Feminism & Being Wrong

It is always nice to be proven right.

One of my three feminist lecturers at Flinders University, called Tina Dolgopol, gave me a less than delightful grade for an essay in a topic called International Human Rights basically read through the prism that is the United Nation’s Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

I wrote a large essay, with a total of 82 references: espousing the embedded patriarchal values of South African, and how large rape is. Essentially I used all forms of evidence: statistics, research, journals and academic textbooks to put forward some very strong arguments for my proposition.

I then criticised South Africa for having a so called progressive Constitution and failing to address the structural factors surrounding these issues. I always got very high grades for Criminology and Sociology.

After doing some more research now: I will say to Tina Dolgopol – you were wrong. You and your feminist buddies at Adelaide University, and within Flinders have done more damage than good by discrediting your own camp.

Clearly the point I missed was South Africa’s ANC and their Marxist leanings. Clearly propping up you stupid ideology and feminist fascism means more to you than being a good lecturer.

But mind you, not being a lawyer I never understood how you or Mary Heath got your jobs teaching law. I am relieved.

Feminism in Academia

Twitter & Equality

I’ve noticed a dissonance between free speech and the values that Twitter espouses. To keep this short and sweet, I will focus on two issues:

(1) What happened to me on Twitter

(2) How the values Twitter espouses do not align with free-speech.

I signed up with a second Twitter account in order to espouse my political views as a South African, living in Australia. I am more than aware as a qualified lawyer as to what qualifies as a critique, and what is “trolling”.

A feminist named Clementine Ford can post horrific statements: such as all men should be blasted in to the sun, and other such statements. South Africans can Tweet that all white people should be treated as the Jews were in Nazi Germany. And these Tweets are protected, and not even challenged.

But the second somebody asks either Clementine Ford be tested for “harassment” or the like, or that blatantly racist Tweets such as those found on the Twitter profiles of South Africans – are taken down, or have their profiles suspended pending investigation, well it does not matter – because clearly Twitter has an agenda.

Why did I sign up for another Twitter account? Because my primary account is my band account. I have never believed that one could summate any form of argument or point of within such a character limit: but clearly it appeals to morons who are too scared to read anything over Twitter’s character limit. So I understand the appeal to morons.

I also understand Twitter is well suited to companies with their short, marketing catch phrases. I had my account suspended for harassment, where there was none. I merely acted as Socrates did in the Athenian market place, positing questions to those posting inflammatory statements, which were merely statements pointing out the fallacies with which their logic was consistent: yet I am the problem.

The fact that Twitter have buckled to political-correctness and appointed a feminist to check and re-check the political correctness of Tweets, and in the words of Paul Joseph-Watson from Youtube, created a “safe-space” for inflammatory speech, as long as you are not part of a particular demographic speaks volumes as to their political agenda.

I believe that FaceBook is following suite. Fair enough. These are private companies with the ability to make the rules.

I am certainly getting to the point where I believe, that these companies with their censorship of true opinion (when guised in a respectful manner), are more concerned with appearing to “do the right thing”, as opposed to actually operating as a platform for free speech, or dissenting opinion.

Fuck you Twitter. Fuck political correctness. This is 1984, ironically coming to reality via a corporate model, as opposed to a Stalinist Government. I hope you stock price continues to crash, and that you are proved to be a fad. Much like free speech is now days.

On Electronic[?] Music and The Rest

I put a question mark behind electronic because it would appear not even their own artists can agree on what constitutes electronic music. The above post was put on FaceBook by a well known South African DJ I went to primary school with, and whilst I respect people’s rights to choose their own aesthetics and careers, I would argue with the above post as a metalhead in numerous ways, essentially on what is based on anecdotal evidence I have gleaned over the years, and what would seem to be the case to me.

I have a limited amount of compositional knowledge, I am a self acknowledged “metal elitist”, but I have played classical piano, flute and now I play guitar, program my own drums, do my mixing and produce my own music in the vein of my heroes.

To me as someone who writes music I look for something more in what I listen to: namely things such as technical accomplishment (use of odd time signatures and virtuosity in relation to chosen instruments, and a good comprehension of complex song structures). To name a few people in this vein that I listen to:

Steven Vai
Joe Satriani
John Petrucci / Dream Theater
Vindsval of Blut Aus Nord
Ihsahn of Emperor
Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom

If one examines a genre such as technical-death metal (“tech-death”) one finds elaborate use is dissonant intervals (such as those found in the diminished scales, symmetrical scales – and so on), an emphasis on fast playing – tremolo picking, arpeggios and so on.

