Comments on SchmidtHaus: Reviewing Books I've Never Read

Woops, meant ski.My bad.

2007-02-09T14:17:00.000-08:00

Woops, meant ski.

My bad.

Jake, the verb meaning to go down a hill on two pl...

2007-02-09T12:27:00.000-08:00

Jake, the verb meaning to go down a hill on two planks is 'Ski', not sky. If you're going to be representing the unabashedly offensive community, please do it with proper spelling

Ladies and gentlemen, Jake!

2007-02-09T10:03:00.000-08:00

Ladies and gentlemen, Jake!

If I Raped Katie Hnida, This is How It Happened. A...

2007-02-09T09:47:00.000-08:00

If I Raped Katie Hnida, This is How It Happened. Also, I Like to Sky.

By, Jeremy Bloom

Doug-The key word in that sentence was "attempt." ...

2007-02-09T05:54:00.000-08:00

Doug-

The key word in that sentence was "attempt." I am not so full of myself to imagine that I can "understand and explain" the situation to "the rest of (you.)" My point is, and continues to be, that you attacked me for showing an ignorance towards the subject of rape based on the fact that I didn't accept Hnida's story as the fact of what happened at CU. I think if you will re-read my post, you'll see that I try very hard to "side" with Katie, but in the end I don't. Ignorance, Doug, is to formulate an opinion on something based on a willfull lack of knowlege, and then to stubbornly stand by that opinion at all costs. I don't see that being the case in my post. What my post was meant to show (and either I didn't do a good enough job, or you just don't get it) is the level to which I have tried to understand and empathize with both sides of this story. In the end, I conclude that certain aspects of Hnida's story, and the way she has failed to name her rapist, leaves me dubious. As has been the case since 2004 when Reilly's article broke, I have been looking for the evidence, and for the missing pieces to prove Hnida's story true. I want to believe Hnida. And that's what this post is about. Trying to understand a very fucking complex situation. I think Brian hit the nail on the head: "Thinking the way you do- that your perceptions of sexual assault and its aftermath are the only appropriate ones- does nothing but limit discussion on a topic that probably needs the opposite." Again, if you can find an article or blog post about this subject that shows somebody TRYING to understand this situation and not just draw blind conclusions (ie "a rape definitely occured, and this is what's wrong with college athletics"; or "Hnida is a liar, she should go jump off a cliff and die. Go Buffs!!") then I would love to see it. Chances are that the article would not be tinged with a hint of ignorance.

She looks too similar to ann coulter to be conside...

2007-02-09T05:35:00.000-08:00

She looks too similar to ann coulter to be considered "pretty"

Do people like Doug just troll the internets looking for shit to yell at people about? Like, he goes on technorati and types in "Rape" and then scrolls down until he finds someone who disagrees with him?

Brother, sexual assault is more pervasive than anyone would like to think and chances are that we all know someone affected by it. Thinking the way you do- that your perceptions of sexual assault and its aftermath are the only appropriate ones- does nothing but limit discussion on a topic that probably needs the opposite.

"Doug, what exactly, about my inner-dialogue over ...

2007-02-08T20:30:00.000-08:00

"Doug, what exactly, about my inner-dialogue over this matter is illustrative of ignorance? You show me one person on either side of the Hnida debate who you think has shown a more comprehensive, astute attempt at understanding the complexities of the situation than I have"
---------------------------
My , we certainly are full our ourselves, aren't we. You are a self absorbed ass. I'm so glad we have people in the world to enlighten us. And thank you for doing a better job than any other person in the world at explaining abd understanding the situation. How "astute."
And yes, this final commentary of mine is opinion, not a line by line breakdown or analysis of your reply. You evidently deign to show us lesser folk the light- but you lose us in your full of shit prose. And if you truly think you are smarter than the rest of the world--- wow. (and frankly, that's just how you come across).

Doug-Well, I do appreciate your input on my post, ...

2007-02-08T19:48:00.000-08:00

Doug-

Well, I do appreciate your input on my post, but I think we are going to have to agree to disagree here. First of all, what happened to your sister is a tragedy, nothing short of it. I have a close friend who was a victim of rape. It's a lifelong burden. However, your response illuminates two things that I foresaw in my own post: first, that I am automatically the bad guy for being distrustful of Hnida's version of events; and secondly, that I will automatically be seen as having no sensitivity or understanding about the subject of rape as an entirety based solely on my distrust of this one individual. You are entirely correct that not everything is black and white, and that is precisely why I wrote what I did about the Hnida story: because if her story is the "black" and Barnett's story is the "white" then the truth of what happened likely lies somewhere in the "grey." Now, Doug, because you decided to personally attack me based on our disagreement over one person's version of a disputed event, I will gladly respond to your accusations and misinterpretations of who I am and what I stand for line by line.

"Well I guess thats why you should never review a book you havent read. I dont understand how you can form b.s. opinions based on a short reading and q and a instead of reading an entire book to get the full story." ~ Actually, Doug, I am basing my opinions on the Hnida rape story (something that took place five years ago, and became public two years ago; and that Hnida herself, claims is ancillary to the book) on my pretty thorough research on the course of events at CU. I edited an article about the Barnett firing, these things usually require more than a superficial understanding of the course of events. The title of this blog post was "Reviewing Books I have never read," which is actually a pretty inane idea, if you think about it. Especially because I didn't review any of the books. If you can show me where I passed any judgment on the text of the book I'd be glad to remove it. I will say that from what I heard of the prologue the writing is very weak. Apparently asking a writer to write with more than cliches and similes makes me some kind of "psuedo-intellectual."

