Comments for Xtinian Thoughts http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog Another one of my turns. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:52:24 -0800 hourly 1 Comment on Feminism in daily life. by whatsername http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=899&cpage=1#comment-469 whatsername Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:52:24 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=899#comment-469 Humor TOTALLY DOES work. Yes. .-= whatsername's last public post: "<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheJadedHippy/~3/YAUSobgeQPY/new-end-of-time-preview.html" rel="nofollow">New "End of Time" Preview</a>" =-. Humor TOTALLY DOES work. Yes.
whatsername's last public post: "New "End of Time" Preview" My ComLuv Profile

]]> Comment on "Well, what about them?" by Carl http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=809&cpage=1#comment-440 Carl Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:21:02 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=809#comment-440 I'm with you there. On the Mosaic forums, one of the ladies is participating in a "Shoes Exhibit" to show how many women have died by domestic violence. A quick look and I found that 33 of the "women" were actually men (out of 131). As she was a victim of domestic violence, she wasn't comfortable with that revelation. I do understand though. I'm with you there. On the Mosaic forums, one of the ladies is participating in a "Shoes Exhibit" to show how many women have died by domestic violence. A quick look and I found that 33 of the "women" were actually men (out of 131). As she was a victim of domestic violence, she wasn't comfortable with that revelation. I do understand though.

]]> Comment on DHS PDF. by Xtinian Thoughts » Blog Archive » "Well, what about them?" http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=814&cpage=1#comment-439 Xtinian Thoughts » Blog Archive » "Well, what about them?" Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:23:22 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=814#comment-439 [...] (I really need to find this doc again, I swear.) Found it! [...] [...] (I really need to find this doc again, I swear.) Found it! [...]

]]> Comment on Individual choices v. societal programming. by whatsername http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=797&cpage=1#comment-437 whatsername Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:35:12 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=797#comment-437 I'm totally with you on this. The last time I shaved my legs it was because I felt it was a good idea for the moment to conform. If it was purely MY CHOICE I never or even less rarely would. I'll throw another outlier into your schema too, my husband wants to have his name changed because both of us feel much, much more connected to my family than to his. .-= whatsername´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheJadedHippy/~3/aHsuBAzvRhY/round-up-of-week.html" rel="nofollow">Round up of the week!</a> =-. I'm totally with you on this. The last time I shaved my legs it was because I felt it was a good idea for the moment to conform. If it was purely MY CHOICE I never or even less rarely would.

I'll throw another outlier into your schema too, my husband wants to have his name changed because both of us feel much, much more connected to my family than to his.
whatsername´s last blog ..Round up of the week! My ComLuv Profile

]]> Comment on Individual choices v. societal programming. by zandperl http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=797&cpage=1#comment-436 zandperl Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:48:00 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=797#comment-436 The particular one that gets to me every last time is women who "choose" to be housewives. Not to mention the husbands who "choose" to "let" them. An ex- of mine in fact is now married to a woman whose eventual life goal is to become a housewife, so his life goal is now to be able to support her. Until he's able to do so though, she's working part time for some preschool, so at least she's rational about this. As opposed to the ex's sister-in-law, who has a profitable degree, is popping out babies, doesn't work and barely does housework, and bludgeons her low-earning husband (my ex's brother) into working, doing much of the housework, and buying (then selling) a house well beyond their means. .-= zandperl´s last blog ..<a href="http://zandperl.livejournal.com/591411.html" rel="nofollow">For Xtina</a> =-. The particular one that gets to me every last time is women who "choose" to be housewives. Not to mention the husbands who "choose" to "let" them. An ex- of mine in fact is now married to a woman whose eventual life goal is to become a housewife, so his life goal is now to be able to support her. Until he's able to do so though, she's working part time for some preschool, so at least she's rational about this. As opposed to the ex's sister-in-law, who has a profitable degree, is popping out babies, doesn't work and barely does housework, and bludgeons her low-earning husband (my ex's brother) into working, doing much of the housework, and buying (then selling) a house well beyond their means.
zandperl´s last blog ..For Xtina My ComLuv Profile

