Comments on: Survival of the Stupidest http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:28:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: jeremy http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14605 jeremy Wed, 30 Aug 2006 14:19:50 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14605 i seriously doubt that. each group (whether it be race, sexual orientation, gender, age, etc. etc.) has their athletes, performers, intellectuals. they also have their couch potatoes, backstabbers, and plain boring people. it's silly to judge a group of race based on survivor- and shouldn't be attempted. especially when it's only five people from each "race" making the whole research concept impossible (you need a lot more than 5 to represent a group of thousands). i'm now thinking twice about this whole season, cuz the general public WILL analyze and make conclusions based on the groups' performances. although, i'm still gonna watch it cuz i'm a die-hard survivor fan. w00t. i seriously doubt that. each group (whether it be race, sexual orientation, gender, age, etc. etc.) has their athletes, performers, intellectuals. they also have their couch potatoes, backstabbers, and plain boring people.

it’s silly to judge a group of race based on survivor- and shouldn’t be attempted. especially when it’s only five people from each “race” making the whole research concept impossible (you need a lot more than 5 to represent a group of thousands).

i’m now thinking twice about this whole season, cuz the general public WILL analyze and make conclusions based on the groups’ performances. although, i’m still gonna watch it cuz i’m a die-hard survivor fan. w00t.

]]> By: Cloak & Dagger http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14603 Cloak & Dagger Wed, 30 Aug 2006 14:11:53 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14603 I don't plan to watch the show since I'm anti-reality-TV, but I'm curious if & how these different races would excel over the others. For example, would we witness one race being more athletic or more intelligent than the other races? Of course, I may be overgeneralizing here, but I know that there are some research, probably not concrete, that certain races possess higher levels of intelligence - whether it's emotional, academic, or physical - over the others. Wonder if that was on the minds of the producers? I don’t plan to watch the show since I’m anti-reality-TV, but I’m curious if & how these different races would excel over the others. For example, would we witness one race being more athletic or more intelligent than the other races? Of course, I may be overgeneralizing here, but I know that there are some research, probably not concrete, that certain races possess higher levels of intelligence - whether it’s emotional, academic, or physical - over the others. Wonder if that was on the minds of the producers?

]]> By: Cloak & Dagger http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14600 Cloak & Dagger Wed, 30 Aug 2006 14:01:04 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14600 Thanks for the link - Buchanan has a point there and even though it may not be the direction that we want to go, but it's probably inevitable. Thanks for the link - Buchanan has a point there and even though it may not be the direction that we want to go, but it’s probably inevitable.

]]> By: mcconnell http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14429 mcconnell Tue, 29 Aug 2006 00:11:10 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14429 Pat Buchanan makes Bill O'Wiley look liberal by comparison. Pat Buchanan makes Bill O’Wiley look liberal by comparison.

]]> By: Jt http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14426 Jt Mon, 28 Aug 2006 23:50:17 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14426 We already did some serious regression when they first introduced Jerry Springer to TV. :) We already did some serious regression when they first introduced Jerry Springer to TV. :)

]]> By: Jt http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14425 Jt Mon, 28 Aug 2006 23:49:20 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14425 I read this last week and have not been able to get it out of my mind ever since: "I'm predicting that America will no longer be one nation but more like the Roman Empire--a conglomerate of races and cultures held together by a regime. The country I grew up in was culturally united, even if it was racially divided. We spoke the same language, had the same faith, laughed at the same comedians. We were one nationality. We're ceasing to be that when you have hundreds of thousands of people who want to retain their own culture, their own language, their own loyalty. What do we have in common that makes us fellow Americans? Is it simply citizenship? Or is it blood, soil, history and heroes?" To find out who said this, visit: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1229098,00.html So, with September 11th coming up... how can we truly define ourselves as one America? And in a smaller retrospect, how can our deaf/hh community ever truly unite? I read this last week and have not been able to get it out of my mind ever since:

“I’m predicting that America will no longer be one nation but more like the Roman Empire–a conglomerate of races and cultures held together by a regime. The country I grew up in was culturally united, even if it was racially divided. We spoke the same language, had the same faith, laughed at the same comedians. We were one nationality. We’re ceasing to be that when you have hundreds of thousands of people who want to retain their own culture, their own language, their own loyalty. What do we have in common that makes us fellow Americans? Is it simply citizenship? Or is it blood, soil, history and heroes?”

To find out who said this, visit:
http://www.time.com/time/magaz.....98,00.html

So, with September 11th coming up… how can we truly define ourselves as one America? And in a smaller retrospect, how can our deaf/hh community ever truly unite?

