[videoblogging] Sexism in Videoblogging Group Debate

Tue, 16 May 2006 15:25:47 -0700

The Growth of the Vlogosphere

As the so-called "vlogosphere" grows, more and more it will reflect the real world.  The more egalitarian and affluent early-adopters of technology will find that they have to share the "sphere" with average Joes and Janes.  They may be less concerned with finding their "voice", or listening to someone else's, than with being entertained.

The Preference for Beauty, or "Lookism"

We bring our own likes, fears and prejudices to the videoblogging community.  The preference for beauty in making choices exists and that's a fact of life.  It started 200,000 years ago with the rise of Homo sapiens.   The attempt to define beauty or physical attractiveness dates back to Plato and Aristotle.  The Greek artists spent a lot of time craving and drawing the nude.  The woman of Minoa wore topless dresses in their matriarchal society.  The battle against "lookism" is as hopelessly absurd as a battle against human nature itself. 

 

I'm a fat man over fifty years old, who speaks with a wicked Boston accent, is tone deaf and can't sing.  It would be preposterous for me to expect to get a job as a prime time news anchor, fashion model, or sing as a Pip behind Gladys Knight.  I'm a "victim" of sizism, ageism, linguicism, and "can't sing –ism". 

 

There are plenty of Americans, like me, who are tired of being stuck with left-wing, victim obsessed, politically correct weenies on one hand and right-wing, bible thumping zealots who want to invade the Middle East to fulfil some biblical prophecy about Armageddon on the other.  The former want to build a "village" where the only sin is intolerance, and the latter sit around with their heads up their arses waiting for the "rapture".  Both are anti-sex, anti-body prudes who fixate either over being sexists or sinners while looking at the world through the sphincter of a gnat's asshole.  They want to censor the media either to prevent offending those of frail sensibilities or God.  Like H.L. Mencken's puritans, they are "… desperately afraid that somebody somewhere might be having a good time." 

Alternatives

If feeling oppressed by someone keeps you from vlogging then you've given your power over to the oppressor.  Fight back!  Post your videos and the hell with anyone who doesn't like them.   The world isn't going to bend over backwards to make you feel comfortable.

 

The alternative is to start your own "vlogosphere" ghetto.  Go to Yahoo Groups and start a group called Vlogging for People I'm Comfortable With.  Then limit membership to those that meet whatever criteria you set.

 


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