I was unaware of age prejudice until I came to ILP. I imagine that because the majority of the people here are under 22, I can see why ya don’t want to talk with your mom, but many of you seem age-biased in your replies or reactions to a woman of experience. No, I am not a little girl; yes, I have been around several blocks, but am far from being an old bag, and I am shocked at the substance (or lack of) the responses to me here.
I won’t lose sleep over it, but I find it strangely disturbing, and realize that this may be a place for the young souls only to vent their views. Sad. Ironically, I have found some twenty-something “old souls” here whom I’ve come to appreciate, and would like to mention today:
Uniqor: young, but intellectually heartbreaking
vortical: tender, honest, forgiving, passionate
Ben: the oldest souls of the youngest and cutest bucks
liquidangel: giving, finds beauty in simplicity, a natural artist
Km: age has no barrier, no limit, no prejudice
Smooth: as always… smoooooooooooth
So argue with me. Tell me I’m wrong. Or better yet, tell me I’m right and tell me why. Or, if you don’t want to answer this, tell me what your prejudices are, and why you have them. BE HONEST.
Gee, um…I had no idea love. I don’t know what to say!
I don’t know if it’s really a prejudice but perhaps it is and perhaps I can introspect myself on this. I hate it when women use their sexuality disguised as intellectualism to put their point across. It’s like they are standing in a room full of male philosophers and for some reason they feel that the only way they can get their attention is to shock them by using their sexuality into sitting up and taking notice. Irks me.
The worse part is that some men actually fall for it for a while, particularly those that think with their other head. After a while they notice that the only thing she has to offer is sex. She doesn’t realise that she is belittling herself.
You know, it’s the old story - looking for love in all the wrong places. What can be done to express to these women that their sexuality is sacred and exquisite when honoured and respected. If only they would listen to their little voice.
I’m sure there will be some violent opposition here.
I voted religion. As in I am prejudice to all religions. I think organized religion is nothing but a crutch for people who can’t think for themselves.
However, if intelligence was up there I would have voted for that. I can’t stand people who don’t educate themselves. Then again I guess intelligence and religion go hand in hand.
Interesting post Bess. I can’t vote because there’s too many hypotheticals associated with each of them so I’ll verbalise my discriminations.
FtheNaysayers said exactly what I was thinking… you missed what I consider the most important one: intelligence. On a site like this I think you have a right to expect some level of intelligence. It doesn’t have to be all academic – because that can end up being as boring as no intelligence – but a person need to say more than “I’m shy, I’m cute look at my sexy photos†(giggle giggle) in each post. ARRRRGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!
Personality is second thing I look for, another one you left off – and vital. That’s what I like so much about you, its your great big personality…(and your funny). A forum is only as good as the sum total of the personalities on it. If a forum was purely for the information, then we’d all be sitting at home reading.
Third in importance is age. Yes A.G.E.!!! But what you may not have realised is that age discrimination can be aimed at the young’uns as well as the oldies. I’m far more discriminatory against the young (sorry guys).
The reason for this is obvious. A young person will often start a thread and say something that the more mature people have been through a thousand times, yet they think it’s the first time its been presented. There’s no problem with that, we all did it, but I’m more interested in bugging the old pros with my own newly discovered revelations. (Oh and another thing: When I found out we had people as young as 15 on the site, I’ve been paranoid about writing swear words and letting my hair down ever since).
One last thing Bess, I think you may be a little too conscious of your age on this site. If people don’t seem to talk to you, its probably not so much to do with your age but they simply are not interested in the topics you’re interested in – and vice versa. I’ll freely admit, I don’t talk to some people on this site simply because our interests don’t seem to cross paths… not for any other reason. If they had divulged that they were an old, black, lesbian muslim, they would probably think that was the reason I (and others) seemed to be avoiding them. .
Well Bessy- thank you for the compliment! I had to vote finances. I’ve always found it hard to relate with and accept people who have more money than I do, and also in some ways those who have less. If someone has worked hard all of their life and become wealthy and successful, that’s great. What I’m talking about is poor people on public aid and entitled spoiled rich kids. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but think about the lessons these people are learning- sadly they are failing themselves when they aren’t living up to their potential, taking risks… they are unfortunately sheltered in a way.