]]> By: Cloak & Dagger http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14422 Cloak & Dagger Mon, 28 Aug 2006 21:41:44 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14422 Interesting subject. I think you're all correct. Why should we feel reluctant to discuss race? I think it’s because....*chuckles* I noticed that I hesitated in finishing this particular sentence because I wanted to ensure that my answers were presented carefully without being misinterpreted. It’s interesting that I become quickly wary when I want to discuss race because I don’t want to end up looking like a fool by making an ignorant remark. I guess I probably answered my own question :) I wonder if that describe how many others feel? Well, here goes. I think in our country where the minority is becoming the majority, we will witness more racial discrimination and segregation among the races in the future. Why? I have heard and read that many people today feel that diversity and multiculturalism is being shoved down their throats and they have no choice but to swallow it, you know? In defense, they become more ethnocentric by fighting to preserve their own cultures and values from being assimilated. So that may partially explain Allison’s claim that we may be “regressing.” I think this is something that is not easily discussed because it may be against what America stands for – well, wait a minute. How do you define American culture, anyway? I hate when I shoot off to several directions at once. Sorry for wandering off the point. Basically, I think the concept of the show –which race will “survive to become the fittest” – is another twist to endure the dying reality-TV phenomenon. So there. Interesting subject. I think you’re all correct. Why should we feel reluctant to discuss race? I think it’s because….*chuckles* I noticed that I hesitated in finishing this particular sentence because I wanted to ensure that my answers were presented carefully without being misinterpreted. It’s interesting that I become quickly wary when I want to discuss race because I don’t want to end up looking like a fool by making an ignorant remark. I guess I probably answered my own question :) I wonder if that describe how many others feel?

Well, here goes. I think in our country where the minority is becoming the majority, we will witness more racial discrimination and segregation among the races in the future. Why? I have heard and read that many people today feel that diversity and multiculturalism is being shoved down their throats and they have no choice but to swallow it, you know? In defense, they become more ethnocentric by fighting to preserve their own cultures and values from being assimilated. So that may partially explain Allison’s claim that we may be “regressing.” I think this is something that is not easily discussed because it may be against what America stands for – well, wait a minute. How do you define American culture, anyway? I hate when I shoot off to several directions at once.

Sorry for wandering off the point. Basically, I think the concept of the show –which race will “survive to become the fittest” – is another twist to endure the dying reality-TV phenomenon. So there.

]]> By: RLM http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14416 RLM Mon, 28 Aug 2006 19:58:51 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14416 I get your message, ChillPill. I am not really good at the one-liner or punchline. Many thanks for pointing out this subject. I truly appreciate it very much. I get your message, ChillPill. I am not really good at the one-liner or punchline. Many thanks for pointing out this subject. I truly appreciate it very much.

]]> By: jeremy http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14415 jeremy Mon, 28 Aug 2006 19:22:58 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14415 i have faith in the Survivor producers to have strict rules on respect and such for everyone on the show. in fact, it was said somewhere that the producers made sure each of their players were not racist. and IF there were problems, i'm sure the producers took actions to fix them. after all, there wasn't a lot of complaints when Survivor had the men vs women teams few seasons ago, nor when they had separate tribes of young and old last season. i, for one, am looking forward to this season. :) i have faith in the Survivor producers to have strict rules on respect and such for everyone on the show. in fact, it was said somewhere that the producers made sure each of their players were not racist. and IF there were problems, i’m sure the producers took actions to fix them.

after all, there wasn’t a lot of complaints when Survivor had the men vs women teams few seasons ago, nor when they had separate tribes of young and old last season.

i, for one, am looking forward to this season. :)

]]> By: Allison Kaftan http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14411 Allison Kaftan Mon, 28 Aug 2006 18:36:00 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2006-08-25/survival-of-the-stupidest/#comment-14411 Christian and JT - ulp. Good points. Thank you for posting. To answer Christian's question, are we too scared? I admit I am. But not because I don't want to deal with my own prejudices. I struggle with those everyday. It's that I don't want to risk seeing others' too. While I'm grateful you reminded us that we need to stay open to self-examination, I still say we're risking some serious regression. Christian and JT - ulp. Good points. Thank you for posting.

To answer Christian’s question, are we too scared? I admit I am. But not because I don’t want to deal with my own prejudices. I struggle with those everyday. It’s that I don’t want to risk seeing others’ too.

While I’m grateful you reminded us that we need to stay open to self-examination, I still say we’re risking some serious regression.

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