Boors will be boors
Re “Men who explain things,” Opinion, April 13
I found Rebecca Solnit’s description of the ongoing state of gender inequality in the world far too one-sided. As she relates by anecdote, there indeed are people who think they know everything. I believe it is accurate to characterize such individuals as narcissists, many but not all of whom are male. I could offer testimonials just as passionate as Solnit’s about my life experience in which gender is consistently trumped by merit. As important as it may be to crusade for change where it still is needed, I think it is equally important to acknowledge that, on some fronts, the war for gender equality is pretty much over. I’ll stop now before I’m accused of being a “man who explains things.”
Harold Amer
Pacific Palisades
Reading Solnit’s article on the pompous dolt who of course knew far more than she, I felt a strong sense of identification. I can’t begin to tell the number of times I’ve been tricked into discussing ideas or theories with such dolts. And I’m a guy.
I think this boorishness, while it is particularly male, is not aimed only at women. I think it stems from some deep insecurity men tend to have about their true intelligence, even when they congratulate themselves on having amassed financial fortunes. Such people as Solnit’s jerk, lacking creativity and imagination, will always try to snuff it out in the rest of us, whichever gender we happen to be.
But the good part is that when we meet others like ourselves, who throw gasoline and not water onto our mutual intellectual fires, we know we’ve encountered the people who really matter. Such spirits are worth the wait.
Perry Anderson
Huntington Beach
Solnit’s article was beyond excellent, and I was actually able to see myself in some of her examples of men’s attitudes toward women, which helps me realize my need for an ongoing examination of conscience. I was disappointed, however, in the first paragraph, which hinted that older people are, almost by definition, “dull in a distinguished way.” When I was in my 40s, some of my best friends were in their 60s and 70s, and they provided stimulating company. Solnit’s article against prejudicial attitudes reveals that similar attitudes may reside within herself.
Richard Rains
Sylmar