If one examines progressive metal: you will find with bands such as Meshuggah extensive use of polyrhythms and polymeter, well a lot of the bands who derived their sound from Meshuggah have been labelled “math-metal” – and I think this conveys the complexity of the theory deployed by these bands.

Emperor and Dimmu-Borgir, both second wave black metal bands use compositional and playing techniques derived from classical music. Blut Aus Nord are a world unto themselves. I translated a guitar tab by Blut Aus Nord in to a MIDI drum tab, and imported it in to my Digital Audio Workstation and discovered there were in excess of twenty time-signature changes, and probably as many tempo changes.

I don’t speak much on blues-based metal – such as that found in the USA as I am not too much of a fan of the new wave of US metal – bar say – Machine Head, and then some older school stuff I liked such as Fear Factory, Pantera – you get the idea.

I studied the philosophy of aesthetics at University: in particular the “subjective standard of taste” as defined by Hume and Kant. To paraphrase Humean perspectives: to more simple an aesthetic is, the more “popular” or accessible it is to the masses. The more technical the aesthetic becomes: the more education or experience with that style is needed to “decode” it, and hence one can normally find a trend with in aesthetics where by the more complex an aesthetic is, the less accessible it is. While this applies to all genres of music (as Metallica is metal) there will always be exceptions. But despite the status of The Beatles White Album, one cannot argue that the song “Love Me Do” is a piece of virtuosity.

My argument with dance music from the 1970s onwards: is that essentially is components of structure and audience require a consistent, “dance”-able beat which makes it accessible to many people who are there to do just that. The assertion that there is no constant BPM (which is what I am pretty sure the definition of the modern dance/EDM – whatever – DJ is – “beat-mapping”) in some dance music may be correct: but it would be a mainstay of most of the songs in the genre.

This type of music is repetitive, the structures are remarkably consistent. The scale/melody is very consistent: this is evidenced by the use of the terms “bass-drop”, “buildup” and so on. Now these terms exist in all forms of music – in other works from the compositional perspective “to build tension / and release”.

But where one finds variation in between tracks using the techniques, the very fact that electronic dance DJ’s have to beat-match – and get berated for messing this process up is the evidence one requires to debunk the quote at the start of this article.

No you will argue that certain forms of metal create a “head-bang” motion in the crowds: these tend to be the simpler bands who essentially do what DJ’s do, but in another genre: Metallica being a good example. The same could be said for country music. And so on.

One is looking at a genre that grew specifically out of a desire to be homogenous: and had a massive influence on popular music’s sound from the late 1990s onwards. It lacks a desire to push the boundaries, and as a result music is becoming more homogenised.

The reputation of electronic dancce music, how it desires to label itself as “underground” or “different” or for adults, has also created to the drug culture which it resides in. I would argue in order to combat the boredom, and to enhance the “samples” and electronic sounds – one would have to be “high” to actually take a consistent beat for 8 hours. Try being drunk and listening to this stuff, you’d leave after twenty minutes.

So one could posit the argument cited at the top of this argument: but I would argue that this is pushing against the tidal wave of evidence that is obvious on the face of it. I do not see the “virtuosity” in using an Ableton press button board of samples to “create” music, you are making in more homogenous and enabling people who probably should be taking some form of music lessons – create music, all the while thinking that due to this homogenisation and equipment destroys the need to study music theory (the above quote was made by Daedalus – ironically a music graduate of high caliber – but an exception to the rule).

I don’t see how a DJ is going to “improve their musical credibility” by putting such arguments forward. Sampling by its very nature – is plagiarism. Repetition at the rate present in this genre – and pop music – means one can clearly make the inference that it is written to be simple, and be related to by fairly mindless crowds – who essentially want to hear the same stuff week in, week out. People who lack the ability to push themselves, and do not want to.

The “old vanguard of rock”? Well – I don’t know who exactly he is referring to with that statement: but I loathe this type of genre with a passion. Look at drummers such as George Kollias, Derek Roddy, Terry Bozzio, Mike Mangini and even Dave McClain – and you find absolute masters of their instruments, years of practice and study. Look at Steve Vai and how he literally becomes a conduit of his music.

I just cannot agree there is much more to electronic music: I just don’t see it, and even if there was more to it, I’d argue these bands constitute less than 5% of the genre in total – regardless of what the fans say. I am always open to new ideas and proof, but I just can’t see it.

I have the same problem with metal/rock: but at least a degree of musicianship is required to play in a band with more than one person, and some knowledge of the instrument – so in reality – we are comparing chalk and cheese.

If they really want credibility: they are going to need to turn from keeping crowds happy, to attempting to write music the like of Tool’s 46 & 2, but a bunch of people who want to munch on drugs and dance for 24 hours are not really going to enjoy that, now are they?

