Dear CRIT-GEOG-FORUM,

 

1: Please try to be a little more polite (see rules/statement of CRIT-GEOG-FORUM).  If you can't deal with the content of a polite, reasonable and on-topic post, then that is your problem not Raju's.  We do not currently have a policy for trigger warnings on CRIT-GEOG-FORUM (and I think that most probably do not want them, or see any good reason for them?).  Also, if you have an emotional reaction to such content then as an adult with a computer you should, at the very least, learn to wait a while before responding.  If the discussion is too much for you then skip it  -  there will be many more chances to participate.

 

For example  -  Do you not think it is a bit ridiculous for a small email thread to have rapidly escalated ( in less than 1.5 hours ) to the point where his original email is somehow associated with being a detractor from the 'victory' of rape culture?  What?!  Is that helpful?  It certainly isn't pleasant behavior and completely stifles discussion and debate.  And that is a breeding ground for more fascism.

 

2: Back to the topic.  Maybe we should all think harder about what Raju actually said?  Did you read his email all the way through?  He was making a considered post that shares a lot of your own (Raju-haters') and the CRIT-GEOG-FORUM's sentiment towards Trump, and wants to build a better Trump-free world.  To some opinion it might not have been the world's finest or best-timed hour of political insight but I personally found the points relatively salient.  I did not hit delete instantly but I knew that I was free to do so.

 

Like Davide and others, I too think that we need more critical thinking.  And we should always apply some of that critical theory stuff to ourselves as well.  It is woefully lacking on this mail list - it is tragic to think that because you 'study' the 'discipline' of critical theory then somehow you might be excused from its application, and on any day of the year.  We all desperately need more of it.  Not from books but from within and practiced in our conduct and actions.

 

For example, have you ever thought that maybe we too are all part of the problem?  I think we probably all are (you, me for sure, Raju, Raju-haters, Trump and perhaps especially Clinton).  I also think this type of behavior is part of the problem  -  if we can't hear Raju out (or find the strength to just ignore him, or even send him a polite email to ask him to consider his timing) then how are we ever going to meaningfully unite together to defeat the Trumps of this world?  Until we engage in the kinds of discussions Raju tried to initiate - and find ways to practice our ideas collectively - we will probably get many more Trumps yet.

 

But point 2 is just my opinion.  You can respectfully toss it aside and I will try not to let myself be too offended.  Point 1 is the rules though and you are not individually exempt from them because you feel sore.  Isn't is sad that I felt the need to post this anonymously because I do not want to risk feeling the very real pain of being the next publicly suggested associate of rape culture?

 

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