Letters to the Editor
-
social desirability bias / Bradley effect
This is commonly called social desirability bias, or when it applies to race, the Bradley effect.
When they are asked to give an assessment of an anonymous person, they reveal more honest answers. You'd likely get a different result if it wasn't "your friends" who you were asking them to predict, but a specific friend. I would expect that the result would approach or even surpass the result of their own views, if they thought that specific person would learn of their answer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_desirability_bias
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Effect
-
There's been a lot of sour grapes about that speech
I think that the telling point is in trying to imagine Clinton giving a parallel speech on feminism. You can't. Yes, it would be a cringefest, whiny or self-serving or whatever. Not because any woman using the bully pulpit to say such things would automatically be seen as such, and not because Hillary is whiny or PC or anything. No, it would be because she isn't Obama.
We had lots of Jackson on the trail saying things about racism in America, often good and true things, but it was kinda cringeworthy too from time to time: it is clear that he isn't Obama either.
One day, I hope, there will be a female politician that can deliver a speech on gender issues like Obama's on race. But it won't be Hillary, I don't think. She is a fine candidate who I would be proud to have as president, but a speech like that one just isn't in her, sorry to say. Though I would dearly love to be proven wrong.
Truthfully, his speech made me cry, and kept me moist-eyed for the rest of the night, and I'm usually pretty hard-headed and cynical about political things. Experienced and effective or not, I think right about now we need a president who can and will keep on saying things like that to the country, and to the world.
-
talking about gender
if every white person were forced to marry a black person if they wanted kids, families and tax breaks, then race would be a dead horse issue too.
gender issues usually get aired on the pillow. but its their banality that makes them so dangerous.
we'll never talk about gender issues on a public stage anymore, except mentioning the word "gender".
that's not good news.
-
Just because you know someone doesn't mean that person is a friend.
I live in a small North Texas town. I think I am on safe ground in saying that a significant percentage of people would not vote for a woman and a significant percentage would not vote for a black person of either (any) sex.
These are realities. I have had women tell me that a woman shouldn't aspire to the presidency. I have heard black people called "those people." At a place I shopped for a gift just yesterday, the sales clerk told me with no prompting whatsoever that the world was going to hell and that Obama was a Muslim. If I spent my time arguing with some of the people I encounter, couldn't get the slightest transaction accomplished.
Day before yesterday, I went to the bookstore and asked the clerk if she had a copy of The Turner Diaries. (I am doing some research on white supremacy.) She told me that they often had it but that the book tended to sell quickly. Then she told me that her brother is in prison for conspiracy because he is a white supremist. Apparently, she thought because I had asked for the book it was safe to open up. Turns out she has know lots of white supremists -- Aryan Nation types. I am going to go back to the store and visit with her. What a source! But kind of creepy, huh?
-
Likability
Voting for someone you think will make you seem more likable to your friends, coworkers, and romantic interests is also a problem with this kind of bias. I know a number of white people who are/were pro-Barack so they could essentially proclaim "I'm not a racist! - aren't I wonderful." They know next to nothing of where he stands on issues.
Many of those people are now fielding questions about Barack's pastor that they aren't prepared to answer because they never fully understood their own feelings about racial issues to start with, only that it's totally uncool to be racist. Better to know more than that.
Even more disturbing is to see women acting like it makes them seem sexier to men (and more powerful to other women) if they hate Hillary. One of our local news anchors would thrust out her large bosom and slowly shake her head every time she mentioned Hillary for a while. She's toned that down a little now.
-
If all your friends jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge..
You still wouldn't be responsible for their behavior - only for your own.
Don't worry about whether "America is ready for..." whatever it is. Don't try to second-guess them. You can't - look at Iowa.
You are only able to look in the mirror and ask yourself, "Am I ready for a President like that?" Then do whatever your brain decides and your heart feels.
At least then you will know something true about yourself. That's a lot more than most people do, and certainly easier to do correctly than figuring out the obscure heart and mind of your neighbor.
-
Sexist joke of the day
The recent "news" detailing where Hillary was during the Monica episodes was the journalistic equivalent of the sexist joke told at the office by the new guy who doesn't realize what's inappropriate outside the frat house. I was really pleased that so many people condemned those stories. Even the comments on my local newspaper's site were largely critical of the reportage, and that rarely happens.
I still have hope that Hillary's candidacy will lead to more productive discussions of feminist issues in our society. The fact that she will not give a big speech on gender inequality the way that Barack spoke about race will make that more possible. It's not really about her, it's about the rest of us.
-
Yeah, but they would all vote
for WAR, just make sure that there is a war president that suits the main stream media's choice of important issues like gender and race.