tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post7403725468267092057..comments2023-08-14T16:35:49.756+01:00Comments on Cruella-blog: Melanie Phillips line-by-line...Cruellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03446805038957924958noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-37650628269674785402010-03-28T09:15:32.752+01:002010-03-28T09:15:32.752+01:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.ishouldbeworkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17593319670404309153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-91716515518594506792010-03-18T18:08:27.183+00:002010-03-18T18:08:27.183+00:00In addition I'd just like to take apart this p...In addition I'd just like to take apart this paragraph a little more:<br /><br />"Devastating new research by sociologist Geoff Dench shows that not only is one in four mothers single, but more than half of such mothers have never lived with a man at all and are choosing to live alone on state benefits. They believe they have no need for a man in their life and that their children have no need for a father. The founding premise of the Government's £280million sex education strategy - that young mums get pregnant through ignorance - is thus very far from the truth."<br /><br />Er, WHAT? That's a really dazzling series on non-sequiturs. <br /><br />- Mothers never having lived with a man at all IS NOT PROOF either that they chose this situation, nor that benefits are even involved (unless she's harping on about child benefit, which goes to ALL families single-parent or not). Maybe it's something to do with the vast numbers of fathers that bugger off, during pregnancy or after the child's birth? Surely that's responsible for a far greater number of single mothers than anything else?<br /><br />- Even supposing that they are choosing not to live with the father of their child, this IS NOT PROOF that they don't think children need fathers, just that they don't want to live with him, for any of numerous reasons. Thousands of women face an uphil struggle to get absent fathers to spend time with their kids, precisely because they consider that relationship important. <br /><br />-None of this PROVES that women get pregnant intending to be single parents, putting aside whether or not that is a valid choice.<br /><br />Who's talking about "young" mums anyway? I didn't see anything about age, but heaven forfend that the DM should miss a chance to slag off young people.BethSFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14109299204500207758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-58602641979319429202010-03-04T23:37:36.025+00:002010-03-04T23:37:36.025+00:00Wow, Mel Pips, Cruella, and then this mentalist ra...Wow, Mel Pips, Cruella, and then this mentalist rafzul. Is it a full moon?Ronanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07354769607942288540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-23164250295471309632010-03-03T20:48:49.744+00:002010-03-03T20:48:49.744+00:00dear kate, i am sorry that i took this ten minutes...dear kate, i am sorry that i took this ten minutes of your life .... no wait, actually the greatest part of my post were quotations from your post, in other words most of this time you spent reading your own words. anyway, since this quarrel slowly turns into a "petty argument" and knowing that the very reason for you censuring my comment was to make sure that this would not happen, i decided to publish my commentary in full somewhere else. in this way integrity and purity of your blog will remain intact while i will not have to respond to "arguments" based on misrepresentation of my words. you can find my original critique of your post here: http://cruellacritique.wordpress.com/2010/03/03/melanie-phillips-line-by-line-almost-line-by-line. <br />i allowed myself to add numbers to each paragraph so it is easier for you to point out sheer stupidity of my arguments. i look forward to reading your insightful comments.rafszulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902818036843209131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-4410866805702914182010-03-03T20:37:47.532+00:002010-03-03T20:37:47.532+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.rafszulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902818036843209131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-47278273638225116262010-03-03T17:51:04.892+00:002010-03-03T17:51:04.892+00:00Mmm yes - but as I said actually read my post and ...Mmm yes - but as I said actually read my post and you'll notice I didn't claim that all teenage pregnancies could be explained by rape, or indeed statutory rape. Just read my post.<br /><br />I did read your comments and I only wish I could reclaim those ten minutes of my life.Cruellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03446805038957924958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-40546967832521893552010-03-03T16:34:15.846+00:002010-03-03T16:34:15.846+00:00i don't quite understand how can you use a wor...i don't quite understand how can you use a word "angrily" when you refer to what i have written. what is more, i did not reject "the notion of a link between rape and pregnancy" but merely pointed out (in a sarcastic manner) that explaining the number of teenage pregnancies by statutory rape could be reasonably regarded as a little bit of a stretch. moreover, even less understandable is your use of the word "stupid" considering that most of my comments were pointing to very basic logical fallacies in your critique with so called "red herring fallacy" being the most prevalent. in any case i do not see much of a point in arguing about these matters now after you have decided to censor my critique. however, judging on what you have written it seems to me that it is you who have not read or understood my writing rather than the other way around. thanks for your patronising comment anyway.rafszulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902818036843209131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-84776293360148334712010-03-03T15:18:04.885+00:002010-03-03T15:18:04.885+00:00If you look around this blog you will see on hundr...If you look around this blog you will see on hundreds of occassiona I have acceted comments disagreeing with me, debate has raged and sometimes opinions, including mine, have changed.<br /><br />Your comments were just stupid though. For instance you angrily rejected the notion of a link between rape and pregnancy. It's really not my job to explain that one. Ask your parents...Cruellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03446805038957924958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-51503918754891779822010-03-03T14:26:08.627+00:002010-03-03T14:26:08.627+00:00kate, i appreciate and respect your decision. howe...kate, i appreciate and respect your decision. however i cannot understand how constructive and sarcastic criticism of your sarcastic criticism could be regarded as petty argument. what i find quite upsetting is your claim that i "can't be bothered to actually read" what you said. i understand that it is hard for you as an author to read critique of your text but you could at least come up with some more original reasons for rejecting my comment. <br />interestingly, i do not agree with Melanie Phillips proposals and my personal views are probably closer to yours than to hers, for this reason i find it even more upsetting that your blog turned out to be yet another echo