Daily LOL: Too Many Toos

[Virgil Showlion]

I recently came across this NR article [1] reviewing this HuffPo article [2] and much laughter resulted.

The author of the latter, one Cameron Schaeffer, who describes herself as "a well-versed feminist", puts forward a profound thesis: the use of the adverb "too" as it pertains to women is harming our society.

I won't ruin the fun, but I will recommend YMAMers read [2] at your leisure (it includes such nuggets of wisdom as "If someone calls you too bitchy, for example, do not be afraid to remind them that you're not too bitchy, you're the right amount of assertive and empowered.") and follow it up with [1], which, although not satirical, is worth the price of admission, concluding:

Other than the fact that [Schaeffer] uses the word “both” when describing “genders” — suggesting that she still believes in that oppressive notion of a gender binary — this really sounds like a great idea. There are a lot of grave dangers out there, and it’s clear to me now that the word “too” is one of them. I’m just glad that Schaffer was smart enough to notice it, and also brave enough to alert all of us less-educated commonfolk so we can all work together and make the world a better place.

Let us all follow Ms. Schaeffer's example by boycotting 'too'. The next time you tell off your female coworker, don't tell her she's being too bitchy, tell her she's being just the right amount of bitchy. If her hair looks like Trump's toupee in a hurricane, don't tell her she's using too much hairspray, tell her she's using just the right amount of hairspray.

Together we can make the world a better place.

P.S. A special shout out to NancysSummerSip: I trust this will at last inspire you to make peace with "the Hag".

[billisonboard]

Virgil, I think you are being too critical of Ms. Schaeffer

[billisonboard]

How about a different take on the issue:

The use of "too" suggests that a range is acceptable as long as extremes are avoided. Not using it means that only one standard is acceptable and anything else is unacceptable. 

So, who is allowed to be in a range and who must meet an exacting standard? 

[Virgil Showlion]

Oct 27, 2015 18:02:06 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

How about a different take on the issue:

The use of "too" suggests that a range is acceptable as long as extremes are avoided. Not using it means that only one standard is acceptable and anything else is unacceptable. 

So, who is allowed to be in a range and who must meet an exacting standard? 

Here's something that will bake your noodle:

Suppose one of Ms. Schaeffer's colleagues tells her, "You're not too bright."  Is this an insult for impugning her intelligence, or a compliment for implying that she isn't excessively intelligent?

Deep issues, my friend.

[tallguy]

Let us all follow Ms. Schaeffer's example by boycotting 'too'. The next time you tell off your female coworker, don't tell her she's being too bitchy, tell her she's being just the right amount of bitchy.

But Vir-gilllll, I don't get it. Why would you tell off a coworker who was being just the right amount of bitchy.  Seems to me a compliment affirming that fact would be in order.  No?   

 

[Shooby]

Why isn't there anyone for me TOO Bite on this thread? lol

[NancysSummerSip]

Let us all follow Ms. Schaeffer's example by boycotting 'too'. The next time you tell off your female coworker, don't tell her she's being too bitchy, tell her she's being just the right amount of bitchy. If her hair looks like Trump's toupee in a hurricane, don't tell her she's using too much hairspray, tell her she's using just the right amount of hairspray.

Good Gawd, she's obviously met the Hag!

[Virgil Showlion]

Oct 27, 2015 19:50:51 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Let us all follow Ms. Schaeffer's example by boycotting 'too'. The next time you tell off your female coworker, don't tell her she's being too bitchy, tell her she's being just the right amount of bitchy.

But Vir-gilllll, I don't get it. Why would you tell off a coworker who was being just the right amount of bitchy.  Seems to me a compliment affirming that fact would be in order.  No?   

According to feminist lore, both men and women mistake assertiveness and empowerment in women for "bitchiness". How true this is, I don't know. As I see it, the theory immediately runs into the problem that the difference between perceived 'good' assertiveness and 'bad' assertiveness is the target's motivation to comply. Supposing it to be true, one could just as easily conclude that women are more likely to make unreasonable demands of people or lack the skills to motivate them.

Ms. Schaeffer believes that "women are still objects to a disturbingly large number of people" (ibid.) and that a woman's reaction to criticism ought to assume the criticism is either unreasonable or else based on this innate objectification of women. Hence, in response to a coworker criticism "You're speaking too loudly.", Ms. Schaeffer recommends that women avoid introspection (which could potentially deprive them of self-satisfaction) and instead conclude that the coworker is being unreasonable and/or objectifying. She also makes it clear that empowered women should (instructively) share this conclusion with the critic.

Hence a conversation might go something like:

"Hey Cameron, could you tone it down? You're being too loud."
"Jason, please listen for a moment while I dialog with you. I'm not being 'too' loud. 'Too' is an oppressive adverb responsible for pressuring females to find their unreachable perfect selves while depriving them of self-satisfaction. I'm being just as loud as I need to be, and I formally request that you not repeat the criticism as it constitutes an act of workplace violence against me. I thank you in advance for your compliance."

Thus 'Jason' has been duly informed that his objectification of women will not be tolerated. His verbal assault has been rebuffed, and with high probability the issue has been settled once and for all.

For coworkers that prove especially recalcitrant, women can consult Ms. Schaeffer's follow-up article: "'What the hell are you talking about?': The 7-Word Sentence That Cuts Women Down Every Day"

[ArchietheDragon]

[happyhoix]

"Jason, please listen for a moment while I dialog with you. I'm not being 'too' loud. 'Too' is an oppressive adverb responsible for pressuring females to find their unreachable perfect selves while depriving them of self-satisfaction. I'm being just as loud as I need to be, and I formally request that you not repeat the criticism as it constitutes an act of workplace violence against me. I thank you in advance for your compliance."

Every one of my co-workers would laugh hysterically if I said this. I would overnight become 'Ms Dialog.' 

Reminds me of how Hillary is trying to claim Sanders was being sexist because he made a statement about 'people shouting for gun control.'  Because somehow 'shouting people' referred specifically to Hillary, because everyone knows that 'shouting' refers only to hysterical women.