Be sure to read "Paper Tiger" for next week and watch the video below, which discusses the importance of context for creating conversations in your writing. Respond to the question at the end as a COMMENT. See you next week, I hope! And remember, it's never too late to come back to class, even if you've missed several classes. Our conversations might help you write the next paper. :)
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Nancy Mairs, circa 1988 For Tuesday: Mairs’ On Being a Cripple (142-151) A few words I might look up if I were back in college... ... -
Be sure to read "Paper Tiger" for next week and watch the video below, which discusses the importance of context for creating co...
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Here's your second Writing Workshop video, about 17 minutes...I know that might seem annoying, but hey, at least I'm not talking f...
Something that can be considered a paper tiger is the LGBT+ community. Over the past decade we have come a long way but we still get a bad name from many people. While there are some extremes, most people I know, including myself, who are part of the LGBT+ community mostly just want to live their lives as the normal people they are. We are proud of who we are, not trying to throw it in peoples faces, there is a difference. People get kicked out of their houses when they come out because of the misunderstandings. I wouldn't say that the LGBT+ community needs saving because we are making progress but things can always get better. If people would take the time to educate themselves or to actually talk to someone who is part of the community and actually try to learn rather than jumping to conclusions and if we could all just love each other no mater race, religion, gender, sexuality, etc. the world would be a much better place.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great response and it shows how closely you read the article (or watched the video) that you made this connection. We have a lot of 'paper tigers' in our world, where people vilify something in the hopes that it will go away. But as you suggest, this fear makes some people unwilling to see the human side of the LGBT+ community, which threatens no one and are not just 'over there,' but in every single community in the country. The essay is all about protecting what natural diversity we have, and this translates to human society as well. We can't afford to lose anyone as we try to create a better future. And while you certainly don't need saving, spreading ignorance is a kind of extinction in itself--which is always worth fighting against. Thanks for this thoughtful response!
DeleteA "paper tiger" in the pet community is definitely the pit bull dog breed. When a pit bull makes the news or any other type of media platform, it is never a cute cuddly story, it always has to do with them attack a person or hurting another being. This lead to many Americans not adopting or allowing this breed into their family. They are always portrayed as aggressive and uncontrollable dogs. Many dogs in shelters today are Pit bulls and there's a statistic that about 1 million pit bulls are euthanized a year! The stereotyping of this breed leads to this many needle killings a year. But, just because a hand full of pit bulls are involved in attacks, does not mean all of them are evil and threatening. I used to have one of my own, and he was the sweetest dog ever. This bad reputation follows all of the dogs, and they definitely need help when it comes to adoptions. Shows like Pit Bulls and Paroles help build a better name for this breed and show the tender side of the tender side of these animals. Most people should be made aware of the kindness of these animals, and not just the bad events that occur.
ReplyDeleteAh, I completely agree with this, since I rescued a Pit Bull from the PAWS shelter here in Ada last year. They have been vilified because they're so strong, and like any dog, they can be trained to hurt other animals and other people. So because a small group of dog fighters have trained pit bulls (which isn't even a breed--it's a generic term) to fight, we see them as 'paper tigers,' threatening our families and neighborhoods. When the reality is, as you say, that they're very sweet and loyal dogs, and like any dog, will be good and kind if they're treated with kindness and respect. But this is very similar to the Tasmanian Tiger; they're seen as a pest that needs to be exterminated (as many of them are), rather than confronting the real issue--the dog fighting and gambling industry that exploits them. Great response!
DeleteA "paper tiger" in society right now is Marijuana. Marijuana was painted as bad in the early nineteen hundreds as bad because there were an influx in immigrants coming from Mexico and they brought the idea of recreational Marijuana. Before this Marijuana was used medically but soon after this influx of immigration Marijuana was banned in the nineteen fifties nationwide. Throughout the nineteen hundreds numerous news articles and bias studies were done to disprove the medical benefits of Marijuana and painted it as this "paper tiger" by showing ways in which Marijuana caused terrible behavior. All of this being said Marijuana does have some bad affects being that it is addictive, it also can affect memory if taken at a young age, and of course if smoked can affect the lungs but can be used as a pain reducer and reduce anxiety. Recently Marijuana has been brought back and many states have passed laws allowing for the medical use of Marijuana and other states have outright legalized it for recreational use so it can be saved.
