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I thought it was sweet. I'm not even conservative, and I think the negative reaction is ridiculous. He was sharing his first reaction to seeing her, and amended it to include what he found out when he got to know her.
Why would he be surprised to discover she was witty and bright, though? Why wouldn't he have assumed from the start that she had a brain?
Without realizing it, you have stated what some see as the problem. We are not living "back in his day."
That's why he prefaced it with, "When I was a young man...."
The point was to compare the ignorance of his youth with his later wisdom.
All of us old men acknowledge how foolish we were as youth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth
Why would he be surprised to discover she was witty and bright, though? Why wouldn't he have assumed from the start that she had a brain?
He didn't say he was surprised. That was your projection.
I remember when I was a young man seeing a woman I though was absolutely ravishing accompanied by another woman who was pretty...but not as much. Then when I engaged the absolutely ravishing woman in conversation, I discovered she was an airhead and lost interest. Her not-as-glamorous friend, however, could knew the connection between men in red shirts and "rich Corinthian leather."
What I don't like about the comment is that you'd never hear (or read) the same thing said about a guy. Because it's never surprising to find out that looks and smarts can co-exist in the same guy. But for some reason, it seems surprising when talking about a woman.
It also shows that he didn't really know her very well (or didn't really pay attention to her) since she long spoke out against sexualization and objectification. I know his heart was in the right place, but Carrie wouldn't really have appreciated the comment. Of course, she would have said something in response that was biting and witty while at the same time gracious.
And just how would you know how she would have felt.? she may have taken it as a very nice complement.
He said he later discovered she was witty and bright. That means he wasn't expecting her to have those qualities.
It means he hadn't made any judgment at all beyond initial appearance while all he had to go on was initial appearance.
What rationality would there be in making a judgment on a characteristic without any evidence of that characteristic? It makes no more sense to presume someone "witty and bright" than to presume them boring and dull if all you have is their appearance.
Heck, most people aren't "witty and bright," so why would he make that assumption anyway?
He said he later discovered she was witty and bright. That means he wasn't expecting her to have those qualities.
No. Discovered means he got the opportunity to know her. It doesnt mean he wasnt expecting it. She could have been a dumb airhead or just a vapid souless person. Or any of many personalities. He couldnt know.
Lots of people we see or briefly meet we dont get to know and and only have their physical characteristics to judge them on.
What I don't like about the comment is that you'd never hear (or read) the same thing said about a guy. Because it's never surprising to find out that looks and smarts can co-exist in the same guy. But for some reason, it seems surprising when talking about a woman.
I disagree. Just this weekend I told my mother in law about how the first time I saw her son I was smitten, because he was so cute. And then I got to know him and found out he was smart and kind and loyal and all those other things too.
Most of my married girl friends have said similar things about their husbands as well.
Why would he be surprised to discover she was witty and bright, though? Why wouldn't he have assumed from the start that she had a brain?
Because he had not gotten to know her?
When all you know of is someone's appearance, then you can only judge their appearance. You cannot judge their intelligence or personality until you talk to them a bit and get to know them.
Do you go around assuming that every person you have seen but have not talked to are witty and bright? Neither do I. I try to not make assumptions about them and keep an open mind.
He said he later discovered she was witty and bright. That means he wasn't expecting her to have those qualities.
No it means he didn't *know* she had those qualities. Because he didn't know her. No where in the tweet did he talk about his expectations.
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