Old Boys Networks and Self-Worth

Much like those who post blogs in searching of self-pity, I tend to look at old boys networks, old boys clubs in a similar vein, an attempted interpellation of the past, in order to validate oneself in the present to boost one’s own self-image for the future.

I look at the old boys network of the schools I went to: and I have to wonder how one is so attached to a piece of the past, even to reify it every year with rituals such as rugby matches, dinners and so on. On getting jobs through old boys networks: I understand the ease with which one can move in to a job in this manner, but I would hate to have to wonder whether I could have done it myself, and ultimately does that not affect one’s self-worth detrimentally in the future – if not on the death-bed?

I have had a pretty bad couple of years despite Graduating from University – struggling to get work, having to re-assess my position in life at this point. But this is all me, absolutely all me. I have some regrets, but more importantly my decisions have led to my life experiences, my wealth of knowledge and ultimately who I am now.

I’d rather just have it that way. I mean others would disagree, but I have always been a sucker for challenges, and I love to win out. If you had told my 18 year old self – this is the way its going to go, I would have laughed. Not for what I have not done, but for everything I have managed to do bearing in mind the effort it took to get here, and I am so proud looking back. Sure, its not a “normal” life progression and what not, but what I have learnt about myself in the process – is almost priceless – and I think that is what matters.

Maybe I am with Nietzsche on this one: maybe one has to just push oneself so far out of their comfort zone that you start realising what you are capable of. I am not saying contextual, cultural and personal knowledge is not important – but when they become a dead weight one has to wonder.

I think (based on my criminological/cultural/philosophical readings) that to not push oneself – or as Nietzsche said to “suffer”, and to grow, and to take the easy way out blights humanity, and possibly creates bubbles in which people bask and exist and do not want to test themselves.

There is a lot of good and bad in the world, but to not experience it, to relish the bubble, the cushioned existence – I just cannot agree with. I think these “networks”, whatever they are and mean to others, are a part of the problem. But then again – maybe this is just me, lauding my own perspectives, but I have observed elements of truth in these statements during the course of my existence.

Vladimir, The Dark Elf – Hard Work Pays Off

I posted another blog entry on making music with friends which refers back to this one. So if you haven’t read that then maybe read it first – it is always nice to get unexpected surprises when things do not look so good.

After being disheartened in relation to working with friends on certain band projects, I was once again going on as a solo-project. I had posted numerous tracks on to Soundcloud, but I knew deep down I had a lot of work to do on technique and structures.

However I was finding after listening to a couple of my songs (not finished) that I was almost not recognising the music as my own. I remembered writing it, I knew exactly what was going on: but in the back of my head I was thinking “how to make this better?”, “where am I going to find a vocalist?”, “will I ever reach my musical goals?” (I study programming, I am qualified as a Lawyer – so my work will no doubt come first).

I woke up one morning and checked my FaceBook, Soundcloud and emails. My Soundcloud had a notification (I check those first) “You have been followed by The Dark Elf”, cool – a couple of other people have followed me. Nothing to really worry about. I’ll check his page in a second: I have a message notification too. I check the messages: a message from the Dark Elf, alright – what does this say? Normally a contrite compliment on one aspect of a song they heard, nothing more.

“Hi there!
Maybe I am crazy, but I hear a lot of potential in your music…
Well, back to business – I am a sound producer. Let me know if I can help ya )))”

I have had messages from social media marketers, offering paid services. I have had the same offers from Producers. So my natural inclination is to respond – as to being a broke student studying programming, I can’t pay for Production (and in my head – “I ain’t that good – come on! Please… besides, I genuinely can’t afford it, would be nice to hear something of mine done well, but no…”).

So I wrote back to that effect. I was very appreciative of the kind words: I genuinely was. But I said I cannot afford production and so on. I had looked at his Soundcloud page, there were a lot of tracks on there, good ones too, in a lot of styles, really impressive.

I got a message back saying essentially: no – how about we work on one song, free – beginning to end, over six months. You can learn production skills, and get some experience in the production side, and I get to get the best out of you, as at least you are trying to do something “different”. Much to my surprise.

Even at this point, I had a British guy approach me who was in to the same band I was, well one of my favourite bands – Blut Aus Nord, he wanted to “collaborate”, and also seemed quite serious about it. DropBox folders were made, ideas passed backwards and forwards – but basically six months later nothing has happened. So in the back of my mind I was thinking – maybe this is the case again.

No. It wasn’t.