"I did read the book and I was especially interested in it for two reasons: I am a huge college football fan as well as being the brother of a rape victim." ~ I have expressed my sorrow for what happened for your sister. I have a close personal friend who died of a drug overdose. This fact did not preclude me from disbelieving James Frey.

"First, Katie Hnida accomplished a lot by becoming the first woman to play in a Division One football game as well as the first to score points." ~ I'm not sure I agree with you regarding the significance of what Hnida did. In terms of what she accomplished by being the first woman to score points. She accomplished one point. It's a story, sure, I'm just not sure it warrants its own book.

"Second, you make yourself out as a 'sensitive' soul by not asking questions or 'daring' to question the writer's motives." ~ I really don't believe I said anything of the sort Doug. What I said was "I'm sensitive to the fact that my opinions is unpopular." You have proven my sensitivity to be nothing short of dead-on. I struck a nerve with you, solely because I am not sure I believe Hnida. So much of a nerve that you go on to accuse me of ignorance.

"Well, frankly your blog illustrates the ignorance about rape and sexual assault that permeates society. You want things done your way or it's the wrong way." ~ I'm not sure where in the range of hyperbole to utter bullshit this statement lands. Doug, what exactly, about my inner-dialogue over this matter is illustrative of ignorance? You show me one person on either side of the Hnida debate who you think has shown a more comprehensive, astute attempt at understanding the complexities of the situation than I have. The fact that we disagree on this doesn't make me ignorant about the case, and CERTAINLY doesnt make me ignorant about rape in general. It just means we disagree. And if 'I want things done my way or it's the wrong way,' then I'd like to know what my way is, exactly. My way, thus far, has been to try my damnedest to understand the situation, and to indubitably say I believe Hnida's story. Unfortunately I can't say that is the case. But I am more than willing to listen to people who do believe that.

"It took my sister 10 years to finally open up.And then she closed right back down again. I did a lot of research on this subject because I wanted to understand it better- not pass flash judgement." ~ I can appreciate that. I did a lot of research, as well. Without getting too personal, I seriously hope your sister had the courage to press charges against her rapist, or at least name him, and not just say he was "one of this group of 150 guys."

"The book was about football, not just the rape." ~ I got this sense, yes. And I specifically wrote that I am of the opinion that Hnida thinks the football aspect of the story is the real heart of the story. I don't see where I say anything to dispute this.

"It was an easy read, but there's little wrong with that." Fair enough. Marley and Me was an easy read and I enjoyed it, quite a bit.

"This woman went through hell and you want her to go through more." ~ This is where you really lose me, Doug. First of all I believe the crux of my argument was I am dubious about the amount of hell that she did, in fact, go through. I provided some evidence, and an argument that says there is more to the Hnida/CU case than Hnida's story, alone. And to say "I want her to go through more hell" is a complete empty statement. First of all, I don't think Hnida is too concerned about how I feel about the matter, and secondly, I am POSITIVE she has heard much, much worse from some of her detractors than a simple "inner-monologue" about whether or not I can conclude definitively that her story is "truth." I wish Hnida the best. Bottles of champagne at every stop along the book-tour. But that's a seperate issue than whether or not I believe her.

"And what's the problem with a woman being pretty- does that mean she should be penalized for looks? She's asking for it? And the bathroom line comment was totally out of line. Just because someone tries to be friendly- others take it as a flirt or come-on." ~ Nothing wrong at all with a woman being pretty. I love pretty women. And why is it that whenever someone disagrees with a woman's version of a rape, they are accused of saying the woman was asking for it? Is that what Hnida was trying to say when she expressed her disbelief in the Duke accuser's story?! What's out of line about saying she was flirting with a guy on the line for the bathroom. Understandably we all have different definitions of flirting. Personally, I think putting your hands on a stranger's chest, and giving coy looks constitutes flirting. I didn't pass any judgment on her for doing so, as far as I recall.

"Man, you are one big pseudo-intellectual who needs to come down off your high horse and learn more about the real world-- it's not all black and white. You must be one frustrated dude." ~ You are more than entitled to base this opinion about me on one post in which I happen to disagree with your assessment of an alleged rape, and alleged harassment. Feel free to do so. Me? I don't really understand how you can form b.s. opinions based on a short reading and q and a instead of reading an entire book to get the full story

gms

Yeah Geoff! You don't even spell your name right! ...

2007-02-08T18:46:00.000-08:00

Yeah Geoff! You don't even spell your name right! Yeah!

(Provide anecdotal evidence to make generalizations about all of mankind here)

Well I guess thats why you should never review a b...

2007-02-08T18:00:00.000-08:00

Well I guess thats why you should never review a book you havent read. I dont understand how you can form b.s. opinions based on a short reading and q and a instead of reading an entire book to get the full story. I did read the book and I was especially interested in it for two reasons: I am a huge college football fan as well as being the brother of a rape victim. First, Katie Hnida accomplished a lot by becoming the first woman to play in a Division One football game as well as the first to score points.Second, you make yourself out as a "sensitive" soul by not asking questions or "daring" to question the writer's motives. Well, frankly your blog illustrates the ignorance about rape and sexual assault that permeates society. You want things done your way or it's the wrong way. It took my sister 10 years to finally open up.And then she closed right back down again. I did a lot of research on this subject because I wanted to understand it better- not pass flash judgement. The book was about football, not just the rape. It was an easy read, but there's little wrong with that. This woman went through hell and you want her to go through more. And what's the problem with a woman being pretty- does that mean she should be penalized for looks? She's asking for it? And the bathroom line comment was totally out of line. Just because someone tries to be friendly- others take it as a flirt or come-on. Man, you are one big pseudo-intellectual who needs to come down off your high horse and learn more about the real world-- it's not all black and white. You must be one frustrated dude.