People who Swoon Over Violent Men

[greasyshoes]

I read something in the Guardian which annoyed me.

Tiffany Haddish has defended Will Smith’s on-stage behaviour tonight at the Governor’s Ball.

“When I saw a Black man stand up for his wife,” she said to People. “That meant so much to me. As a woman, who has been unprotected, for someone to say like, ‘Keep my wife’s name out your mouth, leave my wife alone,’ that’s what your husband is supposed to do, right? Protect you. And that meant the world to me. And maybe the world might not like how it went down, but for me, it was the most beautiful thing I ever seen because it made me believe that there are still men out there that love and care about their women, their wives.”

It's just so backwards and neanderthal-like. Men should use physical force to defend their family. Men should exert their dominance over other men. Men who confront other men are men who should be sought after.

I got past this type of thinking at the age of 10. Why should a man seek out physical confrontation? Why should a man try to dominate other men? Why should a man who fights other men be highly regarded?

It's nonsense. First of all, Will Smith should have understood that Chris Rock was doing comedy, and comedy often walks a fine line between being funny, and being tasteless. If he thought the joke was in poor taste, he should have told Chris Rock it was in poor taste, or he could have written to him after the show.

Watching a grown man slapping another grown man is just embarassing.

[SickAndTiredAgain]

@MsTSwift

Hmm. The hitting and that incident were wrong but personally I couldn’t be with a wet man who would stand by while his wife or family were attacked.

He didn’t have to not do anything, he just had to not hit him.
Jada could have said something herself afterwards. Or when Smith won the Oscar he could have done his speech and at the end added something about how he felt the comment was unacceptable and how he thinks Rock should apologise for mocking physical appearance and a medical condition to get a laugh. I think that would have been totally reasonable and would have kept the focus more on the “joke” itself, rather than his own lack of self control and violence.

[MaChienEstUnDick]

Patriarchy patriarchy patriarchy, with a side salad of capitalism.

Women are property to be protected.
Other men's women are fair game to laugh at.
The group is invested wholly in the system (I get that actors seem 'powerful' because they are rich and successful, but if they turn their back on the group think they will be out of the tribe within seconds) so supports the behaviour.
And EVERYONE either excuses or celebrates the behaviour. I mean, my local cafe had a post up yesterday saying their poached eggs 'slap like Will Smith'.

[MaChienEstUnDick]

@EmpressCixi

I’ve not seen anyone “swooning over violent men” in the Will Smith situation. Everyone has said that he over-reacted by slapping Chris Rock. I have seen people swoon over protective men. And let’s face it the purpose of the Ministry of Defence, MI5, MI6, the police Special Firearms Officers and such is to protect we civilians. Many men and women “swoon” over the protective guardian types in these professions. (Of course, they’re not 100% perfect as the professions also attract violent men and women who just want power of life and death over other humans.). But the purpose even if it is corrupted is to protect against violence. And we absolutely need these protectors/guardians.

The need for defenders is driven by the demands of capitalism (fight for and hoard resources, even when there are plenty to go around) and patriarchy (prove your worth as men so you can lead the toxic system).

Get rid of the systems and there would be no need for defenders.

[something2say]

I think this is an important discussion at this point in the massive changes we are all undergoing.

Violence in all forms being considered. Actions taken by people, when, against what or whom, with what end. Its something that needs to be cleared up.

[Innocenta]

@EmpressCixi You can't have read very widely among the online reactions, then, because the swooning over violence definitely exists.

[Alittlepotofrosie]

Weird as well how it wasn't "keep Jada's name out of your mouth" it was "my wife". Directly before that, Chris rock made a joke about how Javier Bardem should watch out if he wins an award and "his wife" didn't. His wife, Penelope Cruz, being arguably far more famous than either of the two men yet both she and jada were referred to in how they relate to the men in their lives, respectively by chris rock and will smith. Misogyny is strong at the Oscars.

[MangyInseam]

The need for defenders is driven by the demands of capitalism (fight for and hoard resources, even when there are plenty to go around) and patriarchy (prove your worth as men so you can lead the toxic system).

Get rid of the systems and there would be no need for defenders.

Capitalism has only existed for a few hundred years, war has existed since before we are human beings.

Do you really think that people's desire for resources is somehow artificially created by capitalism? That's the reason for mass migrations, raiders, inter-tribal conflicts in the jungle, and all the rest?

[EmpressCixi]

neanderthal-like

Archaeologists in the Middle East have found evidence that the invading Modern Humans waged a 100,000 year war against the Neanderthals, eventually killing them off and of course, enslaving raping their women which is the source of all Neanderthal DNA in our DNA today. So really the Neanderthals were less warlike than we modern humans and it’s wring really to associate elevated violence with the Neanderthals who were literally the first victims of modern human genocide.

[EmpressCixi]

The need for defenders is driven by the demands of capitalism

Hah hah, this is a ridiculous piece of communist propaganda. How can anyone seriously write this?

[EmpressCixi]

[quote Innocenta]@EmpressCixi You can't have read very widely among the online reactions, then, because the swooning over violence definitely exists. [/quote]
Admittedly, I haven’t had time to check social media feeds. My reading has been forums and news sources which have widely condemned the slap and rightfully reported on Will Smiths regret and apologies.

[Moonface123]

I am single and more than capable of fighting my own battles, Jada is a strong woman who could have dealt with it in a more intelligent manner than her fake and phoney husband, given the chance.

[Pinklimey]

Jada looked reslly quite pissed off and not at all swoony and grateful.

When I saw WS being violent I just thought the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

[SapatSea]

I have always disliked CR - his jokes punch down. But WS should have shaken his head to show what was being said was not okay (instead he was laughing) he could have used his award speech to SAY that the joke was not okay (or if he didn't win the oscar) he could have talked to the media outside saying he thought the joke wasn't on etc... I thought it was some sort of pre rehearsed setup at first. It was bizarre and crass. He also let down the Williams family.

[greasyshoes]

I’ve not seen anyone “swooning over violent men” in the Will Smith situation.

Did you read the quote?

[KimikosNightmare]

@Alittlepotofrosie

Weird as well how it wasn't "keep Jada's name out of your mouth" it was "my wife". Directly before that, Chris rock made a joke about how Javier Bardem should watch out if he wins an award and "his wife" didn't. His wife, Penelope Cruz, being arguably far more famous than either of the two men yet both she and jada were referred to in how they relate to the men in their lives, respectively by chris rock and will smith. Misogyny is strong at the Oscars.

Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz are equally famous.

I think the suggestion Penelope Cruz is so petty she wouldn't want her husband to win if she didn't is worse than commenting on Jada Pickett Smith's GI Jane look.