I was up late as my correspondence course for programming in based in California, I am up late due to being in Australia. Vlad and I moved the conversation from Soundcloud to FaceBook, as the messages were easier to “chat by”. On FaceBook Vlad requested I add him on Skype, and we have a chat. I have had a similar conversation with one of the few people I kept on my FaceBook profile, Harrison Bobby Fox – an eight string player from Nashville, USA – so I was up for a conversation – out of interest if anything.

I warned him I was from South Africa, via New Zealand and I had left quite young, so my accent was messed up, so if I need to speak slower – just tell me. The first thing he says on Skype in “… my God, your accent is f***ed up!”, I was laughing straight away.

He pointed me to his band work in amongst the other tracks on Soundcloud he had produced, Odsahe, and I could hear straight away that he was an Emperor fan. He confirmed that: and to this point in time, we have had conversations on direction for the track. He has taught me a lot about using scales to make riffs out of – advice that worked immediately upon application to my methods already.

In short – at this point: I could not have asked for anything better. I have my guitar-friend for theory and guitar purchase advice. Now I have had advice on creating riffs, from a producer. Life is amazing like that. A shot in the arm when I needed it most. I can’t even explain the Jungian synchronicity at work here.

Please feel free to check out his page. He does good work. And he is a good guy.

Making Music with Friends

Sounds like a good idea doesn’t it? Your friend plays some guitar, maybe two or three of them. Some have even been involved in making their own music, maybe a little bit of music production and playing live.

You learned some tricks from one such as trying to program drums, how to use a Digital Audio Workstation. You even learn some microphone tricks. You have a few jam sessions, go through three band names, a YouTube video which garners 500+ views, due to some good tags and a well-made video. Your confidence is bolstered.

You haven’t been playing too long, but you have been working very hard on learning, probably too much at once, but you buy books, you read a lot, practice – and you are persistent. You are confident based on you studies, that you can teach yourself to a point: the rest is between a friend who is a guitar teacher of 27+ years, played in to very prominent local bands, and is still playing in those bands.

This project falls to pieces. A lack of commitment. Drinking on weekends, games and just life tends to get in the way. You find there is a preference for odd lyrics and music tastes (albeit you are in to an obscure genre to begin with). The direction this first project takes: is possibly more simple than one would like. You are certain that there is more to composition and song arrangement than your friend does. It is not all “do-able” by ear. However – this friend you are close to, can accept theoretical differences in approach (a few drunken arguments – but never anything serious – just absolute acceptance of differing opinions). You still approach that person for recording/drum-programming – and general musical production advice, and aesthetic opinions on mutually accepted bands. So no issues there. Just a learning curve, a few good tracks, and a tonne of good memories, and a friend for life.

Eventually the friend in this first project moves to another State, and you are essentially left to your own devices again, so you keep playing, keep composing and you persist. You get better and better over time, start sharing music on Soundcloud, Youtube and even FaceBook. You get some response but you know deep down that you probably need to work on compositional skills more, as you are aware of your weaknesses.

Then you discover an old friend from you homeland is in to making music. You have purchased new equipment – such as a USB Interface and digital amp-sims (which is not optimal but better than having nothing – or very cheap pedals and amplifier). Their taste is slightly more classic than yours, but there is a preference for melody – which forms part of your music. You start a project, and even offer to bring in a friend of theirs – as the more the merrier. You compose music for this project, even in two different styles.

You share your knowledge, make tutorial videos, post them on FaceBook (guitar tabs) and videos (on Youtube). You have numerous Skype conversations regarding the music. And – yet you have this deep down sense of deja-vu.

Eventually the friend of a friend who is brought in: just wants to try and super-glue a riff (a classically picked, basic minor chord riff – with no idea as to harmonic rules) on to what is essentially a death-metal half-song, written in Drop C and played on a very heavy amp simulation, over Superior Drummer, and you very kindly explain this cannot work. The first friend says nothing – which is a surprise: as that friend agreed with the assessment.

You have a logo which you paid a good friend in graphic design to make (a bottle of vodka – but – you are ongoing friends). You retain the rights to the high-quality pictures. All they ask is that the logo is not altered, and that any future alterations be done by them. Essentially – they wish to retain creative control. Fair enough. You get a damn cool logo, in your genre. They get to maintain control over their work – which was in graphic design terms, done for free – I am in total agreement.

You wake up one morning, and the friend of a friend who tried to super-glue a riff on to your song, has taken the logo, and super-glued it on to a Metallica “Ride the Lightning”/”Black” – snake type thing. Within 15 minutes you have an inbox message from the graphic designer essentially asking, in a very nice way: “What is going on we had a deal? And please remove it, as you are the Admin for your band page (as is the friend, and friend of friend)”.