ReplyDeleteYes, an excellent example--this is so vilified because so many people see it as a 'drug.' Even though alcohol can be seen as a drug, and is arguably more dangerous, marijuana has such a negative connotation that it is definitely a 'tiger' that will destroy our children's lives and our own. And yet, the truth is that it has more benefits than harms if used responsibly (you can't say that for most alcoholic drinks!). Many people are trying to make it a normal part of society like many of the over-the-counter drugs we take (some of which are much more dangerous--you can die from too much Tylenol!); and yet, a good chunk of our society blames it for many of our societal ills and just wishes it would go extinct. We'll see what happens...
DeleteA good example of a "paper tiger" in today's world is social media. It controls so many people's beliefs and people have become extremely addicted to it. People get so bored with their own lives and get caught up in social media when all most of it really is is just fake news. Why do we let it have such a big impact on our lives when it would be so easy to just delete it off of our phones? We're so willing to believe things we see on the internet when most of it probably isn't even true.
ReplyDeleteWe just read it and jump to conclusions so fast which causes so many issues in today's society. Especially when it comes to politics on social media. People are so willing to defend whoever it is they support and ignore the bad things that the person they support have done. Rumors also get spread around social media so easily, and most of the time, they are never true. It can be difficult to distinguish between what is true and what is fake.
I don't believe social media is something that can be saved, it may be too late. The world we live in relies so heavily on it and that isn't something that will change anytime soon.
Yes, social media is a hot button topic for many, and many blame it for all the ills of society. And it's certainly responsible for more than a few of them! :) But I wonder, is it ever in danger of going extinct? Do some people vilify it in the hopes that it will go away? Is our president's recent threat to ban Tik Tok an example of this? Do you think it's too dangerous to use safely in our society? Do you also wish it would go extinct (as many do)?
DeleteIn today's society there are many "paper tigers". But one stands out to me a lot right now, that would be politics. It is something that people right now are afraid to talk about because it is "bad" or "disrespectful". Like the animal that was talked about in this story, it was made to be looked upon as annoying, or threatening. That is how politics is viewed. You cannot say something in that category without someone thinking you are personally trying to attack them when in reality, you could just be stating your opinion and trying to see someone else's. When I bring up facts about my political view, a lot of the time the person I am talking to thinks that I am being disrespectful, but I just want them to do the same to me. I want to see why they believe what they believe and help them understand that I am doing the same. Now there are people out there who do talk about politics just to upset someone or go against them , and some even try to push their view on others. But just because there are people out there like that with a bad reputation does not mean that everyone who is interested or wants to talk about politics is the same way. That is why, in my eyes, today's "Paper Tiger" is politics.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if it says my name or not but this is Julia McLaughlin :)
Yes, your name showed up, but thanks! :) This is a great response since it really HAS become a paper tiger if you have political opinions (or really, any opinions!) and express them in public. On both sides, we tend to equate convictions with 'starting a war,' and we don't want to hear anyone else's views. But surely we can disagree with one another without starting a war or disrespecting each other. If we're all Americans, for example, then we have to find common ground rather than shunning those who have different opinions. We can't make them threatening or wish for their extinction!
DeleteA "paper tiger" I see in a lot of places or cultures are plus-sized people, especially women. Coming from a Mexican household I always hear about my size and how I look. Every time my grandpa comes up to visit that is the first thing he says to my dad, "look how fat you've gotten". And my dad isn't "big" like My 600 Pound Life big, he just has a little belly. Then my grandpa will look at me and just straight up call me fat. When I visit my grandmother and her sister visits she says about the same thing, "oh, look you're still fat". Society shuns bigger people all the time. Of, course there are few plus size models coming into the modeling industry, but society tends to away from them because they are what is deemed attractive or profitable. I had a chance to get Chinese tiktok on my phone and the ads that passed were about weight loss pills for women. It would show a women in her early 30s, maybe, with a little bit of belly fat then put a big X on her and then show the pills and a slim girl who could wrap her hands around her waist. Of course, plus-size men are kind of pushed to the side but some men do it as jokes and they can take the jokes. But when it comes to talking about plus- sized women, society is so hateful. They call this women disgusting, they always have to bring in health concerns saying it's unhealthy and making fake concerns. Being bigger doesn't always mean.being unhealthy. The people on My 600 Pound Life is when it becomes dangerous and potentially fatal but they try to get help and they almost always had a traumatic event that shaped them. I'm saying it makes it okay but they almost always get help. And some people don't want to lose weight, they are happy with how they look and they might be learning to love themselves. And like with anything if it doesn't affect your day to day life why should affect you. Jst mind your own business and leave people alone.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is a great example and a really good response to the prompt. Similar to Kevin's comment below, we have a kind of script that we believe men and women should follow in society, even though it's not universal, and only a few people can really follow it with any success. If your own family is policing your looks and weight, that suggests it's a real fear that our society creates to keep people in line. But why should that matter? If it's natural to be larger than what someone (who?) deems is normal, then how can we object? And if we have to go to such drastic lengths to be 'normal,' then how normal is it?? But I think beneath it all is a sense of fear, which wants some people to put everyone in boxes to define who they are, and what they can or can't be. Someone who doesn't conform is a paper tiger because we fear what they represent: choice, difference, and possibility. Some people prefer a one-size-fits-all society. Even if that can never truly exist.
