If recent statistics on bullying are any indication, hostility is on the rise across the board. In the past, Promethean Times has offered suggestions for dealing with those loutish jackanapes who insist on being rude.
Some People Insist On Being Difficult.
While our advice is typically to turn the other cheek upon encountering such an individual, we acknowledge that this method may not work in every situation. There are times when necessity compels a person haul back and give some verbal ruffian what’s coming to him.
It is for this reason that we have devised the Promethean Times Method, a universal response to any rude comment, from quiet passive-aggression to mad-dog hostility. Not only is the PTM utilitarian, but is also a devastatingly incisive bit of wit to which there is no defense. Best of all, we’ve made it public domain–so you can use it, too!
In Most Instances, We Find That A Simple, Heartfelt Response Is Most Effective.
The Promethean Times Method is simple enough to be demonstrated by the following example:
Sneering Ass: Hey, Smaktakula–I heard that your parents were first cousins!
Smaktakula: Is that right? Well, you know what I heard? FUCK YOU, that’s what I heard!
Use it wisely!
They were SECOND cousins. That’s legal pretty much everywhere!
The women of Zeta Tau Alpha made history recently when they were awarded first-place at Step Off, a prestigious step competition hosted by Sprite. What makes this victory historic is that step dance, a synchronized dance routine typically performed by nine women, has long been exclusively an African-American tradition. Zeta Tau Alpha is a white sorority.
Critics of Zeta Tau Alpha’s victory say that this is just one of many instances in a long history of culture theft by whites. Furthermore, these critics contend that while the art form’s exposure to a wider, multi-racial audience is certainly to be desired, the potential for non-black dancers to win is not. It is an insult, they say, for a white sorority to be awarded first place.
A brief explanation of the difference between white and black sororities. White sororities, which by virtue of being white are more exclusionary, are open to women of all races, and include many African-Americans. Black sororities, in an effort to preserve diversity, are exclusively African-American.
The people who don’t want white girls in step dancing would like you to know that they are merely preserving their proud cultural heritage, and despite so many marked similarities, are not at all like the evil bigots who strove to keep Jackie Robinson out of the Major Leagues.
WWJRD?
There was a great deal of grumbling over Zeta Tau Alpha’s victory, but the judges’ decision signalled that the art form was ready to embrace diversity and celebrate its coming-of-age in the wider culture.
White Sororities Are Exclusionary
Black Sororities Promote Diversity
Despite the furor from groups who thought it wrong that a white sorority won, the judges stuck to their guns. For a week. Then they realized they’d made an unspecified scoring error of some sort and called it a tie.
Critics of merit-based solutions hailed this as “a victory for all people who value equality and fairness above talent and hard work. The squeaky wheel really does get the grease!”
I’m not sure what it is that makes Bullygate such a compelling story.
Is it Mr. Brown himself that makes the story interesting–his thuggish behavior drawing inevitable comparisons to the affable Tony Blair? Unlikely, given that there’s very little interesting about the current British PM.
A Big Teddy Bear
If the story isn’t about Gordonzilla, then the real meaning must lie with the culture of victimization which allows stories like this to gain traction. It’s never fun to work in a poisonous culture, but to that Ms. Purves offers:
{B}ut if you’re good enough to get a job at Downing Street you’re good enough to find one somewhere quieter. And if you’re bright enough to be an aide, you can either shrug off the tantrums or tell Gordonzilla not to be so damn rude.
An interesting post from My Moans on the Gordon Brown kerfuffle.
Says My Moans:
Though I accept that the spokeswoman may have thought that this statement was in the public’s interest, I do wonder if it is a breach of confidentiality on the part of the charity and might in fact deter people who are being bullied calling for help from them as their identity might not be kept confidential.
The revelation that all is not sunshine and games within British politics is certainly shocking. Ideally, someone will propose legislation mandating that the staffers bring their mothers to work with them, as a bulwark against bullying.