You have a very calm conversation to the friend, explain the situation. They speak to friend of friend, and all is OK. Based on that conversation: you end up having a conversation with friend of friend about USB Interfaces versus a standalone Unit – a digital 4 track (which you own at that point, have used for four years – but now switched to the USB Interface). Friend of friend is about to spend the same as the USB Interface on a rubbish unit. But do they listen? No. Next they say they have no money for a Unit. But you have money for a motorbike, and numerous concerts? OK.

Friend from old keeps talking about music. You agree that it is better to split the projects. Friend from old tells you – friend of friend – thinks you are too in to your genre. OK. I spend 7 years practicing, learning and reading – even buying books on composition, and absorbing information and feedback from numerous sources. Posting stuff online, even experimenting with the social media (my personal FaceBook account at one point had in excess of 2000 “friends” – most of which I removed later on), and all of a sudden – because I have honed the techniques, sound – and theory, even drum programming skills and song structures to create what has got people giving good feedback about – I am too in to genre x. OK.

Then you get on FaceBook to find – that friend of old and friend have started not one, but two projects, and not even invited you too “Like” it. They have invited your girlfriend – which is how you see it (“Oh, look, what has she gone and Liked now?” Ohhhh… OK – check for Invite – none). Funnily enough they using the Metallica hybrid logo for one, lol.

There are a couple of tracks on these band pages. But luckily, it is the same stuff they (friend of old mainly) have been playing for years. Friend of friend starts insulting one (in jest – but – the truth in jest type of thing) for your guitar choice, and style, and essentially your taste in music. You get annoyed but remind them they could not play a compound time signature if it was smashing their head in to the ground with its own hands.

Friend of old keeps talking, procrastinating – and eventually you get fed-up. You remove them completely from your band page – and continue on solo. Why bother?

Lesson learned. If you are going to play music with other people. Make sure (1) they are not posers, and (2) they actually care as to what you want to play. Basically like many things in life. Friends are friends, and that is that.

I honestly believe now I was merely being tapped for information. Deep down: my heart says, when I learn something new, or have a breakthrough, I should tell friend of old. But then I think “Why? So he can just use it for himself, and take advantage of all the effort I have put in?”, so I suppose in retrospect, it has altered my opinion of the person. You have time to post dumb stuff on FaceBook merely minutes in an hour apart, but you can’t give feedback”? And so on.

Don’t do it. Join a band, or at least work with someone who cares and in interested. Don’t buy excuses, if they care they will make time. You are probably better off working alone – than having a distraction.

I cannot work with people due to the extremity of my music taste – and my location: a tiny town where there isn’t much of anything, but when I get to a larger city, I will seek out others who care, and actually want to compose.

In the meantime: karma sent me a good gift, Vladimir, the Dark Elf – Russian Metal Producer – but that is a story, for another entry.

A song, for interest, for those inclined.

https://soundcloud.com/ereignis_011/the-philosophy-of-pessimism

Argument One: People who migrate (ironically) lose their right to an opinion

I have written a blog on this before. And I deleted it, because I thought the evidence I raised was not going to occur in South Africa, until at least 2017-2020 – however I can safely say that the evidence is not speaking for itself, but literally screaming out to be put to two idiots I am about to address.

The first one is what I originally “discovered” (it was sent to me, or I found it via reposting on social networks): Susan Hayden’s “On Angry South African Ex-Pats”, and I need to cite the first paragraph in order to make my point:

“What I’ve come to realise, over the past few weeks, is that there can be no angrier, more unreasonable person on the planet than the South Africa expat who is told that the country has not gone up in flames (yet) and that we actually spend a lot of time camping, hiking, hanging out on the beach and drinking very nice, inexpensive wine on our expansive lawns in the sunshine while somebody else does the ironing. I think it is fair to say that a goaded bull with a punctured testicle being shown 42 red flags simultaneously could not be more enraged than the (ex) South African who sold up, spent all their money on relocating their family to Wellington before the Swart Gevaar put a torch to the entire country only to find that it’s not quite the utopia they imagined and that their life is actually kakker than before.”

One: great use of language (“kakker”), way to show “how South African” one is. Two the use of the word “utopia”, I thought “utopias” were philosophical chimeras, like looking in to the parallel universe of a mirror, its there but not real. “Utopia”? I never thought New Zealand or Australia would be a utopia: just that the police would be in attendance 3-7 minutes after I make a phone call.

And the adjectives pertaining to anger, rage and the like , are you trying to use the neuro-linguistical language techniques to leverage the case for your argument via Thesaurus use? (Isn’t the saying – “people see the world as a reflection of themselves”?)

