Myth of Orientalism

[progressive_lefty]

Come back Edward Wadie Said, some, but not all, is forgiven. Some of the stereotyping of the Middle East on this forum is shocking.

Devrim

Stereotyping?

I wasn't being sarcastic. The muslim women at my campus usually have beautiful faces with those dark Persian eyes and skin.

[Led Zeppelin]

"Dark Persian eyes"? Wtf are you talking about?

Farsi people are a tiny minority of Muslims, I doubt most of those "muslim women" are Farsi/Persian.

Your "dark Persian eyes" crap is probably based on some comic-book or Alladin.

[Sean]

Stereotyping?

I wasn't being sarcastic. The muslim women at my campus usually have beautiful faces with those dark Persian eyes and skin.
You're doing it again. Just because you're trying to be positive in your stereotype doesn't make it any less of a stereotype. Please read up on Orientalism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orientalism#Depictions_of_the_Orient_in_art_and_li terature).

[Kukulofori]

Oh don't get butthurt, persian people tend to look different.

[RedAnarchist]

Oh don't get butthurt, persian people tend to look different.

From whom? And butthurt, is that meant to be homophobic?

[Kukulofori]

:laugh:

[Led Zeppelin]

Ok, you're getting a warning point for your homophobic, racial stereotyping and other inane comments.

And I'm going to split this discussion to Discrimination.

[Kukulofori]

I uh, didn't know that was a serious question. I'm transsexual, bisexual, and a BashBack! member and I have NEVER heard butthurt to be an insult to gay people.

This is a little silly.

And about people of persian descent having unique physical traits, they don't?

This is even sillier.

[Led Zeppelin]

I uh, didn't know that was a serious question. I'm transsexual, bisexual, and a BashBack! member and I have NEVER heard butthurt to be an insult to gay people.

This is a little silly.

As I said in the PM to you, there are gay members in the CC who disagree with you.


And about people of persian descent having unique physical traits, they don't?

This is even sillier.

Yes they do, but to say that "the muslim women at my school have dark Persian eyes and skin" is moronic.

What does "dark Persian eyes and skin" mean? I've been to Iran, I am Iranian, I don't know what "dark Persian eyes and skin" means. Iranian people don't have such a "unique physical trait".

Maybe they have it in Alladin, but not in real life.

[Kukulofori]

Disagree what, that I've never heard it used against gay people? There's using it even though you know it will offend people, and there's actually not knowing.

As for Iranians you're right, but I checked on Wikipedia and apparently that's not at all an uncommon misunderstanding. Perhaps he has them mixed up with some other group?

[Led Zeppelin]

Disagree what, that I've never heard it used against gay people? There's using it even though you know it will offend people, and there's actually not knowing.

They disagree about it not being homophobic.

[Kukulofori]

Yes, but I've never heard of it being used that way before. I had no way of knowing.

[Sean]

I wouldn't consider it homophobic. The term means whiny anger at being made a fool out off, like a kid crying because they fell on their ass. It has nothing to do with anal sex.

[Post-Something]

Butthurt? Homophobic? For real!?!

I thought it was what Taig said or something...

[Dean]

I love Ed Said :lol:

[Raúl Duke]

those dark Persian eyes and skin.

I meet people with descendancy to Lebanon and other places in the Middle East while in Miami. They look "white" to me. It's a stereotype to think they all have "dark "Persian" skin." Maybe some, but never all. Also, they weren't muslim and not all muslims are "dark-skinned" either.

[Mujer Libre]

I meet people with descendancy to Lebanon and other places in the Middle East while in Miami. They look "white" to me. It's a stereotype to think they all have "dark "Persian" skin." Maybe some, but never all. Also, they weren't muslim and not all muslims are "dark-skinned" either.

Not to mention that Lebanese people aren't Farsi at all...

This thread is such a crock. I'm tempted to trash it because it makes me sick- but I think this is a discussion that needs to occur so that some of the more ignorant members can learn something.

