Comments on: Problems of context and the oversensitivity of the Desperate http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/ Upang magising ang inaantok na kamalayan Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:14:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: niki http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/comment-page-1/#comment-15544 niki Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:32:09 +0000 http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/#comment-15544 re the "uragon" term, as a bicolana living in bicol and have lived here most of my life, "uragon" generally has a positive connotation -- in tagalog it could mean any of these: magaling, matibay, astig. negatively, it could mean "mayabang". for me tho, the best interpretation of "uragon" is in english: "kickass". =) it's easy to get lost in interpreting the context of words but i think it's really how you view yourself that really counts, regardless of the words people throw at you. =) re the “uragon” term, as a bicolana living in bicol and have lived here most of my life, “uragon” generally has a positive connotation — in tagalog it could mean any of these: magaling, matibay, astig. negatively, it could mean “mayabang”.

for me tho, the best interpretation of “uragon” is in english: “kickass”. =)

it’s easy to get lost in interpreting the context of words but i think it’s really how you view yourself that really counts, regardless of the words people throw at you. =)

]]> By: Janet http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/comment-page-1/#comment-15194 Janet Fri, 12 Oct 2007 21:56:44 +0000 http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/#comment-15194 @ems you may not be discriminating other people but the media(pinoy) is. Take for example wowowee. look at how they make fun of people from the provinces who are not well educated for the sake of ratings? i'm sure you are not unaware that many(many hindi lahat) still look down at the igorots, aetas, mangyans, etc..--katutubo just because they're culture is not the same as theirs-- are still being treated like poop by the majority and although they are figthing for themseleves, only a few good filipinos even bother to empathize with them. why aren't filipinos mad when fellow filipinos make fun of other people? filipino hkaplastikan on the rise? @ems

you may not be discriminating other people but the media(pinoy) is. Take for example wowowee. look at how they make fun of people from the provinces who are not well educated for the sake of ratings?

i’m sure you are not unaware that many(many hindi lahat) still look down at the igorots, aetas, mangyans, etc..–katutubo just because they’re culture is not the same as theirs– are still being treated like poop by the majority and although they are figthing for themseleves, only a few good filipinos even bother to empathize with them.

why aren’t filipinos mad when fellow filipinos make fun of other people?

filipino hkaplastikan on the rise?

]]> By: Jon Limjap http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/comment-page-1/#comment-15173 Jon Limjap Fri, 12 Oct 2007 03:43:38 +0000 http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/#comment-15173 benj, Now you're going too far. If I was bitten by an ant and I didn't care and shrugged it off, am I being a pushover? Is letting that ant bite and not caring such a big disgrace to my "mighty and powerful" human stature? That's how I felt with regards to the DH issue. Unlike many of our countrymen I've long stopped looking "up" to the Americans as some sort of authority whose every word matter. And just like that ant bite, when I heard of the joke the first thing that entered my mind is that "it's just soooo below me" that I wouldn't lift a finger about it. So what if they think we're no good for them? Fuck them Americans! Their insecurities are so far up their asses and that's where xenophobia and racism comes from anyway. To hell with what those white supremacists say -- what should we care? If they were born bigots they'll die as bigots and they have been bigots for so fucking long already it ain't a big deal anymore. 20 Million other people saw it? So what? Should they believe the oh so high and mighty Americans because of the perceived authority? If they do, that's a point against them. Not us. We've penetrated the global workplace so deep anyway that if they start caring about those stereotypes we can just shove it on their faces. benj, if you're so deeply affected by all this it's alright I understand you, and I'll even support you, but please don't take it against us that we don't feel as bad as you do. We're not stopping you. NO ONE is stopping you from doing what you feel is the right thing to do. benj,

Now you’re going too far.

If I was bitten by an ant and I didn’t care and shrugged it off, am I being a pushover? Is letting that ant bite and not caring such a big disgrace to my “mighty and powerful” human stature?

That’s how I felt with regards to the DH issue. Unlike many of our countrymen I’ve long stopped looking “up” to the Americans as some sort of authority whose every word matter. And just like that ant bite, when I heard of the joke the first thing that entered my mind is that “it’s just soooo below me” that I wouldn’t lift a finger about it.

