The Bluestocking is open for business

[PricklyBall]

I've scrolled back a few pages and I can't even find the last pub thread.

So I've taken the beer towels off the pumps, tapped a new barrel, polished the glasses, fed the goat and applied brasso to the patriarchy busting canon.

Come and join me - all tastes catered for - beer, gin, wine, cocktails, coffee and a nice cup of tea.

Jaunty even

I like jaunty

' "Ad hominem", do you even have an argument', usually chases them'

Huh. Think I would reply "red card for being a patronising knob" and then block/unfriend. What an idiot!

Hi everyone. Haven't posted in here before, but I need to to mention this somewhere, so I hope you don't mind. I've just found out that my university, which has previously been involved in the no-platforming of feminists at completely optional events, has invited a transactivist to guest lecture on trans children and 'cisnormativity' on my course. The lecture is compulsory. I'm not studying 'gender studies' or anything where this would be expected.

I find 'cis' insulting.

I am not brave enough to do anything about this that would involve linking my real identity to my gender-critical views, because it'd probably wreck any chance I have of an academic career. It's so frustrating.

I guess two options - go along on the "know your enemy" front, or have a sudden and dramatic attack of food poisoning on the day. I know I've said this before, but it's widely held that one of the reasons Russia was so shit-hot at maths and theoretical physics during the Soviet era was because the subject matter itself couldn't be politicised (the uses to which it could be put could, of course, but you can't on political grounds make 2+2 = 5).

On a totally unrelated note, working from home because DS is ill - why does my cat think the only place she wants to sit is on top of the last draft of my paper?

AnotherSpartacus, sorry, are you staff or a student? The lecture is compulsory for whom?

I can understand how you'd struggle to sit through that without going into a rage and ripping out your hair. However, I think there's an argument for going along and watching the reaction of others. If there is a backlash it will be handy for you to know what was said - unless it's being filmed?

in which case - you have noro.

Sorry I wasn't clearer - I'm a postgrad student who will be going on to PhD next year and hopefully staying in academia after that, hence not wanting to mark myself out as a troublemaker.

The lecture is compulsory for students and isn't being filmed - being ill is definitely one option, but I agree that it might be useful to go along and see what exactly is being said. It sounds like it'll be taking a positive view of transing children and talking about 'cis privilege' though, so if that's the case I'll have to try very hard to keep my opinions to myself.

I'm all for free speech and would have no problem with this person (or anyone else) being invited to speak about their views at an optional/society-based talk, but presenting it as part of the course bothers me. I've happily listened to lecturers with whom I heartily disagree politically before, but have been able to have open debate about it with other students afterwards, and I think it's good for critical thinking/not being in an echo chamber and such. But with all the 'no debate' and previous anti-TERF stuff at the university I don't feel that will be the case here!

I realise you won't want to out yourself but I'm wondering what course you are on where this is compulsory. Are any of the lectures compulsory or have they made a big deal of this one? This is probably not what happens now but when I did my degree, there were compulsory tutorials but never compulsory lectures. Certainly there were ones you were meant to go to but no one actually registered us.

Especially as a post-grad - someone will be making a note?

I'd go in the spirit of having good knowledge of the enemy I think!

random aside - I am really pooped and under the weather. I haven't got this actual flu that so many seem to have but something and can't wait for this horrendous windy weather to go away!

I don't want to give too many details about the course, but they do take a register for every lecture. We're expected to go to all of them but I doubt anything would be said about missing just one. It was the same for my undergraduate degree (at a different university). I was told that it's to prevent fraud with international students - people getting a student visa and then not actually attending.

Hope you're feeling a bit better soon! Cold weather really doesn't help when you're feeling a bit down, I agree.

Yes, I heard that about registration now too.

So it's like one of the ones you have to go to but you didn't get a note about this one in particular? I was thinking maybe they'd flagged it up in case of any objectors but I'm not sure how many they'd get at uni. You'll probably get away with not going but I think it's probably a good information gathering exercise.

We probably all get heightened blood pressure reading about this stuff anyway!!

Ask lots of really awkward questions in a faux innocent way.

as this is a pub, I hope I can raise a totally random topic?

