May 10
femwanderluster commented on Lion Prince Paul Allen.
femwanderluster commented on Lion Prince Paul Allen.
@11 and 8
You guys make important points; confronting my own western privilege was quite a shock, but a badly needed one I think more people should experience.
I was surprised at the cell phone explosion, which had not yet happened in the US (mobile banking was rolled out there much earlier, too)--I learned to SMS there--and figuring out the reasons why were so mind-opening. Even though urban centers are super dense, the areas between are super sparsely populated and landlines are expensive to install and maintain; much more feasible to simply buy airtime as needed. And anytime someone whines about women breastfeeding in public, I think of all the times I'd sat next to women breastfeeding babies in sardine-packed minibus taxis and I wanna punch them.
I'm curious what you think about maids and nannies and maid-nannies and economic opportunity and childrearing (both of the maid/nanny's own kids and the other people's children they raise)? I never felt comfortable being provided maid-service, even just once a week, at the house in which I stayed, so I'd hangout with Zandile and we'd make my bed together (since I'd've already done all the rest of the cleaning in my flat) and we'd talk about her life in the township, rant about the house's owners (who were horribly racist), her pregnancy and later her own infant daughter who lived back in the township with Zandile's mother and extended family while she lived and worked at that house. For weeks (3-6 at a time).
She needed work, so it was good she could get a job. But, her opportunities and the kinds of work available to her are systemically rigged. My privilege as a western white woman is obvious here: while I'm made 'uncomfortable' by Zandile's situation and the unfairnesses she faces, she just wants to do her job and do it well and my discomfort discomforted her when 'this silly white girl' got in her way. She told me she thought I was strange at first but then she said it was nice to have a break when it was my flat's turn for a clean.
So, in regard to people and not animals: thoughts?
More...
You guys make important points; confronting my own western privilege was quite a shock, but a badly needed one I think more people should experience.
I was surprised at the cell phone explosion, which had not yet happened in the US (mobile banking was rolled out there much earlier, too)--I learned to SMS there--and figuring out the reasons why were so mind-opening. Even though urban centers are super dense, the areas between are super sparsely populated and landlines are expensive to install and maintain; much more feasible to simply buy airtime as needed. And anytime someone whines about women breastfeeding in public, I think of all the times I'd sat next to women breastfeeding babies in sardine-packed minibus taxis and I wanna punch them.
I'm curious what you think about maids and nannies and maid-nannies and economic opportunity and childrearing (both of the maid/nanny's own kids and the other people's children they raise)? I never felt comfortable being provided maid-service, even just once a week, at the house in which I stayed, so I'd hangout with Zandile and we'd make my bed together (since I'd've already done all the rest of the cleaning in my flat) and we'd talk about her life in the township, rant about the house's owners (who were horribly racist), her pregnancy and later her own infant daughter who lived back in the township with Zandile's mother and extended family while she lived and worked at that house. For weeks (3-6 at a time).
She needed work, so it was good she could get a job. But, her opportunities and the kinds of work available to her are systemically rigged. My privilege as a western white woman is obvious here: while I'm made 'uncomfortable' by Zandile's situation and the unfairnesses she faces, she just wants to do her job and do it well and my discomfort discomforted her when 'this silly white girl' got in her way. She told me she thought I was strange at first but then she said it was nice to have a break when it was my flat's turn for a clean.
So, in regard to people and not animals: thoughts?
May 10
femwanderluster commented on Lion Prince Paul Allen.
femwanderluster commented on Lion Prince Paul Allen.
c'mon Charles. I've also lived in Africa (4 years)--you can't tell me you never even saw a baboon crossing a road? Or those cute but scary-in-numbers troops of smaller monkeys that run rampant anywhere near the bush? I mean, sure, it's not like giraffes wander around backyards or that The Lion King plays itself out beyond windowpanes, but you never saw a stray kudu or springbok or water-buffalo off in the distance? I even stumbled upon one of those tiny deer, a dik-dik I think, on a walk one night.
