(no subject)

[rhu]

Pirates were horrible criminals. Thieves at best, rapists and murderers quite often. They occupy a unique status in international law as "enemies of humanity" and, as such, are subject to universal jurisdiction.

What's next? "Talk like a Nazi stormtrooper day?" "Talk like an Islamic terrorist day?"

Comments

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

What's your opinion on privateers?

Somehow, I doubt the romanticization of pirates that has taken place in popular literature throughout the centuries will lead to the same feelings towards Nazi stormtroopers and terrorists.

I think most people know that pirates were, for the most part, filthy scum. However, when you look at the type of pirate that is romanticized by literature and the media, it tends to be the kind who lives by some sort of moral code. For example, look at how Westly is portrayed in The Princess Bride. Or how Sparrow is the only man who is willing to risk his life to save a woman at the beginning of Pirates of the Caribbean.

[desireearmfeldt]

I think Talk Like A Pirate day is goofy, though I'm not immune to the appeal of "pirates" as a genre.

I've also been bemused/amused/disturbed by a) the prevalance of pirate-themed events aimed by adults at children, and b) the strange contortions the adults then have to go through when, for example, posting little informative signs about the pirate lifestyle. :)

[cazique.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised that in a post like this you specify Islamic terrorists and (to a lesser extent) Nazi stormtroopers, since "pirate" is (I can't stress this enough - to the extent of my knowledge) a nondenominational and non-national designation. Would it be better to have a day to talk like midwest-USA terrorist, terrorists-of-a-Jewish-or-pro-Israel-bent, or storm troopers from Star Wars?

[530nm330hz.livejournal.com]

I chose those examples for three reasons:

First and foremost, because those specific subclasses have ridiculous stereotypical "distinctive" verbal tics that parallel the gimmick behind "talk like a pirate day."

Second, because those specific subclasses push people's buttons. "Terrorists," sad to say, are sometimes considered funny. (We were watching Yes, Minister on DVD and there was an episode about supplying arms to the Italian Red Brigade and --- well, I couldn't laugh at that.)

And, third, finally, because I think the style of terrorism coming out of militant Islam today is a significantly more dangerous threat than, say, Timothy McVeigh or "Baruch" Goldstein. The threat is more significant in terms of numbers, in terms of philosophy, and in terms of goals.

[michelel72.livejournal.com]

I'm with you, at least to an extent. I find the specific "talk like a pirate day" thing twee at best.

But I'll still enjoy pirates in my culture, at least occasionally. Colbert's pirate skit in a Daily Show/The Colbert Report handoff? Hilarious. That's partly because he plays it for broad comedy and partly because he deconstructs it during the skit.

But pirates have been romanticized for decades, probably going on centuries, and I can think of several reasons for that:
- Going off to sea (as a general concept) was actually seen as a viable career path for certain civilizations, at least during certain periods
- Pirates may have been viewed as those who fulfilled the dream of running away and joining the circus
- Pirates answer to no master beyond the captain of the ship; they symbolize freedom from the constraints of society
- Class warfare and resentments may have inspired some people to see pirates as their era's manifestation of the Robin Hood phenomenon
- Pirates are currently viewed to be part of the past and thus not a current threat (although sea piracy -- and other forms -- occur to this day)
- The "classical" pirate is perceived to have a distinctive costume and dialect, which on their own inspire public notice and which also probably made them seem perfect for stage productions

Toss all those elements in a blender (I expect they all interact).

I mean, Suzanne Vega has a song, "Last Year's Troubles", which takes a similarly critical view of romanticized 18th- and 19th-century social ills. It starts with

Last year's troubles are so old fashioned
The robber on the highway the pirate on the seas
Maybe it's the clothing that's so entertaining
The earrings and swashbuckling blouses that please

She's noticed it, too.

But, honestly, sometimes the joking is meant to neutralize the power of the icon. Colonel Klink, anyone? Basil Fawlty's concussed Heil Hitler routine? In those cases, the figures are made inept and comical; I think they're still too charged.

And kids don't commonly dream of running away to join the Sturmabteilung. Except in certain isolated cases in which they're actually encouraged to do so, kids don't dream of running away to join the terrorists.

Wow, I got wordy. Sorry.

[ennienyc.livejournal.com]

I also find it annoying, not to mention based on people you don't really want to emulate.

[rubrick.livejournal.com]

I find it utterly harmless. If our fantasies were restricted to accurate traits of the truly virtuous, we'd have pretty dull daydreams.

Romanticizing pirates may once have been tasteless and irresponsible (in 1800 perhaps), but now that this vast parrot-laden mythology is in place and has almost entirely supplanted the reality in most people's minds, I see nothing wrong with having fun with it. Telling folks they shouldn't say "Yar, me mateys!" because pirates were actually cruel and dangerous people seems no more sensible than saying kids shouldn't snuggle with teddy bears because real bears are dangerous wild animals. Kids know the difference, and so do I.

And Talk Like a Pirate Day is arguably one step further removed-- a celebration, not of pirates, or even of mock pirates, but of the very absurdity of the pirate mythology. If we actually thought real pirates went around saying "I'm going buy a cARRRRton of milk!", the whole thing wouldn't be much fun.

Captain Feathersword

[autotruezone.livejournal.com]

Like many kids his age, my 4-year-old enjoys watching the Wiggles. One of their characters is Captain Feathersword, the Friendly Pirate.

After suffering the cognitive dissonance of trying to understand how someone can be both friendly and a pirate ("Ahoy there! Would you be so kind as to turn your ship and cargo over to my men? It would certainly be inconvenient if we had to blast you with our cannons or board you and slit all of your throats") I finally decided that there is another definition of the word pirate that should start appearing in dictionaries: "A nautical character in 18th century clothing who uses colorful expressions such as 'Blow me down' and 'Shiver me timbers', but does not necessarily engage in acts of piracy".

If Webster calls, let me know.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

It occurs to me to ask if your distaste for real pirates is now affecting your love of Gilbert & Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance...

[530nm330hz.livejournal.com]

I think Gilbert was making the same point as I was, only more deftly. Why are the Pirates of Penzance enjoyable as characters? Because they make a point of never attacking a party weaker than themselves. As moral individuals, they are utter disasters as pirates.

[rev69.livejournal.com]

Enron Management Remembrance Day?