader Salty cruelly reminds me of my lack of a lantern jaw!
* Ecopunk? First prize to anyone who finds some “punk” in any of this.
Topics: moms and dads
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 11:03 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2007
2 Responses to “Nurture vs. Neuter”
Leave a Reply
Trackback URLYou must be logged in to post a comment.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:30 am
Hey, critter, he forgot to mention your lantern jaw!
Vaguely xenophobic? Wanna guess how much of the world this so-called punk has experienced?
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:57 am
Ooh, that sounded dirtier than intended. Feel free to delete without the chance of offending one of your patrons.