Are you a culture-less barbarian?

[Hoi Polloi]

UT Dallas is hosting an art exhibit that seeks to educate the cultured people about the existence of barbaric weapons owners, claiming that the people of culture are not likely to come into contact with weapons owners because weapons owners aren't likely to be in the same geographic areas, social circles, work environments, or to attend any cultural events where the enlightened go. You can read about the art exhibit they have going on in surprise_i'm_armed's thread "Dallas "Gun and Knife Show" name stolen in name of art."

I have a lot of other problems with the exhibit's write-up, but this one in particular stood out as I know it is easily and demonstrably wrong.

If there is any time in your life in which you might rub elbows with someone who would consider himself "cultured," then please indicate that below by choosing the appropriate selections. They are intentionally very broad to encompass all the possible cultural venues, so choose the one closest to what fits your life. Being a patron of the art means you bought, watched, ate, or otherwise appreciated someone else's artistic work. There's a single category for those who did the singing, dancing, quilting, cooking, etc themselves. Choose all that apply. If you cannot select any of the first 18 options, then please select the 19th which is that you're a cultureless barbarian. Please only select that you're a barbarian if none of the others apply.

Let's prove them wrong!

[mgood]

I use cutting edge technology regularly
Do computer games count?
Oh wait, I have a laser sight on my 1911.

I use cutting edge technology more than the average person
I use an electric knife to filet fish.

I am a college student or graduate
I've been a college student on and off since 1987. No degree, but I have more hours than your average graduate.

I am in the middle or upper socioeconomic classes
Heck no, I'm broke.

I have a white collar job (or am retired/unemployed/etc from one)
Unemployed, and have had a couple of white collar jobs.

I volunteer time, effort, money . . . blah blah blah
I used to work with the Boy Scouts, but I haven't done that in years.

I live in a suburban or urban area
Hardly, but I spent nine years in the Dallas area and three years in a San Diego suburb. So, been there, done that.

I am an educator
Not professionally, but I've taught a lot of things at different times.

I know more than one language
English and Texan (And a little, very little, Spainish/Tex-Mex).

I am a patron of the visual arts
You don't want to know. (10-yr-old daughter rule)

I am a patron of performing arts
Does heavy metal count?

I am a patron of folk or cultural arts
Quilting? Yeah, right. I may have done a little storytelling from time to time though.

I am a patron of the culinary arts (notable wine, beer, food, etc)
What's "notable"? Beer starts with Bud and ends with weiser (but I don't drink it often and most wine tastes like vinegar). Pizza (Papa John's or Pizza Hut as opposed to the "authentic" Italian stuff), seafood of all kinds, hot wings, good lasagna (not that frozen stuff), mexican food

I read or have read many culturally noteworthy publications
"Culturally noteworthy" may be debateable, but reading was my primary passtime before I got the internet. I still read a lot. I can, and often do, go for months without turning on the TV.

I am a musician, writer, dancer, artist . . . .
Ten years of playing trombone in band from 6th grade up through 3 years in the Texas Tech Goin' Band. Was a music theory major at Tech. Played bass guitar and a little guitar for ages, thought I was a musician. Spent tons of money on the gear for it anyway.

I travel or have traveled regularly or widely
I was on the road a lot as a sound man and later as an over-the-road truck driver.

I make conscious choices to be a good steward
Mmm, somewhat. I'll recycle stuff if it's convenient but won't drive all over town (burning gas) looking for a recycling center. I use mostly plastic utensils to save water.

Another way?
Work out, on and off. . . . Mostly off.

I have absolutely no culture and am a barbarian
Yeah, pretty much.

[PappaGun]

UT Dallas is hosting an art exhibit that seeks to educate the cultured people about the existence of barbaric weapons owners, claiming that the people of culture are not likely to come into contact with weapons owners because weapons owners aren't likely to be in the same geographic areas, social circles, work environments, or to attend any cultural events where the enlightened go.

Like all the political elite who want to write themselves a special provision that allows only them to carry when and where others can not?

[WildBill]

Too many choices.

