tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17388657.post6358774315949684105..comments2024-03-16T14:41:54.168-04:00Comments on Mykel's Other Blog: (MRR 354) The COLUMN THEY WOULDN'T PRINTMykel Boardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05074534390555223781noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17388657.post-56625815045815479902012-12-18T13:20:41.532-05:002012-12-18T13:20:41.532-05:00Hey Mr. Board:
I was sitting in my cubicle workin...Hey Mr. Board:<br /><br />I was sitting in my cubicle working away and suddenly wondered what had happened to you. I used to read your column back in the 80's. I'm glad you are still around and writing. <br /><br />I guess I'm not surprised that MRR wouldn't print your column. It's a good column, but the people who run MRR are a bunch of lefty fucks, aren't they? People like that love censorship, no matter how many days it's been since they have taken a bath. <br /><br />The funny thing is that some of your columns from the 80's were a lot more offensive than this one. For instance, I remember you spending a few columns back then defending pedophilia. That shit is completely verboten now! I would be surprised if even you would write a column like that.<br /><br />Just to digress, I had to remind my iwfe the other week not to take a picture of our kids taking a bath because what if someone at a computer repair shop saw it and we (I) got prosecuted for kiddy porn? And photos of kids taking a bath is a completely innocent activity. <br /><br />Before the turn of the millenium, no one would have thought twice about such a thing. But now people go to jail for it. Some college football coach in Mankato, MN for instance, had CP charges arising when a repair person found a video of his kids acting goofy after geting out of the bath.<br /><br />Anyway, best of luck! I'm glad you're still writing. I'm glad you still drink too. Fuck sobriety.<br /><br />--Old punk rock guy with job now.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03159566695987711014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17388657.post-63042740712850405242012-11-13T01:08:42.718-05:002012-11-13T01:08:42.718-05:00In response to Taina: What I got from the column w...In response to Taina: What I got from the column was that the victim/survivor mentality is, in general, bullshit. The fact that Mykel rightly points out that women are completely unfairly encouraged to adopt this mentality by society is, for one thing a bit of radical feminism, and for another, a point that gets you're attention and makes you critically analyze this victim/survivor mentality and the people who promote it wherever it is found; not just in the case of females. It's not that it's unfair to men that Mykel is pointing out, it's that it's unfair to everybody. <br /><br />However, I mainly want to address your comment about battered women.<br /><br />I am mentally ill. I have been for most of my life. Up until fairly recently, I abused alcohol and drugs to a ridiculous degree, mutilated myself, and put myself in situations where I would be likely to die. If not for plain old dumb luck, I would be dead right now given the things I've done. <br /><br />Q: Why did I do this to myself?<br />A: Because I was an idiot. <br /><br />I am not going to try to hide my stupidity by saying I did those things because I'm mentally ill or because I'm genetically predisposed to addiction. Those two things are certainly true, but they aren't the reason I nearly killed myself abusing substances and otherwise fucking myself up. I was not insane at the time. And only someone who is either insane or a fucking idiot would stay in a situation or continue an action knowing full well that it is killing and/or will most likely kill them IF there is an alternative.<br /><br />A woman who is being battered by her husband, is not insane, knows what is happening is wrong, and knows she has an alternative, i.e., can leave without being homeless or starving to death, would be an idiot for staying in that situation. Battered Women Syndrome is the biggest crock of decidedly sexist bullshit anyone ever came up with. It's basically saying that women have the minds of children; that they are all emotionally retarded. Fuck that shit. It's wrong. Why not just admit that you're being an idiot? It might save your life. I admitted it. My name is Michael, and I was a fucking idiot. <br /><br />That's it. Please notice the IF. I'd make it bigger if I could. I realize some people do not have a choice, or do not know they have a choice, and ignorance is not stupidity. <br /><br />I am glad you made a comment. Why the fuck have only two women left comments on here? <br /><br />" Girls, if you don't like being touched, slap that hand. If you want to prevent violence and abuse then act like Jane acted when she bravely stood between me and that kicking boot. More than anything, learn to defend yourselves... to fight back like I never did. That's VICTORY. There's no survivor about it." <br /><br />If that isn't feminism, what the fuck is?Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17388657.post-62516561591557316092012-10-26T19:41:16.109-04:002012-10-26T19:41:16.109-04:00He also mentions cancer survivors, alcohol abuse s...He also mentions cancer survivors, alcohol abuse survivors, etc. Actually, those terms also cover guys, not just women. At least when it comes to cancer, I think it is correct to say that most campaigning for fundraising and awareness is linked to women, but that may not necessarily be a result of women presenting themselves as victims or survivors. I think it is a result of women being more open to campaigning for such causes. For instance, women raise funds for breast cancer research all the time through walks, 5k races, marches, etc., but I've never seen guys marching hand in hand to create awareness of prostate cancer. What? Is someone banning them from doing so? I don't think so. Women don't mind talking about boobs. Prostates are not men's favorite conversation topic. (Well, Mykel enjoys talking about prostates, but he's an anomaly ... and I mean that is the most positive way possible, haha).<br /><br />But here is the issue I most want to discuss: I agree with Mykel that the concept of an "inappropriate touching survivor" concept is crazy. It is even demeaning. I am not referring to the particular letter Mykel references because I have not read it, but I really detest this "poor little me" attitude, especially in a community where us women tend to portray ourselves or encourage each other to be independent, take-no-bullshit badasses. <br /><br />How does a label like "inappropriate touching survivor" solve anything or make women stronger? It just encourages us to live in fear and paranoia. If we follow a path of labeling ourselves as survivors when we really aren't, we might as well stay hidden where no one can harm our feelings. The world out there is not a clean and sanitary one where everyone plays nice. We need to grow a pair of ovaries and deal head on with any and all bullshit that is thrown our way.<br /><br />If a guy touches a woman inappropriately or acts like a jerk in any other way, she has every right to be pissed and to immediately and assertively let him know she's not going to tolerate such actions. She should tell him off and get it over with, instead of ending up traumatized for the rest of her life or going on a campaign to assassinate the guy's character. By telling him off in an assertive manner, she may even teach him a lesson on how to act like a human and not a savage. It works. <br /><br />Labeling ourselves "survivors" in a situation like this is ridiculous. What's next? Survivor of "that asshole cheated on me with my best friend"? Survivor of "I can't believe that guy yelled at me"? Survivor of "that dude looked at me wrong"? Give me a break!!<br /><br />However, when it comes to a battered woman -another example Mykel used-, then yes, she effectively is a survivor if she has been able to escape her tormentor. I would not call her an idiot, as Mykel did, because doing so is shallow and simplistic. Humans don't always act in their best interests, regardless of how intelligent they are, and domestic violence is a complex situation with complex causes and roots. <br /><br />I just want to reiterate that women can't and must not become defenseless victims every time a guy does them wrong. Is it wrong for a guy to mistreat a woman? Yes, absolutely, and there are ways to correct that kind of situation. But if a woman's (or man's) life was not in danger in whatever situation, they are not survivors of anything. <br /><br />xoxo,<br />Taina<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17388657.post-57010694110021066572012-10-26T19:40:31.743-04:002012-10-26T19:40:31.743-04:00Mykel, here are my thoughts on your column. It'...Mykel, here are my thoughts on your column. It's a loooong rant, so I'll divide it in pieces.<br /><br />First of all, I am sorry that MRR did not publish Mykel Board's column. The topic at hand is one that the punk community, and the feminist community, really need to discuss. But, as has been proven with this incident, there are topics that are taboo in our little universe of political correctness. That is unfortunate and just goes to show that we have become a microcosm of the society we rant against.<br /><br />Yes, there are many human rights campaigns, such as the Amnesty International one Mykel mentions, that openly identify girls and women as victims. But I don't see how this is unfair to men. How many human rights campaigns are dedicated to war veterans, for example. Such a campaign may not blatantly promote itself as creating awareness or raising funds for male veterans, but aren't most vets men anyway? I just happened to read that as of 2005, 88% of vets were men.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17388657.post-74980398534043301052012-10-22T01:30:53.192-04:002012-10-22T01:30:53.192-04:00Thanks for all the response. The only comment I...Thanks for all the response. The only comment I'd like to make now is that MRR told me something different than they told Anonymous. This is from their email to me:<br /><br />"As content coordinators, we have to answer for the content in the magazine and we cannot answer for the last column you submitted. Based on the 150+ shitworkers here, many of whom are people who have survived sexual assault and several of which who have survivors of politically motivated torture in their family, we can’t defend that column. Based on the readers and contributors, some of which you make disparaging remarks against, we cannot defend the column. "<br /><br />If you want to see the entire message, you're welcome to. Just email me at me@mykelboard.com and I'll forward it to you. <br /><br />Mykel Boardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05074534390555223781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17388657.post-3513223061972082922012-10-19T14:53:39.436-04:002012-10-19T14:53:39.436-04:00Mykel, are