DeleteSomething in today's society that could be considered a "Paper Tiger" is men being comfortable with their feminine side. Since I can remember, being told to "act like a man" and "don't act like a girl" is something that has always been said regularly. It has become so normal that I think people don't realize it isn't right. Being told to act a certain way is not the way to raise anyone and should not be considered the "normal". Everyone has made it to the point where if a man wears a pink shirt he is considered gay, if a man doesn't like sports he is gay, if a man has a sense of fashion he is gay, if a man shows any type of emotion he is considered gay. These assumptions are what have led to the way people think today and it isn't right. Toxic masculinity was such a big thing growing up that I felt like nobody was allowed to show their true selves because of the fear of being judged and discriminated against. I wouldn't say it has gotten better, but progress has definitely been made. Men shouldn't be held to an expectation because they are male, they should be able to express their selves just like anybody else.
ReplyDeleteExcellent response--we definitely demonize men who don't 'act' like men the way our society wants (and the key word is act, since no one really acts the same way). We like to think there's a proper script for being male, and tons of shows and movies project this act. And yet, we know there are dozens of ways to be a man or woman, and for some, it's just not natural to follow the dominant script. But you're right, the ways that people are criticized are almost comic, since it comes down to what kind of shirt you wear, or what kind of sport you like. I think we make this a paper tiger because many people are scared of a world where you can't definitively say what is manly and what isn't, and people are allowed to be more fluid in their sexuality or identity. Some people want things to remain just as they are, even if they never really were that way to begin with!
DeleteIn today's society we have a "paper tiger" that stands out to me in particular and that would be our general opinions. Something that doesn't warrant any threat, yet when another individual disagrees or has something that contradicts another's opinion it creates this huge amount of discord between people. These conflicts that can be so easily avoided by just simply allowing people to believe what they want turns into a ferocious battle of who's right and why.
ReplyDeleteA possibility of how all this came to be today would be the displaying of one’s voice. Being able to speak freely is great and should be allowed for everyone, but from this it just means that another is able to speak their ideals as well. Since we all are human with different views and perspectives it can only make since that one of us would speak out of what we think is right. It’s only when another individual presents their ideals that slowly start the sparks of debate. If the other person so chooses to entertain the thought it could lead to full blown battle where instead of talking it out with one another, understanding their point of views it becomes a war of flaws where whoever points out the most flaws of the other person’s ideal wins.
From my own opinion I believe that this situation could be saved. This is to say that everyone does their part and influences the younger generations to see the idea of opinions in a more accepting way. Accepting it doesn’t necessarily mean that you believe it to be right, it just means that you see the other person as an equal and you allow them to believe what they choose. There is also an alternate case where if things don’t result with a good conclusion that it would progressively create more conflicts among individuals. Today’s time seemingly foreshadows this occurrence as we can no longer really mingle with other people that share different ideas. It’s come to a point where we choose our potential spouses and friends among those who think like us. It is no longer the observation of one’s character, but instead of what they choose to think is morally correct.
This is Andrew Ambrosoli
DeleteThanks! I was just about to ask who you were! :) Especially when this is such a great and detailed response. But you're right, and I think some of the comments above agree with you. It's become wrong to express your opinion and/or have a civil debate, which is what we're supposed to be able to do in a democracy. Everything is geared to become a fight, with the smallest sign of disagreement tantamount to treason or something else similarly awful. But you're right, your generation can save it before it goes extinct. We can return to being a reasonable, rational society who can vote for different parties and have different ideas without either one of them being un-American or evil. But that requires us to not make either side a 'paper tiger,' too...for some, a Republican and a Democrat are monsters who need to be put out of their misery. It's a shame it's come to this.