[chasfm11]

UT Dallas is hosting an art exhibit that seeks to educate the cultured people about the existence of barbaric weapons owners, claiming that the people of culture are not likely to come into contact with weapons owners because weapons owners aren't likely to be in the same geographic areas, social circles, work environments, or to attend any cultural events where the enlightened go. You can read about the art exhibit they have going on in surprise_i'm_armed's thread "Dallas "Gun and Knife Show" name stolen in name of art."

I almost jumped in on the referenced thread but I haven't figured out how to say what I want and stay within the forum rules.

It strikes me as odd that the "emancipated" artists who decry guns and religion as Bourgeois seem to use those subjects in their work for the apparent purpose of deriding those who appreciate them. If the subject of guns is so low class, why even pretend that it exists? Could it be that the artist is internally conflicted and is using his art to try to resolve his own conflict?

Although, per your instructions, Hoi, I didn't check culture-less barbarian, I suspect that those behind the the Gun and Knife Show would find me well suited to check it. They really aren't about culture but about Elitism. Culture is just one of their many excuses to exercise it.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Let me extend my thanks to all the members who used my other thread on
the "Gun and Knife Show" arts exhibit to dig up more material than I had when
I posted the thread. I like this spinoff thread too. Thanks Hoi Polloi.

I just got through roaming around http://www.texas3006.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Although there are some
"entertainment" venues, including museums, which are legally posted with 30.06 signs,
there are a lot that I have been to which are not.

So I guess to some art museum owners, they are either pro-CHL, or don't have the faintest
idea that some of their visitors like to carry weapons while admiring art.

These museum owners may possibly think that all CHL's are knuckle-dragging mouth breathers,
but this is not the case.

SIA

[mgood]

So I guess to some art museum owners, they are either pro-CHL, or don't have the faintest
idea that some of their visitors like to carry weapons while admiring art.

These museum owners may possibly think that all CHL's are knuckle-dragging mouth breathers,
but this is not the case.

I carried at the Dallas Museum of Art before there was any such thing as a Texas CHL.
I think the statute of limitations has run out on that one.
It was the grand opening of a new wing or something, black tie event. They had live music and I was there with the sound and lighting company. I had to park several blocks away and knew I would be leaving around midnight, long after the thing was over, maybe by myself, or at best with one or two other people. So I made the decision that the risk of walking around that area alone at night unarmed was greater than the risk of getting caught with a concealed weapon.
I was both amused and concerned that they were checking our bags as we left. Amused because we had loaded cases and cases of equipment in our truck and no one looked at what we were putting in there but now they're checking girls purses and my backpack? Yeah, whatever. Concerned because that was where my pistol was. But I figured what the heck? I had a gun and the sucurity guards didn't. What were they going to do about it? And I was leaving, not coming in. They were just trying to make sure we weren't stealing art or something. I figured if worse came to worse, I could make a run for my car and be out of the area before they could summon LEOs. The pistol was in the back of my backpack and some paperwork was in front of it. I just pushed the papers back to cover that and opened my pack for them to glance inside and they never saw the gun.

[PappaGun]

The Dallas Museum of Art is posted?

Ooops....

[b322da]

Let's prove them wrong!

If the objective here is to "prove them wrong," Hoi, your poll might be more meaningful if some percentages applicable to the general population were available for comparison purposes. I. e., how do we know whether or not they have been proved wrong?

I do not mean to imply that this would be easy, but there is a wealth of information out there on the 'Net. For example, a quick and easy Bing search re: the educational level of the general population discloses many a responsive web site. I will be the first to admit that the dates reported vary widely, if noted at all. Still, the numbers from various sources appear to be remarkably consistent. For example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educationa ... ted_States" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percenta ... _education" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0908670.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I selected these three sources at random. I just selected this category as it appeared to me that some info on the general population might be readily available out there.

In anticipation of comments to come, please recognize, Hoi, that I make no value judgments, and that I address only one of 18 factors. It would be irresponsible to make any value judgment on the basis of such slim data. Perhaps some other forum members can take a look at other factors.

BTW -- It is interesting to note that it appears clear that the percentage of women with college degrees is now consistently higher than that of men.

