what is it
with environmentalists who make a huge thing out of plastic bags (yes, agreed, nasty things, as are plastic straws, both totally unnecessary) but fly many times each year for pleasure, on short haul trips lasting no more than a long weekend and long haul trips to far flung places for a ten day holiday?
with feminists who shout down anyone else who dares to open their mouth (who may not even have such a very different opinion from theirs) as loudly and insistently as any self important male?
with busybodies who, no sooner having taken up residence in a place, try to mould it to their idea of a village, setting the tone, and running it vociferously and self righteously, although the village has been doing perfectly fine for decades without their input?
with people who pillorize you for having groceries delivered or not eating exclusively home grown or organic when they themselves chuck a lot of their organically grown produce away because it rots before they can get round to eating it or it just isn’t up to accepted norms?
with all those women who jumped on the MeToo etc. bandwagon (yes, yes I know, I too have been very uncomfortable about male intrusion into my personal space, have been propositioned and inappropriately touched) and then appear barely dressed, boobs falling out of their tops and skirts slit to the hips. If that’s not selling sex what is? There was this picture advertising a new film, I think, showing a line up of three men and one woman; the men dressed warmly for winter on a very cold and grey day and the woman in an evening gown slit from hip to toe with her bare leg aggressively thrust forward.
What’s an angry girl to do? Bite her lip to keep the peace? Or let rip?
They are self righteous boors. They know better than all of us and discount the knowledge and experience of anyone else. They are the "do as I say, not as I do" crowd. I ignore them as much as I can. They are completely intolerant of any opinion that differs from their own(because that is the only one that matters) and are really not worth talking or listening to.
ReplyDeleteWith you all the way! Let rip, I say, they get quite upset when you do...and rather nasty...as they are not used to dissent.
ReplyDeleteGood post. Agree whole heartedly.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
Your observations are spot on. There is a saying among women the United States who were born and reared in the states of the Old South. It is delivered with a smile and sweetness : "Bless her(or his or your) heart." It is not a compliment or a pronouncement of a divine blessing. It is uttered when a person is oblivious to how obnoxious they are in their certainty that they are the pinnacle of wisdom and/or righteousness or social superiority. For the examples you so vividly articulated, I say, Bless their hearts!
ReplyDeleteI agree but however I may dislike the way some women dress as you describe with very little left to the imagination, it is their right and no more liberties should be taken than would be with a 50 year old women in a Chanel suit.
ReplyDeleteHear, hear!!
DeleteHave a good day Friko, I know far too many women, including myself, who've been sexually abused and in my own circle, 100% have been abused as children. So yeah, #metoo, loud and clear.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
dear www, I am so sorry for you and the many others - boys and girls - who have such experiences in their lives. I too have been raped, as an adult, not a child. I really need you to understand that I am not condoning, or ‘understanding’ any kind of abuse, sexual or otherwise. Nor do I state that one’s dress choices should make one an easy target. At the same time I would postulate that although sex sells anything and everything, a touch of modesty in daily life is not wrong.
DeleteSigh.
ReplyDeleteHuman loudspeakers frequently verge on fundamentalism and damage and destroy the message they espouse.
And I would agree with Andrew, and ache for Wisewebwoman and her multitude of sisters.
Jumping on the Me Too bandwagon... That says it all doesn't it? However a person dresses is never an excuse. Maybe you had better let it rip in private.
ReplyDeleteHi Friko - if you can find someone to let rip to ... please do! I mentally do it all the time ... and wonder about odds and ends ... but I just get on with things as a purple old woman with a red hat' - grump and groan and thank goodness life has let me have a reasonable life - even with the odd sleazy bits. Excellent post ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteYou have encapsulated my feelings on all these matters. Missionary zeal overcomes natural courtesy and consideration in so many cases.
ReplyDeleteI know everyone has their right to an opinion but those who express it in such demanding ways confound me. There can be a good deal of hypocrisy on matters ranging from small to large in today's society and perhaps always. There's a lot of self-righteous behavior going on in the world. I resonated especially with the village-changer. I've seen that happen a lot in Northern Michigan which used to be an escape from downstate and now is just like "home" with its plethora of big box stores, putting smaller businesses out of work. And what's with the grocery delivery complainers? It isn't any of their business! I'd be inclined to say, "If this bothers you so much, why don't you give me some of your tomatoes before they rot."
ReplyDeleteDon't start me. It's been a bad week and I could probably rant about anything if given the chance!
I am with you about the plastic, although I no longer use plastic straws I still see them everywhere. I am glad I no longer fly anywhere just for the heck of it. Or worse, jump out of airplanes just for fun! I am conflicted about the way women dress, too, but I am definitely one of the MeToo crowd.
ReplyDeletewell, actresses must wear what the writers, directors, and costumers tell them to wear. and men can and do go shirtless but no one accuses them of showing off their bodies or selling sex. and how you dress has nothing to do with unwanted sexual advances. women in clothes that cover them up are sexually assaulted all the time. and I've heard of these 'strident feminists' but I've never encountered any. I'm an environmentalist and my lifestyle reflects that but since I live in the US, if I want to visit other countries and cultures and broaden my experiences I have no choice but to take long flights (unless I want to go to Mexico). am I to never travel because I try to protect the planet? and those gardeners who grow too much food should be sharing with their neighbors or a local food pantry. busybodies though should be told to mind their own business unless of course their suggestions are good.