DeleteOne example of a "paper tiger" that comes to my mind is the National Rife Association. Guns have a bad reputation from situations like school shooting and robberies. In todays society, people see guns as the main reason for murder. With this mindset, guns will always have a bad picture. However, on the other side guns are used for productivity. In my family, we have livestock plus many predators that are looking for food. Without our defenses we loose our whole livestock. Also, recently stealing has become a problem in my neighborhood. My neighbors have been victims of car theft and stealing of other items. Guns will always have a negative and positive look to them. Also, people have different opinions on whether they should be banned or not. In conclusion, I do not really know if they can be saved fully because of their gloomy side. I also do not think they will be gone because they provide protection and help ensure safety.
ReplyDeleteGreat response...I think people criticize the NRA because they refuse to differentiate between different types of guns, when the reality is that all guns aren't equal. I think probably few people are against guns as much as assault rifles and military-grade weapons in the hands of civilians. But the argument has become so political that we've lost sight of the original discussion, so yes, it becomes a big paper tiger for all guns. Probably the NRA could do a better job leading this conversation, too. But guns have become a hot-button issue that blames them for all violence, whereas it's more a certain subset of guns, and a certain subset of people, often extremists and neo-Nazis (who are the opposite of a paper tiger!). :)
DeleteA "paper tiger" in todays society that interest's me is how people react to a women's menstrual cycle and the usage of feminine products. From a young age you are taught to hide feminine products and that they are something embarrassing to be seen more often then not a girl will go out of her way to ensure it isn't seen by anyone. A women's menstrual cycle is a taboo subject often not spoke about which is odd because it is completely natural. Almost every women has experienced some kind of issue involving her period and it is most likely one of her most embarrassing stories when in reality it shouldn't be embarrassing at all. The biggest issue involving a women's period is the way certain men or boys react to it, often they will react with disgust or even shame a women. Whenever a girl is in a bad mood they will often be asked "is it your time of the month" which further expands a stereotype towards women that it is something negative. A women's menstrual cycle is defiantly not a threat to anyone especially men and should be treated as a normal bodily function without judgment.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great response--I hope you didn't mind me using this in class. But it's exactly what the essay is talking about, even though it seems worlds apart from Tasmanian Tigers. How anything so natural can become a source of shame and disgust is a real problem, and shows how a certain group of people get to control the conversation in our society. There should be no judgment at all, but as you suggest, it then shapes women's responses to their own bodies, and can cause a lifetime of confusion and embarrassment. Very clever response.
DeleteIn todays society a "paper tiger" would have to be sororities. I always viewed them in a negative way because of how much backlash they receive and hearing some stories about them. But when I cam to East Central my friend from my hometown is a senior in college and was telling me to join a sorority here. I was so skeptical. I was so sure that they would be judgmental. I tried it anyways and rushed and it was the best decision of my life. I've made so many new friends and we have so many duties to help out the community. We have study hours for us to complete all our work and stay on task. Due to COVID I didn't think I would make any friends because I am more reserved but in Chi Omega I feel like a different person. I would highly recommend anyone to join. It is life changing and not what society makes it out to be.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is an amazing response--I would have asked you to discuss this in class, so it's lucky you missed on Tuesday! :) But sororities and fraternities are the ultimate paper tigers, because of the actions of a few chapters in very big schools which abuse their status and become synonymous with hazing, drinking, and sexual abuse. Yet the reality for most students is so much different, and extremely supportive; a great way to make life-long friends and feel part of the university community, particularly under the difficult circumstances of COVID. Glad you were brave enough to question the 'tiger.'
DeleteA personal "Paper Tiger" for me would be my political views. I feel like I can't really say anything without being attacked for it. And the few times I am told to explain it, they say all points are invalid. Whenever other people with different beliefs speak, I try my best to have an open mind and really think about what they say. Anyways, I guess i just wish other people were more open to other opinions rather than only thinking about theirs and only accepting those who have similar opinions.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is important--both sides have become 'paper tigers' to the other, since Republican are vilified by Democrats and vice versa. It's hard to express one's political views when they run counter to a majority, since you tend to get shouted down. We need to get back to civil, respectful disagreement rather than politics as a football (or boxing) match.
DeleteA "Paper Tiger" in society today for myself would be college. I think the reason I think of college this way is because some think you need higher education to be successful and college gets crammed down a lot of peoples throats. Which makes the experience a whole lot less fun, but on the other hand college is really good for some people. It really depends on what kind of person you are.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is an interesting point...do you think college has become a 'bad word' for some people, then? Something that a growing number of people think is pointless or even hamrful to students? I agree that too many people who aren't interested or ready for college to go to college, and most end up dropping out. In that case, college becomes the anti-paper tiger, since it's seen as necessary and beneficial. I think in some ways trade schools are more of a paper tiger, since too many parents are scared of their kids not going to college and learning a trade or a skill rather than getting a more universal college degree. For that reason, some people are becoming reactionary and trying to make college a paper tiger so it loses its prominence in American society. It's a very tricky issue!
