Her take on the Sambia (which she calls the Simbari?) seems pretty uninformed. Studies suggest that intimidation and fear of castration as a key element of this ritualized manhood — in other words trauma as integral to the experience.
While the term trauma or how we understand it in our culture might not be part of the language, differ or just not exist as a concept in another culture doesn’t equate that trauma wasn’t experienced.
Not being able to name the traumatic moment or any kind of emotional experience doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened.
Furthermore, WILD she would suggest that because members of this tribe who went through this ritual cause their own children to go through this that they must not experience trauma?!! Because surely those who experienced severe trauma never put their children or loved ones through similar experiences lmfao
Her argument could also be used to suggest FGM as a normal non-traumatic experience irregardless that many women in these cultures want and are resisting it.
I feel like Joshua is smarter than half these guests and he asks really interesting, often complex questions with a genuine curiosity but because of this sometimes the interviews fall flat because the answers by guests are so lacking and uninformed comparatively.
But I do understand that to also be the point. It seems more like a research project in that sense. But some more compelling than others.
I've read quite a lot about the sambia and have multiple books on them. Ive written blog posts that go into more detail about my views on trauma (Chattel Childhood) but your perspective on my views doesn't feel like it matches my views very much.
Doomscroll is meant to explore the full scope of ideas available on today’s internet. I encourage our guests to present their positions in a candid and unfiltered manner. I'm grateful to Aella for this episode and will gladly have her back anytime
Specifically, I took issue with the suggestion that in a culture where trauma is normalized that it can’t be trauma because the way we know /define trauma (western developed etc) doesnt exist or isn’t known in that culture. This seems highly dubious for the reasons and examples I stated.
But did you perhaps mean not that trauma isn’t experienced, but rather the trauma they do experience is understood (and perhaps manifests) differently?
Anyways, I’m not tryin to entirely hold someone to something they said under the lights and camera of a spoken interview.
Either way, I found the point regressive, or in the least, a vehicle to somehow diminish or criticize concepts on trauma which is fine but to what cause I question. Also using tribal examples is always a red flag when it seems dressed up as reasons why we should dismiss or question modern psychology, social research or the human experience. There’s others ways to do that ;)
I agree, some guests really fall flat, while other guests, even from a background as an online content creator are very knowledgeable. I think these interviews really show that not all online political content creators, are created equal.
Some are just professional entertainers co-opting the aesthetics of a political commentator as part of their business model.
While that probably is harmful for left-wing political outcomes, I think it is still important to acknowledge that many people are in fact influenced by such poorly informed sources on politics. With the abysmal political literacy in the imperial core these days, this is hardly a surprise.
I have avoided Aella like the plague and I found her utterly charming and very relatable in the way she thinks. I might not agree with everything she says but I really enjoyed the discussion.
Her take on the Sambia (which she calls the Simbari?) seems pretty uninformed. Studies suggest that intimidation and fear of castration as a key element of this ritualized manhood — in other words trauma as integral to the experience.
While the term trauma or how we understand it in our culture might not be part of the language, differ or just not exist as a concept in another culture doesn’t equate that trauma wasn’t experienced.
Not being able to name the traumatic moment or any kind of emotional experience doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened.
Furthermore, WILD she would suggest that because members of this tribe who went through this ritual cause their own children to go through this that they must not experience trauma?!! Because surely those who experienced severe trauma never put their children or loved ones through similar experiences lmfao
Her argument could also be used to suggest FGM as a normal non-traumatic experience irregardless that many women in these cultures want and are resisting it.
I feel like Joshua is smarter than half these guests and he asks really interesting, often complex questions with a genuine curiosity but because of this sometimes the interviews fall flat because the answers by guests are so lacking and uninformed comparatively.
But I do understand that to also be the point. It seems more like a research project in that sense. But some more compelling than others.
I've read quite a lot about the sambia and have multiple books on them. Ive written blog posts that go into more detail about my views on trauma (Chattel Childhood) but your perspective on my views doesn't feel like it matches my views very much.
Doomscroll is meant to explore the full scope of ideas available on today’s internet. I encourage our guests to present their positions in a candid and unfiltered manner. I'm grateful to Aella for this episode and will gladly have her back anytime
Thought leader solidarity
Hi! Thanks for commenting back.
Specifically, I took issue with the suggestion that in a culture where trauma is normalized that it can’t be trauma because the way we know /define trauma (western developed etc) doesnt exist or isn’t known in that culture. This seems highly dubious for the reasons and examples I stated.
But did you perhaps mean not that trauma isn’t experienced, but rather the trauma they do experience is understood (and perhaps manifests) differently?
Anyways, I’m not tryin to entirely hold someone to something they said under the lights and camera of a spoken interview.
Either way, I found the point regressive, or in the least, a vehicle to somehow diminish or criticize concepts on trauma which is fine but to what cause I question. Also using tribal examples is always a red flag when it seems dressed up as reasons why we should dismiss or question modern psychology, social research or the human experience. There’s others ways to do that ;)
But maybe i misunderstood! 🥲
I agree, some guests really fall flat, while other guests, even from a background as an online content creator are very knowledgeable. I think these interviews really show that not all online political content creators, are created equal.
Some are just professional entertainers co-opting the aesthetics of a political commentator as part of their business model.
While that probably is harmful for left-wing political outcomes, I think it is still important to acknowledge that many people are in fact influenced by such poorly informed sources on politics. With the abysmal political literacy in the imperial core these days, this is hardly a surprise.
I’m completely captivated.
I have avoided Aella like the plague and I found her utterly charming and very relatable in the way she thinks. I might not agree with everything she says but I really enjoyed the discussion.
Best birthday gift i couldve gotten lmao