[synthesis]

From whom? And butthurt, is that meant to be homophobic?

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/05/28/101-being-offended/

[Jazzratt]

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/05/28/101-being-offended/

Wow you're so fucking edgy.

[GPDP]

I can see how some people would think the word "butthurt" has homophobic connotations, but trust me, that's not what the term implies at all. Anyone that has spent any time on all kinds of internet forums, particularly those related to gaming, knows that it is an insult directed at those who get easily offended about the tiniest things, like a kid who just fell on his ass. It is a troll buzzword.

[Black Dagger]

So what's the point of this thread?

[Led Zeppelin]

Well the point was that the person who wrote that crap about "dark Persian eyes" to elaborate on his views, and to see other people participating in that "myth of orientalism" discussion as well.

However that butthurt discussion got started too, so maybe the title of the thread should be changed to reflect that, or that discussion should be split to a new thread in Discrimination.

[synthesis]

Wow you're so fucking edgy.

Edgy? I hate the edge. The surface is much better.

That shit is pretty much true, though.


Another thing worth noting is that the threshold for being offended is a very important tool for judging and ranking white people. Missing an opportunity to be outraged is like missing a reference to Derrida (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrida)-it’s social death.

:laugh:

[progressive_lefty]

"Dark Persian eyes"? Wtf are you talking about?

Farsi people are a tiny minority of Muslims, I doubt most of those "muslim women" are Farsi/Persian.

Your "dark Persian eyes" crap is probably based on some comic-book or Alladin.

I never meant any offence, but if I did, I withdraw what I said.

[Sean]

I never meant any offence, but if I did, I withdraw what I said.
Regardless of whether you meant any offense or not I think its important to discuss orientalism as it is one of the most tricky forms of prejudice to grasp. The fact is that the entire mythos of the oriental, the alladin version as Led Zep calls it has historically been used as a method of seperating from the occidental and explaining the oriental in our own words. Rather than allow the culture of the "oriental" speak for itself, it has been skewed and charictured by western society through many works as a mysterious den of intrigue, gold, spices, misty eyed women in veils in hareems and corrupt sultans. You cannot trust them, they are too secretive and mysterious and we must reteach them the glory of their past civilizations by instilling our own morals in them.

[bcbm]

It has nothing to do with anal sex.

And if it did it would be homophobic because only gay people have anal sex?

[Pogue]

Bcbm are you not perhaps reading into it too much now?

[bcbm]

I think the correlation between anything that has to do with anal sex and homophobia is a specious correlation at best. Lots of people engage in anal sexual activities.

[Jazzratt]

I think the correlation between anything that has to do with anal sex and homophobia is a specious correlation at best. Lots of people engage in anal sexual activities.

Yeah, groups of kids in playgrounds (and some types of fully grown knuckle dragger) refer to gay men as, say, "bumboys" - obviously I have misinterpreted their language and actually they are harmlessly referring to people who like to have anal sex.

Homophobic slurs do not have to be rooted in anything like common sense or reason and quite a number of homophobic people are likely to equate (at least in casual slurs, rather than the bedroom) anal sex with homosexuals.

[ellipsis]

All I know is that they're are lots of sexy women for arab/middle-eastern descent, some of them light skinned, some with green or blue eyes, etc. Then again there are sexy women of all types. I wouldn't say, as the OP did that "Persian" women are any more or less attractive than any others as a whole.

[ellipsis]

Lots of people engage in anal sexual activities.

OOOOHHH YEAH!

BTW did you know if a man orally or anally penetrates another man, it is not a gay act on his part, just the man being penetrated? It's true just ask dudes who let other dudes suck them off using the "it's just a mouth and I am thinking about chicks mentality."

sorry to derail the thread.

[scarletghoul]

Oh god I forgot how great this thread is. Thank you so much for reviving it.

[ellipsis]

NP. I didn't even realize it was so old.

[Mujer Libre]

Please don't resurrect threads to make pointless posts. Thread closed.