baratron | Entries tagged with tilting at windmills

I overheard the most thought-provoking conversation today. This woman went up to a man who was working behind one of the market stalls in Camden Market and asked him if he was from some specific part of Nigeria.

He said "Yes, I'm from [place]."

She said "I knew as soon as I saw you that you were my brother! I'm from [other place nearby]." (The only reason I know that these places are in Nigeria, or indeed near each other, is because the woman explained it to her friend. I think she said they were ten miles apart.)

He said "That's so amazing!"

She said "Isn't it? I'm going to phone my mum to tell her."

He said "Yeah, I should do the same."

And she pulled out her phone to call her mum right away, and as soon as he'd finished serving customers, he called a family member too.

I just don't know how she recognised him as being from that very specific part of Nigeria though. It wasn't accent, because they both had broad London accents. I've been thinking about it ever since, how bad people are at recognising ethnicities beyond broad definitions like "black", "South Asian", "East Asian", "South American". I recognise the difference between north Africans, west Africans, South Africans, Somalis (they look like Mo Farah!), and people from certain parts of the Caribbean, but that's as far as I could get. And I suspect that's better than a lot of people who aren't themselves black.

The sad thing is, I could have a reasonable stab at identifying the origins of white Europeans - but that's based on things like clothing style as well as just physical appearance. So it is obviously possible even within people who look broadly similar. Is it cultural indoctrination of a sort, recognising people who are "like us"? Probably. It's probably related to whatever it is in childhood development that makes a baby of a certain age know how to recognise an animal as a "dog", even considering how many different and strange shapes of dog there are. (Don't get me started on some of the crazier specifications of pedigree dog breeds. Just don't.)

But how can a person who is interested learn as an adult how to recognise people's ancestry as belonging to a specific ethnic origin? Not because you're prejudiced - I'm inclined to think that a prejudiced person would simply label them all as "foreign" and not bother learning the nuances - but because people are fundamentally fascinating and you live in a huge city with people of every conceivable background. I suppose that's something taught in anthropology, but it's not as if you get to measure the bones and calculate the ratios of the measurements when you pass random people in the street! Hrm.

Current Mood: curious

I haven't said very much about the "Racefail" business that's been happening on various parts of the internet due to lack of coherent comment, but I thought of something interesting yesterday.

My racial identity is mixed-race, which is interesting in itself. The concept of mixed-race did not exist formally in the UK until after the 2001 census. Before that, whenever I had to fill in a form with a "Race" box, I had to tick "Other", and possibly go into slightly more detail than I wanted to. Now, there exists a box that fits my identity: "Mixed - White and Asian". I don't like to think of myself in terms of fitting ticky boxes, but having spent too many years as an unspecified Other, I like that there now is a box for me.

There remain people who deny the concept of mixed-race, or wish to change it for everyone. The former Labour MP Oona King described how she had trouble adopting a baby because she had described herself on the form as "mixed-race". She was promptly told by the social worker that the term was no longer acceptable, and she needed to start describing herself as "dual heritage" instead. That made me incredibly angry. My heritage is mixed. My four grandparents each came from a different country. Two of them were white and two of them were Asian, but are you telling me that two Asians from different countries have the same heritage? 'Cos I think that's rather disrespectful. Are you telling me that Scottish and English is the same heritage? 'Cos I'm sure I could find a dozen Scots who would argue that their culture is different in several important ways from that of the English. Besides, if you go further back a few more generations, you'll find I have French and Jewish blood as well. And I must be at least part-Irish because of my mother's maiden name and the strange tooth mutation I have, which is only ever found in people of Irish descent. I'm not dual-anything. If I want to describe myself as "Heinz 57 varieties", I mean no disrespect either to myself or to the Heinz company. I'm proud to have ancestors from all over the globe.