DeleteA “paper tiger” for me would perhaps be my cleft lip and palate. I think it freaks people out to sometimes see how my face was reconstructed (especially if you get close). Of course I know people won’t mention it, but it’s sometime really noticeable. Especially if it is a topic of conversation, people will cringe when I speak of the surgeries or operations on my mouth. Usually it’s because they’d be afraid of the pain, but sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s just the defect. It’s not often to find people like this, but there have been a few. It’s not that bad, in fact I think of my birth defect as something that makes me stronger.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is an important response, since our society is constructed on arbitrary ideas of what is 'normal' and 'beautiful.' These are not universal laws by any means, but we tend to make paper tigers of anything that doesn't fit these very narrow strictures. Any kind of injury or deformity; being too short or too tall; too thin or too fat; speaking with the wrong accent or speaking with a stutter; even the way you walk and comport yourself. Even your word 'birth defect' suggests the way society constructs our thinking to see 'tigers' where they never existed. There's no right way to be born, and no wrong way; but for some reason, we like things streamlined into categories of normal and abnormal. But the sheer diversity of the world belies these easy distinctions. Normal is a very subjective concept, and ultimately, a miserable one!
DeleteA "paper tiger" in todays society would be trans men and women. A lot of people believe you are born a gender and should stay that gender. However, they are human beings who deserve the same rights as anyone else. Today's society is a lot more accepting than before but there are still some that feel its wrong. We need to come together as a society and learn that we are all equal. You are not above anyone because of the gender they choose, their sexuality, or skin color.
ReplyDeleteYes, an excellent example--we vilify any group of people who seems to defy our socially-constructed norms, esp. when it seems to fly in the face of what we consider our core beliefs. And yet, this is something very natural, and people identifying as transgender occur in every country and throughout history. It became a tiger because it threatens some people's idea of right and wrong, and even their simple definition of sexuality. It would force them to change too much of their thinking, and their mental existence, so it would be better (for them) to simply deny a transgender's existence. But it's very similar to the Tasmanian Tiger and how we use our egocentric views to deny reality.
DeleteA "Paper Tiger" could be they ways people raise there kids. Now it's viewed negatively to spank your kid for disciplinary purposes. Historically and scientifically kids react to violence best, so if you spanked them they would be scared of getting a "woopin" next time. Many people don't like that way of raising your kids like that and use timeouts or talk and make the kid apologize.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting, and I think the way we raise children today vs. the past has become a paper tiger issue. Though I'm not sure that science has proved that kids respond more positively to violence (in fact, most studies say the opposite). However, there is a tendency to assume that everything our grandparents did was wrong, and we tend to do the opposite, which is a dangerous trend. Usually, the answer is somewhere in the middle. However as a parent of two teenagers, I firmly believe that spanking and threatening violence probably won't have made my children better kids; treating them with respect and having standards was a much better way to go. I worry that for some parents, violence is a crutch, since it's easier to hit a kid than to teach them how to do things right. But it's a difficult issue, to be sure.
DeleteOne "paper tiger" in today's society would be race. Most people in the word believe in the typical stereotypes such the people who are Mexican are in drug cartels, criminals, and immigrants. Same with African Americans, people look at them as criminals or these really bad people you are afraid of them when in reality they're just a human being and there's nothing to be scared about anyone color of skin. Everyone is just as equal as the person right next to you.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is one of the biggest, and the most persistent. As the essay showed us, race was behind not only the eradication of the Tasmanian Tiger (they found it a stupid and useless animal), but also the Aborigines, who they judged as sub-human and not worthy to own the country. Race is always a paper tiger, based on little more than stereotypes and anger/guilt. It should always be suspect.
DeleteA "Paper Tiger" in today's society would have to be appearance. Everything from social media, to advertisements, to even movies show us a depiction of what the "normal" person should look and dress like. Many think you must dress nice or attractive to be "normal". Body weight and clear skin are also some of the biggest qualities appearance is judged by. Five years ago almost all advertisements would only show slim males and females because that was the desirable appearance. With advertisements body figures have become more diverse over the past couple years, but societies opinion has not changed much. This is a sad reality for now, but hopefully we can progress to a time when everyone accepts each others appearance.
