Running Away
from a Problem
by Melanie
Anne Phillips
Men and women justify differently. The problem
solving of one is the justification of the other. This is because one is based on a
Spatial Brain Operating System (or SBOS) and the other is based on a Temporal Brain
Operating System (or TBOS). Either system is an equally valid way of measuring
discrepancies between the observed state of things and the state of observation.
Left Minded individuals measure things according to
their spatial arrangements, therefore, ignoring a spatial arrangement is tantamount to
justification. Right Minded individuals measure things according to their alteration over
time, so for them, ignoring a spatial arrangement does not significantly affect their
ability to accurately problem solve.
As a result, if an inequity is apparent to an LM,
moving out of the effect of that problem is seen as running away, since it ignores an
inequity in the problem solving area. Many stories have been written about characters
trying to avoid a problem by avoiding proximity to it. The prevailing moral outlook on
this has (in general) been negative. That is why it is so startling to many when a film
like Brazil comes along and states that moralistically, it is okay to simple ignore a
spatial (or situational) inequity and pretend it does not exist.
Even that story, however, pulls its punches by
first showing that it is actually impossible to affect change in the inequity leaving only
the choice of endless suffering with it, or tuning out altogether.
But for the RM, there is absolutely nothing wrong
with moving away from a problem even if it is completely solvable. That is why the problem
that Ripley faces in Aliens (2) is inappropriate to her character. The stated problem is
that she is running away from her fear of the Aliens. The stated solution is to "Get
back on the horse" and face her fear. That is a Left Minded solution to a Left Minded
problem. But by definition, females are Right Minded. In Aliens, Ripley is clearly a man
in drag. Her entire character is a male persona, expressed through a woman's body.
The purpose of this, clearly, was to give a boost
to the downtrodden women of society by allowing them a heroine who can compete and even
triumph in a male dominated culture. But the effect was worse than if they had not even
tried. Rather than portraying a real female character that suffers RM justification and
grows to overcome that, and confront the real RM problem, the authors have created a
caricature of women that fits in with the male understanding of what women are, seen in
male terms. What a disservice born of noble intentions.