Strbellysneetch’s Weblog

 Prior to what I actually want to say, some key definitions are necessary courtesy of one of my favorites…the online Merriam-Webster dictionary (second only to Thesaurus.com):

1. Feminism: Pronunciation: ‘fe-m&-”ni-z&m Function: noun: 1 : the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes 2 : organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests
2. Correlation: Pronunciation: “kor-&-’lA-sh&n,Function: noun: 1 : the state or relation of being correlated; specifically : a relation existing between phenomena or things or between mathematical or statistical variables which tend to vary, be associated, or occur together in a way not expected on the basis of chance alone
3. Knee-Jerk: Pronunciation: ‘nE-”j&rk,Function: adjective: : readily predictable : AUTOMATIC <knee-jerk reactions>; also : reacting in a readily predictable way <knee-jerk liberals>

These are important terms, I promise.

A title such as “Crying Over Spilled Semen” is funny…I’ll admit that much.

However I do need to point out some things that I don’t find so much humor in: reacting instantly to something with a glaring failure to critically think about it first (e.g. “knee-jerk” reaction), boiling down an article (and/or research study) to one sentence that doesn’t even accurately describe said article and/or study, and finally using an entire movement for what it was not intended for.

Today I read a blog post in regards to the above linked article that was posted on a fairly popular feminist forum and I’m a little sad to say that I was disappointed not only in how the article was portrayed but also in fellow reader’s comments.

The blog author stated plainly that the article was claiming that women are addicted to semen. From a “feminist” platform they decried everything about the study as humorous and/or silly. One reader proudly stated that they cancelled their subscription to the journal because of the article. Another laughed at the research and pointed out the obvious…that you can’t deduce causation simply from correlation (what’s even funnier is that not even once does the article claim ‘causation’ but instead specifically uses the term ‘correlation’…ironically they mention an imaginary book in their comment-”Behavioral Statistics for Dummies”). Still another commentor assumed that the psychologist did the study solely motivated by obession with their penis. Most couldn’t even see past the predictable ‘media spin’ intended to attract readers in order to really even comment about the study. It made me horribly sad.

When you cancel a subscription to something that you were previously interested in simply because they published something that you didn’t agree with or didn’t understand what does that say about you and your willingness to learn about the world that you’re living in and fighting for rights in? Also, when doing a research study you cannot state that x causes y unless the results clearly show that x causes y…in every other case it’s called a correlation (see definition above)-which the article did state. I recognize this…I go to school for this. Additionally, should I now assume that any woman who does a research study about sex does so based solely on their obsession with their own anatomy? Really.

We all see the world through highly unique filters…it scares the hell out of me when I see people that deem themselves spokespeople for something so important but can’t see past their own platform to really even look at or understand something.

But we’ve all come so far and are so liberal aren’t we?

Teaching a very young 3 pound dog to walk in rhythym with a 75 pound one (that always fights to be in the lead) is not an easy task by any means. Trust me. I know I make it look easy (kidding), but it’s not. The margin of error in that situation is absolutely awesome. Scenarios? Puppy gets stepped on by the big dog and squeals for half an hour, puppy breaks away from the momentarily established rhythym and becomes entangled in furry legs that don’t belong to her and a leash that doesn’t belong to her & ends up on her back (again with the squealing), puppy gets distracted by something shiny a million miles away & makes a futile effort to run for it only to end up with a paw under my foot (again with the squealing). It’s almost comical if it wasn’t so stressful. Especially since all the while that this is going on I am supposed to be remembering to keep going because the little one has to learn that she is not in charge and does not dictate what direction we head in.

It doesn’t help when people are so overcome by her cuteness that they are compelled to interrupt our walk and ask questions that they don’t really need the answer to at a time like that.

It’s one thing if I am at the dog park, or the beach, or any other type of recreation place where people gather. It is assumed that these are social places and the norm is that people engage in conversation at places like that. I realize this and am reasonable enough not to get annoyed in those scenarios. I actually welcome talking about my dogs at a time like that.

This morning before heading out on our walk I glanced at the table and noticed my iPod. I almost hit myself in the head for not thinking about it sooner. If I have headphones in people will be discouraged from talking to me! I was so proud of myself. I was also so excited about the prospect of being able to concentrate on the melee of dog and my attempts at making the mess organized.

Instead of a peaceful excitement at being left alone I was shocked with the reality that people will look right at the earphones in your ear and the iPod in your hand and stupidity wins out enough for them to just start talking at you. The first lady to do this to me did so when I wasn’t even stopped at a crosswalk or anything-I was in the process of walking briskly. Automatic reaction for me is to "be nice" and stop and answer the question, which I did in this case (causing me to just become irritated with myself).

After answering her question and managing to reassemble the precarious balance I was reaching with the two dogs I made an important decision. If I am sending the signal to people that I do not wish to socialize and they choose to interrupt without invitation anyway I have full right to completely ignore them. And that is what I did for the rest of that hour.

