Jump to content


Photo

Just 'cause we're that hardcore.


  • Please log in to reply
13 replies to this topic

#1 Rafv Nin IV

Rafv Nin IV

    Vermin of Revora

  • Members
  • 1,224 posts
  • Projects:RPG Frontier

Posted 07 November 2008 - 11:55 PM

With a population of 8,000 my hometown is the first in the U.S. to elect an openly transexual mayor.

Link

Barack Obama wasn't the only candidate who made history Tuesday.

On the same day the United States elected its first black president, the tiny town of Silverton, Ore., elected the country's first openly transgender mayor.

Stu Rasmussen served two terms as Silverton's mayor in the 1990s, but he was still living in the closet -- and dressing in men's clothing. He came out a few years ago, proudly donning a skirt and high heels.

On Tuesday, Rasmussen won a third term, by 13 percentage points. He attributes his victory to his deep knowledge of the issues.

"The first 30 seconds they think, am I in freak show? Is there a camera behind me? What's going on here?" Rasmussen told a local news station about voters' reaction to him.

"And then we get down to discussing whatever the issue is -- city business or whatever -- and they figure out this guy's different, but he knows what he's talking about."


Posted Image


#2 Vortigern

Vortigern

    Sumquhat quisquis.

  • Division Leaders
  • 4,654 posts
  • Location:Oxfordshire, England.
  • Projects:Workin'...
  •  ...like a workin' man do.
  • Division:Role-Playing Games
  • Job:Division Leader

Posted 08 November 2008 - 02:58 AM

What an odd thing to become famous for... Clearly this was a week of outstanding political achievement for America in general and Silverton in particular. You must be very proud. :shiftee:
I hope I am a good enough writer that some day dwarves kill me and drink my blood for wisdom.

#3 MSpencer

MSpencer

    Think Tank... Legend?

  • Hosted
  • 4,120 posts
  • Location:Montreal, QC
  • Projects:Admin @ Meaaov Gaming, university studies, ugh... research. GNP's Flagship of the Left.
  •  Angry, angry bastard.

Posted 08 November 2008 - 07:38 PM

Excellent. Another achievement for human rights across the world. I wonder how many transgenders have been elected in recent times? I have a feeling Canada has had a few transgendered provincial MPs over the years but I'm not sure.
Posted Image
My Favorite Website.My UniversityAnd... Mein Kampf?
C. elegans for President

#4 Ash

Ash

    Foxtrot Oscar.

  • Undead
  • 15,526 posts
  • Location:England
  • Projects:Robot Storm
  •  Keep calm and carry on.

Posted 09 November 2008 - 11:34 AM

To be honest, I don't see why such a big song and dance is made about this. The new prez is black. The new mayor of Silverton's a transexual. So the fuck what?

Aren't their policies a tad more important than what colour their skin is or whether they've got meat and two veg (natural or artificial) or not?

I'm actually kinda sick of it. Did you all just vote for them because of their minority-group status? If you did, you're all stupider than I thought. Yes, I believe you voted for the right candidate, but you voted for them for the wrong reasons.


It's all the BBC are throwing around now - "When will Britain get a Black/Asian prime minister?" Well, I don't care so long as they adhere to and respect British culture and English common law. I'm not saying all of them disrespect it, but I can just see that it'd be a devout OTT Muslim, and before you know it it's the indigenous peoples who will be discriminated against through these Sharia courts.

#5 Puppeteer

Puppeteer

    title available

  • Global Moderators
  • 2,947 posts
  • Location:United Kingdom
  •  Faute de Mieux
  • Division:Community
  • Job:Magazine Staff/Global Moderator

Posted 09 November 2008 - 11:59 AM

That's why I loathe some company's policies who are trying to up their minority intake. No, it should be on performance and aptitude alone.

#6 duke_Qa

duke_Qa

    I've had this avatar since... 2003?

  • Network Staff
  • 3,837 posts
  • Location:Norway
  • Division:Revora
  • Job:Artist

Posted 09 November 2008 - 12:09 PM

People vote on different candidates for different reasons. Republicans gets tons of religious votes because they've been dancing to that tune for a long time.
Voting for someone because they are a minority somewhat falls in the same category. It's an easy argument to get voters on because you attack their conscience instead of their logic.

Conservatives gets religious nuts because they play on their old-school morals, liberals gets average Joes because they play on their fear of being tagged racist.


Its not that simple but its a 3-line explanation on a big topic of psychology and politics ;). Ash sums it up; if you vote for someone because they are in a minority, you are ignoring the vital part of politics.

"I give you private information on corporations for free and I'm a villain. Mark Zuckerberg gives your private information to corporations for money and he's 'Man of the Year.'" - Assange


#7 Vortigern

Vortigern

    Sumquhat quisquis.

  • Division Leaders
  • 4,654 posts
  • Location:Oxfordshire, England.
  • Projects:Workin'...
  •  ...like a workin' man do.
  • Division:Role-Playing Games
  • Job:Division Leader

Posted 09 November 2008 - 01:06 PM

That's why I loathe some company's policies who are trying to up their minority intake. No, it should be on performance and aptitude alone.

That's the bizarre concept of 'positive discrimination'. The Labour party over here introduced quotas for all government services, telling them how many black people, women, and other ethnic minorities they should have on the workforce. It meant that the average white male got passed over for jobs simply because of the colour of his skin, as the service in question needed more black people to fulfil the quotas. It has been scrapped now, thankfully.
I hope I am a good enough writer that some day dwarves kill me and drink my blood for wisdom.