chamber which rejects by default any form of criticism. thus, i would be surprised to see this comment published on your blog. thanxrafszulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902818036843209131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-7707150221333076922010-03-03T13:56:49.861+00:002010-03-03T13:56:49.861+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.rafszulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902818036843209131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-11613823053995333202010-03-03T13:56:19.490+00:002010-03-03T13:56:19.490+00:00rafzul I've deleted your comments for your own...rafzul I've deleted your comments for your own benefit really as you clearly haven't actually read my post. You're arguing with things I've said sarcastically and you're claiming I haven't backed things up when I've been pretty clear in doing so. Do add another comment when you've actually read what I've written - I'm quite happy to debate the issues raised but I don't want my blog derailed into a petty argument because you can't be bothered to actually read what is said.Cruellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03446805038957924958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-27369483922651332442010-03-03T13:56:49.860+00:002010-03-03T13:56:49.860+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.rafszulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902818036843209131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-33851147151150807972010-03-03T13:50:21.457+00:002010-03-03T13:50:21.457+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.rafszulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902818036843209131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-34384514369735541372010-03-03T13:46:57.609+00:002010-03-03T13:46:57.609+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.rafszulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902818036843209131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-65721432181673851402010-03-03T00:44:35.486+00:002010-03-03T00:44:35.486+00:00Yes, she also thinks dowries are something that is...Yes, she also thinks dowries are something that is paid by the government...Cruellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03446805038957924958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-20486793779301281202010-03-03T00:32:35.194+00:002010-03-03T00:32:35.194+00:00I'm sorry, did she really compare child benefi...I'm sorry, did she really compare child benefit to a dowry? She's used that term in so many (wrong) contexts that she doesn't seem to know what it actually means...Chitrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405620292644376442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-71600794437552449972010-03-02T22:19:16.322+00:002010-03-02T22:19:16.322+00:00Melanie Phillips has not brightened up my night, b...Melanie Phillips has not brightened up my night, but this post certainly has... Point well made, and in hilarious enough fashion to have me laughing and spluttering all over the laptop. A pretty sight indeed.Proud Maisiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07559009415342685299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-90375090361854536462010-03-02T20:14:51.468+00:002010-03-02T20:14:51.468+00:00I can come to only one conclusion, and that is tha...I can come to only one conclusion, and that is that she is joking.<br /><br />Because I just find it impossible to believe that any woman can look back and sigh at what she feels are those halcyon days where women had no option but to devote all their energies into getting and keeping a man.<br /><br />Then staying with him come what may, because if she didn't she and her children would no longer have a roof over their heads or food to eat. <br /><br />I would like her to come to my work place and see for herself the devastating effect domestic abuse has on children and their mothers. To witness the emotional abuse, financial abuse, and isolation of their mother affects children deeply, and that's even before physical abuse comes into the equation. Lots of families <i>are</i> better off without the father around.<br /><br />Sorry, waffle waffle, but her attitude makes me so angry. She hasn't got a clue.Gappyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15086671907412626209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8248707.post-59573655434743725302010-03-02T20:05:34.194+00:002010-03-02T20:05:34.194+00:00Yes Melanie where is the evidence children need f...Yes Melanie where is the evidence children need fathers? What female and male children require is a parent(s) who care, nurture and model to the child what being human means. Being male alone is not the primary requisite - being non-violent, non-coercive, non-male supremacist are the primary factors. Which is why so many mothers do not want any contact with violent and abusive ex-male partners. <br /><br />Teenage girls do not become pregnant by themselves unless Melanie you have proof 'virgin births are the norm!' Teen boys and adult men play a central role in impregnating teenage girls - often forcibly impregnating these girls. So, Melanie why are you not telling teen boys and adult men to keep their pants zipped up and thereby reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. <br /><br />Melanie says "In turn, men committed themselves to the mothers of their children on the basis that they could trust they were indeed the father because the woman was sexually faithful.'<br /><br />Melanie - men do not create children and neither are children men's personal property. Have you not heard that women play a central role in the reproductive process but patriarchy still proclaims the myth men create childen and women's only role is to be passive receptors of men's children. Furthermore all foetuses begin as female and it is not until later in the reproductive process do some foetuses become male. Therefore in the reproductive process the default is female not male.<br /><br />Likewise Melanie women who have children commonly do so on the understanding the male will remain sexually faithful to her, since he is the father of her child. <br /><br />Guess what Melanie - boys at increasing younger ages are biologically capable of impregnating females - so what - does this mean male sexual violence against teenage girls is non-existent?<br /><br />Guess what Melanie - women have always worked but our male supremcist society have always devalued women's paid work and ensured that male wages were and continue to be much higher than women's paid wages. This is why so many women have not been able to escape violent male partners - because if they do, women know their chances of finding work which pays them a living wage, as well as enabling them to take care of their children is almost non-existent. <br /><br />Our male supremacist is set up to ensure that women who have children remain economically dependent on men. This means women who want to leave their violent male partners find it almost impossible given society still views women as men's adjuncts not autonomous beings.<br /><br />Feminism Melanie was never about 'fitting women into male-defined culture' but rather ending our male supremacist society and ensuring that both women' and men's needs are equally met - rather than defining men's need as the default system.JENNIFER DREWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02112807166372869685noreply@blogger.com