ReplyDeleteHere's my two cents on the first and the last topic: I'm on of the first. I do what I can to reduce the plastic I use and absolutely avoid single-use plastics. I feel helpless, frankly, and I know my little bit isn't going to make the slightest difference. If we all did a little bit, well, that would help a lot more. On the other hand I fly across the Atlantic four times a year, something I'm increasingly uneasy about. It will be reduced to two times as soon as possible, but will never be eliminated unless one of us agrees to live permanently in one place or the other. So I'm a hypocrite, but I'm aware of that. I just do what I can, which also means walking instead of taking the car, not buying cheap clothing, fixing instead of rubbishing. Just because you choose one thing to help the planet doesn't mean you can do everything.
ReplyDeleteThe other point, about women and how they dress. I have struggled with this, too. Been quite judgemental about the T&A flaunting. However, the other extreme is the burqa, and I sure as hell don't want that. The world runs on sex, like it or not.
But perhaps only in Islam is it specifically said that women have to cover up because men can't otherwise control themselves.
Women can dress any way they please, and there is nothing about the way a women reveals parts of her body that gives anyone permission to catcall, touch, or worse. If she dresses to draw attention, that's her business. (After all, the world does run on sex...) People can think what they want, but her right is undeniable. What we found scandalous in the 1920s is laughable now, and that's also the way the world works. The pendulum will probably swing the other way if the human race last long enough. Having said that, I think it's a pity that some young woman feel it necessary to bare a lot, but that's probably because I never had cleavage to show off.
Letting rip would be, I'm afraid, the act of a cranky senior. (This said wilh all the affection I have for you!)
A cranky senior? Me?
DeleteAs for the rest, see my reply to www above.
And yes, that affection goes both ways.
So many typos! A rushed job, clearly.
ReplyDeleteWell, we are all ingesting plastic constantly as research demonstrates. But in general I applaud your points here. We used to convince, now people merely bully. Perhaps those running things fare better when we are all at odds and have carefully cultivated the state of affairs.
ReplyDeleteThere is a third alternative, of course. Ignore the lot of them. A good bit of so-called social justice posturing is just that: posturing, and offering strident, impossible-to-implement demands for the whole of society can be as narcissistic as helpful.
ReplyDeleteWithin the constraints of energy, money, and time, I'll live my life as I please, with the caveat that others are free to do the same. But I'm not going to allow the various crusaders for this-or-that to destroy my happiness, or even my equnimity, for all that. Now, if they come after my bacon -- that might lead to a fight!
Shoreacres, I do hope one day we will meet, perhaps in the company of the marvelous Friko. As to the rest, I have commented below. And to Friko I say, now having read the comments so far—and your responses—how much I would love, if it were possible, to convene a gathering of all at the White Horse to has this out in person!
DeleteI am also puzzled reading your post Frico.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right. There is a lot of talk about environmental pollution, but there is a lot of garbage around big cities.
I think plastic is not as dangerous as airborne pollution in atmosphere.
Have a nice weekend!
There are so many inconsistencies in today's world and you've highlighted but a few of them. Here gas prices are soaring and the environmentalists scream no fossil fuels yet sales of gas-guzzling SUVs are high and less gas-hungry sedans sit on car lots. People bemoan the condition of clothing and textile workers overseas yet continue to purchase cheaply made clothing because they like having variety in their wardrobes. It boggles the mind.
ReplyDeleteSalient points.
DeleteReminds me of the old Mark Twain quote: "It ain't what you don't know that gets you in trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so."
ReplyDeleteMmm, may not be with you here, dear Friko. While there are for sure doctrinaire types (and hypocrites) to be found anywhere along the political/social divide, I think we have much more to be concerned about, particularly in these times, from those who wield the most power, and they are not, sadly, the environmentalists or feminists. The causes of the latter, at least, are just, even if at times some go overboard.
ReplyDeleteI would have groceries delivered if that was a thing here!
ReplyDeleteLots of screaming people in the world. I don't trust the ones who try to shut others up.
We are all different in how we perceive and react...and whether or not a woman dresses more modestly or in poor taste does not entitle a man to take advantage in any way. I don't go on long holidays but sometimes have meals delivered and I do not preach at others about what they should do. If not comfortable, I limit or avoid interaction. I also see many good points from both environmentalists and feminists. I try not to lump people together too much and realize that people often contradict themselves. The bottom line is making decisions for myself, not from a doctrine...
ReplyDeleteBravo for you and a Hip hip Hooray! I agree with everything you said.
ReplyDeleteSuch a profound thought provoking commentary, with which I agree, especially the third paragraph. Too many people want to fix what is not broken to fit their ideals.
ReplyDeleteLet rip, I agree with you. One added annoyance is when self proclaimed environmentalists from all over the world fly to conferences, stay in hotels, drive around the city, when they could stay home and video conference, much more earth friendly.
ReplyDeleteThe comments are interesting.
ReplyDeleteI too vote for speaking out. In general women are trained to be quiet so speaking up is usually better than not.
Let the truth fly! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm of mixed mind about all of these, just about. I try to reduce my use of plastic and yet I also love to travel. That generally involves flying since I have limited time and I'm traveling over seas. Should we all stay home? And if you do fly, should you then not care about the problem of single use plastics?
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, people who are judgmental and bossy (about plastics, about organic food, or whatever) are just annoying.
Finally, the issue of women and their dress. Certainly the woman in the ad you mentioned wasn't in charge of wither her dress or her pose. And I think most women are victims of their culture and dress to appeal to men. It's unfortunate that so many feel that need But does that give men the right to assault them? Not in my book. And, as the victim of childhood sexual abuse (and sexual harassment as an adult), I join my voice with the Me Too movement.