May 10
femwanderluster commented on The Source of Morality Isn't God.
femwanderluster commented on The Source of Morality Isn't God.
Instutional religion is about control, but the way that control has been implemented has always been through controling women and reproduction for the benefit of men. So while I can see that large-scale human cooperation in sustainable and smart agriculture would lead to a need for a means of (fair?) distribution, I don't agree that institutional religion was that means; nor that it ever had a benign interest in laying claim to 'morality'.
This 'women are maternal and therefore, from an evolutionary psychological basis, are just naturally more empathetic' is BS.
I'm more curious as to why it is men and boys who are killing people, at all, and on mass scale. If this empathy evo-psych shit is true, why aren't they doing anything sustantive with this research? Meanwhile, men continue to kill for their religions, to kill women for not being perfectly religious, to wage neverending wars because of institutional religion (there are other justifications for their murdering, but these are pretty big ones).
One fact I know: religion and men are deadly, especially to women.
More...
This 'women are maternal and therefore, from an evolutionary psychological basis, are just naturally more empathetic' is BS.
I'm more curious as to why it is men and boys who are killing people, at all, and on mass scale. If this empathy evo-psych shit is true, why aren't they doing anything sustantive with this research? Meanwhile, men continue to kill for their religions, to kill women for not being perfectly religious, to wage neverending wars because of institutional religion (there are other justifications for their murdering, but these are pretty big ones).
One fact I know: religion and men are deadly, especially to women.
May 9
femwanderluster commented on Your Dog Sucks.
femwanderluster commented on Your Dog Sucks.
dunno, I'm not scared of dogs, but I've grown up with them. I would've taken this dog by the collar and had another of my party walk about a bit loudly asking about a loose beagle and doesn't he belong to anyone? The owner'd pitch up out of the crowd at the park. If not...um someone's going to the shelter so the asshat owners can be reached via the deets on the collar or hopefully the dog's microchip.
That's fucking inconvenient though.
That's fucking inconvenient though.
Apr 20
femwanderluster commented on Surely She Deserved It.
femwanderluster commented on Surely She Deserved It.
@37 I can't even begin to address the fucking lack of insight nor find the point of your very careless comments.
"These are brutal murders/attempted murders almost more than they are rapes."
WHAT. THE. FUCK. I have to come back to this because I just can't right now. I mean, REALLY?!? I can't internet-scream loud enough.
"Something in me wants to try to fathom why, even as the rest of me recoils in horror."
We know the source of your denial and it ain't a fatherfuckin' river: Fear.
Women and girls are oh-so intimate with fear, we live our [w]hole lives knowing that any of the other less-than-half of the world's Homo sapiens population could turn on us at any moment and if they do, it's all our fault. That's like a infinite course meal in fear; the dishes may be different but they're all prepared by the same cock chef and they never stop coming, served with a smirk and a pat on our head.
"Is it that these men have no idea of female anatomy, or no clue how to do penetrative sex? We know there are wide swaths of complete ignorance among the poor. Is that what this is? (I mean besides the utter disregard for human dignity and life.)"
Are you being purposely obtuse? Are you mocking "the poor?" Are you mocking what these patriarchy-sick cocks did to a FIVE YEAR OLD GIRL?!?
HILARIOUS aside, by the way, brings me back to the first rancid burst of your commentary jizz--
"These are brutal murders/attempted murders almost more than they are rapes." + "(I mean besides the utter disregard for human dignity and life.)"
= misogyny
If that equation does not make sense to you then go do some reading until it does--in the words of Lindy West:
"Catch [the fuck] up or own your prejudice."
"Where the hell did they get the idea to use implements for these assaults? There's something very deeply sick going on there, on top of the usual sick stuff that leads some men to rape and assault women and children."