you running for office? Sure seems so, ...Mykel, are you running for office? Sure seems so, 'cause you play fast and loose with the truth here. The reason your column wasn't published, according to MRR was 'cause you weren't willing to answer any and all hate mail generated by the column in the pages of MRR. Had you been willing to answer the hate mail, this column would have been printed. Seems like you're manufacturing a tempest in a teapot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17388657.post-87811960822542776292012-10-18T15:27:43.072-04:002012-10-18T15:27:43.072-04:00Mykel, I'm sorry MRR wouldn't publish your...Mykel, I'm sorry MRR wouldn't publish your column. There could have been some really good dialogue about it between you and the readers.<br /><br />I'm 63. I was given female circumcision as a newborn. I have also experienced incest and rape. I do consider myself a survivor. <br /><br />Two reasons that over the years I've found it helpful to consider myself a survivor: one is that it helps me understand my "crazy" reactions to ordinariy situations. The other reason is that the language of survival can help on those occasions when others can't understand my "crazy" reactions.<br /><br />I also wanted to comment on the quotation from Jim Goad at the beginning of your column. I have met and spoken with Jim Goad, and I consider him a very wise person. Whenever I come across something he's written, I study it carefully. The subject of our justice system here in the US is very complex. On rare occasions, such as the prison experience of Malcolm X, someone can benefit from being taken out of their environment and being given time to think. For most of us, though, prison is indeed, and is solely, part of a cycle of abuse.<br /><br />Catherine MacKinnon's statement, which I've seen before, is very odd. It is wrong in so many ways. I don't know how it could be helpful to anyone who is honestly trying to improve themselves.<br /><br />If someone I care about considers himself or herself a survivor, I respect that. I also do what I can to affirm the positive aspects of that person. In my case, certainly, being a survivor is not all of who I am. I would not want to be known primarily as someone who was raped and lived to tell about it. I would rather be known as someone who always strives to be a better person and to do what I can to help others do the same.<br /><br />In case I get called "Anonymous", I want to put my name in here. I'm Susan Mullen.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05817882512024323177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17388657.post-4639449793605143982012-10-18T09:03:26.871-04:002012-10-18T09:03:26.871-04:00Mykel, this is Fernando, from Mexico. we've be...Mykel, this is Fernando, from Mexico. we've been pals since we met here in '94 0r '95. i think you've written your most important column ever. it amazes me no end that, apparently, the editors didn't get it! you're actually trying to 'empower' (fashionable word)the woman who wrote the letter, telling her, 'you still have the privilige to fight and kick him, don't wait for avengers, others have it way worse than you'..what's wrong with that?! first MRR issue i ever bought was april 1991's. on the cover: fat mike saying, 'if mykel's gone, MRR has been castrated'; but it was an APRIL FOOLS JOKE! now it's come true!and you're actually on the same boat, ideologically speaking. just when i renewed my subs thinking, 'belden and warrell are gone, but if mykel's still there, it's worth every dollar'. FUCK! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17388657.post-41343012904737294692012-10-18T03:07:29.031-04:002012-10-18T03:07:29.031-04:00i don't understand what was wrong this.i don't understand what was wrong this. JIM HAYEShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17144855915509766862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17388657.post-89165185581296026632012-10-17T03:43:44.287-04:002012-10-17T03:43:44.287-04:00This was one of the most insightful colums you'...This was one of the most insightful colums you've ever written. For that reason, I'm not surprised MRR didn't print it. People really don't like it when you piss them off by showing them that they've been wrong, that their reasoning has been fallacious, or when you show them that they no longer have any justifiable reason to feel any sorrier for themselves as anyone else. <br />The decision to not print this fucking disgusts me. Unless they change their mind, I won't support MRR in any fucking way. I thought it was a punk magazine.Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17388657.post-9839173282838210162012-10-16T13:35:54.870-04:002012-10-16T13:35:54.870-04:00Hey Mykel,
I love this column, and was pissed to ...Hey Mykel, <br />I love this column, and was pissed to find you weren't in MRR this month, even more pissed now that I know why. Fuck them! Their right or not I feel they are fucking assholes. I am sick of seeing all the "poor me, I'm a woman and I feel uncomfortable at the punk shows." letters and columns. I think fuck that it causes a bigger rift than was already there. I feel violence, abuse and molestation is wrong period, you being a women doesn't change anything about that.<br />Anyway, hope you are in the next issue.<br /><br />Danny Hatefuck<br />BEER!https://www.blogger.com/profile/06711949907549867664noreply@blogger.com