pretentious
adjective | pre·ten·tious | \pri-ˈten(t)-shəs\
1: characterized by pretension: as
a : making usually unjustified or excessive claims (as of value or standing) <the pretentious fraud who assumes a love of culture that is alien to him — Richard Watts>
b : expressive of affected, unwarranted, or exaggerated importance, worth, or stature <pretentious language> <pretentious houses>
For a real life example, consider this segment from an October 2014 episode of 'Real Time with Bill Maher', where author Sam Harris, actor/director Ben Affleck, MSNBC Political Analyst Michael Steele, and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, argue about the composition of the followers of Islam --
This discussion had the typical uselessness of most panel discussions (at least with respect to the supposed topic), and especially the panel discussions on Bill Maher's show — even in the unusual event that a panel member has important insights, they get lost in the melee.
But Ben Affleck offered up a valuable lesson with his behavior in that segment. He served as an excellent negative role model, in that he demonstrated behavior that one should strive to avoid.
Bill Maher began by saying that liberals are essentially politically correct — that they pretend to defend freedom, but they will not defend it against attacks from the religion of Islam. This was more than a little ironic coming from Maher, given his well established track record as a politically correct liberal. That's a separate topic — but here is just one obvious example of Maher's overall view, where he leads a panel discussion, again in October 2014, at a Minnesota Town Hall called 'Flip a District', criticizing the voting record of the Republican Congressman John Kline --
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EDnuLqj3cU.
Maher demonstrates his own criticism, in that, like most liberals, he does not consistently defend freedom — but at least he was making an effort in that segment of 'Real Time', by trying to at least get people to acknowledge the terrible pattern that is specific to the religion of Islam.
Sam Harris agreed that liberals have failed on the topic of theocracy, adding that liberals have no problem criticizing Christians, whereas they treat criticisms of the religion of Islam as an expression of bigotry toward all Muslims.
Ben Affleck immediately went on attack, proving exactly what Harris had just stated — that criticizing the oppressive nature of Islam is normally treated as a form of racism.
The exchange was not especially interesting, except as a demonstration of psychology, and a lack of critical thinking skills. Ben Affleck gave no indication that he was even capable of listening to what was being said — he wanted to give the appearance that he is not a racist, so he kept repeating his claim that Maher and Harris were attacking all Muslims, no matter how many times they made reference to particular beliefs that are incredibly harmful to civilized society.
Like the widely held belief among British Muslims that publishers of the Danish cartoons of the Prohpet Muhammed in 2005 should have been prosecuted, and that freedom of speech should not be allowed when religious views are involved --
http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/291
...
Asked about attitudes towards free speech, there was little support for freedom of speech if it would offend religious sensibilities. 78% of Muslims thought that the publishers of the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed should be prosecuted, 68% thought those who insulted Islam should be prosecuted and 62% of people disagree that freedom of speech should be allowed even if it insults and offends religious groups. ...
Or, the widely held belief among Muslims that a penalty of death is appropriate for those that leave the religion of Islam. As proof, consider page 55 from the April 2013 Pew Research Center poll, 'The World's Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society' (this may also be the poll Maher referred to in countering Affleck) --
https://www.pewforum.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2013/04/worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-full-report.pdf
Ben Affleck was completely incapable of responding to the argument being made — that liberals will not criticize harmful Islamic religious practices, even those that directly contradict supposed liberal values. And notice the other panel members, Nicholas Kristof and Michael Steele, also helped demonstrate the point Harris and Maher were making.