Anyway. As a person of mixed race, I do not identify as "white", but I'm not a "person of colour" either. My skin is light enough that, in these days of ozone holes and skin cancer, I pass for white most of the time. (Less so when I was a child and we weren't afraid of suntans). Though enough people notice my colouring in London that I regularly get chatted up because of an incorrect assumption about my race. I've been mistaken for Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, Brazilian, Pacific Islander... No one ever guesses correctly. And often when I tell people of my actual heritage, they think I'm lying to them. Which makes no freaking sense at all to me. Few people have heard of the country that my father's parents left during a coup d'état when he was a child, despite its recent prevalence in the news. (For reasons which are too complicated to go into, I won't ever say which country in a public internet post, though it's easy enough to find out). And my name gives you no clue, being 100% British because my Asian grandfather changed his name.

Do you think I like having "white privilege"? Of course not. In fact, if I ever think someone is giving me special treatment because they think I'm white, I'll go out of my way to tell them that I'm not. But I don't always know that someone is treating me differently because of a racial assumption, just as I don't always know that someone is treating me differently because of my gender, presumed age (I look about 10 years younger than I really am), or disability status. Nonetheless, being able to "claim" white privilege when I'm not entitled to it feels exactly like claiming heterosexual privilege for my primary relationship when I'm bisexual. And I'm sure a lot of you know just how comfortable that one feels.

Current Mood: defiant

Also, I have 101 tabs open in Opera. Can we just take it for granted that I personally consider Sarah Palin to be the very worst sort of US politician? The sort that makes any left-wing liberal city-dwelling European go "...W. T. F.?". (Actually pronounced like that, sounding out all the letters in disbelief.) She does BAD THINGS to polar bears and wolves. I actually cried about the wolf bounty business. According to Time magazine, which when I've read it has seemed rather conservative and significantly more right-wing than the current UK government, when she was mayor of Wasilla she tried to get the library to ban books. I'm not sure I can think of any situation involving book-banning or burning that doesn't make me grit my teeth and growl for the sheer Wrongness of it. Even crappy books espousing opinions which "any right-thinking person" would find offensive deserve the right to exist.

One of the things about US politics that I really will never understand is how it's so all or nothing. On the one hand, you have anti-gun people arguing along the lines of how guns are evil and no one should be allowed them, and on the other hand you have the National Rifle Association going on about how it's an American's God-given right to bear arms and enshrined in the Constitution. Where are your sensible gun proponents? The ones that say that gun ownership is unnecessary if you live in a city, but useful if you live in the middle of nowhere 3 hours drive from the nearest police station? This is something that many city-dwelling Europeans will never get, because we don't understand the sheer scale of North America. I don't think any parts of Europe are 3 hours drive from the nearest police station. Hell, in most parts of Europe, you drive for 3 hours and you're in a different country!

It's taken me an awful lot of thought to get to a point where I'm even vaguely comfortable with the idea that there are circumstances in which it's sensible for ordinary people to have access to firearms. I'm a pacifist hippy vegan type, y'know? But, through the limited amounts of travel I've done in the US, I've managed to get a highly limited understanding of living in the middle of freaking NOWHERE - though I will never understand why a person would ever want to do so. I still believe that guns are evil - but then I also believe that people should have a chance to avoid having their house destroyed or family killed by a large rampaging wild animal. Though my emphasis is firmly on the gun for defense, rather than offense.

Similarly, the names used for the various sides on abortion. "Pro-life" or "Anti-abortion" versus "Pro-choice". "Anti-abortion" is particularly problematic as is there anybody in the world PRO-abortion? I think we all agree that it's horrible. But, as I've said before, if the choice is between a legal, safe abortion - and an illegal, unsafe abortion, I support the right for legal medical assistance all the way. Why is it that the people who are most against teaching kids about sex, and giving them access to contraception, are also the ones most against abortion? Why are they not fighting abortion by improving knowledge and access to resources so that young people know how to avoid getting into a state where they'd need to have one? It just doesn't make any sense to me.

