Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago · 3 min. reading time · ~10 ·

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Emulsification, Racism, and Getting Along

Emulsification, Racism, and Getting Along

CEL T—
TE ET Eggs
SEith


Nicole Chardenet recently wrote a rant post titled "How's Your Privilege?" In it, she talks about how a Pakistani student complained about racism in Canada because she was assigned an idiot for a roommate.

"Idiot" may be too harsh a word. 

"Clueless" may be more accurate and well describes them both.

I don't know either girl's name, so I'll just call them Bubblehead and Drama Queen. Is that racist of me? 

Tough.

Drama Queen was offended because Bubblehead's Rule #1 was No Curry Cooking in the dorm room. Well, no freeking poop! 

Have you ever been in a dorm room?

Bubblehead was clueless because she actually uttered the Rule. Forget for a minute whether she even had the right to unilaterally make rules. 

If Drama Queen intended to cook curry in a dorm room, she would be clueless as well. 

Making a news story of it is insane. 

Questions for the CBC: 

Slow news day?

Out of curiosity, what story ran after it? 

"Traumatic stress syndrome in tiddlywinks competitions?" 

Or maybe it was, "How to Break Wind in a Crowded Elevator Without Soiling Yourself?" 

I know, it was "Nose Hairs of the Rich and Famous!"

In a way, it speaks highly of Canada that there were not enough "if-it-bleeds-it-leads" stories that day. 

But, still. CBC, what the hell were you thinking?

We live under a false belief

Somewhere along the way, we decided that everyone must cater to our wants. Our needs, desires, and even whims, are paramount. 

If others don't understand that, then there's something wrong with them.

Scoop time. 

Nobody gives a crap about what you want.

Get over it.

Life is about negotiating what we want in relation to what everybody else wants. 

Anyone with a modicum of mathematical knowledge understands this. It is impossible that everyone gets all their needs met all the time.

If I get more of mine, you get less of yours. It's a zero-sum game most of the time.

That means there's a give and take involved.

Sometimes, I just don't care enough to push back and you get your way. Sometimes, you don't, and I get mine.

Most often, we push and pull until we arrive at a compromise.

Rarely, our needs will be in perfect balance. That's a theoretical state, mind you. I've never known it to happen.

There is a Shared Onus

Every one of us has an obligation to  get along. None of us have the right or power to unilaterally impose excessive demands. 

No, not even you bosses out there have that right.

I once had a boss tell us that we had to do inventory that weekend. He told us late Friday afternoon. Many complained.

His response was, "As long as you work here, you will bloody well do what I say!"

I took him at his word and left. My customers soon followed.

At best, imposing our will is an impotent short-term solution. At worst, it's downright counter-productive.

Put another way, "Karma is a bitch."

The Case of Canadian Racism

Is Canada racist because Bubblehead declared a curry-free zone? 

No.

So, then Canada must be a racism-free zone, right?.

No, again. That's a quantum leap of logic.

Bubblehead is not representative of 35,000,000 people. By the same token, out of those 35,000,000 people, we must have a lot of racists. 

It's a mathematical certainty.

Get over it.

Not one of us can speak for the rest. Not even Justin has that right.

Was Bubblehead right in not wanting curry cooked in the dorm room? Damned right she was.

That doesn't mean she can impose a rule preemptively and unilaterally. 

That's clueless.

Had Drama Queen cooked curry in the dorm room, she would be just as clueless as her roommate. To go on national television claiming that she was a victim of racism is asinine. 

That makes Drama Queen clueless as well.

Perhaps , the most clueless is the CBC for running such idiocy.

Actually, maybe the true Most Clueless People in this story are us. 

We're giving this stupidity legs. 

Two girls barely out of their teens think the world revolves around them. 

I'm surprised by the surprise.

Minor Rant Mode OFF.

Credit where credit is due

I already mentioned Nicole Chardenet's post that triggered all this. It's here if you don't feel like scrolling back up.  

