I have some grievances

[rm]

Whole Foods sushi bar staff -- pickled ginger is not a topping for sushi. It is for cleansing your palate before/during/after sushi consumption. So when you get it all over my takeout sushi, you suck.

Men who spit -- please stop spitting in public. I know you think you need to do this, but you're wrong. The female populace doesn't mysteriously have non-working salivary glands, we're just not so revolted (or impressed) by ourselves that we have to spit proudly and in public at every opportunity. I've been hit twice by accident with spittle in the last week. This doesn't make you a man, it makes you an animal, and sorry doesn't cut it, so just stop.

Certain many men on the subway -- you cock is not that big. Neither are your balls. Fucking put your legs marginally together and let the rest of us sit down. You are not more entitled to a seat then the rest of us, nor should I have to perch on the edge of one because you have a cock and I presumably don't. Also, men of LJ, this is not a time for "you wouldn't understand". If your bits are that sensitive, if you're not used to being a male in a crowded city like New York yet, just stay standing!

Medical professionals -- I have a real disease. My being female doesn't give you permission to assume I don't.

President Bush -- "I take full responsibility" involves what other than saying those four words, exactly? To say you've done nothing for NOLA, and really all of this country, since your election is generous.

Anyone concerned about education in America today -- Even if every school and child met the "No Child Left Behind" standards, American children would still be receiving woefully inadequate educations, because the standards are meaningless. Yes, I had an upbringing that emphasized education and I am smarter than the average idiot, HOWEVER our kids can't read, can't write, suck at math and don't believe in science! Stop patting them on the head and make them do some work. The answer isn't for "everyone to go to college" -- it's for every level of education to have meaning -- i.e., stop dumbing everything down to churn out more graduates at every level.

The ladies of Judy's Book -- you are some of the whiniest, most fearful, provincial, emotionally immature freaks I've ever deal with, and I've been on the Internet since 1990! This site is supposed to be to provide people with local business and product recommendations -- so I don't have an opinion about what colour you should dye your hair (although I do have an opinion as to whether you should list it as an "emergency" question). What I do have opinions about are your feelings that Christians are the most persectued group in America today and that it's unreasonable for school to ask you to pack school supplies for your children, but trust me, you don't want to hear them.

People who are afraid instead of aware -- The following things are not going to kill you: lipgloss on an airplane, ebola, anthrax, wilding teens, people on the Internet, going to the movies alone. STOP IT. Fear doesn't make you safer, it makes you stupider. Concern is different. And no, it's not the same thing, renaming your fear concern doesn't work. Being informed and dropping the superiority routine as if he who dies with the most terrors while hiding in their bathtub wins is usually a good start.

Historical reenactors -- Please get over this business about women in pants and breeches. We're not portraying women dressed like this.

Comments

[abnormal-apathy.livejournal.com]

I agree re: spitting and closing legs around this place. It's atrocious.

[magnetgirl.livejournal.com]

Certain many men on the subway -- you cock is not that big.

We had to do a short speech on a pet peeve for my public speaking class at New Paltz. I covered this very topic, saying, "Now guys, I understand that you've got something down there that us ladies don't-but if you have to spread your legs THAT wide to sit comfortably, you should be doing PORN-not riding the subway."

[rm.livejournal.com]

My new subway strategy is "you don't have to spread 'em that wide for me to fuck you up the ass, now move."

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

Brilliant rant. Spitting in public is a huge peeve of mine ... and I could go on forever about educational standards today and the self esteem movement ... when I came here in 78 at 14 I was practically teaching my first year high school class. It's embarrassing.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize you weren't American. Where are you from originally?

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

Lived in France educated in the UK, came here in 78 at 14, so very much American now, but it's astounding what passes for education and culture here, seems that it's all about making people feel good about themselves. Much like the local martial arts studios which give out a new belt for every little skill, even for showing up and waffling through, while mine gave nothing until black belt and it had to be earned, through him ...

Going to the concert tonight with two housemates who each have a vast knowledge of opera, ballet, and classical music made me so very happy, and to be surrounded by hundreds of others again who actually understand and appreciate the music, who dressed up and came out to hear it made me so thirsty for more.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

*cheers loudly* Nice rant. All of it. No holds barred.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Merci!

