Condescension

[pegkerr]

If you haven't see it, here's an exceedingly condescending write up of Lumos, from The Observer.

The writer was mostly talking about being squicked by those freaky slashers. However, if you haven't seen my post written in 2003 about Harry Potter and the condescension of the critics, you might want to take a look it it here.

Comments

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

"Also, I think it's useful for me to be reminded that there are people who really think that serious discussions and costumes are mutually exclusive. I don't know why they think that, but it's good to remember they exist, just in case it becomes relevant."

That they exist? My guess is that they're an overwhelming majority. If someone asked me the question, I would have answered "yes." It would have never occurred to me that anyone who isn't a costumer themselves would say otherwise. I'm surprised you're saying otherwise.

Not that we couldn't find a single counterexample if we looked hard enough, or postulated the existence of two people in costume having a serious conversation (I'm sure the reporter doesn't think the two are mutually exclusive in the mathematical sense of the term), it's just that you don't see much costuming at academic, scholarly, or otherwise serious conferences -- regardless on the discipline. (I guess costuming conferences are the exception; this seems completely besides the point.)

So yes, these people exist. And if you showed up at a physics conference in costume and tried to give a lecture, I can guarantee you that it would be considered noteworthy. (I remember a crypto conference where someone delivering a paper had two different hats that he wore to make a point -- people talked about it for years.)

Why wouldn't people think that? What everyday occurrences have there been to convince them otherwise? (Costuming at national political conventions -- no real serious discussions -- especially by those in costume.)

B

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Are all Halloween party conversations limited to total frivolity/idiocy? Am I just going to the outstanding fabulous Halloween parties, in terms of intelligent conversation?

And there really isn't an analog in physics to dress as. It's not like Harry Potter conventions feature people dressed as Green Lantern, mostly -- at least, that's not the part he's sneering at. If someone was interested in textiles in a particular historical period, I wouldn't find it at all surprising if they had period dress at their disposal. Many of the historians and history buffs I know have at least looked into what that would involve -- that is, many of the female historians and history buffs. Rather fewer of the males.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I think, if after someone told you that serious conversation and costuming don't coexist you said "Ah ha! Halloween parties," you'd be looked at quizzically.

One doesn't normally think of Halloween parties as places of serious conversation, although I'm sure any university's mathematics department Halloween party is an exception.

And I'm sure that people "interested in textiles in a particular historical period" have "period dress at their disposal," but I can guarantee you that academic conferences about those historical textiles don't feature the researchers presenting their work in costume. (One wonders if they have a costume ball. Perhaps, but my guess is that it would be a social event and not part of the academic track. The author of the article was talking about costumers at the actual conference sessions.)

But anyway, I thought your point was amazement that there exists people who believe the fact, not that we can all put our heads together and imagine the few exceptions to the fact.

B

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I am imagining someone listing venues for serious conversation. I don't think Halloween parties would make it very high on that sort of list.

But I suppose it would be above mud wrestling matches.

B

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

No, my point was that I live in a subset of the world where people may show up in costume for various events at any time and mostly get the responses of a) "Cool costume!", b) [rolled eyes at lame costume], or c) "Do you know where such-and-such is?", but NOT "this person must not be interested in intelligent conversation." And sometimes the reminder that one's subset is not the entire world is a good thing.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Ah. I get it.

Yes, you live in a three-sigma world. Get used to it.

B