Riding crop costumes go bye bye

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Prudence

When I was young and pretty and repeatedly turned down for jobs because I looked too cute to be competent, I swore that I would never make the same type of judgement about other people, regardless of the circumstances. Unfortunately, far too many people in this world are happy to continue such practices, defending themselves with the justification that it's just society's way.

People seem to think that from what I've said that I have never been judged by anyone for my appearance. I may have been skinny my entire life, but that doesn't mean I wasn't shoved against lockers or had my hair pulled by judgemental bastards who wanted someone to pick on for my appearance. I've had acne problems since I was 11 years old. For all of my childhood I was called names for being skinny, and as soon as we hit 6th grade, teasing shifted to being flat-chested. I matured later than everyone else and even then I still got sht for not fitting into society's standard mold. Only in my 20s have I become comfortable with my outward appearance, and felt any real confidence about it.

I've also always had friends of every shape, size, color, and description throughout my life.

And if it really is society's way, if that's just the way society is and it's never going to change, then odds are you, CP, and most everyone else here really does think fat = ugly. If it's so much of a given that whole industries can be forgiven for never hiring over a size 6, then why all the "but *I* would never think that way!" protest? If majority rules, and if the majority is as vast as has been implied (har har), then why not be forthright? Why not just say (and this is directed at no one in particular) that electronic conversations are all well and groovy, but damn, if you have to look at baggy knees below shorts one more time you're going to puke?

Because it's simply not true. I've always had friends of every shape, size, color, and description throughout my life. I know plenty of people that look nothing like my personal "type" but that I know to be truly attractive people.

The thing is that everyone can't be attracted to everyone. Can anyone honestly claim that they find EVERYONE attractive, because they're just THAT open minded? When you're drooling over a hottie in a movie, or a guy that you bumped into at the supermarket, you are judging someone due to their appearance. Good or bad, it's still a judgement, and that's still a part of the human experience.

While I can find real attractiveness in nearly everyone I meet (and I mean that, that is not PC bullsht) it doesn't mean that I think they're truly hot. "Hot" in my totally subjective, "I am hot for them" way. Am I supposed to want to sleep with everyone?

Of course my type isn't going to be your type. Among my many tastes is that I really dislike muscled men without chest hair. But in the end, there's an average that can be measured in our society. The odds may be that I agree with a lot of what is "standard", but the odds are equally good that there are going to be aspects of the standard that I don't agree with. Same goes for everybody.

More later...