2016 US Presidential Election Thread XIII

[martha]

Were Trump's "good points" when he wasn't mansplaining the job?

[anitram]

Don't tell women to smile. If you don't understand why, then follow the general rule of not telling anybody else to smile. Easy peasy.

[Mrs. Garrison]

[bono_212]

Women tell me to smile more, should I be offended? Please let me know.

[corianderstem]

That bums me out to see a comment like that, to be honest.

I'm not trying to tell you how to feel. I'm not claiming to speak for all women and not trying to demand that all women must be offended or pissed off or annoyed by the same things.

But sometimes I see other people say shit that seems sexist to me, and my response is pretty much FUCK THE PATRIARCHY.

You do you.

[anitram]

Originally Posted by bono_212

Women tell me to smile more, should I be offended? Please let me know.

Honestly.

Do/feel whatever you want. Just don't tell other people, especially perfect strangers, to smile. I really don't understand why this is a difficult concept.

Would you approach somebody you don't know and say "you should wear more/less make up" or "you should shave your beard" or "you shouldn't wear heels", etc?

[corianderstem]

My alternate reply:

Yes. You should punch them really hard and yell YOU'RE NOT MY SUPERVISOR!

[Moonlit_Angel]

I honestly couldn't give less of a shit over whether or not Hilary smiles enough, or is "likeable" enough. All I care about is whether or not she's capable of doing this job and knows her stuff politically.

I mean, geez, if I ran for president I'd probably get a lot of flak because I tend to speak softly and I'm a very quiet, kinda shy person in general. Everyone handles social situations differently, and while I can understand the argument that for a job like the presidency, you do need to have something of a handle on the gladhanding and whatnot, at the same time, if she did do all of that, she'd probably get accused of being a typical slick politician, too. If I recall rightly, that was a big issue people had with Romney, that he just acted too much like a slick politician and wasn't personable enough. But at the same time, depending on the situation, I'm sure there's moments when him acting more "politician-y" was the right way to go. Politics is different in many ways from other social situations, it's a weird world in so many ways, and I don't think it's always easy for ANY politician, male or female, to really just be "themselves" as a result.

It all kinda reminds me of how Bush Jr. got votes in 2000 because "he's the sort of guy you could have a beer with". Whether or not a candidate smiles enough or whether or not you can have a beer with them or whatever shouldn't be people's main criteria when deciding to support and vote for them. Their policy stances, and their experience or lack thereof, should be people's main concern.

Originally Posted by womanfish

One thing that i think is to Clinton's advantage now, is that the media went SO far overboard covering and constantly asking and covering Benghazi and the foundation and emails, that it feels like, it just isn't worth asking so much any more. After getting the same answer 100 times, there really is little left to say.

I think there's some truth to that, yeah. And I also think you're right that those issues probably will come up again in future debates.

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Talk to me about how much easier I have it that I just get to wear a suit when it's 95 degrees out and the 6 train is delayed

[DaveC]

Originally Posted by Headache in a Suitcase

Talk to me about how much easier I have it that I just get to wear a suit when it's 95 degrees out and the 6 train is delayed

this. this summer i would have killed to have the option to wear half the stuff women can in the office, meanwhile i sweated into a puddle biking home in a suit in 40+ degree weather.

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I was spoken to for not wearing a tie by one of my bosses, a female, who was essentially wearing a tank top with a shawl and a skirt, which are really just fancy shorts.

[DaveC]

Originally Posted by Headache in a Suitcase

I was spoken to for not wearing a tie by one of my bosses, a female, who was essentially wearing a tank top with a shawl and a skirt, which are really just fancy shorts.

i would wear a skirt to work in the hot summer without hesitation if it was at all acceptable.

[corianderstem]

I am so fucking glad I live on the west coast, which generally has a much more casual businesswear vibe. (Depends on the industry, of course.)

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Oh and not to mention... Suits? Unless you want to look like Saul Goodman, those shits are fucking expensive.

[Bluer White]

Originally Posted by Headache in a Suitcase

I was spoken to for not wearing a tie by one of my bosses, a female, who was essentially wearing a tank top with a shawl and a skirt, which are really just fancy shorts.

Just don't tell your boss to smile more, you'll rebound in no time

[DaveC]

the least i ever paid for a suit was $250 from h&m. the return policy was 14 days so naturally on the 15th day the crotch ripped wide open.

[bono_212]

My point is, there is context to everything. Someone saying smile can mean different things at different times. It's not universal, so to say never do it is, to me, absurd.

Originally Posted by Headache in a Suitcase

Talk to me about how much easier I have it that I just get to wear a suit when it's 95 degrees out and the 6 train is delayed

My point was more that people don't often look at a man and talk about their clothes first. Everyone had their own issues conforming to societal norms, believe me, I know that.

[deep]

Sexism is real, even in 2016
gender specific complaints? women win that 70/30 easily

[corianderstem]

Of course context is everything. Just like one man saying "Hey sexy, looking good" to a random woman on the street comes across one way, and another man saying "What a lovely spring dress" (which actually happened to me this year) comes across another.

Although, sexism aside, telling someone they should smile more is just all-around weird. Maybe my face is just like that. Maybe I'm super sad these days. Maybe I just don't want to smile, and why should I smile just for the sake of smiling?

Does it make other people uncomfortable to see someone not smiling? Should I smile to make other people feel better? (Well, okay. I tend to smile at people I pass. I'm not going to take time to wonder if that's just the way I am or if that's the patriarchy that can go fuck itself.)

It's just a weird thing. It's okay not to smile.

[corianderstem]

Look at what this thread has become. See what happens when you tell Hillary Clinton to smile?

Oh well. I'm sure Trump will do something appalling in the next few hours and we'll move on.