No, no, not really, it's all the same. The "deeply sick [thing] going on" and "the usual sick stuff" are one and the same, varying by degrees only: rape culture; the very necessary and efficient engine of patriarchy.
This is not about getting to third base with your math class crush. This is not about intimacy or romance or lust: it is about control, the sexualization of power, of dominance, of hierarchy.
I cannot contain my utter contempt for your mansplainy, ignorant, concern-trolly and dismissive chauvanism.
What is the point to your comments? I honestly want to know what you are trying so hard to add to this discussion (if you are genuinely engaged and not trolling), but I keep coming up negative. Either you are that naive or that big a dick; if you're both, please see the following.
@38 you make a common mistake in equating men to all humans. I'll fix that for you:
"Yet another example of how [men] are a cancer on the planet."
My fave current quotes:
"All men must die, but we are not men."
-- Daenerys Targaryen, Game of Thrones
&
"It's my favorite kind of battle: two men enter, one me leaves."
-- April Ludgate, Parks'n'Rec
More...
"These are brutal murders/attempted murders almost more than they are rapes."
WHAT. THE. FUCK. I have to come back to this because I just can't right now. I mean, REALLY?!? I can't internet-scream loud enough.
"Something in me wants to try to fathom why, even as the rest of me recoils in horror."
We know the source of your denial and it ain't a fatherfuckin' river: Fear.
Women and girls are oh-so intimate with fear, we live our [w]hole lives knowing that any of the other less-than-half of the world's Homo sapiens population could turn on us at any moment and if they do, it's all our fault. That's like a infinite course meal in fear; the dishes may be different but they're all prepared by the same cock chef and they never stop coming, served with a smirk and a pat on our head.
"Is it that these men have no idea of female anatomy, or no clue how to do penetrative sex? We know there are wide swaths of complete ignorance among the poor. Is that what this is? (I mean besides the utter disregard for human dignity and life.)"
Are you being purposely obtuse? Are you mocking "the poor?" Are you mocking what these patriarchy-sick cocks did to a FIVE YEAR OLD GIRL?!?
HILARIOUS aside, by the way, brings me back to the first rancid burst of your commentary jizz--
"These are brutal murders/attempted murders almost more than they are rapes." + "(I mean besides the utter disregard for human dignity and life.)"
= misogyny
If that equation does not make sense to you then go do some reading until it does--in the words of Lindy West:
"Catch [the fuck] up or own your prejudice."
"Where the hell did they get the idea to use implements for these assaults? There's something very deeply sick going on there, on top of the usual sick stuff that leads some men to rape and assault women and children."
No, no, not really, it's all the same. The "deeply sick [thing] going on" and "the usual sick stuff" are one and the same, varying by degrees only: rape culture; the very necessary and efficient engine of patriarchy.
This is not about getting to third base with your math class crush. This is not about intimacy or romance or lust: it is about control, the sexualization of power, of dominance, of hierarchy.
I cannot contain my utter contempt for your mansplainy, ignorant, concern-trolly and dismissive chauvanism.
What is the point to your comments? I honestly want to know what you are trying so hard to add to this discussion (if you are genuinely engaged and not trolling), but I keep coming up negative. Either you are that naive or that big a dick; if you're both, please see the following.
@38 you make a common mistake in equating men to all humans. I'll fix that for you:
"Yet another example of how [men] are a cancer on the planet."
My fave current quotes:
"All men must die, but we are not men."
-- Daenerys Targaryen, Game of Thrones
&
"It's my favorite kind of battle: two men enter, one me leaves."
-- April Ludgate, Parks'n'Rec
Mar 27
femwanderluster commented on Driver Who Hit Four Pedestrians Blew Nearly Three Times Over Legal Alcohol Limit, Say Prosecutors.
@44
Your point is interesting. "Murder requires intent. He did not intend to kill anyone. He committed a horrible crime, and in my kingdom he'd be gone for a long time. But he is not a murderer."
