Purity spirals

[RoyalCorgi]

This is a brilliant piece by Gavin Haynes, tied to a radio programme, about the concept of "purity spirals" - the idea that's taken hold in certain groups that you have to continually demonstrate your ethical credentials. The example he gives is anti-racism in the knitting world, but obviously it can apply equally trans activism. Anyone who isn't 100% pure is regarded as morally beyond the pale. He makes historical analogies with Maoism, amongst other things. Fascinating - and spot on.

unherd.com/2020/01/cast-out-how-knitting-fell-into-a-purity-spiral/

There have been some examples of people claiming appropriation with food.

Oh god, please don't encourage them to start on food. I've already heard people claiming fusion cuisine is colonialist.

Not only is fusion food colonial, looking for authentic food is also colonial.

And so is selling food in your dining establishment that you aren't entitled to.

The one that really made me roll my eyes was the complaint about two years ago that was reported in the news about the university cafeteria that served a really awful version of banh mi with some non-authentic ingredients they had around. Apparently this was an attempt at fusion food (bad, even though it's already a fusion food) and also disrespectful because it was bad (despite being served in a university cafeteria. IMO arguably disrespectful to food in general and to the students, but not so much the people of Vietnam.)

And in your example Goosefoot, who's allowed to complain?

Surely only Vietnamese people, because reasons. Anyone else would just be flexing their white, male, colonial privilege, and white knighting into the bargain. They need to stick to their lane and sit down.

If fusion food is colonial and thus wrong, where does that leave Eurasian cuisine?

Other than in the 'delicious' category.

I think we have them hoist by their own petard.

Unless these joyless purity morons wanging on about cultural appropriation are literally eating nothing but turnips at this time of year then they are guilty. Guilty of colonial appropriation. Guilty of exploitation of oppressed people. Guilty of air miles. Avocados are appropriation.

Let’s cut off their fuel source and watch them wither pathetically from scurvy and misery.

Apparently this was an attempt at fusion food (bad, even though it's already a fusion food)

Agree. The banh mi, a combination of French and SE Asian typical ingredients is pretty much the definition of fusion food!

Mince pies are fusion aren’t they? Classic old English pastry and meat with Arab spicing and fruit. Oppressors!

It might be a good excuse to get rid of Hawaiian pizza though.

^^ reported you for that post Goose

Wtf I love opposing cultural appropriation of food now, goosefoot

Cultural appropriation of food is only "called out" when it is women running a small business. Big firms are allowed to do it, it would seem.
Same in the baby wearing community: a woman run small business was "cancelled".
Same with the kimono woman.
Same with the recent Mumsnet thread where a custom seamstress was attacked for not having size 20 frocks in her clearance sale. She was fattist.

Jamie Oliver was attacked for cultural appropriation for his 'jerk rice'.

Well I don’t like the sound of jerk rice.

I'm interested in Stoic philosophy and I just read an article saying adopting it is cultural appropriation from the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Waiting to be told going for a run is cultural appropriation from dogs and getting up in the morning is cultural appropriation from the sun.

Ah! So they get to call us bigots but we get all the good food. Suddenly this deal seems better.

Well, the Romans culturally appropriated like crazy from the Greeks (as Mary Beard has been pointing out for decades) and the Greeks culturally appropriated from the Egyptians.
Not sure who the Egyptians appropriated from - possibly the aliens who built the pyramids?

Thoughtful remark I've just seen:

Nietzsche said in Beyond Good & Evil : “Christianity gave Eros poison to drink; he did not die of it, certainly, but degenerated to Vice.” Secular progressivism gave compassion poison to drink...and it degenerated into social justice.

Everything is cultural appropriation because that's how culture works. Anyone who calls out cultural appropriation will be fully immersed in it themselves - in what they wear, eat, read, music they listen to, the style of their home. The whole thing is ridiculous.

I do think there is such a thing as using a particular culture insensitively in a way that looks like taking the piss, especially if it's a stereotype. That's probably where this started and now of course any genuine awareness of disrespect/insensitivity is lost among all the people flagellating themselves for saying kimono. FFS.

Jerk rice really sticks to your teeth.

Well, the Romans culturally appropriated like crazy from the Greeks (as Mary Beard has been pointing out for decades) and the Greeks culturally appropriated from the Egyptians.

Yes some people point out that a lot of concepts in Stoicism are very similar to Buddhism and Eastern philosophy.

I’m torn between claiming jerk rice is delicious and risk being accused of cultural appropriation if I like it wrongly or agreeing with horse and risk being accused of being a xenophobe and Little Englander

Time to catch the repeat that's just started now on Radio 4.

Bump.