"Critical" geographers?
I remain aware that this is plausibly not really
worthy of reply. I think Paul Treanor has some
interesting points....I just wish that those were the
ones he chose to share MORE OFTEN. Now then...
--- Paul Treanor <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Why is critical geography so harmful?
I agree that it is (always) time for reflexive
critique. I also agree that the critique(s) is(are)
long overdue. What I am not so sure about, however, is
whether the below IS that critique...
> 1. You are all rubbish compared to me and I am the
> daddy mack. You think you are all so clever when, in
> reality you are all a bunch of pants.
Steady on!
> 2. It demeans and marginalises opposition to the
> dominant ideology. Proposals
> of opposition are treated as absurd, and their
> supporters as cranks or
> ill-educated. It is impossible in the climate of
> left academic / critical
> geography to propose the death penalty for the rich,
> for instance.
It is not impossible to propose the death penalty for
the rich - simply, difficult to do so without any
justification. What, exactly, are we proposing that
such a monolithic entity have (as a group) done. And,
remember, the death penalty is NOT CURRENTLY LEGAL IN
THE UK!!!(This IS IMPORTANT). Were you, or anyone
else for that matter, to propose such a penalty I
should surely think to myself "how absurd" or even
"what a crank"....until, you offered some stronger
argument as to why such would be appropriate. Let's
also not overplay the power that critical geographers
have...who precisely is it that critical geographers
are able to speak to?? Other critical geographers
largely?? Anyone who might care to read geographical
journals?? Anyone who might wish to subscribe to the
crit-geog-forum ?? Hence the "Beyond the Academy"
conference??
> 3. Critical geographers are hostile to outside
> critics (such as myself).
I do not imagine that ALL critical geographers are
hostile to any outside critic...perhaps there is
something in the way in which you offer your
criticisms??? For instance, poorly thought out
messages to this forum (which, let's remember, is not
necessarily the major arena of contemporary "critical
geographical" practice) lacking justification,
flame-bait tendencies, deliberate provocation, failure
to respond to critics etc. are unlikely to entirely
satisfy any communicant (whether evil crit-geogster or
otherwise).
> 4. They promote new forms of social oppression, the
> type associated with the
> New Democrats, New Labour or the continental
> social-liberal coalitions -
> workfare, meritocracy, gentrification. Many promote
> military interventionism
> in support of their values (human rights).
*stunned silence*
*faints*
> 5. In some cases they engage in right-wing
> propaganda: the praise of the
> British Army on this list for instance, or the
> quasi-ethnic group identity
> promoted by gay and lesbian academics.
> 6. You bore me. I would rather watch telly than
> engage in "debate" with you. But, because you are
> all so thick I take pity and offer to help you and
> all you do is shout at me. You will learn!!
Don't you knock our brave boys!!! (and girls!!) Our
soldiers are some of the finest the world has ever
seen and they have saved the lives of millions of
Yugoslavians, Rwandans, Belgians etc. Have you ever
seen active service ?? No time then for being
right-on, sonny...war aint no fun, you know!!!!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Anyhow, enough!
Bests, d
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