So what if they think we’re no good for them? Fuck them Americans! Their insecurities are so far up their asses and that’s where xenophobia and racism comes from anyway. To hell with what those white supremacists say — what should we care? If they were born bigots they’ll die as bigots and they have been bigots for so fucking long already it ain’t a big deal anymore.

20 Million other people saw it? So what? Should they believe the oh so high and mighty Americans because of the perceived authority? If they do, that’s a point against them. Not us. We’ve penetrated the global workplace so deep anyway that if they start caring about those stereotypes we can just shove it on their faces.

benj, if you’re so deeply affected by all this it’s alright I understand you, and I’ll even support you, but please don’t take it against us that we don’t feel as bad as you do. We’re not stopping you. NO ONE is stopping you from doing what you feel is the right thing to do.

]]> By: benj http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/comment-page-1/#comment-15169 benj Fri, 12 Oct 2007 03:10:22 +0000 http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/#comment-15169 speaking of PRECEDENT, being pushovers would likely be more of a BAD precedent. It's better be "over sensitive" rather than spineless pushovers. speaking of PRECEDENT, being pushovers would likely be more of a BAD precedent. It’s better be “over sensitive” rather than spineless pushovers.

]]> By: benj http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/comment-page-1/#comment-15151 benj Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:49:57 +0000 http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/#comment-15151 Jon, that's very tangential. But assuming without conceding that those scripts will exist in the future, they will never be a popular show that would get a market share of millions. Jon, that’s very tangential. But assuming without conceding that those scripts will exist in the future, they will never be a popular show that would get a market share of millions.

]]> By: Jon Limjap http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/comment-page-1/#comment-15143 Jon Limjap Wed, 10 Oct 2007 05:01:33 +0000 http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/#comment-15143 hi benj, Granted that you are correct on your arguments re "racists having the right to react on racism" and "oversensitivity", I want to focus back to my argument of context. Does this mean that, even if the show was portraying a racist in the context of being a racist, e.g., characters that are white supremacists, members of the Ku Klux Klan, murderous Hutus hurling invectives at Tutsis, etc., they may not state such insults despite being portrayed clearly as racist? Of course it is clear that Susan Meyer isn't "supposed to be" racist in the series Desperate Housewives, and the context argument is weak based on the fact that the series never revealed her as being bigoted or racist. But if she were indeed revealed as one, I don't think we can easily throw context out the window. hi benj,

Granted that you are correct on your arguments re “racists having the right to react on racism” and “oversensitivity”, I want to focus back to my argument of context.

Does this mean that, even if the show was portraying a racist in the context of being a racist, e.g., characters that are white supremacists, members of the Ku Klux Klan, murderous Hutus hurling invectives at Tutsis, etc., they may not state such insults despite being portrayed clearly as racist?

Of course it is clear that Susan Meyer isn’t “supposed to be” racist in the series Desperate Housewives, and the context argument is weak based on the fact that the series never revealed her as being bigoted or racist. But if she were indeed revealed as one, I don’t think we can easily throw context out the window.

]]> By: benj http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/comment-page-1/#comment-15142 benj Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:20:31 +0000 http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/#comment-15142 So, Jon, it's ok to insult you in plain view of 20 million people just as long as there is proper context even if there is no basis? I dunno. I don't think oversensitivity is an issue. EVEN IF WE ARE RACIST, we do not forfeit our right to complain when we are being being discriminated upon. EVEN IF WE ARE OVERSENSITIVE, I'd rather be in a group of people who woulds resist profiling and labeling rather than those who will just roll over and die. I don't want to be associated with pushovers. I think my newest post exposes the bad logic that the "ITS NOT A BIG DEAL SIDE" has used. I think the blog community has suffered a major logical lapse. So, Jon, it’s ok to insult you in plain view of 20 million people just as long as there is proper context even if there is no basis? I dunno. I don’t think oversensitivity is an issue.

EVEN IF WE ARE RACIST, we do not forfeit our right to complain when we are being being discriminated upon.

EVEN IF WE ARE OVERSENSITIVE, I’d rather be in a group of people who woulds resist profiling and labeling rather than those who will just roll over and die. I don’t want to be associated with pushovers.