The second item which is far more recent is “You’ve Left The Country Now Shut Up” written by a second rate radio DJ (Terence Pillay) in Durban South Africa. It was the emergence of this article recently, coupled with a couple of good ol’ fashioned FaceBook arguments that got me thinking – “No, I am going to deal with this” [again]. A quote from that article:

“But be that as it may there are thousands of South Africans who voluntarily move to seemingly greener pastures and then spend every waking moment obsessively monitoring events in their former homeland and talking crap about their aforementioned former homeland.”

Oh Terence: you must really think I have a lot of time to waste if I spend “every waking moment obsessively monitoring events” in South Africa. No Terence there is an App, now owned by LinkedIn which does all the “monitoring” for me – I just cherry pick headlines that sound interesting. “Obsessively monitoring” the metal music scene – that I couldn’t argue with, but your precious country does not mean that much to me. Additionally Terence: you heard of that thing you work for, yes – the media – it exists over here too, and due to the number of South African “angry expats” who live here: they tend to cover South Africa a bit. So really – its not that hard to follow what is going on back there.

“Seemingly greener pastures”? Where shall we start Terence? GDP comparison? The correct operation of the Legislature and Judiciary (with all the required separation between the two – NOT happening in South Africa – a la Zuma’s court cases), the state of the City Councils, Town Councils? Unemployment rate? Minimum wage? Access to justice? Crime rates? Crime statistics? The death toll on the roads over summer? The state of the public hospitals? Parliament that works (i.e. don’t forcibly remove elected MPs)? General indicators of happiness (compared to Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Wellington, Adelaide … and so on)? Or my favourite – a power system that doesn’t load-shed? They are not “seemingly greener” Terence, they are greener, that is a fact – if you disagree – lets get started on the aforementioned points.

My background was that I migrated at the age of 18 in 2000 to New Zealand, and I had been planning to since before I finished my last year of school. Home is home but I never deliberately blinded myself to the reality of the situation – or the cycles of history (in the more complex sense of the word). I was very happy in New Zealand (I live in Australia now). And I have been back to South Africa a few times for family visits, and the place seemed to be stuck in a time warp: the roads were patchy and the paint was peeling away from the tar, the cracks were all so “papered over” it just looked bad. Poverty creeping in the “better suburbs” much like I would imagine in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Police that couldn’t run 20 meters after a child let alone some criminal on methamphetamine attempting to escape a robbery. Islands of first-world quality besieged by wide-spread poverty.

Susan Hayden’s blog (whether she realises it or not) speaks for itself: a confused lady, who could not make the “greener pastures” work for her (Sweden) and “apparently moved back to South Africa for herself, and yet felt the need to write a blog about it to gain support and validation for her decision”, at least that is what I read. Upon perusing the comments – one will notice a trend: she will validate any comments that back her opinions, and pour vitriol over ones that do not – or if they are too difficult in question or structure – ignore them altogether. This is called selective use of evidence, or “bending evidence to match the argument”, it pissed me off then but now I actually have the cultural phenomena to prove my point in reality so – now this blog in particular – is so far off the truth it is almost farcical. She reminds me of 1st year University students who have just misinterpreted “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Postmodernism” and walk around chiming: “That’s not my truth, that’s your truth” whilst ignoring the principles of evidence and debate.

“So, I say this to the expats who need to sound off and be haters in order to justify their choices: let us love our country if that is what makes sense to us. We don’t yell at you and accuse you of abandoning ship because you’re living in Maida Vale. We are happy that you have homes in London because now we have somewhere to stay when we go overseas with our tragic Rands. You made a choice to go, like we made a choice to stay.”

Well Susan: who called out the “ex-pats” for being haters? You did. So is it so surprising you gleaned a response from some? As for the point of not-accusing ex-pats of abandoning ship – have you never heard the term “chicken run”? I’ll assume she has – and conveniently ignores it because it highlights the exact issue raised in both pieces of writing: “the aggressive South African competitor – who can’t handle being wrong, and hence has to resort to the simple approach of making everything a “binary”: your in or out, its black or white. Now my wonderous first-world edu-ma-cation taught me that “binary thinking” when used as a cudgel such as this – is an indication of stupidity.

From the Pillay article (so close to Heydon’s Blog – I have to wonder if it is plagiarism, probably not – but that only goes to show how embedded the mentality is).

Two accusations of “shit-talking” in two articles within a year of each other: clearly this sentiment is held by a few people. A little lesson from law for you two “ex-pat haters”: it is not defamation if it is true.