It's about psychics. I am completely baffled by the notion of "cold reading". Firstly, I would have thought if you go and see a psychic and they ask you questions, that's completely the wrong way round isn't it?

Secondly - if they think they can tell stuff about a person from the way they are dressed etc it's no different than some random bloke chatting you up in a shit way in a pub. It might have worked in the Victorian age with social strata being how they were, but now if you see someone dressed in any particular way or wearing a ring or not wearing a ring, it doesn't tell you anything about them.

Disclaimer - I went to see a psychic in my late teens and she didn't ask any questions, just sat me down and told me "I am going to tell you your past and present circumstances first, then I will tell you about your future".

in fact, if I'd said anything at all I think she'd have shushed me!!

So yes...how does anyone end up going to a psychic and answering their questions? And what would a cold reader do? Think "ooh she's wearing Boden, I'll assume she reads MN" - how would that even help?

It's a form of con-artistry. To coin a phrase "you can fool all of the people some of the time, you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." For any given "psychic", there will be people they just don't click with, even if those people are pre-disposed to believe in it, so they see straight through them. There will be some people who are very sceptical and see through all psychics easily. But it's very few of us who've never been taken in by a con artist of any sort. (Think about the troll threads on here - I probably have a 90% plus troll-dar, but I still occasionally get had.)

It's a form of con-artistry. To coin a phrase "you can fool all of the people some of the time, you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." For any given "psychic", there will be people they just don't click with, even if those people are pre-disposed to believe in it, so they see straight through them. There will be some people who are very sceptical and see through all psychics easily. But it's very few of us who've never been taken in by a con artist of any sort. (Think about the troll threads on here - I probably have a 90% plus troll-dar, but I still occasionally get had.)

Psychics are such utter bullshit. I managed to fluster one when I was a teenager by refusing to show any reaction to any of her announcements. My favourite bit was,

Her - you will be surrounded by children, a big family
Me -
Her - Um.. maybe a teacher
Me -
Her -Erm.. or maybe lots of pets?

yes Prickly but that's what I don't get

how does anyone "fall" for a "psychic" who operates that way? It doesn't make sense. Then again, I suppose some people would have bought 100% genuine Filofax from Del Boy for 1/6 of the real price, maybe the same thing.

Hemlock, yes, I hear about this but the one I saw virtually shouted "I don't want any reaction, you understand? I have to say what I have to say"!! She was Holding Court. I wonder if she's still alive. I probably saw a good 'un.

I heard about cold readings because a friend is a big fan of Derren Brown. But I watched that thing he did where people were "persuaded" into covering up a death and I didn't believe a word of it.

Hemlock - just thought - did you pay her or was it a voluntary donation thing?

Hemlock - just thought - did you pay her or was it a voluntary donation thing?

Hemlock - just thought - did you pay her or was it a voluntary donation thing?

I own several tarot decks, I think they are beautiful and I think readings can occasionally be useful - though not because I think they have any power, more because I think if you are doing the reading yourself then it gives you time to slow down your thinking about whatever it is that's bothering you and work through it. The cards don't answer, the way you see them and interpret them does.

However.. this does mean that I've offered readings to people in the past. And people are remarkably easy to read. Most cold reading can be done with very little input from the person you are reading for, essentially you tell people things that sound specific but could actually apply to anyone. Most people will perk up at bits that appeal or apply, sometimes just tiny little gestures, and then you can just expand those points. It's far too easy, especially if you've got someone who wants to believe.

I will point out I always came clean after, I never carried on the pretence.

I paid her, I had too much disposable income and thought it'd be funny.

It's a form of con-artistry. To coin a phrase "you can fool all of the people some of the time, you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." For any given "psychic", there will be people they just don't click with, even if those people are pre-disposed to believe in it, so they see straight through them. There will be some people who are very sceptical and see through all psychics easily. But it's very few of us who've never been taken in by a con artist of any sort. (Think about the troll threads on here - I probably have a 90% plus troll-dar, but I still occasionally get had.)

Argh! Apologies. My laptop has gone bonkers...

I didn't mean to post that three times!!!

I guess I'm not convinced by the "tell people things that sound specific but could apply to anyone" because...there's no such thing is there?