ReplyDeleteThis Braden Schroeder
DeleteYes, this is a great one--and note that many other people share your views and wrote about something similar. We don't like to admit that there is no 'perfect,' or even no 'normal.' It's just an idea we agree upon and then try to enforce. But to shun those who don't meet it, or to shame them into meeting it, is its own kind of extinction. It suggests that there's no room for difference in our world, even though we know that many people simply cannot conform to such a narrow stereotype of beauty.
DeleteI think womens rights and just women in general could be seen as a sort of Paper Tiger. Our rights are constantly being debated by men in politics, especially our reproductive. Gender inequality has always been important to me but has seemed to be overlooked by other while growing up. It all starts with something small, like in elementary school when teachers asked the boys to take the trash out instead of us girls because “the boys are stronger.” Although men have been scientifically proven to be (usually) physically stronger than a lot of women, we were in elementary school; we all weighed and could lift the same weight as each other. Growing up in small town Ada, and attending an even smaller local high school, you start to notice how fragile men tend to be when a woman does anything. I was a student aide for a Secretary and the Principal and sometimes I’d have to watch the kids that came in for ISS alone. One of them would never listen to me because i was a “stupid woman who doesn’t know anything” telling him what to do. Eventually id get so fed up that I’d have to call one of my male classmates from out of the hall or a teacher to get the kid to calm down. A lot of times in my IEP room there, the hillbilly kids would make rape, sex and just straight up vulgar “jokes” to and about me and women in general. But every time I stood up for myself and women rights they’d say “this is why you belong in the kitchen,” and call me rude names. It’s really sad to see boys or men (and some women) to be so offended and fragile about women simply wanting equal pay, equal say, just equal everything.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is an excellent response--gender equality still leaves a lot to be desired, and for some, women are something of a paper tiger; they want them to remain in their place, hidden, and not ask for too much (like equal pay, etc). At least this is a tiger we've been acknowledging over the past few decades, but progress remains slow!
DeleteA "Paper Tiger" in todays society would have to be politics. throughout the recent years politics have gone to points where people are literally being verbally attacked and to points that some people think that everyone who thinks different than them are attacking them personally. If someone says something about anything politic related then they are accused of attacking someone and/or gets attacked by someone else. If I say something, I'm just stating my opinion, not attacking anyone. I don't think that people should be attacked over what they say either. Instead of attacking them they should give their opinion in a nicer way. I think that this "Paper Tiger" is to far gone and people will still attack or feel like they are being attacked by others.
ReplyDeleteYes, great response--and as you can see, many people wrote about the same thing. It's hard to discuss differing views in public today, since too many people see it as threatening and dangerous. And yet, surely we can disagree without becoming enemies, even on major policy differences. Otherwise, how can we ever come together as a nation?
DeleteIn my opinion, a "Paper Tiger" in our society would be poverty. Impoverished people are seen as lesser simply because they are below the poverty line. The media represents poor people as being dangerous or criminals when that is simply not the reality. On top of that, you have many people that believe that if someone is impoverished it is their own fault. These people believe that if these impoverished people would work harder that they could then escape poverty. This view of poverty is blind to any external circumstances that may have caused a persons economic situation. I do believe that this could be fixed overtime but to do so we need to hold the media accountable for pushing this view of poverty through the news, television, and movies.
ReplyDeleteAnother great response--glad we could discuss this in class today! Again, I think guilt is part of this (like the Tasmanian Tiger); if poverty becomes a personal failing, and the people become tigers, we no longer have to feel guilty and the burden is placed back on them. But as you say, this doesn't take into account the sheer bad accidents (and bad economies) that make poverty possible. Sure, some people make bad decisions, turn to drugs, etc., but that doesn't mean ALL people in poverty do.
DeleteI think a "Paper Tiger" in todays society is Muslim people. When most people see someone who looks like a Muslim, they think the worst, that they are a terrorist. Because there have been Muslim terrorist attacks in the past, people automatically think this. In rare cases this can be true, but in most cases it is not, which is not fair for these people to be judged under false pretenses. Most Muslims who come to the U.S. are trying to live a better life or escape persecution. The vast majority of Muslims do not condone these terrorist attacks and do not interpret the Islam religion like these terrorists/extremists do. For now the statement, "All Muslims are terrorists" can be put under a very long list of stereotypes.
ReplyDeleteGreat example--so glad we got to discuss this in class today! Yes, too often, stereotypes become paper tigers all on their own, and that becomes all we can see: a threatening caricature rather than a flesh and blood human being.