Caveat: I'm not a lawyer, DA, judge or police officer, so please weigh in with legalese.
What if, especially with repeat offenders like this guy, when there are records that a person has undegone DUI counseling and has taken a class about alcoholism and driving, that the question of intent is an assumed one, in that: a person with such counseling is considered informed about the risks of driving while intoxicated and understands that they are risking the lives of others when they drive a vehicle under the influence--but they value their ability 'to be drunk while going faster than their legs can carry them', as evidenced by this guy and at least one other, overheard by Cienna Madrid saying: "legs are pretty fucking slow."
Should we not in such a case say: he did in fact intend to kill others--having weighed the risks of driving drunk against others' lives, he decided against other people's right to life and decided to drive drunk at the statistically probable cost to theirs? Or would that still be some form of manslaughter?
This would not apply to first-time offenders.
Thoughts?
More...
femwanderluster commented on Driver Who Hit Four Pedestrians Blew Nearly Three Times Over Legal Alcohol Limit, Say Prosecutors.
@44
Your point is interesting. "Murder requires intent. He did not intend to kill anyone. He committed a horrible crime, and in my kingdom he'd be gone for a long time. But he is not a murderer."
Caveat: I'm not a lawyer, DA, judge or police officer, so please weigh in with legalese.
What if, especially with repeat offenders like this guy, when there are records that a person has undegone DUI counseling and has taken a class about alcoholism and driving, that the question of intent is an assumed one, in that: a person with such counseling is considered informed about the risks of driving while intoxicated and understands that they are risking the lives of others when they drive a vehicle under the influence--but they value their ability 'to be drunk while going faster than their legs can carry them', as evidenced by this guy and at least one other, overheard by Cienna Madrid saying: "legs are pretty fucking slow."
Should we not in such a case say: he did in fact intend to kill others--having weighed the risks of driving drunk against others' lives, he decided against other people's right to life and decided to drive drunk at the statistically probable cost to theirs? Or would that still be some form of manslaughter?
This would not apply to first-time offenders.
Thoughts?
Mar 27
femwanderluster commented on Slog Poll: Where Can a Guy Drink in This Town?.
femwanderluster commented on Slog Poll: Where Can a Guy Drink in This Town?.
If people can drink alcohol in the back of a limo or on a booze-cruise bus, I don't see the difference in drinking alcoholic beverages while in a kiddy bumper car (is that what it's called O_o ?).
The only problem I can foresee is that this fellow's weight + the liquid weight of his beverage (guy said, "I just really want a friggin' drink, you know? I'm just really thirsty,") probably won't be supported by a child-sized bike trailer. (I'm assuming we're talking about those little domed, windowed trailers one pulls behind one's bicycle.)
This is what jumped out at me:
""On the sidewalk? Just minding my own business on my own two legs?"
"Yeah, that's legal."
"Yeah, but legs are pretty fucking slow."
"They are slow."
"What about on this bus?"
"I don't think so."
"What about if I was driving a bike around? Is that legal?"
The burning question I have for this thirsty guy is:
Why does he have to travelling faster than his legs can carry him in order to quench his thirst for alcohol? Again: o_O
More...
The only problem I can foresee is that this fellow's weight + the liquid weight of his beverage (guy said, "I just really want a friggin' drink, you know? I'm just really thirsty,") probably won't be supported by a child-sized bike trailer. (I'm assuming we're talking about those little domed, windowed trailers one pulls behind one's bicycle.)
This is what jumped out at me:
""On the sidewalk? Just minding my own business on my own two legs?"
"Yeah, that's legal."
"Yeah, but legs are pretty fucking slow."
"They are slow."
"What about on this bus?"
"I don't think so."
"What about if I was driving a bike around? Is that legal?"
The burning question I have for this thirsty guy is:
Why does he have to travelling faster than his legs can carry him in order to quench his thirst for alcohol? Again: o_O
Mar 25
femwanderluster commented on What Happened When a Group of Friends Tried to Stop a Car Prowl in Progress.
femwanderluster commented on What Happened When a Group of Friends Tried to Stop a Car Prowl in Progress.
