Trans Slurs, Rax Liking Post-Structuralism A Lot, And Some Articles From Twitter

[rax]

Okay, so. This isn't super honed but I have to pack to be on a plane at 6 AM so I'm posting it as is.

Comments

[rax]

I guess, from what I get out of your post, I can see how these two definitions of neoliberalism would relate to each other - both philosophies that are hyperfocused on individual benefit?

Both individual benefit and individual responsibility.

Like, triggering is just triggering, it isn't restricted to people of certain ideologies.

I think Halberstam is not thinking about people with PTSD triggers and is thinking about people who are "merely" upset by something. (Either that or he doesn't respect the possibility of PTSD triggers, but I'm giving the benefit of the doubt.) I'm hesitant to describe my reaction to all but a small number of things as a trigger, but that doesn't mean I want to experience them or that I'm a boring censorious neoliberal for having a reaction to them.

(There are trans women who are in favor of the use of the word, some of them pretty famous --- Kate Bornstein, Sandy Stone, &c. I consider Mx. Bond to be in valid position to reclaim the word if ve really wants to. I don't think it's a closed issue and I wouldn't be shocked if in twenty years I was like "yeah whatever fine." Right now, though, I don't think it's worth reclaiming, and feel folks like Dan Savage or Andrew Sullivan who use it are at absolute best being rude. I'm a little more hesitant to say trans men / CAFAB folks / drag performers shouldn't be able to use it, since I'm pretty sure it _is_ leveled at them sometimes even if that's not the initial context. But I do recognize a difference there, and cis gay men should step the heck off.)

[rax]

To be honest, I'm surprised you find Andrew Sullivan worth reading or thinking about. I filed him in an ignore bin years ago.