Bieber gets dreadlocks, gets called on cultural appropriation

[ronburgundy]

Is that also Lil' Wayne's reason for dreadlocks? Odds are that he (like most African-Americans with dreadlocks) has no more personal connection to the cultures in which dreadlocks originated that Bieber. But perhaps Wayne knew that "Cultural Appropriation" controversies have nothing to do with actual cultural appropriation and 100% to do with skin color and race, namely, it is your skin color that completely determines whether an action is a wrongful appropriation.

Or perhaps both Wayne and Bieber just did what they wanted without thinking about a "controversy", because they failed to imagine just how pathetically stupid some people are that would make it a controversy. Their music certainly suggests a lack of imagination, so that is a good bet.

Or perhaps my opinion on why Bieber is suddenly sporting dreadlocks that he has had no time to cultivate on his own stems from timing and observation of his past antics.

Are people who get weaves trying to stir up controversy? His short-cut method of arriving at them has no implications for whether he is trying to stir up controversy. It just shows he is shallow and pretentious. As for his prior "controversies" most of those seem rooted in him being a very stupid narcissist, than a calculating manipulator of public sentiment.

I have not commented on any other person - white or black, male or female - wearing dreds, including the white guy in the other active thread on this topic, so I am certain that you could not possibly have been directing your comments at me.

It isn't direct at "you". The "stupid people" are those who invented this as a controversy. You're just trying to interpret his motives to do something others would make a controversy over. And I am highlighting that there is no reason to interpret the ethics or the motives of his actions differently than if he were a black man with dreads who has a commercially manufactured persona . He probably didn't think his race would be such a factor in how people reacted to his actions that are no more appropriation than most people with dreads.
More generally beyond Bieber himself, the fact that no one seems to care when blacks with no "authentic" connection to dreadlock-culture have dreadlocks, exposes how the appropriation meme isn't about culture but all about skin color and race, and inventing a reason to malign the character of people of particular races.

 

[laughing dog]

To the OP - with all this real issues in the world, someone criticizing Justin Bieber is on your radar? Really?

 

[RavenSky]

Or perhaps my opinion on why Bieber is suddenly sporting dreadlocks that he has had no time to cultivate on his own stems from timing and observation of his past antics.

Are people who get weaves trying to stir up controversy?

My comment was very specific as to my opinion about Beiber. I'm not sure why that is unclear to you.

His short-cut method of arriving at them has no implications for whether he is trying to stir up controversy.

But it combined with his other behavior does - in my opinion.

It just shows he is shallow and pretentious. As for his prior "controversies" most of those seem rooted in him being a very stupid narcissist, than a calculating manipulator of public sentiment.

I will agree that he is a very stupid narcissist, but I will disagree with you on the last part. I think he is also a "calculating manipulator of public sentiment" with his end goal simply being "look at me!!"

I have not commented on any other person - white or black, male or female - wearing dreds, including the white guy in the other active thread on this topic, so I am certain that you could not possibly have been directing your comments at me.

It isn't direct at "you". The "stupid people" are those who invented this as a controversy. You're just trying to interpret his motives to do something others would make a controversy over. And I am highlighting that there is no reason to interpret the ethics or the motives of his actions differently than if he were a black man with dreads who has a commercially manufactured persona.

There is a reason... specifically, as I've said, his past behaviors. He is a publicity hound. I think he saw other people getting lots of media face time by wearing dreds, and so he ran out and got some, too. I don't think his introspection on the topic went beyond that.

My opinion had nothing to do with his race or gender, or the race or gender of anyone else wearing dredlocks.

But frankly, it was a throw-away comment on my part, and not worth debating further, so we will have to agree to disagree.

 

[AdamWho]

I find it astounding that any rationalist would even entertain, much less defend the incoherent concept of cultural appropriation.

Seriously, it should raise a red flag just like a person talking about "teaching the controversy" with respect to religion or someone mentioning psychics.

 

[dismal]

Speaking of Canadians and cultural appropriation, I'm going to file this one in the "damned if you don't" file:

THE HORROR, EH?
The White House is serving maple syrup to Canada's prime minister. But the maple syrup is from New England.
March 10, 2016

Send in the Mounties! The White House is about to commit a culinary crime of international proportions. During Thursday's state dinner with the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, the White House will serve its guests maple syrup... from New England.

Responding to what we can only presume was a menu oversight, White House executive pastry chef Susie Morrison said the New England product was just what the kitchen had on hand.

It's like a hockey stick to my Canadian heart.

http://theweek.com/speedreads/61194...ime-minister-but-maple-syrup-from-new-england

 

[Jarhyn]

My thought here, especially on the dreadlocks issue: there are many ways to wear your hair, some fit certain people better than they fit others. Additionally, some people think certain styles look better than others. If a hair style is good, people have no right to insist others not adopt it, and people with the most functional brains WRT hair style will commend and have pride in themselves when others wear hair styles sourced from them or their culture, as with all other culturally sourced styles of speaking, grooming, and food preparation. And if some other group synthesizes a blend of those ideas with those of their own culture, the originator of the first idea has an obligation on some level to evaluate that synthesis with an open mind.

Thus if some Canadian guy puts his hair in dreadlocks and synthesizes (or commissions such a synthesis for) a way for them to look nice without years of work, he is owed respect for doing so.it doesn't matter what his daddy did, or what his motivations are for doing it; that is called the Genetic Fallacy.

 

[laughing dog]

There is a reason... specifically, as I've said, his past behaviors. He is a publicity hound. I think he saw other people getting lots of media face time by wearing dreds, and so he ran out and got some, too. I don't think his introspection on the topic went beyond that.

He may have even paid or wanted someone to complain - publicity is publicity.