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  1. Simulacra and Simulation is a work of modern philosophy. A fairly thin volume, it is incredibly *dense* however. The basic thesis is thus: There is a point at which the simulation of a reality becomes the reality. ‘Simulation’ in this sense can mean a perception, or a construct — “I reject your reality and substitute my own!” for humorous example, or more seriously, the “oppressed hegemon” — how any number of Christian groups in the US claim that they’re being persecuted when they are in fact the largest single demographic on the *continent.*

  2. I also found interesting comments regarding ‘living in reality.’ I am finding many things fascinating in terms of my current slogging through ‘Simulacra and Simulation.’

  3. “Why can’t partnership be the norm?”

    Interestingly, this line of questioning — leading up to the US response to Al Quaeda’s attacks — brought to mind a number of conversations on Slacktivist and a term that I learned there but which was actually developed by a professor whose computer I fixed.

    The term is ‘kyriarchy.’ It reflects our society’s obsession with dominance, in that everyone everywhere must somehow be ‘on top’ of someone. It was demonstrated in the term ‘…but at least I’m not X.’ It’s a web of interconnected perceived dominance, and it perpetuates dominance and oppression as an ‘acceptable’ social norm. ‘At least I’m not colored.’ ‘At least I’m not gay.’ ‘At least I’m not transsexual.’ ‘At least I’m not an illegal immigrant.’ ‘At least I’m not a woman.’ And so on and so on ad infinitum. Not all dominance is equal, of course. A wealthy white cisgendered heterosexual man (I am reluctant to call such a person ‘neurotypical’ but it is becoming increasingly and disturbingly accurate) does not feel that problem and does not have to say ‘but at least I’m not X.’ So there is a hierarchy there. But society has woven an intertangled web where dominance and oppression is accepted. That needs to change. BADLY.

    Interestingly, he touches obliquely on “socialize sociopathy” where sociopathy has been institutionalized. He is also absolutely right that we are still living in a rape culture, and that the little wriggling and nitpicky details and definitions in rape law in a way legitimizes or regulates rape.

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