Nicole's post riled me up. Ben Pinto's post, " 'Cause That's How We Are,"  pushed me over the edge. 

Read 'em both. It'll be worth your time.



Vr

 

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About the Author

I'm a ghost but not the kind that's to pottery
wheels I'm the wnting kind

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Comments

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #27

#46
Yeah, I wouldn't swear at you.... mind you, I wouldn't sweat at you either. I guess auto-correct knows best

Larry Boyer

7 years ago #26

I like your take on this Paul \. There is plenty of self righteous or self-centered blame to go around. The only caution I would add is there is a difference between in both when you are in the minority and in the majority. I believe those in the majority should make an effort to listen to the experience of those in the minority. We cannot understand their experience if we don't.

don kerr

7 years ago #25

#43
Yeah. About that confession thing. Never understood the Roman Catholic approach. Convenient sure but I think the Jewish faith has a superior approach with an annual day of Atonement. While an avowed atheist I am not entirely against hedging my bets on occasion. Look out now...here comes a tag Aurorasa Sima

don kerr

7 years ago #24

#44
You wouldn't 'sweat'? Thinkin' that's probably an auto-correct thing? Paul \ Nyah, nyah....tagged you again:)-

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #23

#43
I wouldn't sweat at you,!!!!

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #22

#37
sometimes, I think that just thinking is a lost art

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #21

#38
lol, let the Nellies do what Nellies do, Don Kerr. I think the tagging issue is more for a ton of mentions for strictly promotional reasons. That CAN get annoying

don kerr

7 years ago #20

#23
That's simply a perception. You can never have too many Canadians. Now, Irish? That's a topic for debate;) Pascal Derrien (oops, there I go tagging again!)

don kerr

7 years ago #19

Right. Right. Right. That is all. You may resume your normal duties. Well-reasoned and very polite Canuckistani rant my friend Paul \ (Jeez, hope it was ok to tag you like that. I'm pretty freakin' nervous about the nellies getting on my case._

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #18

#32
Some people would call that "reverse discrimination", Robert Cormack. It's not. It's just discrimination

Gloria (Glo) Ochoa

7 years ago #17

I see where this has annoyed you Paul \ ! Is this similar to the rule in a lunchroom at work: No cooking fish in the microwave (lol) I find that I sometimes have little tolerance for stupid things that honestly I wonder why it even has been acknowledge by entities such as CBC or any "real" News delivery feed, that should have better things to report on..this event I would expect to see in a Rag-Mag at the store along with "I Married The Terminator from Plant X". :) I think common courtesy and consideration of someone else that you share a small space (this world IS becoming much smaller isnt it?) is the bottom line for both dorm roomies and apparently were not taught that at home. I am worried for when they both have to go out into the real world after mommy and daddy pay for college and have to deal with real world issues that are undoubtedly more important...this squabble is just what it is: two babies that need a time out and a lesson in common respect for another. I have a feeling we may be seeing more of these gals on a reality show called: Who the Bleep Did I Room WIth or Killer Roomies (to compliment the weekend series: Snapped and Killer Women) #MissedTheLessonAtHome

Robert Cormack

7 years ago #16

No question, we had to get rid of Harper, but if we're comparing Justin to his father, Pierre never would have made that comment. As he would have put it, "We have no business in the bedrooms of feminists." There is nothing Justin will do—or can do—that will advance the feminist cause. He'll learn that feminists are divided, those who want equality, and those who want preferential treatment. Pierre would have recognized this division and essentially told feminists—like he would have told Black Lives Matter—reaching equality and tolerance is an incredible achievement. But "special status" in any matter reduces the equality of everyone else. I've been passed over many times because a company wanted (and expected) a woman. I've worked hard my whole life establishing what I hope is a reputation for doing good work. To be passed over because I'm not the right gender repeats a bias favouring one group over another (regardless of credentials). To say, "Well, it's about time, you had your chance, now move over," sounds heartless (as it should). I've lived as an equalitarian my whole life, believing we should all be judged on what we can do.