]]> Comment on Individual choices v. societal programming. by Mike http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=797&cpage=1#comment-435 Mike Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:21:29 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=797#comment-435 This is how I read it: If someone says they are making an "individual" choice, I do not interpret them as saying that culture and expectations did not influence that choice, but, rather, that they made a knowing decision in which they thoughtfully, carefully and properly considered cultural and social expectations, among other concerns, before reaching their decision. It does not seem unusual to me that many of the times when people make that choice, they would end up selecting the direction that is also a conformist position; people who, after thought and consideration are drawn to the conformist position, include not only those who would naturally lean that way, but also those people who are either neutral or lightly inclined the other direction and who think that it is not worth the effort to fight/rebel. The healthier and more vital the culture, the more useful that kind of default/bias would be. I am hopeful, for example, that open-mindedness about homosexuality will soon become a dominant ethos, and the conformist position will change (as it did with regards to overt racism) rendering overt homophobia the aberration and not the default. I also think that the right kind of cultural default can aid in resisting tyrants. This is how I read it: If someone says they are making an "individual" choice, I do not interpret them as saying that culture and expectations did not influence that choice, but, rather, that they made a knowing decision in which they thoughtfully, carefully and properly considered cultural and social expectations, among other concerns, before reaching their decision.

It does not seem unusual to me that many of the times when people make that choice, they would end up selecting the direction that is also a conformist position; people who, after thought and consideration are drawn to the conformist position, include not only those who would naturally lean that way, but also those people who are either neutral or lightly inclined the other direction and who think that it is not worth the effort to fight/rebel.

The healthier and more vital the culture, the more useful that kind of default/bias would be.

I am hopeful, for example, that open-mindedness about homosexuality will soon become a dominant ethos, and the conformist position will change (as it did with regards to overt racism) rendering overt homophobia the aberration and not the default.

I also think that the right kind of cultural default can aid in resisting tyrants.

]]> Comment on I don't ask. by phaedra_lari http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=760&cpage=1#comment-429 phaedra_lari Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:57:23 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=760#comment-429 Well, I actually agree that losing weight *does* come down to that in a literal sense. However, I also agree with you that that advice may be useless because different people's bodies burn calories and process food very differently. So basically, eat less and exercise more (the implication being made by folks who say this is all there is to weight loss) doesn't automatically mean you are consuming fewer calories than you are burning no matter how diligent you are being. So while I think the statement is true, it's just not always terribly useful because we don't fully understand or know how to change our metabolisms. Well, I actually agree that losing weight *does* come down to that in a literal sense. However, I also agree with you that that advice may be useless because different people's bodies burn calories and process food very differently. So basically, eat less and exercise more (the implication being made by folks who say this is all there is to weight loss) doesn't automatically mean you are consuming fewer calories than you are burning no matter how diligent you are being. So while I think the statement is true, it's just not always terribly useful because we don't fully understand or know how to change our metabolisms.

]]> Comment on My brain itches now. by whatsername http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=758&cpage=1#comment-428 whatsername Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:23:11 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=758#comment-428 #3; Ouch...yah. :\ #3; Ouch…yah. :\

]]> Comment on The r-word, and a campaign. And an announcement. by zandperl http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=747&cpage=1#comment-420 zandperl Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:20:17 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=747#comment-420 How would you compare phrases like "that's so retarded" to "that's so gay"? How would you compare phrases like "that's so retarded" to "that's so gay"?

]]> Comment on Meow meow meow &c. by Minerva http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=743&cpage=1#comment-419 Minerva Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:01:49 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=743#comment-419 It's useful to have places or people to whom you can say totally random stuff, and they'll ponder with you. It's one of the things I miss most about living with my sister. It's useful to have places or people to whom you can say totally random stuff, and they'll ponder with you. It's one of the things I miss most about living with my sister.

]]> Comment on Perhaps an elaboration. by zandperl http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=679&cpage=1#comment-412 zandperl Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:02:03 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=679#comment-412 I think it feels nicer to rub my shaven legs against my guy's legs than my unshaven legs. Society pressures are probably why he doesn't do it too. However, shaven legs are colder, so I only do it in the summer. I used to shave legs and armpits due to society pressure, but no more. Now I don't shave armpits for a medical reason. I think it feels nicer to rub my shaven legs against my guy's legs than my unshaven legs. Society pressures are probably why he doesn't do it too. However, shaven legs are colder, so I only do it in the summer.

I used to shave legs and armpits due to society pressure, but no more. Now I don't shave armpits for a medical reason.

