Friday, June 3, 2011

VS Naipaul and a Healthy Dose of Sexist Garbage

I just have to share my frustration…. It’s not even anger because I feel like this guy is really really trying to pull out the “look at me, I’m not politically correct and say what’s on my mind, aren’t I awesome?” card and that’s just…well annoyingly dull. It’s been done, as they say. But I still had to share.

Many of you have probably heard of VS Naipaul, a Nobel laureate from Trinidad who seems to constantly be trying to get on everyone’s last nerve. Well, last time I think it was the Muslims he was pissing off, now it’s women. Yup, the whole lot of us. In this article over at The Guardian, Naipaul claims that there is no woman, living or dead, that can parallel him in terms of writing. He’s just that good people. Oh wait, also it’s because women “unequal to [him]” and have a “narrow view of the world.”

Well that settles it! Women writers are sucky and male writers are just awesome-sauce. Especially this guy, who apparently we should all bow down to because he’s such a literary genius. Glad we have that sorted out.

He also goes on to state that “I read a piece of writing and within a paragraph or two I know whether it is by a woman or not. I think [it is] unequal to me." Isn’t sexism fun everyone? The Guardian even has this fun little test to see if YOU can be as cool as Naipaul. Give it a shot. I got 5 out of 10 right.

So, there’s my rant of the day. Hope you enjoyed it. Oh, and if you’re a female writer you might as well give up now.

13 comments:

Audra said...

omg, the layers of rage I have!! GRRR! How maddening. I'm the sort of reader that can't separate author from work so now all Naipaul is going to be suspect for me. GRRR.

Also, I got 6 out of 10.

bookspersonally said...

its so patently absurd it hardly merits responding to, but must confess I have thoroughly enjoyed reading some of the responses, including yours :D

picky girl said...

I've gotten to where I read this sort of thing and just laugh my ass off that anyone can possibly be so self absorbed. Really? No woman writes better than you? Have you ever read any women's writing? Whatever.

Sarah said...

What a douchebag. And he can't be THAT amazing, cause I've never even heard of him until now. Of course I won't be reading his stuff now... my "sentimental" mind might not be able to take it. I hate people sometimes.

Unknown said...

Oh boy. I scored ... 1/10. I am so obviously inferior.

Kerry Ann @Vinobaby's Voice said...

Hmm...7 out of 10. Although HE may claim to have 10/10, I'm sure I'm superior to the common man. What a jerk.

Although, I do often find that men cannot correctly write women's characters. It bugs me sometimes.

Cheers.
VB

Unknown said...

7/10...um, I did think that Mr. Naipul was a woman though...so, um, yeah...he must use 'girlie' words...

Unknown said...

i also think salman rushdie's a girl...i 'obviously' need to be 're-educated'!

As the Crowe Flies and Reads said...

Clearly Mr. Naipaul is a total blowhard. I've only read one of his books but I won't be in a hurry to read any more. And since statistically women read MUCH more than men do, all he has really done is shot himself in the foot by offending most of his readership. Too bad for him when the royalty checks stop comin' in!

FBT said...

I proudly scored 4/10. I have to say that his huge ego is making me want to read his books just to see if he's that good, but at the same time I don't want to read his books because I'm so biased now.

At least we're all talking about him, which is what he wanted in the first place. So, move well played, I guess.

Red said...

I'd probably be more upset by this guy if he hadn't claimed that women authors are unequal to him rather than to male authors in general. I get that's pretty much what he's getting at but it's so self-absorbed to be ridiculous. Like when a small child says something so patently ridiculous, you just patronizingly smile and nod.

llevinso said...

Glad this post has gotten such a nice response. Yeah, this guy is pretty ridiculous. Way to alienate your fanbase buddy!

And I agree Red about the smiling and nodding. Kind of my reaction too to such utter nonsense.

Karen Wojcik Berner said...

He can think whatever he wants, but alienating half of the population does not show much good sense now, does it? Way to cut your potential readers by fifty percent. He is obviously a genius.