I think my newest post exposes the bad logic that the “ITS NOT A BIG DEAL SIDE” has used.

I think the blog community has suffered a major logical lapse.

]]> By: jaywalker (are we onion skinned) http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/comment-page-1/#comment-15073 jaywalker (are we onion skinned) Mon, 08 Oct 2007 02:20:34 +0000 http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/#comment-15073 […]Maybe a public apology is called for. But the cries of racism; the negative attacks on the writers and the actors of the show, civilized or otherwise; The banning of the airing of the show here in the Philippines; the various groups condemning the show. Are they really necessary? When is reacting overreacting already?[…] […]Maybe a public apology is called for. But the cries of racism; the negative attacks on the writers and the actors of the show, civilized or otherwise; The banning of the airing of the show here in the Philippines; the various groups condemning the show. Are they really necessary? When is reacting overreacting already?[…]

]]> By: MDUSA http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/comment-page-1/#comment-15042 MDUSA Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:44:00 +0000 http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/#comment-15042 we complained because we are Filipino Doctors in the U.S. who were offended. It questioned our credibility and pride. If the producers/writers of the show did think it was referring to the NURSING exam fiasco last year then they are mistaken. Not Doctors. Hence the need to Correct it, lest we further propagate it (not based on facts or even fiction). I am happy with the ABC apology. Thats it. No further. Other issues and racial slurs regarding the Philippines...might have some historical context...But MD is a noble profession, for it to be tainted by careless remarks..needs to be challenged and corrected. I am for free speech...but this was clearly a mistake on the writer. Now if you guys think that the petition was wrong. Then you do not understand us. If its regarding what was requested afterwards ex Donation...then i agree with you that it sounds too much. I praise all the Doctors who supported us. Also the non-doctors who helped. But let us keep it regarding Filipino MD and their schools. The rest(non-MD - who are opposed to the petition) cannot understand us anyway, so whats the use convincing them. we complained because we are Filipino Doctors in the U.S. who were offended. It questioned our credibility and pride. If the producers/writers of the show did think it was referring to the NURSING exam fiasco last year then they are mistaken. Not Doctors. Hence the need to Correct it, lest we further propagate it (not based on facts or even fiction). I am happy with the ABC apology. Thats it. No further. Other issues and racial slurs regarding the Philippines…might have some historical context…But MD is a noble profession, for it to be tainted by careless remarks..needs to be challenged and corrected. I am for free speech…but this was clearly a mistake on the writer. Now if you guys think that the petition was wrong. Then you do not understand us. If its regarding what was requested afterwards ex Donation…then i agree with you that it sounds too much. I praise all the Doctors who supported us. Also the non-doctors who helped. But let us keep it regarding Filipino MD and their schools. The rest(non-MD – who are opposed to the petition) cannot understand us anyway, so whats the use convincing them.

]]> By: Jon Limjap http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/comment-page-1/#comment-15023 Jon Limjap Sun, 07 Oct 2007 01:59:39 +0000 http://blog.kapenilattex.com/2007/10/03/problems-of-context-and-the-oversensitivity-of-the-desperate/#comment-15023 ems, I understand where you come from, and I empathize with those who feel genuinely offended. But that's where our opinions diverge -- I do not find Americans -- especially American pop culture, and American drama comedies at that, credible. I find that whatever apology we demand from them, Americans will be Americans will be Americans anyway. The average redneck still thinks of the Philippines and Filipinos as just another group of islands somewhere in the Pacific. It would never matter to them that we are an intrinsic part of US culture and history, and now even health-care. And that is a point AGAINST them. I don't know with most people here but, I've long given up on using America as a measurestick for credibility and success. ems,

I understand where you come from, and I empathize with those who feel genuinely offended.

But that’s where our opinions diverge — I do not find Americans — especially American pop culture, and American drama comedies at that, credible.

I find that whatever apology we demand from them, Americans will be Americans will be Americans anyway. The average redneck still thinks of the Philippines and Filipinos as just another group of islands somewhere in the Pacific. It would never matter to them that we are an intrinsic part of US culture and history, and now even health-care. And that is a point AGAINST them.

I don’t know with most people here but, I’ve long given up on using America as a measurestick for credibility and success.

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