Letters to the Editor
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Kelly Q on farnsworth on text
But maybe when you make videos, you could include a link to the text for those of us who still enjoy reading?
I agree with Kelly Q agreeing with farnsworth.
At least, on that particular point. I think it's great that Salon's people are getting video experience, getting exposure, and building their portfolios.
And it's good for readers, too, in an indirect way — every good employer understands the importance of professional development to their workers' happiness. It both raises their profile within your outfit, and also strengthens their position with the nigh-inevitable next employer.
So a magazine that gives its writers good opportunities for professional development is going to attract — and, in one of life's ironies, retain — better talent.
So yeah. Go Rebecca Traister, go Farhad Manjoo, go everyone. But there has to be a balance. Salon prints (edited) transcripts of interviews. Why not for video reports as well?
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Why again?
I don't mean to be disrespectful, Rebecca, but I honestly don't understand why you're bringing this up again. I mean, you posted the interview last week and it got a big volume of passionate letters, so when I saw it here again, I assumed there would be new information, like a response from Meg Wolitzer to the letters or something. But all you did was recap that there was an interview and lots of passionate and critical letters. Why? Anyone who wanted to read it then or even now could do so. It makes me think you're just pushing the whole mommy wars thing b/c it's controversial. Well, it's also divisive, and I don't know why you'd want to do that, this being a feminist blog and all. Let's rejoice in our independent choices.
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Wow, a non-response and poor use of video.
I feel ripped off. This appears to be an ad for the original article and current.com rather than making any actual new points. It certainly isn't a response to the controversey.
I may be critical of Traister's movie criticism, but she's a good writer and interviewer. The initial interview was interesting and balanced, the furor in the letters worth skimming. This just mentioned these two things and said, "we're interested in what you think." Yes, and? I was interested in seeing how Traister might encapsulate and continue the discusion, but no.
Plus the doesn't amplify what little point she has. Nothing is gained by this format, except a certain discomfort for the author. The flat production values and awkward framing (here's a tip, having someone's boobs appear to rest on the bottom of the shot looks weird) are distracting.
As the rest of the discussion is in text and involves quoting and analyzing points, it's frustrating when there's a video instead of actual words.
Anyway, I'm annoyed - both by the bait and switch (she didn't actually respond to the angry letters, just quoted one and said other letters disagreed) and by the unnecessary use of video.
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More agreement with Farnsworth
I hate these videos. I won't watch them as my only way to protest the way they are overtaking this site. I just want to read the writers, not watch them. It's nothing personal. I don't watch the videos on Slate, either.
Meanwhile, the part I did want to watch, Video Dog, ceased to be entertaining and now has no coherence or direction as far as I can tell. It stinks.
And don't get me started on the end of the Blog Report. Can it be that much of a money loser? It was a great way to hear from "the other side."
On a positive note, go Glenn Greenwald. He's great.
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mommy wars
The thing everyone is completely ignoring is that for a very sizable percent of the population in America, and the overwhelming majority worldwide, being a stay-at-home mom is a luxury women can't afford. The whole SAHM is a purely upper middle class phenomenon: Throughout history and across the globe, women of all but the highest classes have had to work to support their families, whether it was in the fields with their husbands, in their homes weaving textiles and other goods to sell on the side, or rearing and educating other people's children. Even in the "good old days" of the 1950s and so on, women of color and most working class women were still making their way in factories, mills, classrooms, and other workplaces. Two-income households are not nearly as new or radical as we like to think.
This entire discussion of how natural or proper being a SAHM is vs. being a working woman is totally irrelevant to most people in the world both today and throughout history. Most people do not have a choice, either way. It is a ridiculous, self-absorbed, elitist American construct and the sooner we realize that, the sooner we will discover just how absurdly privileged and spoiled we are to even have the option of staying at home and letting someone else earn our living.
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Feminism is about Equality
I didn't bother to watch the video. Fool me once, etc. I just wanted to reply to one of the letters. The dictionary definition of feminism is that it's about equality. You're getting feminism mixed up with abortion rights (which is about choice).
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Sorry LeCastor
Another woman's choices, even if I dislike them, don't threaten my freedom.
People who are blind to individuality do.
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@ firefly82
We'd like to think that, but imagine this: all women in the world suddenly quitting their jobs and staying at home. The right of women to vote would be gone pretty quickly thereafter, don't you think?
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The harshness
and rigidity of feminist dogma. Right there, in the above post.
Entitlement, ideology and hardcore social engineering where both men and women are concerned.
Andrea Dworkin is dead, and when McKinnon and the other sad crew of doctrinaire feminists are dead and gone as well, the world will be a freer and better place.
Stop telling people how to live their lives and raise their children. Stop it. Now.
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On Videos
While I agree that this one didn't really tell us much and probably was an ad for comment.com, I do like the idea of videos as I like tying in a face with a name, not to mention personality. Head shots don't convey personality and are usually glamourized. And I still visualize Cary Tennis as a cartoon when I read his replies.
But, yes, having text accompany the video is important. First, some people have office jobs where viewing videos would be obvious but clandestine reading of the internets can be done. And second, since not everyone likes videos and they can take longer due to the pauses that happen on my computer, text just makes sense.
I kinda enjoyed seeing Rebecca though. We look like we could be sisters!