Nicholas Kristof's responses were almost comical is this regard. Kristof began by accusing Harris and Maher of advocating intolerance, but to defend Islam and his accusation, he raised as examples individuals who were imprisoned or killed by Muslims for attempting to oppose Islamic intolerance. Kristof's mention of Rashid Rehman in an attempt to defend Islam was especially bizarre, given that Rehman was a Pakistani attorney who was murdered in cold blood in his office, for agreeing to defend a college lecturer accused of blasphemy. It is reported that Rehman had received numerous death threats from highly educated people — other lawyers. Here is Kristof trying to give Islam a 'kinder' face --
... but the picture you are painting is to some extent true, but is hugely incomplete. It is certainly true that plenty of fanatics and jihadis are Muslim, but the people who are standing up to them. Malala [Yousafzai], Mohammad Ali Dadkhah in Iran, imprisoned for nine years for speaking up for Christians. A friend that I had in Pakistan who was shot this year, Rashid Rehman, for defending people accused of apostasy.You could not make up better examples to help support the point Harris and Maher were attempting to make.
Michael Steele basically repeated his own version of this, adding that Muslims who do oppose the fanatical members of the religion, do not receive the same media coverage, and that if they did, it would create a better picture of the Muslim community. Of course, this begs the obvious question, why is this "picture" of the Muslim community in such desperate need of being balanced? And, of course, Steele's comments had the same problem as Kristof's rebuttal, in that Steele specifically mentioned "braver souls" who are "risking their lives" to oppose the fanatical elements of the religion.
Why on earth does Islam need "braver souls" who must be willing to "risk their lives"?
Ben Affleck's behavior was especially fascinating in that 'Real Time' segment, in that he had the least to add to the conversation, but acted as if his comments were the most important — Affleck acted as if he were being forced to suffer fools. And note that Sam Harris pointed out on his blog that he was meant to do the five minute mid-show interview on that episode of 'Real Time', and that everyone on the panel knows that time is not meant to be a group discussion — Affleck decided there was no reason he should have to wait for Maher to finish the interview with Harris, so he interrupted, taking over the conversation.
But what made Affleck's behavior so useful as a negative role model, was not just that he was so arrogant, but that he was not able to raise any real criticism. Initially, Affleck threw out a sarcastic remark, but then he asked Harris, "are you the person who understands the officially codified doctrine of Islam?", as if one has to be an expert in some officially codified doctrine (if it even exists) to raise any criticisms of the ideas advocated by that doctrine. For example, does one have to spend years studying the Quran, to be qualified to criticize the belief that those who leave Islam deserve the death penalty? Obviously, this is nonsense.
To be clear, I am not trying to criticize Ben Affleck for his ignorance — it is that he gives new and deeper meaning to the importance of this piece of advice —
It's OK to be ignorant, and it's OK to be arrogant, just not at the same time.
Here is a partial transcript of the discussion from the 'Real Time' segment for reference --
...
MAHER: Liberals need to stand up for liberal principles. This is what I said on last week's show, obviously I got a lot of hate for it. But all I'm saying is that liberal principles, like freedom of speech — freedom to practice any religion you want without fear of violence — freedom to leave a religion — equality for women — equality for minorities, including homosexuals. These are liberal principles, that liberals applaud for, but then when you say in the Muslim world this is what's lacking, then they get upset.
SAM HARRIS: Yeah, yeah, well liberals have really failed on the topic of theocracy. They'll criticize white theocracy. They'll criticize Christians. They'll still get agitated over the abortion clinic bombing that happened in 1984. But when you want to talk about the treatment of women and homosexuals, and free thinkers, and public intellectuals in the Muslim world, I would argue that liberals have failed us. And the crucial point of confusion [applause, Harris turns to audience] ... Well, thank you.
BEN AFFLECK: [with disdain, Affleck interjects over the applause] Thank God you're here!
SAM HARRIS: The crucial point of confusion is that we have been sold this meme of Islamophobia, where every criticism of the doctrine of Islam gets conflated with bigotry toward Muslims as people
MAHER: Right.
SAM HARRIS: That is intellectually ridiculous.
BEN AFFLECK: So, hold on, are you the person who understands the officially codified doctrine of Islam?
SAM HARRIS: I'm actually well educated on this topic.
AFFLECK: I'm asking you. So if you saying that Islamophobia is not a real thing? That if you're critical of something--
BILL MAHER: It's not a real thing when we do it.
It really isn't!