So – on to the evidence. The argument that erupted on FaceBook on this issue started over two posts: one was a satirical cartoon poking fun at the failure of the government, followed immediately by Susan’s wonderful blog. I couldn’t help but ask the person if they noticed the irony behind the two posts being right on top of each other – they are not congruent in anyway, all I got was a “like”… and then the “friends” jumped in and it was all fun and games from then on. The responses were the usual avoidance of evidence: which very quickly turned personal (again avoiding the evidence), one person even accused me of “blasphemy” – which to a black metal touting atheist – is more of a compliment, but I respect the gesture for what it was – misdirection with an intent to pull the debate away from hard facts and evidence.

One must note what Susan said at the start of her blog: “What I’ve come to realise, over the past few weeks, is that there can be no angrier, more unreasonable person on the planet than the South Africa expat who is told that the country has not gone up in flames (yet) and that we actually spend a lot of time camping, hiking, hanging out on the beach and drinking very nice, inexpensive wine on our expansive lawns in the sunshine while somebody else does the ironing.” (nice to have a run-down economy where you can pay a domestic servant a pittance and treat them like a butler).

Well based on the evidence I think one can safely say “it has gone up in flames”. Each day the country looks more and more like a tinpot dictatorship:

Nkandla, Nkandla, Nkandla: Where is the justified use of the money for “security”?
Eskom’s load-shedding: What value that must add to the economy.
South Africa’s Crime Statistics: speak for themselves.
Raging social inequality: with a legacy of hatred attributed to it
The Usual Suspects: Corruption, “Struggle Credentials”
The Final Blow for Democracy: forcibly removing Opposing Member’s of Parliament from the Parliament when “difficult” issues are raised.
The fact that David Cameron refused to meet Jacob Zuma, and
Jacob Zuma threw a temper tantrum: what a Statesman.
Everything else I mentioned in the above paragraph.

So how can I be angry – if I am right? And have been proven right?

Its up in flames. It has been for years. It takes a special kind of idiot to blind themselves to the truth. Actually – some people can accept the truth – what they can’t accept the truth on, is ex-pats, mainly they were right.

So if the country has gone up in flames – and the ex-pats are right – the “anger” must reside elsewhere for Susan, maybe in not being able to “hack it” post-migration, too lazy to learn Swedish – who knows, and honestly who cares. My position was: “stop deluding people, it is going up in flames as you speak, you’re too blind to see it – and worst of all you are encouraging others to believe the same trash”.

From Terence Pillay’s article:

“Don’t get me wrong, this is not envy. I don’t want to be where you are. I just don’t want to have to encounter your diatribe about something you’re no longer involved in every time I page through media. There are whingers around the world who have left South Africa, built themselves little enclaves of ex-South African whingers, eating their imported Black Cat Peanut Butter, drinking Ricoffy and who have the time in between mouthfuls to mouth off about our country.”

The simple answer is Mr DJ:

Stop using social media. The glory of social media is exactly the problem you have with it: it is a forum for opinion, open to anyone on the Internet.
In my glorious, first-world “bubble-of-rights”, being educated to a quite high degree in issues such a social science, philosophy, history, politics and current affairs (outside of my legal qualifications) – means I will have opinions ON WHATEVER I WANT – and if you can’t “refute” the opinion, like a rational student of argument/debate – why don’t you shut up? Instead of making base Internet pleas for sympathy.
When someone places a denial, straight out at the start of a paragraph: claiming exactly what they don’t want, why do they subjectively feel the need to clarify it? Maybe because IT IS the issue – and if it wasn’t surely the article structure and premises in the piece of writing would enable the reader to infer that “envy” (in this case) is not the reason for the piece of writing.
I have never found Ricoffy, Black Cat Peanut Butter or any of these so-called “enclaves” Terence speaks about. I may have got a whiff of one once – but I prefer assimilation and steered that conversation back to the University work at hand.

As a matter of fact: I have met more ex-South Africans who REFUSE to hang out with “when we’s” (“when we lived in South Africa” – well GO BACK THEN!). So there may be a few who operate like this, but the majority I have met are happy, well adjusted, have assimilated and just wish to get on with it.

Being born in South Africa and having grown up there: I am entitled to an opinion on the country. When I migrated and people asked me – “Oh, you sound South African?” – what you want me to do? Say something like “Well, no, actually – you completely misheard my accent”? Don’t be stupid: you’d answer the questions in the same way – to not do so is to disrespect the question asker, and to essentially lie to someone – who actually knows the answer to the question they are asking – they are just being polite and trying to build rapport.