Why do we not see the politicians who argue a middle ground? "Those of you in cities do not need guns as you have the police to protect you. Those of you in the middle of nowhere need proper training and licensing of guns so you can protect yourselves." / "I am against abortion, so I am going to ensure funding for contraceptives and sex education so that kids are protected when they go through their adolescent experiments?". I suspect I will be continuing to read Mudflats for some time, whilst shuddering in my boots.

It makes me all very sad. So here are some silly (but excellently done!) Obama supporter badges to cheer me up. I'm a little confused as to why classic cars, unicycles or beards should be for Obama as none of these things can vote - but maybe "classic car owners", "unicyclists" and "beard wearers" would take up too much space? Also, a tiny turtle, which is my new panacea. Feeling stressed? Tiny turtle! Internet flame war? Tiny turtle!

Current Mood: sad

As some people have asked, here's the link to my wish list. Only get me something if you're a close friend and can afford it, please.

So this isn't a totally pointless livejournal entry, something that's been bothering me for a few days. In French at school, we learned the phrase "Excusez-moi, je descends a la prochaine." as something to say on public transport when you're trying to get to the doors. ("Excuse me, I'm getting out at the next stop"). Right. So, I have spent many, many hours in my life on buses, tubes and trams, in English-speaking and French-speaking parts of the world, and never, ever have I heard anyone use this phrase in either French or English. I've heard lots of "Excuse me", the occasional "'Scuse me, I'm trying to get out", and the odd sarcastic "Let the passengers off first please!". But I've never heard anyone say "Excuse me, I'm getting out at the next stop" - let alone having the other person reply with "Moi aussi" ("Me too").

So I'm just wondering whether anyone here has ever heard this phrase used on public transport outside of a French lesson. Yep.

Current Music: Richard playing "Bark at the Moon" in Guitar Hero

What's the date today? It isn't April Fool's Day again, is it? Look at the insignia on this web page and tell me what you think. Is it:

a) A subsection of the SS or Hitler Youth,
b) A scary USA fringe group intent on abolishing social security and to promote the right to bear arms / arm bears,
c) A government agency in the home of democracy and liberty (a.k.a. Blair's Britain)?

Link & sarcasm from

softfruit. Further commentary from people on #Pokecharms:
StellarWind: It's a dagger.. with a lightning bolt on it. StellarWind: O_o Trainer_Yoshimitsu: o_O StellarWind: Dagger + Lightning Bolt = Electric Dagger = The nation is run by a fucking RPG enthusiast. Trainer_Yoshimitsu: a very bad looking lightning bolt at that Trainer_Yoshimitsu: XDDDD StellarWind: ... could have been worse, though. Trainer_Yoshimitsu: daaaamn, can't add that quote StellarWind: At least it isn't the Master Sword and the Triforce. baratron: lol! StellarWind: Special Link Forces! X_X StellarWind: either that or it's a sign that says 'Caution, high voltage blades. Oooh, lookit the pretty green background!' StellarWind: Oh! I've got a better one. baratron: yeah, i was thinking No Electric Daggers as well. StellarWind: 'The official Anti-Pikachu resistance force' baratron: yes! Trainer_Yoshimitsu: XD StellarWind: STAB the lightning tails! xD

Current Mood: the government scares me sometimes

you know, I TOLD Richard that he should keep his V for Vendetta special effects crew member's t-shirt and sell it on ebay, but did he believe me...?

anyone want to bid for it anyway, only slightly worn... :)

Current Mood: he never believes me...

Pet hate: people who write London phone numbers as "0207" or "0208" plus 7 digits. It's incorrect. The code for London is 020. The number is 8whatever. If you are in London and pick up the phone, and dial the seven digit number after "0208", you won't get through. If, instead, you dial the eight digit number beginning with "8", you will.

What has inspired this rant? Several things, including listening to my answer phone messages, and trolls on one of my irc channels (making it completely impossible to have a conversation there, and all of the ops are idle). Plus the garage at the back of ours just spent out on a huge shiny new sign, that sits just off the edge of our property and swings in the breeze - and it has the phone number listed as "0208" + 7 digits. GAH.