Robert Cormack

7 years ago #15

Interesting take, Paul. As a Canadian, I see the good and the bad of the cultural mosaic. Justin Trudeau set us back a bit with his "I'm a feminist" line. It made feminists happy, but for the rest of the population (including many women) feminists didn't need the PM push. If you think CBC was wrong using the "Drama Queen and Bubblehead" lead, they've done far worse creating feminist issues in their newscasts where even women are embarrassed. In terms of Bubblehead and Drama Queen, they're two young women still learning the basis of "getting along." I suspect they were first year, and I remember many complains from the women at Neil Wyck over roommates being "too demanding" or "snotty." You learned the process of compromise. For those who didn't, Neil Wyck (dorm apartments) became a hellhole. It's called societal learning. None of us get it right off the top, but we soon realize compromise is essential and inevitable.

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #14

#23
To quote yet another bunch of Canadians... "You Ain't Seen Nuthin Yet" (Bachman Turner Overdrive, AKA BTO)

Pascal Derrien

7 years ago #13

Too many Canadians on this site..... :-)

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #12

#21
You, know, Donna-Luisa Eversley, Canadians have the reputation of being super polite. We are, sort of. In reality, I think we are Earth's answer to Vulcans. We keep our emotions in check so that we don't choke the living crap out of people who annoy us. When that veneer of civility breaks away, we become ornery cusses!

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #11

#15
LOL, No Jess, is not a racist... she just knows how to make her father-in-law happy.

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #10

#5
That's the reason I don't watch news at all.

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #9

#14
That's true. On the other hand, sometimes, we trip over our own feet trying to remove any possible source of such accusation. What's next? Exotic dancers having the right to wear heavy robes to conceal their bodies? I thought it was silly a while back when Ontario passed a law allowing women to go topless in public. After all, men can. I don't know if that law is still active, I DO know that I enjoyed my time in Ottawa the following summer. I really, really, enjoyed it. Yes, I am a boob man. Sue me.

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #8

#13
RE: "If you make me poutine and I complain that it was awful, you might well call me a racist :)" Damned, straight!!! LOL

Lisa Gallagher

7 years ago #7

Loved your rant Paul \! You had me laughing with the celebs and nose hairs! But, you made a great point, that was NOT news and definitely not a form of racism! I never knew i should be contacting news stations when I spend time at a Residence Inn as one example.. oh there are times you can sure smell the curry, I say, get over it. What's next, the dog who poops in the neighbor's yard, oh wait........... I think I've seen that on the news too. I wish they would report real news that people actually care about. Curry and racism, yikes- talk about fanning the flames of ignorance.

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #6

#2
Yup, this was definitely a MINOR rant. Like Kevin Pashuk wrote, we Canucks don't get easily excited, but when we do, there's nothing MINOR about it. I don't know if Drama Queen or Bubblehead appreciates the exposure. One of them may end up curing cancer, but for now, they are laughing stocks.

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #5

#3
Yes it did, Kevin Pashuk, and a polite Canadian rant it was, Loved it BTW

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #4

#2
I don't know if Drama Queen or Bubblehead appreciates the exposure. One of them may end up curing cancer, but for now, they are laughing stocks.

Paul "Pablo" Croubalian

7 years ago #3

#1
Oh, Vindyloo!!!! My son married an Indian girl who makes it for me every time I visit. The naughty girl won't give me her family recipe. She says I need to visit to eat it.

Kevin Pashuk

7 years ago #2

It must be rant Tuesday Paul \. My post today had all the makings of a rant. I agree that there are too many 'news' stories that are anything but news. They end up validating bad behaviour and ideas and give a platform for the inane. I thought that every newsroom had the equivalent of Perry White (for all you Superman fans) who actually vetted the news. I'm obviously mistaken.

Randy Keho

7 years ago #1

That was a minor rant? Wow! The Canadians are getting a lot of press today. By the way, what do you call a lot of social media exposure, anyway? Curry? Paul \

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