Elmo

[mgood]

The Dallas Museum of Art is posted?

Ooops....

Not that I know of. I haven't been there since the early nineties. I was saying that I was there before the CHL law was passed and therefore I was carrying illegally.

[schufflerbot]

I am a 33 year old male, was a techno DJ / producer for 13 years and have always been what others seem to consider an 'artist' (paint, draw, sculpt, etc.) I was an Information Technology project manager, and disaster recovery/Business continuity planner for Chevron Texaco USA for 5 years before being laid off late 2010. Now, I am in the process of starting 3 different businesses... all with different purposes. I regularly visit museums, art galleries, music events (including opera, orchestra and ballet) and have met some of the most interesting people at these places. I am a father of a 1 year old little girl, my home office is outfitted with enough technology to confuse most people and I am a faithful, loving husband. I get my fingerprints scanned Thursday morning, then I wait for X amount of time before receiving my plastic card of joy.

Once that arrives, I will become a barbarian.

[karder]

In general I have found that people who consider themselves cultured are simply subscribing to a very specific vision of "political correctness". I have travelled extensively, am well educated, speak two languages fluently, but I am not a fan of "the arts". I don't criticize those who enjoy the theater or symphony, it just is not my cup of tea. My wife runs in academic circles where she has a number of friends in higher education who consider themselves enormously enlightened, and consider me a brute.
The greatest difference that I can detect is that I am not at all politically correct. I tend to keep my opinions to myself, but if asked, I will answer honestly and I have the intellect to argue my position quite effectively. I believe that my barbarian label has much more to do with my conservative Christian values than my education and intelligence. Then again, perhaps I am a barbarian and they are correct.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Keep in mind that many magazines and TV shows originate in New York City,
a city which apparently favors the disarming of citizens.

NYC-based journalists write their articles with the sensitivities in mind of their
fellow, non-gun owning, non-vehicle owning peers.

These articles assume that the rest of the country should have the same value systems.

This is not the case.

SIA

[Hoi Polloi]

Let's prove them wrong!

If the objective here is to "prove them wrong," Hoi, your poll might be more meaningful if some percentages applicable to the general population were available for comparison purposes. I. e., how do we know whether or not they have been proved wrong?

I do not mean to imply that this would be easy, but there is a wealth of information out there on the 'Net. For example, a quick and easy Bing search re: the educational level of the general population discloses many a responsive web site. I will be the first to admit that the dates reported vary widely, if noted at all. Still, the numbers from various sources appear to be remarkably consistent. For example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educationa ... ted_States" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percenta ... _education" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0908670.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I selected these three sources at random. I just selected this category as it appeared to me that some info on the general population might be readily available out there.

In anticipation of comments to come, please recognize, Hoi, that I make no value judgments, and that I address only one of 18 factors. It would be irresponsible to make any value judgment on the basis of such slim data. Perhaps some other forum members can take a look at other factors.

BTW -- It is interesting to note that it appears clear that the percentage of women with college degrees is now consistently higher than that of men.

Elmo

Elmo,

You rock!

Their statement was that cultured people are in different social circles that insulate them from weapons owners, making them unintentionally ignorant to the presence or effect of the barbarians. Having people who say, "I own weapons and I am in the same circle as these 'cultured' people when I am..." proves their statement wrong on its face. As others have pointed out, this shows the underlying biases and their real issues which they're masking with this excuse. As Karder so eloquently stated, it is the mere acknowledgment that "I own guns" which they believe makes one a barbarian. And they paint anyone who could own a weapon as an uneducated, uncivilized rural caveman who is fetishistically obsessed with phallic violence. And while some here jokingly identify fondly with that appellation, it is more of an embrace for the values it stands for than for a realistic picture of their lives.

As someone who wrote me pointed out, he knows doctors, lawyers, and every other conceivable type of "cultured" person who owns weapons. The issue is not that the curators do not encounter weapons owners in their circles; it's that they don't want to talk about anything but violence. Pretty warped, really. This poll simply and easily flays open their most basic argument and I think the stats you reference will further show how distorted their view of reality is.