HARRIS: I'm not denying that certain people are bigoted against Muslims as people. And that's a problem.
AFFLECK: That's big of you.
HARRIS: But, the --
MAHER: Why are you so hostile about this concept?
AFFLECK: It's gross, it's racist.
MAHER: It's not! But it's so not.
AFFLECK: It's like saying, "You shifty Jew."
MAHER: You're not listening to what we are saying.
AFFLECK: You guys are saying that if you want to be liberals, believe in liberal principles.
MAHER: Right.
AFFLECK: Like freedom of speech.
MAHER: Right.
AFFLECK: Like we are endowed by our forefathers with inalienable rights, like all men are created equal --
MAHER: No!
HARRIS: Ben, we have to be able to criticize bad ideas.
AFFLECK: Of course we do. No liberal doesn't want you to criticize bad ideas.
HARRIS: Okay, but Islam at this moment is the motherlode of bad ideas.
AFFLECK: Jesus Christ!
MAHER: That's just a fact.
AFFLECK: It's not a fact. It's an ugly thing to say!
NICHOLAS KRISTOF, NYT COLUMNIST: ... it's the basic liberal principle of tolerance.
SAM HARRIS: Let me unpack it.
MAHER: But not for intolerance!
KRISTOF: No, of course not, but the picture you are painting is to some extent true, but is hugely incomplete. It is certainly true that plenty of fanatics and jihadis are Muslim, but the people who are standing up to them. Malala [Yousafzai], Mohammad Ali Dadkhah in Iran, imprisoned for nine years for speaking up for Christians. A friend that I had in Pakistan who was shot this year, Rashid Rehman, for defending people accused of apostasy.
BEN AFFLECK: Or how about the more than a billion people who aren't fanatical, who don't punch women, who just want to go to school, have some sandwiches, pray 5 times a day, and don't do any of the things you're saying of all Muslims. It's stereotyping. ... You take a few bad things and you're painting the whole religion with that same brush...
MAHER: No, No, let's get down to who has the right answer here. A billion people you say, all these billion people don't hold these pernicious beliefs?
BEN AFFLECK: No, no they don't.
MAHER: That's just not true Ben. That's just not true. ... You're trying to say that these few people, that's all the problem is, these few bad apples. The idea that someone should be killed if they leave the Islamic ...
BEN AFFLECK: That's horrible! That shits horrible.
MAHER: Wait, wait, but wait, you're saying the idea that someone should be killed if they leave the Islamic religion is just a few bad apples?
BEN AFFLECK: The people who would actually believe in an act that you murder somebody if they leave Islam is not the majority of Muslims at all.
SAM HARRIS: As you say, we have 1.5, 1.6 billion Muslims. Now ...
BEN AFFLECK: Second biggest religion in the world. A quarter of the human population of the earth.
SAM HARRIS: Ben let me unpack this for you.
BEN AFFLECK: Please do, I've been waiting, luggage has been sitting there packed up...
SAM HARRIS: Just imagine some concentric circles here -- you have at the center you have jihadists, these are people who wake up in the morning wanting to kill apostates, wanting to die trying, they believe in paradise, the believe in martyrdom ...
BEN AFFLECK: Horrible bad people that ... yeah
SAM HARRIS: Outside of them we have Islamists, these are people who are just as convinced of martyrdom, and paradise, and wanting to foist their religion on the rest of humanity, but they want to work within the system, they're not going to blow themselves up on a bus, they want to change governments, they want to use democracy against itself. That ... those two circles, arguably, are 20% of the Muslim world -- OK, this is not the fringe of the fringe.
BEN AFFLECK: What are you basing that research on.
SAM HARRIS: A bunch of poll results that we can talk about. To give you one point of contact: 78% of British Muslims think that the Danish cartoonist should have been prosecuted. 78%. So, I'm being conservative when I roll this back to 20%. But outside of that circle you have conservative Muslims who can honestly look at ISIS and say that does not represent us, we're horrified by that, but they hold views about human rights, and about women, and about homosexuals that are deeply troubling. So, these are not Islamists, they are not jihadists ...
