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First of all, happy birthday to Andy Partridge, formerly of XTC. I believe he's 55 today.
And now, I think it's time for a list of things I have some trouble understanding.
1. Fashion. Not the "hey, this outfit looks good" kind of fashion, but the kind where people are obsessed with brand names. I guess that, as a straight male, I'm not really supposed to get it, but, like, what's the point of buying a Coach bag? Does having the letter C all over it really make it better quality? And what's with the faded-looking T-shirts with store names on them? Also, why do we drive on a parkway and...no, wait, that's something else.
2. Cheerleading. I mean, it's not that I can't see the appeal of scantily clad women jumping around (straight male, remember?), but people take it WAY too seriously. I mean, cheerleading competitions? Sure, it takes talent, but it's a show, not a sport. Not to mention that I associate cheerleading with bitchy emaciated girls.
3. Sports. I've mentioned this before, and I have to say that, although I don't like them, I have an idea as to how people can get caught up in the excitement. I have no idea how people can talk so much about the results of sporting events, but in all fairness, they probably don't see how I can talk so much about Super Mario Bros. and Oz books. I guess that, while my chosen means of escaping from reality involves the realm of the fantastic, theirs involves guys running around and throwing things.
4. Enforced gender differences at fast food restaurants. Okay, I don't know that this is common, but I overhead the worker at the McDonald's drive-thru asking whether someone wanted a "boy or girl" Happy Meal. Why not just ask which product they prefer, instead of trying to reinforce the stereotypes?
And now, I think it's time for a list of things I have some trouble understanding.
1. Fashion. Not the "hey, this outfit looks good" kind of fashion, but the kind where people are obsessed with brand names. I guess that, as a straight male, I'm not really supposed to get it, but, like, what's the point of buying a Coach bag? Does having the letter C all over it really make it better quality? And what's with the faded-looking T-shirts with store names on them? Also, why do we drive on a parkway and...no, wait, that's something else.
2. Cheerleading. I mean, it's not that I can't see the appeal of scantily clad women jumping around (straight male, remember?), but people take it WAY too seriously. I mean, cheerleading competitions? Sure, it takes talent, but it's a show, not a sport. Not to mention that I associate cheerleading with bitchy emaciated girls.
3. Sports. I've mentioned this before, and I have to say that, although I don't like them, I have an idea as to how people can get caught up in the excitement. I have no idea how people can talk so much about the results of sporting events, but in all fairness, they probably don't see how I can talk so much about Super Mario Bros. and Oz books. I guess that, while my chosen means of escaping from reality involves the realm of the fantastic, theirs involves guys running around and throwing things.
4. Enforced gender differences at fast food restaurants. Okay, I don't know that this is common, but I overhead the worker at the McDonald's drive-thru asking whether someone wanted a "boy or girl" Happy Meal. Why not just ask which product they prefer, instead of trying to reinforce the stereotypes?
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Date: 2008-11-11 01:20 pm (UTC)It disgusts me whenever July 4th rolls around and they have hotdog eating contests, etc. They have celebrities now, known ONLY for stuffing their faces and not puking. This while a good 20% (at least) of the children in this country are classifiable as food-insecure.
And, yeah, why do the girl Happy Meal toys suck?
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Date: 2008-11-12 12:08 am (UTC)And, yeah, why do the girl Happy Meal toys suck?
I think the Wizard of Oz dolls were considered the girl's toy, even though I know some guys who got them. So I guess that doesn't always apply, but it often does.
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Date: 2008-11-11 01:49 pm (UTC)4. Seriously, I was thinking that the last time I went to McD's too. I had Sam, and I saw that they had the Matchbox cars and said "They may SAY three and up, but that's a toy I think will be safe for you that you will like so we might as well pass on the toddler meal this time." But the lady asked me "boy or girl?" and I was like "Well, he IS a boy, in fact, but I think if he was a girl we'd still want the car." Although I don't think I actually said all that, just thought it. I mean, when I was a little girl I was as girly as can BE-- TOTALLY your Disney Princess type (though they didn't have that line back then)-- yet even I loved playing with Matchbox cars too, so really!
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Date: 2008-11-12 12:10 am (UTC)4. I think I know several girls who would prefer the Hot Wheels (I know
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Date: 2008-11-12 12:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-12 01:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-13 08:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-12 01:06 am (UTC)There was this boy at the day care I used to work at who announced once that his dad had thrown away his Barbies. But that kid had definite gender identity issues (why did he always want to play the Princess when they were playing things? And why did he proudly proclaim that his favorite color was pink, but when any other boy attempted to claim the pink crayon/pink shirt/whatever, he would tell them "Pink is a girl color!"?), so is probably not a typical example.
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Date: 2008-11-12 01:48 am (UTC)Yeah, probably. Isn't there some toy that's closer to a doll for boys? I think it's Hasbro that makes G.I. Joe, so no dice there.
And in some countries, pink is considered a masculine color. That's what I've heard, anyway. I actually like pink, and I know girls who don't.
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Date: 2008-11-12 05:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-14 01:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-11 10:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-12 12:11 am (UTC)But I don't know that its being dangerous and taking hard work makes it a sport. I mean, construction is dangerous and hard, but I don't think anyone calls that a sport. {g}
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Date: 2008-11-12 12:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-13 07:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-14 01:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-14 06:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-13 07:42 am (UTC)Ah, forget it. I just like the outfits.
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Date: 2008-11-14 01:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-14 06:23 am (UTC)I'd just as soon not examine what that might mean about my psychology too closely.