I think, and I feel that the things I value most are those I’ve earned- I value the life lessons of my failures. I feel fortunate to have grown up really middle of the road, middle class American with all of my needs met- the opportunity to go to college ($20,000 in student loans left to pay- no free ride there) - but never spoiled, having worked since I was 16 and giving my money, whatever small amount to my family to contribute. It’s not like they needed $200 a month from me, but it was the principle that I was paying for the privilege of sharing the family car, food and paying for my own entertainment with whatever was left.
I’m 27, in debt and I struggle- I can’t help but have contempt for those who do not. I can’t help but get a little frustrated that a portion of my paycheck goes to public aid for those who are “disabled†for example- to pay for their addictions. The most extreme example: I had a neighbor who was on section 8 (housing assistance), Medicaid, and social security disability- she worked for cash so the government wouldn’t know and smoked pot everyday even though doing such was contraindicated because of the heart medication she was on. She paid less than half of the rent I did. I was a college student at the time with no health insurance, no money, no food. I worked harder and lived far worse than she did. It bothered me a lot sometimes but her and I were great friends, so that being said I hope I don’t ruffle any feathers here. I’m not extremely good at judging people and treating them according to my judgments when I do. When you take the time to look past certain things maintaining disapproval becomes difficult. I find it hard not to feel a certain love or empathy once I get to know someone, no matter what peeves I have with them. I have never really disliked anyone for a great length of time.
My second choice would have been intelligence- that only being the case when people are patronizing and condescending to me, which has occurred more often than I’d like.
Why is it that when boys from the age of fifteen to the age of sixty-five talk about sex they are considered “just one of the boys” and when we women do it we are using it to get attention. I don’t need anyone’s attention, but simply feel comfortable with my body, comfortable talking sex, referring to sex, and even joking about sex. I love sex. Sorry. I am guilty of having a little fun out of sheer boredom, but if you think I need attention you are dead wrong and am sorry that you see it that way. I agree that most women do not talk sex the way men talk sex, which is why Samantha on Sex in the City gets so much attention, but SHE is the feminist, not the woman who is afraid to talk sex, ask for sex, and be an all around sexual being. I call that equality, not the need for attention. How many men here have referred to their body parts, or hot bods etc. etc. Okay, I agree that the bustier and leather whip was for fun, but whose idea was that? Mine? No, it wasn’t. I went with it because it was funny. Thanks for the compliments, but I was wrong about you km2 33, and thought you got the joke. Obviously you didn’t.
I have struggled quite a bit too with the financial thing through the years. I have alluded to shopping and having money, but it hasn’t always been so. Actually, I was raised with a trust fund, but my mother is “borderline personality” and will leave it to the local kennel, I’m sure. Don’t be envious of my money. We filed for bankrupcy fifteen years ago and have recently put four children through college (we are on the fifth). We had nothing saved and have been bled dry over the last ten years, which is why I have had three jobs. Yes, my husband finally hit it with his co.last year, but not without a massive struggle - and it has changed him. He is not the same; unhappy, insecure, and frustrated. It will be all we can do to stay together. The man I was involved with is a zillionaire who is a public figure. (I think I told you that before, didn’t I?) Very tempting, but NO one will ever replace the father of my children. No one, and I don’t want to ruin what I have built.
Seriously one of the ways we got really close was the internet, and I have cut him off thanks to all of you - so argue away with me, call me a fool, a slut, an idiot, but keep me talking because this may have saved my marriage. Writing this out has been SO cathartic… I am relatively sure I may have left home without being able to tell someone this. You don’t understand, a mother of this many children is like an icon… I can’t do it to them.
I reiterate: I put intelligence up there and it was CUT OFF. Good point about personality, which should have been #1. Thank you for that Km… Also, thank you for mentioning the swearing. I said in another thread that I NEVER swear, but have had to keep it in for so many years because of being “Mommy” that I have simply gotten my rocks off for few months with “F–K this and mother F–Ker that”… I agree that I may tone it down too, but not for the fifteen year olds. They have the biggest potty mouths in the universe! I should know.
