Stop it with these GoT articles. Just stop.

Can I... can I just?

Everyone please stop writing these articles, please.  PLEASE.

I read Thought Catalog regularly, and I was sad to see this yesterday because I generally really like the author's stuff, but this one really bugged me probably because I keep seeing articles like this all over the place.  This post is spoiler-y if you haven't watched the show, but it's safe if you haven't read the books.  Which you should.  But here's the article.

10 Game of Thrones Guys and Whether or Not You Should Marry Them.

http://thoughtcatalog.com/2012/10-game-of-thrones-guys-and-whether-or-not-you-should-marry-them/

Originally I couldn't quite articulate my rage for this particular article, and I am kind of sorry that it's all being directed towards this one article rather than at every half-assed attempt to demonstrate you like the show, but the rage can be split into 2 vague groups:

1. This isn't even that good of a list.

2. LADIES ARE FANS OF THIS SERIES FOR REASONS OTHER THAN "OMG HOW SEXY IS RICHARD MADDEN."

Let's break this down, shall we?  First things first.

A third of the list has been dead since 1996.  That's when the first book came out.  (Drogo, Viserys, and Ned, for those of you counting at home).  Which is why I found it kind of hilarious that everyone was OMG NED because I was legitimately 9 years old in the real world when he died.  I'm 24 now.  This shouldn't shock anyone who pays attention at all, but other sections of this list are gonna be deadsies as well.  This series is ridiculously violent so if you're gonna get mad that your fantasy boyfriend (or girlfriend! Whatever! It doesn't matter! Lots of people die!) died when the rest of the fandom has known it for more than a decade.  I'm only three years dedicated to this thing so I can't even imagine the poor people who have been in it since the 90s an would sell a kidney to get Martin to write faster. 

Now to the content: Pyat Pree?  REALLY?  That was the choice here?  No Jaime?  No Davos?  No Tywin? No Littlefinger?  No Jorah Mormont?  All so a joke could be made about the fact that he looks like a just-hatched baby condor with an affinity for grape soda.  WE GET IT.  DUDE'S UGLY AND LIKES DRAGONS.  Pick someone else. 

I'd also really appreciate it if everyone could stop acting like it's some kind of brilliant observation to point out that Joffrey is the dungbeetle of Westeros society at the tender age of 13.  The kid's awful.  We get it. He's awful and has stupid hair.  You wanna talk with me about how King Robert was basically as responsible if not more than Cersei for the way he turned out?  (I have feelings.  Don't judge me.)  We can talk then.  But the next person who points out that he is a punk and looks like that Cobra Kai dude that Daniel-san beats up and a sneer mated and had a anger-baby like it's some kind of Einstein brilliance is gonna get smacked.  Like Tyrion smacks Joffrey. Those clips you can continue to post, however, because that shit's the BEST.

And here we come to the bigger aspect.  I have to defend myself for this all the time but I read these books for the story and the characters and reasons other than to drool over Stark heirs and bastards.  I've been mad about this since the New York Times allowed an article to be published that said "i don't get why women would like this show it's so complicated and sword-y LOL."  This matters to me, so I keep track of things.  That article was similar to saying "I have a lot of friends but I don't wanna memorize their names and likes and passions so BYEEEE."  I care what happens to these characters for reasons other than Bone Marry Kill.  A Storm of Swords made me feel all the feelings.  I have so many Theon thoughts I wish I had a second brain to work them all out.  I am the Watcher on the Walls.  (Not really that one but I did just buy a mug with that written on it so close enough.)

The next person I hear assuming that the only possible reason I as a ladyperson could watch this is to count how many shirtless scenes Robb Stark has...by the old gods and the new, I will crush you.

Winter is COMING.  I named my right fist Winter.

It's ours now, b****.

Logged about 12 miles last week, all three treadmill workouts.  Not great but I'm easing back in from being sick, and my goofy late evening treadmill one on Wednesday was extra awesome because it was the longest one yet, about 4.3 miles!  Also I was racing the girl next to me and I won.  I won because I adjusted the rules as we both ran and because she did not know we were competing.  I should do that all the time, I'd always win!

I don't have a segue for this.  I just have some things to say, so here they are.  

Just to start this off: I love Louis CK.  I think he's absolutely hilarious and brilliant and makes you uncomfortable in the best possible way.  He's also absurdly self-aware.  He's white and male and a whole bunch of other privileged things, and he knows it.  This is evidenced in much of his standup, but I think it's extra clear in this clip.  Also, I'm assuming you know this, but don't listen to any of his stuff at work.  Like, ever.  Or in front of children or in-laws or interviewers.

However, there's one thing I don't think he understands, and that's the concept of "bad words."  In this clip, he talks about words not being bad, but that people use them to hurt each other and they become bad.  The three specific ones he uses as examples are (and I cringe even typing them), "faggot," "cunt," and "nigger."

I just can't agree with his classification.  No, the arrangement of the letters in any of those words is not inherently bad, and I can type them and say them in a discussion without any malice.  However, that word has a history, and it involves a time where people who looked like me could legally own people who had darker skin.

I don't get to decide whether this word gets reclaimed or not.  And words can be reclaimed: the most successful example usually cited is the reclaiming of "queer."  This word can now even be used by people outside the community (disclaimer: people who aren't saying it to hate) to describe those in it.  But THEY were the ones who get to decide.  My friends told me it was okay to use.  Straight, white girl over here doesn't get to decide whether hate speech directed at you and people like you is now okay or not.  You can say "nigger," but I can't?  Oh, wait, that's actually totally fair.  

There are many privileged groups I belong to, and I try to be aware of them.  I'm white, I'm able-bodied, I'm broke but not poor (there's a difference!), I'm straight, and there's more.  I don't get to decide whether it's okay to use TONS of words used to make those groups feel awful.  But I'm not male.  So I have a whole host of words to choose from that all make me feel worthless due to my absence from that privileged group.  I've recently tried to drop "bitch" from my vocabulary: it's a gendered insult.  I caught myself this summer using it to describe opposing counsel, and realized that it was an awful thing to do: yes, she was being condescending and rude and a whole host of other things, but none of those things had to do with the fact that she was a woman.   

And here's where it gets uncomfortable: I don't really want to hang on to those words.  I don't want to reclaim "bitch" or "whore" and especially not "cunt."  I don't want to call other women this, and it makes me really uncomfortable to hear them as greetings tossed around by other women.  "What up, bitch?" is cringe-worthy, and don't you dare tell me that makes me over-sensitive.

I'm "oversensitive" because men (and sometimes other women) have used and STILL use those words to make my existence less legitimate.  I'm not just mean, I'm a WOMAN who's mean, and that's worse, so I get called a "bitch."  "Cunt" feels even worse.  It means I'm horrible, I'm cruel, I'm worthless, and all of those characteristics are a result of having certain body parts.

Having some guy, any guy, tell me there's nothing inherently wrong with "cunt" is unacceptable because it's not true.  The second you can separate centuries of discrimination and stereotypes from that word, it's yours to use.  Until then, no dice.