]]> Comment on …brought to you by the word "thing". by Xtina http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=674&cpage=1#comment-411 Xtina Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:17:56 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=674#comment-411 Lyndsay: I like the half hour of being clean shaven, but then it sucks again.  Not to mention the added anxiety of "What if I missed a spot?", which I will have done because augh boring. The actual shaving I like once in a <i>very</i> blue moon, because sometimes I like being picky.  The rest of the time, it's a time-sucking pain-inducing burden that I could just as easily spend washing a cat. Lyndsay:

I like the half hour of being clean shaven, but then it sucks again.  Not to mention the added anxiety of "What if I missed a spot?", which I will have done because augh boring.

The actual shaving I like once in a very blue moon, because sometimes I like being picky.  The rest of the time, it's a time-sucking pain-inducing burden that I could just as easily spend washing a cat.

]]> Comment on …brought to you by the word "thing". by Xtina http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=674&cpage=1#comment-410 Xtina Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:13:51 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=674#comment-410 nails: <i>even if you dig shaven feeling skin, hair feels consistently the same way for long periods of time and its pretty friggin soft.</i> It also feels wicked neat in the shower.  Ages ago, when my boyfriend-at-the-time was on tour for months, I didn't bother to shave, and it felt <i>weird</i> and neat.  I am so looking forward to that again. nails:

even if you dig shaven feeling skin, hair feels consistently the same way for long periods of time and its pretty friggin soft.

It also feels wicked neat in the shower.  Ages ago, when my boyfriend-at-the-time was on tour for months, I didn't bother to shave, and it felt weird and neat.  I am so looking forward to that again.

]]> Comment on …brought to you by the word "thing". by Xtinian Thoughts » Blog Archive » Perhaps an elaboration. http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=674&cpage=1#comment-409 Xtinian Thoughts » Blog Archive » Perhaps an elaboration. Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:09:08 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=674#comment-409 [...] occurs to me that my last post on shaving could be taken as disbelieving individual women’s experiences with shaving.  Yee, no.  What [...] [...] occurs to me that my last post on shaving could be taken as disbelieving individual women's experiences with shaving.  Yee, no.  What [...]

]]> Comment on Perhaps an elaboration. by Xtinian Thoughts » Blog Archive » …brought to you by the word “thing”. http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=679&cpage=1#comment-408 Xtinian Thoughts » Blog Archive » …brought to you by the word “thing”. Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:08:35 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=679#comment-408 [...] [eta] I followed up on this. [...] [...] [eta] I followed up on this. [...]

]]> Comment on …brought to you by the word "thing". by nails http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=674&cpage=1#comment-407 nails Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:59:14 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=674#comment-407 I quit shaving forever ago. I have shaved my armpits since then and I hate that way more than leg shaving. I do not know why someone would shave an area that rubs against itself all day long, the hair keeps the friction from being annoying. I guess i did not notice it as much when I shaved regularly, but jeez. Not shaving is a thousand times more comfortable. even if you dig shaven feeling skin, hair feels consistently the same way for long periods of time and its pretty friggin soft. I quit shaving forever ago. I have shaved my armpits since then and I hate that way more than leg shaving. I do not know why someone would shave an area that rubs against itself all day long, the hair keeps the friction from being annoying. I guess i did not notice it as much when I shaved regularly, but jeez. Not shaving is a thousand times more comfortable. even if you dig shaven feeling skin, hair feels consistently the same way for long periods of time and its pretty friggin soft.

]]> Comment on …brought to you by the word "thing". by Lyndsay http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=674&cpage=1#comment-406 Lyndsay Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:51:13 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=674#comment-406 Interesting, I've heard of more of a love for shaved legs than the actual act of shaving. Actually, I don't even know if some women love their legs shaved as much as that is default for them and anything else is not imaginable. Kinda surprises me to hear that because I think most women aren't that extreme but some can't imagine being unshaved even once they're married. Interesting, I've heard of more of a love for shaved legs than the actual act of shaving. Actually, I don't even know if some women love their legs shaved as much as that is default for them and anything else is not imaginable. Kinda surprises me to hear that because I think most women aren't that extreme but some can't imagine being unshaved even once they're married.