No seriously Terence and Susan: if you put one iota of thought in to this problem you may have realised when people ask about South Africa in general conversation post-migration (when they meet you), and bearing in mind that in the first world with all its problems like social welfare – people tend to have a pretty solid grasp on what is going on in South Africa – you want us to lie and talk the country up? You know what comes up then? “Well, why did you migrate then?”. This is the so-called “bad-mouthing” etc that is being referred too. It is not defamation if its true.

And Terence based on your logic: you can’t pass judgment on any music because you are “not involved” with the making of it. Pretty dumb that logic isn’t it? I can’t have an opinion on English rock music – because I don’t live there and was not “involved” in its creation. Delusional is a word I would use here.

People like Terence and Susan do South Africa all sorts of favours: I will never move back, I will never subject myself to this South African “binary” again. I worked damn hard to get in to University here – and these degrees cannot be bought, and I could bring a lot to the table – but why would I want to? Help people like these who can’t accept reality – and so reinvent it.

I travelled back for one holiday, to stay with family. They had friends round for a “braai” (BBQ) and I had known these people prior to leaving the country. The attitude was palpable from the tone and body language, anti-migration through and through. One person asked me: “So how is, you’re Australian University going?”, tone dripping in negativity and skepticism. Why the need to be like that? Again the binary thought pattern. I had a lot of fun that night because I realised I was “free”, living in a first world country with access to good facilities and Government, and here I am on holiday with an embittered South African trying to “burst my holiday bubble” with the same vitriolic attitude I saw embedded and strewn across these two articles. Its boring, get over yourselves. We are not the problem: your embittered minds are.

I reject the misnomer labels and base arguments these people engage in. Its tennis for simpletons. Any one who has the slightest bit of historical/philosophical knowledge would know the writing was on the wall back 1994, it was merely a question of an accumulation of mistakes and over what time period.

The main difference here is a handy little continuum I learnt during my sociology days: the continuum between a cosmopolitan identity, that can “exit and re-enter social/structural networks” as it needs to, for work – life, and work well in those environments, versus the local identity that can only work in familiar territory – and post that realisation – goes in to denial about “migration”. I find the level of competition here very intense, and when one’s “history” (social networks, privileged position as to economics, society etc) is erased – the real work begins. I would place Terence and Susan on the latter side of the continuum, and there is a correlation between Pierre Bourdieu’s “cultural capital” and “cosmopolitan” individuals.

And to have a couple of self-entitled whingers passing out labels – and ignoring hard evidence and the fact that everyone is entitled to their opinion, assuming they can justify it – only makes you both look so bigoted it is beyond funny. You can label me what you want: but deep, deep down, you know I’m right.

You people have it all twisted: I hate people who delude themselves. I love my life in Australia, I have had opportunities I would never get anywhere else. The way of life is fantastic. I am “free” – which Susan claims I am not. I don’t worry about racial issues, crime – or just being mugged: it does not even factor in to my day. I happily pay tax and contribute as a worker in this society. I am far from angry: just bored of binary-minded South African simpletons who lack a decent University degree – and what I mean by that – is one that actually taught you how to think: because thought, argument and logic are clearly missing from your pieces of writing, and the fact that both these trashy points of view gain any traction at all – speaks volumes as to how the “remainder” view migration, “hate all those who achieved what we could not, and no, we don’t want your goddamn’ first world skills or standards here – you’re not good enough for us! You took the Chicken Run!”.

If you wish to sacrifice your life “contributing” to a country going up in flames (no metal band pun intended): fine, but that is your post-Apartheid “need”, and good for you. I chose differently, and I don’t buy poorly constructed, self-justifying garbage that is essentially anecdotal, and will not enter in to debates on any points of fact that do not “align” with their version of reality.

“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” – Schopenhauer

I’d say Terence, Susan and their followers have only reached stages one and two. History is made by people who see the facts for what they are, and act upon them. They don’t blindly swallow what they are fed – in some grand metanarrative of utopian vision, I am sure there were a lot of Jewish people in Germany in 1939 with similar sentiments towards the ones who had left between 1933-1938.

I will not accept a false label, and I will call these second-rate writers out on their farcical “arguments”/”opinions” – they are both the same to me. And don’t hide behind – “this is my subjective opinion and hence there is no need to validate my points with evidence”, that is the easy way out.

I take issue with the binary you create, the enmity you create between what should be fellow country-persons. I don’t care about your “blog hits” or the amount of comments you have received or who reblogged it: like a Brittany Spears song, or any pop song for that matter – the dumb herd will follow where the rest of the sheep go, and that is all you two are doing: pandering to the mass to inflate your own egos.

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A more recent article, phrased in a nicer way but re-iterating the same issues: http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/burningpaper/2008/07/21/the-pitter-patter-of-the-ex-pats/

References:

Cosmopolitan Observations