DeleteI think a "paper tiger" in todays society would be parents spanking their children. In todays society many people do not like spanking and think that it is abuse. In my house if you broke the rules you got spanked and that was the case. This taught me and my brother that we needed to follow the rules and then we wouldn't have to be spanked. I think that many people think that this causes a flaw and the parent child relationship. But I think this would be the balance that the relationship needs. Spanking will not ruin the kids, I would like to say I am a pretty good kid as well as my brother and many of my friends would had parents who spanked them. I just don't see one or two spankings as abuse.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm glad we got to discuss this in class--it's an example of how we overcorrect the problems of the past. While I disagree with violence in general, and spanking in particular (since hitting seems a little lazy and a desperate last attempt), I do recognize that spanking is not the same as whipping, beating, etc. A little fear can go a long way, and there needs to be consequences for breaking the rules. Calling it abuse is definitely unfair, and unfortunately, it's becoming harder and harder for parents to figure out how to do it 'right' because of this paper tiger factor.
DeleteI think a "paper tiger" in today’s society would be disabled people. Many people today I feel are hesitant to accept disabled people because non-disabled people see them differently than they see themselves. It is often intimidating to approach people with disabilities and we as people avoid these situations because we don't want to act the wrong way or do the wrong thing. There are even some people who perceive disability as something terrible and would do anything to avoid it. In reality, we often overlook people because they are different from us, because of this we fail to see that they are people just like everybody else and their disability does not define them. These ideas originated from years before when disabled people were sent away and mistreated in group homes. There are definitely more opportunities for disabled people in the present and we as a society are more inclusive, so we are not too far gone.
ReplyDeleteWow, this is a good one; we do treat people who are disabled, or differently abled, as another species, since they are defined against 'normal' people (a problematic term). We assume that everyone should function and work the same way, so when someone can't walk up stairs, or sit in a normal chair, we get confused. And we don't like to imagine a world that works for multiple people and realities. So we tend to deny it...or like our president (unfortunately), mock it. We let people's limitations and diseases too often define them, even though they might not want such an identification. But we still live in a world that is very tribal, and tribes tend to banish those who are abnomral in any way for the supposed strength of the whole. But we don't live in that world anymore, nor do we need to. But old thinking dies hard.
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ReplyDeleteI think a "paper tiger" in today's society would be gender roles. People today still believe that men and women have different jobs they have to take on. Society pays men more money and tends to hire them in powerful jobs before they hire women. It also thought that women have to be cooks and raise children. I think we need to be more open towards gender equality, and allow women the same opportunities as men. Additionally, men should be able to be stay at home dads and raise children. These roles originated from back in the day when women were not allowed to work and were forced to be home-makers. Society has already come a long way to change these ideas and I don't think we are too far gone.
This is a great one--we definitely try to demonize the idea that a man or woman can do any job, since as a society, we prefer the idea that gender defines your role in life. We know this isn't true, because when people break the trend, they don't fail at it...and indeed, we have men and women successful in every possible field. But some fear what this means for society--a world where gender isn't fixed, and people can truly become whatever they want. People like limitations and boxes, and it would take a great leap of imagination to get beyond this.
DeleteA "Paper Tiger" today would be the term "feminist". Most southern people or more conservative people, view feminism as a men-hating club. A common belief would be that feminists want all men to be exterminated or castrated. This is not what feminism is about it's about support within our own female gender. The earliest sign of feminism I can think of in the US, are the suffragettes. The possibilities of women being remotely equal to a man was terrifying in the early 20th century. Then after the 19th amendment, the next big wave was probably the 90s. Riot Grrrl may have had an impression on the boomer's about the feminism movement. The hardcore men-haters of that time were not the only thing Riot Grrrl was talking about. Domestic abuse, rape, female empowerment, and double standards for women are just some of the things Riot Grrrl's sang about. Now with women trying to support other women, it is still seen as a negative quality by some. Today I still have family members who see feminism as a disgusting and stupid. I don't think feminism is a lost cause I just think we should start normalizing women supporting women. It shouldn't be frowned on it should be normal for us to want to be independent and supporting of one another. We must start educating people about the true meaning of feminism to change the assumptions.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is a great one--the word and the philosophy has been vilified and made into a political statement by a certain segment of the population. And yet, it was only ever a move for equality for ALL sexes. Yet people point to an extremist here and there and say, "no, they're all tigers--they're all out for blood!" And yet without it, no women would be in college, or politics, or doctors, lawyers, etc. I am amazed when women in powerful positions proclaim themselves against feminism...does that mean they want to yield their jobs to the nearest (and least qualified) man?