]]> Comment on …brought to you by the word "thing". by Xtina http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=674&cpage=1#comment-405 Xtina Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:17:40 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=674#comment-405 Shaving my armpits hurts me, so I really don't do it.  It hurts to shave, it hurts when it is shaved, it hurts when it grows back... fie.  If I want to do things that hurt me, I can try lifting with my back again.  (PS: Ow.)  In the meantime, I use deodorant/antiperspirant, and that suffices.  I figure that men do this fine, so why can't I? I've been shaving my legs off/on since I was 13, I think.  Winter means I do it less often, aye. And I mildly enjoy being clean-shaven, as well - the parts I'm having a problem with are (a) the requirement (yay societah) and (b) the odd coincidence that so many women find shaving to be a pleasing and fun routine that has nothing to do with societal pressure. I keep wanting to disclaim point b there, and I may make a follow-up post about it - I am not being sarky towards individual women.  It's the aggregate I'm having a problem with. Shaving my armpits hurts me, so I really don't do it.  It hurts to shave, it hurts when it is shaved, it hurts when it grows back… fie.  If I want to do things that hurt me, I can try lifting with my back again.  (PS: Ow.)  In the meantime, I use deodorant/antiperspirant, and that suffices.  I figure that men do this fine, so why can't I?

I've been shaving my legs off/on since I was 13, I think.  Winter means I do it less often, aye.

And I mildly enjoy being clean-shaven, as well – the parts I'm having a problem with are (a) the requirement (yay societah) and (b) the odd coincidence that so many women find shaving to be a pleasing and fun routine that has nothing to do with societal pressure.

I keep wanting to disclaim point b there, and I may make a follow-up post about it – I am not being sarky towards individual women.  It's the aggregate I'm having a problem with.

]]> Comment on …brought to you by the word "thing". by Lyndsay http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=674&cpage=1#comment-404 Lyndsay Mon, 09 Mar 2009 02:40:50 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=674#comment-404 How often have you been shaving your legs now? My thought on arm pits is it takes me so little time to shave in the shower and arm pits produce more scent than other places so why would I stop? Legs on the other hand can be done fairly quickly if done often but still not quickly like armpits. I do kinda love shaving sometimes with this free razor I got from La Senza but I probably need to buy new blades soon, which is expensive. Anyway, in winter it's not a challenge to not shave. This perplexes a couple of my friends because I have a boyfriend. But he's never expressed that he cares whether I shave or not. A bunch of girls I live with feel the same way about shaving, at least in winter, but they have blonde hair so I don't think not shaving is a great achievement. How often have you been shaving your legs now? My thought on arm pits is it takes me so little time to shave in the shower and arm pits produce more scent than other places so why would I stop? Legs on the other hand can be done fairly quickly if done often but still not quickly like armpits. I do kinda love shaving sometimes with this free razor I got from La Senza but I probably need to buy new blades soon, which is expensive.
Anyway, in winter it's not a challenge to not shave. This perplexes a couple of my friends because I have a boyfriend. But he's never expressed that he cares whether I shave or not. A bunch of girls I live with feel the same way about shaving, at least in winter, but they have blonde hair so I don't think not shaving is a great achievement.

]]> Comment on Scraping sharpened metal on my legs… funtime! by Xtinian Thoughts » Blog Archive http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=566&cpage=1#comment-403 Xtinian Thoughts » Blog Archive Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:55:11 +0000 http://axisofevil.net/~xtina/blog/?p=566#comment-403 [...] Pff.  I will say straight-out: if I could get away with not shaving, I fucking would in a heartbeat.  I continue to shave because of societal pressure and my anxiety, the end.  Sure, I like how it feels, but (a) it only lasts an hour or so, and (b) then it all turns into a slippery slope (arharhar) of fucking upkeep.  Hours and hours of maintenance to get moments of a nice sensation.  Jesus, at least when I code, it’s useful to others as well, and I usually learn something on the way.  (Not to mention, again, this quote.) [...] [...] Pff.  I will say straight-out: if I could get away with not shaving, I fucking would in a heartbeat.  I continue to shave because of societal pressure and my anxiety, the end.  Sure, I like how it feels, but (a) it only lasts an hour or so, and (b) then it all turns into a slippery slope (arharhar) of fucking upkeep.  Hours and hours of maintenance to get moments of a nice sensation.  Jesus, at least when I code, it's useful to others as well, and I usually learn something on the way.  (Not to mention, again, this quote.) [...]

]]>