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Culture War Roundup for the week of January 30, 2023

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Aziz Ansari

A bit off topic perhaps, but let me just say that Aziz's me-tooing was the most ridiculous of all. He clearly stated what he wanted to do and stopped when he felt she was uncomfortable. He proactively questioned her about her comfort. He then sent her away when she said she wasn't comfortable.

What I really learned from that debacle is that Aziz is a gentleman.

I honestly thing the Ansari Incident was a turning point for Me Too—as in, that’s when it jumped the shark. For the briefest of recaps:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aziz_Ansari#Allegation_of_sexual_misconduct

I am woke. I am rather sensitive to lack of consent. But…girl, “Grace”, if you think that a date like that is the “worst night of my life”, then oh sweet summer child. That is nothing. He was a tad too forceful about wanting sex, and he chose a wine you don’t prefer. If you think that’s awful, if you think that’s misconduct by a man, oh my, we have such sights to show you.

Such vapid, trivializing stories like that made Me Too look like a tempest in a teapot, or a flake in a snow globe. That is the most comically candy-ass incident, that is nothing, nothing compared to what lurks out there in the dark, and what preys on truly disadvantaged women.

if you think that’s misconduct by a man

In online movie discussion circles, I've learned that the current "woke" ethic is that the old notion that a woman's resolve can be broken down by persistence is 'rape culture.' This is why the iconic scene of one of the most beloved romantic comedies of my youth, Say Anything, has been re-evaluated as stalker apologia. Not only does Lloyd not take "no" for an answer initially, but he has the temerity to attempt a grand romantic gesture rather than accepting her half-hearted refusals. This makes him "creepy."