@4 No, I'm with you. This was hard to read, which is unfortunate because the story is interesting. Sorry, intern, time to step up the editing.
Mar 25
femwanderluster commented on SL Letter of the Day: Gay Husband Single On Grindr.
femwanderluster commented on SL Letter of the Day: Gay Husband Single On Grindr.
@94 "Your posts illustrates the main reason I'm more than a little bit leery of gay marriage. Forcing same-sex relationships into a heterosexual-style mold is a mistake IMO. The whole attempt to define gay relationships as equivalent to straight ones frankly does us a disservice. If there was no meaningful difference between gay relationships and straight ones then what the hell would be the point of being gay in the first place?"
1. There is no meaningful difference between gay and straight relationships beyond the fact that the two(+) people in the relationship are of the same sex.
2. There is no more point to being gay than there is to being straight; to say that there is "a point to being gay" implies there is a choice: to be gay or not to be gay? It is not a choice any more than who our biological parents are.
The real point of marriage, at it's most basic, is and always has been a legal contract between two people. What you're blathering on about are your own personal, subjective fee-fees (quote: "IMO") regarding the social contract (aka cultural mores) of marriage, one that is unwritten and constantly changing: marriage used to be primarily about the transfer and negotiation of funds, inheritance, property and power--only very recently has the social contract shifted to marriage for romantic love, yet all the former still apply.
"The whole attempt to define gay relationships as equivalent to straight ones frankly does us a disservice."
This statement tells me that you have absolutely no theoretical context in gender equality, women's or gay rights, because if you did, you'd know why this is bullshit. That aside, you completely ignore the very real legal rights and benefits afforded married couples by the state. So, double bullshit.
The real disservice is to those GLBTQ couples who experience legal discrimination, a huge one being those denied next-of-kin status and access to their partners in healthcare. And that's just the tip of the cock.
More...
1. There is no meaningful difference between gay and straight relationships beyond the fact that the two(+) people in the relationship are of the same sex.
2. There is no more point to being gay than there is to being straight; to say that there is "a point to being gay" implies there is a choice: to be gay or not to be gay? It is not a choice any more than who our biological parents are.
The real point of marriage, at it's most basic, is and always has been a legal contract between two people. What you're blathering on about are your own personal, subjective fee-fees (quote: "IMO") regarding the social contract (aka cultural mores) of marriage, one that is unwritten and constantly changing: marriage used to be primarily about the transfer and negotiation of funds, inheritance, property and power--only very recently has the social contract shifted to marriage for romantic love, yet all the former still apply.
"The whole attempt to define gay relationships as equivalent to straight ones frankly does us a disservice."
This statement tells me that you have absolutely no theoretical context in gender equality, women's or gay rights, because if you did, you'd know why this is bullshit. That aside, you completely ignore the very real legal rights and benefits afforded married couples by the state. So, double bullshit.
The real disservice is to those GLBTQ couples who experience legal discrimination, a huge one being those denied next-of-kin status and access to their partners in healthcare. And that's just the tip of the cock.
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- the word is loaded with historical baggage
- it's sort've been reclaimed
- at this point, the baggage still outweighs the reclamation
- as is obvious from all these comments, there is no consensus on a majority definition/intended meaning
Therefore, keep in mind:
- you do not control other people's reaction to your first ammendment protected right to say whatever the fuck you want
- say "cunt" whenever you want however you want, but don't expect others to respect you for it
- don't be surprised when someone like this douchebro's "lady"friend speaks up.
I'm just going to leave these two links here, together they are a great intro to the baggage of language and culture:
Lindy West's An Open Letter to White Male Comedians
http://jezebel.com/an-open-letter-to-whi…
Great TEDxTalk
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=KTvSfeCRx…