poleisnewtome started this discussion ·
Did anyone else in the US watch the Jon Stewart/Mike Huckabee segment on the Daily Show the other night? Mike Huckabee mentioned pole dancing in a derogatory way about halfway through. It annoyed me. The video can be found here http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/jon-stewart-mike-huckabee-clash-over-culture-beyonce-20150120
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Yup. Would have had many a thing to say to him at thay point and was somewhat surprised by johns reaction also, but to be fair a lot of people don't know about the world of pole fitness and what pole dancing can be to so many people. But I imagine if he were given and education on what pole dance has evolved to he would be receptive of it...interview pole dancers...hey....I think I have an idea for a daily show bit ;) im not as mad about ignorance as much as I am about willing ignorance...but yeah all of that to say: that absolutely rubbed me the wrong way
Yup. I saw it too but was in bed. I have to say I wasn't surprised or even offended... Not to get political but I tend to agree with almost 0% of what he has to say anyway. My ears only perked up because I heard pole dancing. I think JS has to pick his battles with him (and most interviews probably)... But I should probably rewatch in a more awake state.
I agree with both of you!
I'm in massage school and am totally open about what physical activities I do. I don't go out of my way to talk about pole, but I don't shy away from it at all. Not one of my classmates yet has just taken it in stride. I've gotten used to the pregnant pause and "wait, what?" moment. Especially from men. Even a guy who is a longtime professional dancer and choreographer was like, "did you just say...pole dancing?" So, whatever. Fuck 'em. Bless 'em. I really could care less. This (massage) is my new profession, and what I can do with my body and a vertical metal apparatus just adds to my bank of knowledge and draws nothing from my level of professionalism. I'm also at the head of my class in Kinesiology and A&P and already have a science degree. So if they need to pause and take it all in, that's them. Meanwhile I'm moving right along as if nothing just happened. As if I had said "ballet" or "gymnastics", and not "pole dancing". Because, really, fuck them (or bless them)...(your choice).
Anyway, they didn't really talk about pole dancing. Huckabee just made a passing comment about not telling kids that if they get good grades their parents will buy them a stripper pole. But I do catch your drift. First of all, I don't let friends and acquaintances call my pole a "stripper pole", and I used to be a stripper (long time ago), have nothing against strippers. But that's just not what it is!!!! I correct them and say, "aerial dance pole". The owner of my pole studio always calls it our "apparatus". As in, "Now, remember ladies, you are on a spinning apparatus." I have never stripped on or near my pole, and we don't strip at the studio. Therefore they are not stripper poles. The poles in the club are *arguably* stripper poles. I think the way we talk about these things are important steps toward changing the culture that views aerial pole as something lewd, and makes "stripper" a derogatory catch-all for pole dancers. Can these terms please be separate and equally non-derogatory, please?
I didn't say they talked at length about pole dancing, but that pole dancing was mentioned. I agree with you about the terminology and how it should be separate, at least the "stripper" part--not that theres anything wrong with it if that's what someone chooses to do.
On a more positive note.. I've had some wine (no work tomorrow)... and the new corespondent tonight was quite cute *blush* My husband says I just like his accent. :P
Too bad I missed it tonight!
What I'm getting at is that "pole dancing" was actually never mentioned at all in the segment. Huckabee said the words "stripper pole". Very different connotations, and in my book, different things. (If anyone calls their pole their stripper pole, I didn't mean to be insulting. I just don't do it.)
Freddie ·
This is me when I hear Mike Huckabee saying something.
BagLady ·
Yeah, a stripper pole needs to have...uh strippers. I actually haven't seen the beyonce video, but I'm assuming she is leaning more toward booty pops than pole tricks? Honestly I find it weirder that pole dancing happens in clubs than that woman dance however they want to at home! Seriously if strip clubs ever evolve to the point of losing the pole (and I don't think that's entirely unrealistic ) I can already hear the people of the future saying "woman used to get naked on stage AND do crazy aeriel acrobatics high up in the air!")
korinne ·
To be fair, the video in question is more stripper style. However, the dancer in the video (nicole the pole williams) is actually incredibly skilled and does some very impressive moves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehcVomMexkY Titanic, Iron X
Maybe I just didn't listen close enough to that clip...because most of what that guy says is nonsensical anyway... But I thought he was talking about Beyoncé the whole time and then randomly dropped a stripper pole bomb out of seemingly nowhere. His point would have at least been somewhat coherent if he had been talking about Rhianna.
korinne ·
Sorry, My error. I also only sort of watched the episode...