#8 Phil

Phil

    Force Majeure

  • Network Leaders
  • 7,976 posts
  • Location:Switzerland
  • Projects:Revora, C&C:Online
  •  Thought Police
  • Division:Revora
  • Job:Network Leader
  • Donated
  • Association

Posted 09 November 2008 - 01:08 PM

People vote on different candidates for different reasons. Republicans gets tons of religious votes because they've been dancing to that tune for a long time.
Voting for someone because they are a minority somewhat falls in the same category. It's an easy argument to get voters on because you attack their conscience instead of their logic.

Conservatives gets religious nuts because they play on their old-school morals, liberals gets average Joes because they play on their fear of being tagged racist.


Its not that simple but its a 3-line explanation on a big topic of psychology and politics . Ash sums it up; if you vote for someone because they are in a minority, you are ignoring the vital part of politics.

Yes, but as long as you haven't had at least one of each minority in an important position, you can never reject the allegations of discrimination, racism, etc. You need to show it's possible first, then you can go on voting for who's best. Kind of sad actually, but that's how it is.

revorapresident.jpg
My Political Compass

Sieben Elefanten hatte Herr Dschin
Und da war dann noch der achte.
Sieben waren wild und der achte war zahm
Und der achte war's, der sie bewachte.


#9 Ash

Ash

    Foxtrot Oscar.

  • Undead
  • 15,526 posts
  • Location:England
  • Projects:Robot Storm
  •  Keep calm and carry on.

Posted 09 November 2008 - 02:09 PM

Not really. Discriminating against the white man is every bit as racist as discriminating against the black man.

Which is what a lot of white people seem to overlook. From such naivety does all the bullshit that is happening with regards Islam in the UK emerge - they abuse the virtue of tolerance in others. And by 'they' I don't mean all Muslims by any means. I mean the ones who want to impose Islamic culture on a culture that isn't Islamic. Unfortunately, it is these which are most prominently visible of their ilk.

#10 Phil

Phil

    Force Majeure

  • Network Leaders
  • 7,976 posts
  • Location:Switzerland
  • Projects:Revora, C&C:Online
  •  Thought Police
  • Division:Revora
  • Job:Network Leader
  • Donated
  • Association

Posted 09 November 2008 - 02:23 PM

Yeah, but you can hardly make claims that a majority is discriminated when most of those people in high positions are white, heterosexual, etc. It's not like it was impossible, because it's the de facto standard. Minorities, however, can make those claims if none of them has ever held such a position.

I understand what you're saying and it's somewhat valid, but it does look a little weird when you scream "zomg, white people are being discriminated" while they hold 99% of the posts. It just has a different effect.

revorapresident.jpg
My Political Compass

Sieben Elefanten hatte Herr Dschin
Und da war dann noch der achte.
Sieben waren wild und der achte war zahm
Und der achte war's, der sie bewachte.


#11 duke_Qa

duke_Qa

    I've had this avatar since... 2003?

  • Network Staff
  • 3,837 posts
  • Location:Norway
  • Division:Revora
  • Job:Artist

Posted 09 November 2008 - 03:00 PM

Sure, but claiming that 99% are ruled by model citizen whiteys is good rhetoric to make yourself a victim of the system. And thus get votes not because of your skill but because of your minority-group.

It should be decided by skill, not by belonging. Nobility is a good example of belonging being taken too far ;). I hope we are in an age where "belonging" can be marginalized...

"I give you private information on corporations for free and I'm a villain. Mark Zuckerberg gives your private information to corporations for money and he's 'Man of the Year.'" - Assange


#12 Vortigern

Vortigern

    Sumquhat quisquis.

  • Division Leaders
  • 4,654 posts
  • Location:Oxfordshire, England.
  • Projects:Workin'...
  •  ...like a workin' man do.
  • Division:Role-Playing Games
  • Job:Division Leader

Posted 09 November 2008 - 03:20 PM

I understand what you're saying and it's somewhat valid, but it does look a little weird when you scream "zomg, white people are being discriminated" while they hold 99% of the posts. It just has a different effect.

It's not the top jobs we're talking about here. It's the secondary posts, the middle management where the average white male loses out. When someone is being hired, discrimination of all forms takes place, whether consciously or subconsciously, and if quotas are being enforced, it's very possible for the best candidate to lose out based purely on race, or ethnic background, or class, or any of the things beyond the candidate's control.
I hope I am a good enough writer that some day dwarves kill me and drink my blood for wisdom.

#13 Rafv Nin IV

Rafv Nin IV

    Vermin of Revora

  • Members
  • 1,224 posts
  • Projects:RPG Frontier

Posted 10 November 2008 - 02:09 AM

Aren't their policies a tad more important than what colour their skin is or whether they've got meat and two veg (natural or artificial) or not?

I'm actually kinda sick of it. Did you all just vote for them because of their minority-group status?


Then you'll probably be happy that I wanted the same old white guy we've had for the last sixteen years. But about 300 more people voted for Stu, he's a decent guy, and I don't really care as long as he doesn't stop managing our only movie theatre (which has a grand total of 1 screen) :p

It's a unique movie-going experience for people from out-of-town. They expect to see high-school aged staff working, and they get a couple of those, but the guy who takes their tickets is a sixty-year-old transexual who dresses as whoever the star female of the movie is. :p

Posted Image


#14 Rafv Nin IV

Rafv Nin IV

    Vermin of Revora

  • Members
  • 1,224 posts
  • Projects:RPG Frontier

Posted 14 November 2008 - 12:25 AM

The interviews and whatnot. Sorry about the doublepost.






Posted Image





0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users