h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It´s great to see this again,Bel.

Thank you both.

It's been a while since I wrote that, I had to reread it myself.

Yes, isn't that a fun thing to do? I will admit that I reread things I wrote awhile ago with some trepidation - I just did that - because I'm afraid I'll wince and wish I could edit.

I still get a bit of a chuckle out of the Phoints, though, so I'm glad it's back for Earth Day.

Well done! This is a fascinating ramble of a read. Very enjoyable!

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was a contribution inspired by the Stretcher back then.

And Dmitri, I know what you mean. I love the phoints, always did.
Great coincidence they're on the FP during Earth Week.

Nice article Bel

But it strikes me - and this is quite a common theory - that modesty in a woman is because she has, and has had for thousands of years, the responsibility of bringing up the young of any union. She can't be brash and then clear off like a man can, although men have got somewhat better for social reasons over the millennia.

That's also why there's a common saying that it's the woman who really chooses the man. She's got so much investment in choosing the right one.

Whereas in terms of seriousness and responsibility, in comparison the man hasn't a clue.

Cheers,

Jab

.....and they're the ones who have to go through all the trauma of bearing the child too, unless it's aborted or miscarried, themselves traumas.

Jabs

Cheers, Jabs.

It was meant to be a bit provocative, and there are certainly a lot more sides to it than I mention. It's nice to have a bit of discussion,
that's what I wrote it for.

Cheers yourself Bel

A typically generous response to my points, which weren't meant to be taken as being against your article at all - far from it. Which you were generous enough to see.

Jabs



Can I just add the point I missed out? That 'Laddish' behaviour among young women (drinking to excess, casual sex etc etc) are responses to easier abortions and easy access to prophylactics? I'm all for the freedom, even if I disapprove of some of the behaviour.Ta.

You are right, I saw your post as addition to what I wrote, not as opposition. And as a positive post at that.

It's funny, but I think people are still more shocked about the behaviour you describe if it's girls who do it, rather than boys. I'd be hypocrite if I said I was an exception. But why is that? Is it my age? I really don't know. I try to be open for everything, and yet there are things I just 'don't get'.

Maybe it is just that girls are humans as well ---therefore susceptable to bad behaviour as any other human. Down with the double standard. Bad, dumb behaviour is just that. So much of it goes on all the time, people just get innoculated to it I suppose.

Not that I know, Bel, but I think they're modelling themselves on young men, who've behaved like that for years. Somehow this imitation male behaviour makes them feel strong and free, rather than submissive (to ANYONE). They haven't worked out their own role models yet (this is not all women, not even all young women of course - just the ones who tend to appear on Reality police shows and/or drive their neighbours crazy). But I'm not really of the right generation.

They also seem to have money, even though the UK Equal Pay Act doesn't seem to have worked. I mean no disresect to the real workers, but working class jobs tend to pay youngsters more, compared to their elders.

They have their own morality, based usually on male values (just as bad) or Celebrities, a very narcissistic morality. That's why we're shocked. Me too. But I have a sneaking feeling 'twas ever thus.

Jabs

You are right, Elektra. It shouldn't make any difference whether it's boys or girls who behave badly. Maybe I just assume that girls are generally more mature than boys (especially teenagers), so then I'm baffled if I see they do the same stupid things?

PS. I agree with elekragheorgheni (if that's right), too.

Poesiealbum.
I am surprised to see it says there is no English equivalent. When I was young we (well girls anyway) had autograph books, which were just this. Not just for collecting autographs, but for little rhymes and drawings. Many of these entries were traditional; in every book one of your friends would write on the last page 'By hook or by crook, I'll be last in your book', and another would write very small below it 'By egg and by bacon, I think you're mistaken'.

Oh, thanks for that. I didn't find any equivalent when I looked for a translation, and I don't recall anybody suggesting one before.

2 young
2 go
____
4 boys

That went in girls' autograph books.

Well done, Bel.

See how modest Kate Harding and her posse are: http://kateharding.net/2010/04/23/slightly-pre-friday-sorta-fluff-im-kate-fucking-harding/.

TRiG.