DeleteA "Paper Tiger" today would probably have to be political views. It doesn't matter which side you're on, someone always seems to attack you. It seems as if nobody is willing to listen to someone to hear what they have to say. They would rather shoot down any idea that doesn't line up with their own. I think discourse is the only way to change things for the better, but people don't like to listen to opposing points of view. They try to shut the other person down as quickly as possible. Before you know it, everyone is uncomfortably avoiding complicated subjects.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is something many people wrote about above, and it's clearly a big' tiger' for most people, since we're supposed to pretend it doesn't exist in polite society, even though on-line everyone is screaming and threatening one another over it. It's becoming too difficult to have a rational conversation--everything has to be a football match. We have forgotten how to compromise and to lose (or win) gracefully.
DeleteI would say that a large "Paper Tiger" of todays world is actually nuclear power. After so many terrifying accidents and purposeful actions involving nuclear energy, many people write off the idea of using nuclear energy as too dangerous. In reality nuclear power is said to be much cleaner than fossil fuels; and with the technological leaps and bounds we have went through in the past decade, it would be much safer than it once was. I would still need much closer monitoring than the plants of the past, but it could prove to be just the sort of thing we need to help halt our destruction of the Earth. Though I do believe that the issue deserves to be looked into more, I am less inclined to believe that it will be given a chance anytime soon. The disasters of Chernobyl and Hiroshima, while no longer fresh on people's minds, are still looked to as the best arguments against proceeding to research nuclear power. Much like several indigenous populations around the world (People and Animals alike), people prefer to write it off as inherently dangerous rather than learn more before creating an opinion.
ReplyDelete-Gracie Tollett
Yes, apropos of our last discussion, this is a great 'paper tiger,' since we can only see the dangers, much like space travel itself (something else we've largely written off). And yet, we still use nuclear power and it's important to sustain main large cities and other infrastructures. It can be used safely (the oil industry seems to be much more dangerous and accident-prone), but we just need to be extremely vigilant, because the cost of disaster is so huge.
DeleteIn our society, I believe that a major "paper tiger" that I have seen would be body positivity of plus-sized people. I have noticed that when people talk about how they are confident in themselves despite them being plus-sized, people tend to nitpick at them and say how it is "unhealthy" or they have "no reason to be proud of what is causing them problems." I have not reasonable way of validating their nitpickings toward the plus-size commiunity, because as many say they are "unhealthy" but in actuality, they are just as healthy as their smaller counterparts. As well as their point of saying that it is what is causing their problems, while being bigger may constitute a bigger risk to probmlems, this is not always the major factor in why problems occur, because I know many smaller people with the same problems that people seem to exclusovely pin on the issue of overweight. I believe that people decide to stigmatize and belittle the confidence of plus-size people, because they are unable to realize that there is a possiblity that people can be happy as themselve or because they had perviously been in the same position and were the butt of the same treatment they are displaying towards others now.
ReplyDeleteThis is Tori Prince. Also sorry for any typos, they box makes it hard to see the typos :(
DeleteWell stated--a very serious issue in our society, and a major paper tiger. While there might be some who are unhealthy, or have unhealthy habits, the reality is that it is unnatural to be skinny--esp. after having children or getting older. The body wasn't meant to always be super tiny and 'sexy.' Why is the standard to always look young, even when you're 45? We don't like to admit that bodies are diverse, bodies get old, and people are all different. We shouldn't have a 'one size fits all' standard of beauty; it's denying reality in favor of a fairy tale.
DeleteA paper tiger could be guns, guns are all grouped into the same category and people are intemated by them because they are seen as dangerous when there are several types for different purposes
ReplyDeleteNot sure who this is, so I can't give you credit...also, give me a little more detail. Since this is the only question I'm asking you this week, try to give me a little more thought than one sentence.
DeleteA "Paper Tiger" in today's society would be Political views. Everyone has one and not everyone agrees. This is a specially true if someone of a different political party believes in someone and thinks just because she feels so strongly about it then so should you, but you are your own person and you can think for yourself and people will argue to say that if its not their opinion you're agreeing with then it is wrong. This years Presidential election plays a big factor in this, We are divided by our different ways of thought and action.
ReplyDeleteA "Paper Tiger" in today's society could be cops. A lot of people feel as if cops are dangerous, aggressive, racist, classist and or over all corrupt. There are entire movements dedicated to their dismantling and defacing. However, many reluctantly defend them and others believe that they are American heroes. Neither of these views are entirely synonymous with my own, but I believe the political climate surrounding cops right now can, in a way, be considered a "Paper Tiger".
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