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Bienvenue! C'est vrai. Et triste.

[jetsiva.livejournal.com]

Bravo!

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

Amen to all of that.

I wish I had kept a copy of a lovely cartoon:

Men on subway, knees sprawled wide, newspapers held high to avoid any angry glares, taking up two seats each.

A little fairy in a ballgown flies past, sprinkling fairy dust...

Men desperately clutching newspapers to laps, knees together, pants having disappeared.

[moonyprof.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on nearly everything here. The spittle--that's outrageous, and it is also *illegal* in most cities. That's because, duh, it can spread disease. Which ties in neatly to your "fear" comment: I'm frustrated that people are so afraid of stuff that *won't* hurt them and don't spend any time thinking about stuff that might. I am very concerned that people are so busy freaking out about spiders that they don't have any time to consider issues like tuberlosis and other antibiotic-resistant diseases spreading and not taking reasonable steps to prevent them, i.e. wash your hands, don't use so much antibacterial everything, don't overuse antibiotics, and don't spit in public. Geeez. I guess washing your hands, not spitting, and getting on with your life is too easy.

I don't get the "historical reenactors" thing. What are you talking about? I go to vintage dances where we (voluntarily) wear period clothing, but we encourage people to come *not* in period clothing, especially if they're new. I've never seen anyone bounced out because he or she was wearing "opposite-sex" clothes. Anyway--I'd like to know what you meant.

In other news, I liked your article about Harry Potter podcasting.

~~moonyprof

[rm.livejournal.com]

I'm currently assembling a men's Regency outfit for an event, and am having a hellish time getting breeches because I'm a slight girl. This would be fine (because really how many women are looking for this clothing item) ifI hadn't had two email exchanges with disapproving providers in the last two weeks.

Also, gender-balanced balls count me as a woman, not as a man, even if I attend as a man, meaning that unless I have a male escort it can be very hard to register. Luckily, my preferred events arn't gender blanaced and are perfectly lovely about all this.

[moonyprof.livejournal.com]

Yeah, ok, that's very silly. The Jane Austen Evening out here in LA is not like this, I'm pretty sure. I know it's not a "gender-balanced" event, because I went and no one asked me if I was a woman when I bought the ticket. Plus there were a lot more men than there were women. I would have been happy to have an additional person dancing guy to dance with.

The problem with "gender-balanced" events is that even if the idea is to make sure that everyone gets to dance, it doesn't quite work. I know of one vintage dance week where women get their husbands to sign up as a "partner" but the guys don't like dancing, so they are off golfing all day and it's pretty much the same as if they had signed up solo. At some swing dance events I've been to, you sign up as "lead" or "follow" and that's all there is to it.

Women dressing as men might have been rare, but it definitely wasn't unknown, and I've always suspected that it was more common than we think because no one thought or knew to write about it.

My current research is on all-women's productions of Shakespeare.

Try writing to Walter Nelson through the Lively Arts History Association Page (http://www.lahacal.org--hit "contact us"), tell him what's up and tell him Melissa Aaron sent you. Walter's a great guy and might be able to help, and I am pretty sure that he is not starchy and humorless about history: he always points out that out here in the West, women were scarce and guys often danced with each other at balls, or they didn't get to dance! Can you fake it with riding breeches, or do you need the full drop-fall thing with buttons down each side?

Good luck and keep me posted,

~~moonyprof

[rm.livejournal.com]

I've never had a problem with Regency events, it's other eras where it gets dicey, and since I'm looking for the fall-front breaches, this has me running a-foul of Rev. War folks. I have an option with teh woman who is making my tailcoat, but she's expensive. If I can find a pattern smal enough for me, I'll do it myself, but blargh! Thank you for the tip though... interesting, interesting.

[shayguevara.livejournal.com]

Brava! As usual, you hit the nail on the head(s). I don't even have time to applaud your points. We will discuss at our movie date the stupidity of those around us.

[rm.livejournal.com]

And you, unlike everoyne else here, knows the horror of Judy's Book.