Will Shetterly's Blog, page 79
June 30, 2016
Why are Clinton supporters more racist and more aggressive than Sanders supporters?
I am always fascinated by the ways belief and reality diverge. This year, Clinton supporters promoted the "Bernie Bro" narrative about Sanders supporters in the same way that in 2008, they promoted the racist "Obama Boys":WOW. Before the "Bernie Bro," Clinton supporters created the "Obama boy." No, seriously. But the reality is that "Bernie Bros" are, probably like the "Obama Boys" before them
June 28, 2016
Why I suspect it's impossible to end Game of Thrones well—and, honest, no spoilers about GoT!
I haven't read the books because I hate reading a series that doesn't have an ending, but I realized something watching the TV show: the series wasn't designed to have an ending. Game of ThronesandLord of the Ringsboth start with an evil force threatening the world, Sauron for LotR, the white walkers for GoT. In theory,both stories should endwith a huge battle that the good guys win at
June 17, 2016
Black Babies used as Gator Bait? History versus Folklore #2
Black Babies Used as Alligator Bait in Florida | Miami New Timesinsists, It has been pretty well documented recently that, during slavery and into the 20th Century, black babies were used as alligator bait in North and Central Florida. The problem with that claim? We have staged photographs, drawings, and even songs about "gator babies", but no evidence that any child was ever used as live
June 16, 2016
No Vanilla Ice Cream for Negroes? History versus Folklore #1
The idea that black people were not allowed to eat vanilla ice cream was popularized in Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: People in Stamps used to say that the whites in our town were so prejudiced that a Negro couldn't buy vanilla ice cream. Except on July Fourth. Other days he had to be satisfied with chocolate. People who take that literally miss the implications of "used to
June 14, 2016
June 12, 2016
June 4, 2016
I thought I was a loner, but it seems I'm an introvert
I've known about introverts and extroverts for decades, but I never identified with either. I suppose I thought I was a nontrovert. Okay, I thought I was a loner. I prefer some of the older, imprecise names for personalities—being a loner is romantic, while being an introvert is just geeky and a bit antisocial. I wish I hadn't realized I'm an introvert. It doesn't change a thing about me except
June 2, 2016
why yesterday's poetry worm was "dig and be dug in return"
I've liked this for ages: "Motto" by Langston's Hughes I play it cool I dig all jive That's the reason I stay alive My motto As I live and learn Is dig and be dug in return Yesterday, while doing minor landscaping and gardening, the last line kept going through my head. After a couple of hours, I wondered why. Then I looked at the shovel in my hand. My subconscious has a really stupid
May 27, 2016
How Julian Fellowes' Doctor Thorne spoilers itself; a spoiler-free review that addresses point of view
I have not read Anthony Trollope's Doctor Thorne, so I don't know if the main weakness of Fellowes' adaptation comes from it. I hope so, because if not, Fellowes has done Trollope an enormous disservice. But before I get to that, a few quick observations: 1. If you like BBC tales of the 19th century, you'll like this. The actors and settings are all fine. 2. The director is barely competent.
May 25, 2016
Captain America is not a Hydra agent, and Superman didn't blow up Krypton
Yes, I think the idea of retconning Captain America as a Hydra agent is high on the list of stupidest ideas comic book people have had. But I'm not upset, because it's just a stupid comic book, and a smart writer will easily retcon it in turn. If I was in charge, it would be explained as a bad dream that a Marvel editor had. Captain America being a Hydra agent makes as much sense as: 1. Kal-El
