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naraburns  nihil supernum  1yr ago (text post)   16082 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of December 19, 2022

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then the choice of whom to hire will be arbitrary. In this case, I don't see how hiring Brinton because of his unusual presentation is any worse than rolling a die or flipping a coin to make the final choice.

As an exercise, you have two candidates. Both are 40-something white men. They're identical in capabilities and expertise.

Candidate 1 has arrived to the interview dressed well, without being overboard in terms of stuffiness or luxury.

Candidate 2 arrives with greasy, unwashed hair and a mangled beard. His shoes are worn through with enough mysterious stains that you're unsure of their original color. A crumpled and frayed jacket covers a shirt that's deeply dark from various oils, never washed. He's eloquent and equally qualified to candidate 1, but does express that he'll never bathe more than once a month.

Many of your peers express admiration that he's rejected the societal norms that have led to widespread animal testing and a psychotic cycle of shampoo - condition - shampoo - condition when human hair naturally supports itself through the body's oils.

Would you flip a coin for these candidates?

The "unusual presentation" is the message. It is the qualifications. Sam Brinton can't be bothered to inconvenience himself with even the furthest edges of the Overton window. He's too special, too important to consider other people.

That alone should be factored into a hiring decision where he loses to someone equally qualified. It's that simple.

I was going to say that candidate 2's poor hygiene makes him less qualified, in the broad sense, but then you did it for me! Our disagreement here seems to be on how bad not bathing is as compared to wearing unconventional clothing.

I think the convention that men mustn't wear dresses is arbitrary and pointless and a man should be allowed to wear a dress if he so wishes. Very dress-like garments have been normal for men to wear in many cultures, so there is nothing inherently wrong with it. Even if you consider it ugly, that's just a personal preference; I consider leather jackets ugly, yet I don't think this justifies discrimination against people who like wearing them. Brinton is only inconveniencing people if they let themselves be inconvenienced, like a wokeist who chooses to be offended at everything.

Poor hygiene, however, should not be socially accepted, in my opinion. Of course that depends on what "poor hygiene" is: someone may say that, yes, poor hygiene should be unacceptable but only bathing once a month isn't poor hygiene. For the purpose of this discussion, I am using "poor hygiene" to refer specifically to what candidate 2 is doing.

as compared to wearing unconventional clothing.

This is the maximally charitable framing of the issue. More realistically this person has a fetish or an aggressive mental condition. If he simply wore dresses, sure. He does far more outrageous fashion things that take extreme levels of effort, and does other aggressive things in media.

Sam Brinton did not dress like a typical transwoman or like a ‘normal’ gender nonconformity type. He very specifically dressed like an oddball, albeit in ways that are often coded female.

This is the sign of someone who loves to be the center of attention.

a man should be allowed to wear a dress if he so wishes

This is arguable and there is a case to be made for it. However, Brinton seems capable of dressing conventionally (not alone for the court appearance, which may indeed have been their lawyer telling them to cool it on the freak show if they wanted to get bail, but also on the plane trips where they stole the luggage and where, from the CCTV images, they were dressed as male-presenting. Pro tip: do not wear easily identifiable clothing that you have just posted on social media if you're going to boost stuff).

So there is also an arguable case that Brinton is being controversial for the sake of it, and indeed almost flaunting it. 'Yes, I can wear a dress and heels even though I'm male and working in a government office, suck that up straights and normies!' Now, would I be less censorious if (1) Brinton dressed more conservatively (2) they actually looked good in red lipstick, stilettos, yellow sweetheart neckline gowns and the rest of it?

I am forced to admit that I am shallow enough that if they looked hot, instead of having the Balok head, I probably might be more sympathetic on those grounds. As it is, I think Brinton has an unfortunate potato head (can't help your genetics) and really should stick to "nerd T-shirts".

As it is, I think Brinton has an unfortunate potato head (can't help your genetics) and really should stick to "nerd T-shirts".

No. I'm sorry, but you Americans have a disastrous sense of fashion. I'm German and even we barbarian huns know how to dress better. Would it kill you to throw on a shirt every once in a while and wear something other than blue jeans?

Hell, even the suit Brinton put on for his court date looked ridiculous.

It sounds like you have no principles and standards then, just gut feelings that you've substituted instead.

You think one convention is arbitrary and another is obvious. You're just trying to reach the conclusion you already have ready.

My view might be summarized as "clothing is personal preference, hygiene is non-negotiable".

What are your principles and standards? Anything unusual is automatically bad? I guess that is less subjective.

Although, if your political beliefs are close to those of the average Mottizen, consider how unusual they are in universities, big companies and other significant employers in the current year.

What are your principles and standards? Anything unusual is automatically bad? I guess that is less subjective.

They're the same as yours. Disgust, of course. Your view can be summarized by, "I find one thing disgusting but not another." I find both unwashed people and cross-dressers to be physically disgusting, and react accordingly. Not much of a standard really, but honest if not principled.

This is also why I say you're not demonstrating principles, you're rationalizing your instincts.

This is also why I say you're not demonstrating principles, you're rationalizing your instincts.

Apart from like, half a dozen nerds (who are all posting here, love you <3 ), don't we all?

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