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Why I Write (1946)

orwellfoundation.com

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Re: Why I Write (1946)

#81
post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Disregarding genuine differences between cultures and intentially treating those cultures as identical is racist. Turns out he did come around later in life - https://www.thenational.scot/news/23716840.george-orwells-an...

The article you linked goes to great lengths about Orwell's alleged scotophobia. I don't see how particularly hating scotts supports "intentially treating those cultures as identical". If that was true, then Orwell would equally hate all scots and englishmen. Also, what's the downside of treating different cultures identical, aside from potentially offending people? As opposed to other kind of racism, where other peo…

If he was an entirely rational being I would agree, but he clearly wasn't and he did hold both views that Scottish identity isn't worth anything and Scots are essentially identical to the English.

Let's be serious, I'm not saying Orwell would be out enslaving Scots given the chance, but saying Scottish culture IS English culture is intentionally erasing a culture and is a racist statement, not unlike the common view that all of Africa is culturally homogenous.

Re: Why I Write (1946)

#82
post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The links you gave have 500-3000 views each. I'm not sure that, even with trillions of dollars being poured into it my the marvel that is the financial system of the 2020s, that it will ever be able to manufacture enough demand for it to ever get to the point you describe. > My point is that ultimately, dismissing others' experience doesn't make it go away, and sticking one's head in the sand about how "no one" would…

First, I said the genre, not the specific channel I gave as an example. Second, sorting by most popular shows hundreds of thousands of views, for this one channel alone. Third, maybe you shouldn't be accusing others of having thinned mental faculties when you are not understanding the point I made in the first place. It doesn't matter what you do or do not find personally appealing in this thread.

My bad, I thought this discussion forum was a discussion forum. If I can't discuss what I personally think what is this post even for? Why should I care what George Orwell personally thinks? Who is even that guy compared to the wisdom of the financial system or to faked youtube views on some channel?

Uninteresting conversation.

Re: Why I Write (1946)

#84

For those interested in Orwell, there's a great series of podcasts on his writing during and either side of WWII here: https://www.ppfideas.com/episodes/orwell%E2%80%99s-war%3A-th... https://www.ppfideas.com/episodes/orwell%E2%80%99s-war%3A-fa... https://www.ppfideas.com/episodes/orwell%E2%80%99s-war%3A-fr... What's great about these is that they're not the usual uncritical lionising, but a clear-eyed look at the man…

There's one further piece by Runciman (the podcast's creator) on Orwell's "The Lion and the Unicorn", referenced in the series above: https://www.ppfideas.com/episodes/history-of-ideas%3A-george... > I'll also note: David Runciman is one of my absolute favourite podcasters. I'd discovered him through his earlier London Review of Boooks -affiliated Talking Politics , and followed his transition to Past, Present, Futur…

Oh, and one more element: Runciman likes doing mini-series on various themes. Past ones have been: political books, films, and trials. A history of bad ideas (interesting, and a few countering my own viewpoints), counterfactuals (what if things had gone differently), great essays, revolutionary ideas, globalisation. Those are indexed under tabs on the pod's homepage:

https://www.ppfideas.com/episodes>

Re: Why I Write (1946)

#85

For those interested in Orwell, there's a great series of podcasts on his writing during and either side of WWII here: https://www.ppfideas.com/episodes/orwell%E2%80%99s-war%3A-th... https://www.ppfideas.com/episodes/orwell%E2%80%99s-war%3A-fa... https://www.ppfideas.com/episodes/orwell%E2%80%99s-war%3A-fr... What's great about these is that they're not the usual uncritical lionising, but a clear-eyed look at the man…

There's one further piece by Runciman (the podcast's creator) on Orwell's "The Lion and the Unicorn", referenced in the series above: https://www.ppfideas.com/episodes/history-of-ideas%3A-george... > I'll also note: David Runciman is one of my absolute favourite podcasters. I'd discovered him through his earlier London Review of Boooks -affiliated Talking Politics , and followed his transition to Past, Present, Futur…

Yep, PPF Ideas is the only podcast I actually pay for to get the extra episodes!

Re: Why I Write (1946)

#86
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why makes this statement racist?

Disregarding genuine differences between cultures and intentially treating those cultures as identical is racist. Turns out he did come around later in life - https://www.thenational.scot/news/23716840.george-orwells-an...

> Disregarding genuine differences between cultures and intentially treating those cultures as identical is racist.

Just for the record, I don't think that's a widely used definition for "racism". Also, the linked article does not really support the view that he was "disregarding genuine differences"; if anything, his prejudice made him see differences where there were none (or misattribute traits that he notice on some individual to a whole population). The article speak about his contempt for the gaelic language though, which I guess is what annoys you the most? But then the article also states that he changed his mind on that.

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