Journal Entries
Well, I thought it was funny, anyway...
Posted Nov 26, 2006
From this week's New Yorker:
http://www.newyorker.com/shouts/content/articles/061127sh_shouts
"Jeeves and W."
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Latest reply: Nov 26, 2006
Why Myspace is stupid (several expletives deleted)
Posted Nov 15, 2006
I saw a chain letter posted on Myspace about 45 minutes ago that enumerated various ways in which all guys supposedly behave, and how that's mean to relate to girls or something, and how these are interesting things that girls might not know. Their ridiculousness rendered me inarticulate with rage, and I'd like to share some of them (and my responses) here. All swearing has been replaced by 
in due accordance with h2g2 policy. And apologies in advance if some of my ranting seems ridiculously and unreasonably crude.
"Don't talk about your guy friends to your boyfriend."
So roughly 50% of the population just like, doesn't exist? Because if your boyfriend has to acknowledge that like any other guy exists, that equals saying that that other guy is like after your ? Give me a ing break. Other guys exist; you may even have the same guy friends.
"Guys are very open about themselves."
Oh really? So this whole "guys are worried about not seeming masculine", "guys are very influenced by how their peers and society will perceive them" thing that's been psychologically and sociologically documented is just totally false? Granted, they're both generalisations, but what a disgusting generalisation! Does it mean girls aren't open about themselves, or what?
"If a guy tells you about his problems, he just needs someone to listen to him. You don't need to give advice."
So what are you there for, just sitting there and looking pretty?
"We don't like girls who are too skinny. We love it when girls talk about there [sic] boobs."
Yep, thought so.
"Guys use words like hot or cute to describe girls. We rarely use beautiful."
Wow, the knowledge that I'm nothing more than a sex object in your eyes is just so reassuring.
"Guys seek for advice from girls not other guys. Because most guys think alike, so if one guy's confused, then we're all confused."
Despite the obviously ridiculous grammar of this statement, I have never met a guy that's exactly like another guy. And I wouldn't expect any of my male friends to approach a situation in exactly the same way. Did a guy write this? Was he ing stoned at the time, or what?
"Any guy could write out a rulebook or advice book for flirting, but no guy can write out a book about relationships."
The only reason I'm not citing authors and titles right now is that I'm too lazy to do an Amazon search.
"Guys learn from experience not from the romance books that girls read and take as their basis of experience."
Oh, we do, do we? (she says archly). I challenge you to convince me that my world is about fluttering eyelashes and happily ever after and love and Valentine's Day, about hot buff guys who sweep you off your feet and finding "The One". I think you'll find it very difficult to do. And I haven't read a romance novel since 8th grade. So there. If you want titillation, read actual porn; don't cloak it in the disguise of a Danielle Steele cover.
"If your best guy friend seems to avoid you or is never around when you're with your boyfriend, he's probably jealous and likes you."
Oh, because he's not just being polite cause he thinks you want your space? Or maybe he actually feels a bit awkward cause you've been ing making out in front of him. Don't you think that might him off?
"Guys like femininity not feebleness."
And it's statements like that that give femininity a bad name, you .
"When a guy looks at you for longer than a second, he's definitely thinking something."
(Sorry, can't resist this one.) Yeah, he's thinking he wants to you, and you should just run for it.
"A guy has more problems than you can see with your naked eyes."
A girl has more problems than you can see with your naked eyes.
"Guys talk about girls more than girls talk about guys."
I'm not even going to dignify this with a response.
"Not all guys are s. Just because ONE is a doesnt mean he represents ALL of us."
Precisely, which is why you shouldn't have been generalising about all guys and all girls for the past several statements.
"When a guy hits your butt it means that he wants you sexually"
So that means it's okay? That means you should tolerate sexual harassment?
"Your best friend, the guy you can go to with anything, is the guy who loves you more than any other ever could. He'd do anything to be with you, and will always love you. When he sees you cry he wishes he could change the stars to make you happy. He would go to the end of the world for you and loves you deeply."
That is so ing ridiculous I just don't know what to say. I'm robbed of my usual ability to articulate.
Honestly. It's crap like this that perpetuates gender roles, stereotypes and generalisations, objectification. It's disgusting and it's unfair to both guys and girls and it just makes my blood boil. And I have nothing more to say about it.
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Latest reply: Nov 15, 2006
A list
Posted Nov 1, 2006
1. I will not be a cliché.
2. I will not alienate my friends.
3. I will not ask my boy- or girlfriend to come running whenever I break a nail, so to speak.
4. I will not let my submissive nature override the necessity of asserting myself.
5. I will not allow myself to be patronised.
6. I will not go out with anyone who just thinks I'm hot.
7. I will not go out with anyone who does not treat me as an intellectual and idealogical equal.
8. I will not say yes to anyone just because they're hot.
9. I will not say yes to anyone just because I'm desperate.
10. I will not convince myself to accord someone trust they don't deserve.
11. I will not do anything just because I feel "obligated".
12. I will not allow exceptional circumstances to override my judgement.
13. I will not go out with anyone without remembering past experiences.
14. I will not go out with anyone whom I do not trust implicitly.
Discuss this Journal entry [39]
Latest reply: Nov 1, 2006
Who knows anything about Ubuntu Linux?
Posted Oct 29, 2006
I just installed Ubuntu on my old computer and it seems awesome so far - except that I can't connect to the Internet. All our family computers, PC and Mac alike, connect to a DSL connection via a wireless router. My computer that is now running Linux formerly connected through Windows with a Linksys wireless card to the Linksys wireless router, but I'm having problems with the Ubuntu and I'm not quite sure what's wrong. I've entered the ESSID correctly and I've selected DHCP for the configuration. I don't really get the WEP key deal though. Our various Macs don't mention anything about WEP encryption and I copied down a plausible-looking hexadecimal number from our lone Internet-capable PC, to no real effect. I think the WEP thing is what I need to figure out to connect but I'm not sure how to find the right number to enter in the box.
I know it's a terribly specific question, but is there anyone who can explain this to a relatively computer-ignorant person like me?
Discuss this Journal entry [15]
Latest reply: Oct 29, 2006
This is a bit worrying
Posted Oct 21, 2006
See F615?thread=3590515, post 11 by 'The h2g2 Editors':
"Hello there,
"If anyone would like to put us into a position where we are forced to be more strict in the application of this policy and strain our already limited resources further, then the best way is probably to keep pointing out what might seem to be inconsistencies in the workings of the filter.
"h2g2 Editors"
I am really shocked (though not hugely surprised) to see the italics acting in this immature manner, issuing threats just because some folks are questioning the inclusion of the word "bastard" in the profanity filter. I suppose my views on the profanity filter are really irrelevant here - what matters is that, in the case of a site such as h2g2 that is basically floundering, the italics should surely be working to please members, not antagonise them? And, in fact, isn't that a good policy on any website? Who's going to want to be a member of a site where the staff are sarcastic and refuse to pay any attention to what already seems to be a legitimate concern on the part of the community? And what use are threats going to serve? How could the application of the profanity filter possibly get more strict? (Bad question, I know; now they'll be only too happy to demonstrate.) And why do I have a habit of asking so many rhetorical questions?
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Latest reply: Oct 21, 2006
echomikeromeo
Researcher U929375
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