Current Mood: annoyed

It's 16:10 right now. I don't have to leave the house before 16:30 at the earliest, and it's snowing outside. OK, the snow isn't settling, but it's thick enough to affect visibility, while the excessive amounts of wetness everywhere make it unpleasant and a bit dangerous to walk. I sat down to browse teh intarweb for a few minutes before going out. After all, I have such a good record of managing to shut down the computer and get out the door on time, don't I?

My web connectivity is down. Can't get to livejournal or any of the 3 games forums I might want to check. I can take a hint.

Current Mood: quixotic

Someone on irc used a mIRC macro and slapped me around with a large trout. While I don't eat meat, my Otterylexa is a keen pescevore, being an otter an' all. Thus, all I could think of just then was "What a waste! There's good eating on a trout!". Then because Merriam-Webster didn't contain the word "pescevore", I had to go through Google to Wikipedia, where the only entry containing "pescavore" (their spelling - which makes no sense to me, as my memory tells me that Latin for fish is pesces, no a in it) seems to equate it with being "vegetarian except for fish", and that's not right at all for an Alexa.

Then I clicked on a link from the pescatarian page to "complete protein", and realised I already knew everything on that page. I didn't think I knew anything about protein, but apparently I know everything! That's actually strangely depressing... :/

Current Mood: blah

Today I was on the bus, and I saw a sign advertising "signwriters". As it was written all as one word, I mentally pronounced it differently, and was confused for a few seconds about what the sign meant. So how come we pronounce "sign" as SINE - but we say SIG-NA-TURE? Why do we elide the gn in "sign" but pronounce both letters in "signature", which is almost the same word and is often found in the same context? e.g. "Sign here with your usual signature"?

Yes, the answer is probably "because English spelling is eclectic, and once upon a time 'knight' was pronounced as keh-nig-huh-tuh", but I just want to know.

Current Mood: quixotic

Argh. I need to get my tax return done this weekend. Well, I don't NEED to get it done until January 31st - but I SHOULD get it done this weekend, in case I find some of the paperwork is missing, or whatever. la la la la la, what fun that will be.

And conversation on irc just reminded me that I need to sort out a private pension, one of these days. Oh joy!

Dealing with money is the single worst thing about being an adult, imo. Financial things generally make me want to die. I can't really explain in words why... ok, here is a very vague, handwaving version.

( May interest you, if you are frustrated with society, or also an alien on this planet or a wolfy living in a human body, or have just read too much SF. )

Current Mood: procrastinatory

I'm a woolly left-wing liberal, who is carfree by choice and recycles everything. But news that Greenpeace have been protesting against proposed new nuclear power plants just seems wrong to me. What, exactly, are they proposing as the alternative? Lovely though it would be for us all to reduce our use of petrol and electricity and for people to start walking and cycling everywhere, I can't see it happening.

In an ideal world, wind turbines would be shiny and wonderful and provide vast amounts of power. But in practice, they are noisy, and a large number of them are needed to produce a small amount of electricity. Many of the most suitable sites for them in the UK are areas of outstanding natural beauty, such as hill and mountain tops, and/or interfere with wildlife, such as offshore locations. Also, they are subject to the weather. Yes, it is often windy, but not always.

I don't know what the answer is. Ideally we'd use a large range of different non-polluting renewable sources. But replacing the entire country's fossil fuel stations with wind turbines isn't going to work. Nuclear power could be a short to medium-term solution to ease the transition between fossil fuels and renewable power.

What do you think?

( Poll... )

Current Mood: pensive
Current Music: Pulley - Matters

I should have a more common name.

Typing "helen-louise needs" into Google gets me no results.

Typing "helen-louise needs" without the quotes gets me this, and the first link on that is me. Google is annoying anyway, because it treats "Helen-Louise" and "Helen Louise" the same, but the former is a single name while the latter is a first and second name.

It matters to me, ok? That's why I don't answer to "Helen" - it's not my name.