AFFLECK: Those views are anathema to ours ...
SAM HARRIS: ... but they also keep women and homosexuals immiserated in these cultures and we have to empower the true reformers in the Muslim world to change it. And lying about the link between doctrine and behavior is not going to do that ...
AFFLECK: [making a circling gesture, disdainfully] OK, let Nic talk for a second ... a lot of talk.
KRISTOF: The great divide is not between Islam and the rest, it's rather between the fundamentalists and the moderates in each faith.
HARRIS: But we're misled to think the fundamentalists are the fringe. OK, we have jihadists, Islamists, and conservatives...
MAHER: That's the key point.
HARRIS: There's hundreds of millions of people [inaudible]
MICHAEL STEELE: You're saying that the strongest voices are coming from those who are jihadists and extremists. And that represents a bigger piece of the pie than we often think is true.
HARRIS: There's no question about that.
STEELE: OK, so having said that, even if that is true statistically or otherwise, the key thing to recognize that I don't think is part of the argument, but I think should be, is that there are voices that are often time raised in opposition to these jihadists, and to these extreme acts ...
HARRIS: Yes.
STEELE:... But guess what, they don't get covered, they don't get exposed. And they are not given the same level of platform that we see the jihadists get...
BILL MAHER: One reason they don't get exposed is because they're afraid to speak out because it's the only religion that acts like the mafia, that will fucking kill you if you say the wrong thing, draw the wrong picture, or write the wrong book. There's a reason why Ayaan Hirsi Ali needs bodyguards 24/7.
STEELE: You do have that element of fear as well, but you also have other braver souls out there who do speak out, and who do ... like ...
KRISTOF: And who are risking their lives to do that.
STEELE: Like the Muslim clerics and others, from Australia, to Europe, to the United States, just recently publicly put their names on paper, declaring their opposition to what ISIS and others are doing.
HARRIS: Yeah, we need, we need more of that.
STEELE: So there are those voices, but where was the coverage, where was that story to sort of create a different picture of the Muslim community.
AFFLECK: What is your solution. What is ... just condemn Islam, is that the question?
HARRIS: No, no, the solution is very much what Nic is saying ...
AFFLECK: To do what? We've killed more Muslims than they've killed us, by an awful lot. We've invaded more Muslim countries by an awful lot. And yet somehow we're exempted from these things because they're not really a reflection of what we believe in, we did it by accident, that's why we invaded Iraq. Put four million people ... [inaudible]
BILL MAHER: We're not convincing anybody.
AFFLECK: I'm specifically telling you that I disagree with what you think ... [inaudible]
BILL MAHER: OK ... and we're obviously not convincing anybody.
HARRIS: You don't actually understand my argument.
AFFLECK: I don't understand it?
HARRIS: You don't understand my argument.
AFFLECK: Your argument is, "You know, black people, they shoot each other" --
HARRIS: That is not my argument.
MAHER: No, it's not! No, it's not. It's based on facts. I can show you a Pew poll of Egyptians. They are not outliers in the Muslims world, that say like 90% of them believe death is the appropriate response to leaving the religion. If 90% of Brazilians thought that death was the appropriate response to leaving Catholicism you would think it was a bigger deal.
AFFLECK: I would think it's a big deal no matter what.
MAHER: Okay, but that's the fact.
AFFLECK: ... [inaudible] say it's all Brazilians, or I wouldn't say, well, Ted Bundy did this, god damn these gays, they're all trying to eat each other!
HARRIS: Yeah, OK, let me just give you what you want, there are hundreds of millions of Muslims who are nominal Muslims, who don't take the faith seriously, who don't want to kill apostates, who are horrified by ISIS, and we need to defend these people, prop them up, and let them reform...
AFFLECK: ISIS couldn't fill a double A ball park in Charleston West Virginia, and you're making a career out of talking ISIS, ISIS, ISIS!
...