I probably should have counted the amount of people I had to ignore but actually am sort of glad that I didn’t because it would have just caused me even more disappointment with the general public. I’m sure I looked like the rude one-despite the obvious signal I was sending people by listening to head phones instead of being open to conversation…and I don’t even care. I got to enjoy the rest of our walk in peace.

Rape is not funny. I am an intelligent individual. I know what ‘opinion’ and ‘fact’ are defined as. In this case, definitions be damned…rape is not funny in any capacity, in any situation, nor in any circumstance. If you do think it’s funny something is severely wrong with you and were you in my office I would provide you with a mental health referral immediately. Oh and by the way…if you think rape is funny and also think it’s okay to laugh about it publicly you shouldn’t be on the air-I don’t care if it is unregulated XM radio.

These two assholes would obviously disagree with me. (If you are sensitive to vulgarity & language-probably better that you don’t take a listen to the second link).

My favorite part about all of this are the idiots that defend it and turn it into a ‘censorship’ issue. Really?!? Are you sure about that? Glances at message boards that are supporting Opie & Anthony reveal that many are asking that an apology be issued to the two for the 30-day suspension of their show. An apology? They should have been dropped all together-immediately.

Violent acts against women, or anyone for that matter…are just not funny-and consequences for mocking them are really not a censorship issue.

After dragging my ass to the second job I was pleasantly surprised at the sight of a coworker that is usually gone home by the time I get there in the evening. Said coworker brought up an excellent point in the course of a conversation that helped me make a long overdue decision. I have to give up the second job. That’s all there is to it. Upon being asked to I was unable to come up with a true to life valid reason why I needed or wanted the second job.

The extra money is nice.  I’ve grown fairly attached to a few friends there and it’s nice to see them throughout the week. I have a good sized chunk of stock grants from being there full time for as long as I have been. I have some money in my 401K. That’s all fine and dandy but it still doesn’t make the scales equal.

I don’t need the extra money-what I make at my full time adult job is more than enough to get by on. The friends I’ve made will either keep in touch, or they won’t. The stock grants don’t do me a huuuge favor because I still have a few years for most of them to even vest. The 401K stuff, I can roll over.

Add to that: I’m tired. I’m bone chilling tired. I’m go-home-and-cry tired. Areas-of-my-life-are-suffering tired. I just can’t do it anymore. As a friend put it today, something eventually has to give, and it won’t be the job that gives, it will be me, but in a bad way. Yah, I chose to have five million jobs-I get that. Now I’m unchoosing it even though insanely, I’m sad about it. Part of that makes sense-for the last ten years there has only been a period of about 4-5 months that I didn’t work at Starbucks. I went through school, had other jobs, did my internship all while working there. The other part of it doesn’t really make sense but 1. I am not going to explore that here, and 2. many things in my life seem to not make sense so what’s one more to accept as is?

I get too attached to things and people. It’s a character flaw.

I want to go home after work like normal people. I want to be the one to take my dogs for a walk when I get there (instead of paying someone to do it for me) before I then do my very important homework. I want to want to go out on the weekends with friends and my family-a few months is all I can really spend being so tired by the time I have free time that I don’t even want to be around anyone. I want to have entire weekends to myself-not just a day. I want to focus on the school that I’m spending $19,000 on and do so without worrying what hour during the week my homework will get done. I want to have a summer. I want a clean house and time to do laundry. Also, I’m tired of having crazed, whacked out hair and wild eyes by the end of my workday since it lasts over 12 hours right now.

Bye Starbucks.

First off…new pics! Love it.

Second: One of my old supervisors is an a-hole. It’s way too long of a story to go into, I just thought I’d mention it

Third: I love my job. People actually want to talk to me and want to see me-this is good because most clients in that type of clinic avoid having to meet with counselors like the plague. Sometimes they even ask to see me before they’re really required to. I love my job.

Fourth: I abhor Snoop Dogg.

Fifth: When the going gets tough it’s always a spectacular idea to make birth control unreasonably expensive. Really.

Sixth: Response by moron message boarder on a "men are the victims" site I visit sometimes…he was responding to an article called "The nightmare of feminism":

We now have the first generation of men raised by women and now it is going onto a second generation of fatherless boys raised by women.  You can see the feminism, just spewing bad advice, being bitter and angry, wondering why their relationships with normal men don’t work out. Then passing this bitterness and anger onto others masqueraded as to what is the norm. They circle the wagons and try to belittle those who oppose their agenda or comment on their behavior.

Fortunately there are a few who recognize the differences in men and women and realize each brings something special to a relationship.  A relationship can reach its greatest potential when both in a relationship are unselfish and putting the needs of their partner first; this is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Feminism robs this because of selfish thoughtless behavior and the gotta get mine attitude.

And just becuase this was posted on the men only board, I am sure some are salivating to post a comment and probably will. Because; "damn if a man have an opinion opposite of mine."

Well paint me blue…we ruined relationships all together. All our fault. It is easy, I suppose, to dismiss people as angry & irrational in order to avoid listening to what they have to say.

Seventh: Open Mike is lame. My favorite is when he compares having a psychological addiction to marijuana to someone cheating on their taxes.

Eight: I love my home.