I voted religion - for no better reason than I can’t stand the sanctimonious buggers.
I don’t think Angel (Alwight angel-luv) or KM were digging at you there Bessy, I think I know who they meant, but I’ll mention no names… (I might drop a hint in the next paragraph though…)
So anyway
how’s life
young lady…?
still posting I see…
terrific.
everything becoming more clear now…?
really - you gotta look at the vertical as well as the horizontal in life…
Damn…! - my return key is playing up again, seems okay now though…
Well, I unfortunately just taught my 2 year old to say “shit” by mistake - I was watching Titanic of all things with the wife, and when the ship broke in two I said the s-word - only to have it echoed by the littl’un… Now he’s happily saying shit everytime he’s surprised…
I don’t think we should worry much about swearing here, at least in the mundane/rant forums - we older heads should give classes on “how to swear with flair” instead…
(Hi Km2_33 - just a quick bravo to you too - for your wonderful fat-lady singing on Psyque’s farewell fandango… )
Gotta agree with Km on that one - I keep trying to post something decent on the philosophy forum, and they keep bombing horrendously… I managed to get myself called a sociopath on my last attempt.
Anyway - take care - gotta go, I’ve got a little something on the stove heating up for supper…
PS: when are we going to write another story together…? Fire up a thread - and I’ll be there like a shot…
i have a slight feeling that you were hinting at me with that…
well, i agree, but what is wrong with getting advice from more mature people? what is wrong with learning through discussion?
i would be realy annoyed myself if some twirp thats a few yrs younger than me tried to prove things to me, but surely the younger people cant bore you. and you dont have to reply to every post, you know.
and as far as that swearing thing goes, for all you know i could be a naked old man (like the one in your other post )
Thank you for straightening me out Tab… you know I get a bit touchy at times… it was my dysfunctional upbringing. When your own mother doesn’t like you… yowza
I will ponder a good story over the next few days and we will be on it. I meant to pm you about the last one anyway. I had a close call of being raped once myself, and that is what my response was about to you. Didn’t mean to be vague or mysterious. Sorry.
Once your kid hits the bus, it’s curtains with the smut. Dickhead, cunt - you name it. Such is life for babes in arms.
ps… I am with you on religion. Don’t those buggers just grab you in the ass?
Ja, you usually get some one milimetre-deep anwsers to your questions, with my experience around town, I assure you that kind of anwsers are among the most lengthy, with the exception of a few posters. As our aphrorism king Nietzsche said, he who writes economically, is easily seen as shallow, in fact, the truth is quite the contrary; and those who write ceromoniously are simply trying to compliment on the lack of depth in their content; or more often, just circling within the confused sphere of their own points. The rich content usually lies in words that displease or totally confuse the ears, but of course at the same time, stupid rants as well. Sorry to quote Nietzsche again: “Topsy-turvy world — We criticize a thinker more sharply when he proposes a tenet that is disagreeable to us; and yet it would be more reasonable to do this when we find his tenet agreeable.”
Crist Jesu, wrting any more and I’ll be slaming my own ass. To anwer your question with machine efficiency and crystal clearness - I’m only prejudiced against the non-scientific: that is the non-systematic, non-organised and non-determind. Man! I love this scientific prejudice of mine.
I am trying so hard not to be prejudiced against your name and your scary red eyes because I might have a Dr. Satanical dream tonight which could entail savage lions and tigers and bears (Oh my!). … so I will close my eyes and concentrate heavily on angels, puppies, Snoopy… ah yes, rainbows, sunshine and yummy cookies and milk. Chocolate chip, I think. No, maybe oatmeal with raisins right out of the oven. Everybody sing,
"Everything is beautiful, in its own waaaaa aay. I feel better now, don’t you?
Didn’t want to post here, lest I taint your thread with my rep… My prejudice is hypocrites and people who cannot admit or acknowledge they are wrong, even when it’s inconsequential (usually one in the same–seeing a lot of that recently… ). Give me an honest, open rant about, oh…let’s see…ummmm…I don’t know, maybe being ignored due to age-ism any day. I prefer that much more to people who need to distort or ignore the truth both to others and to themselves. Or people who would rather pose than compose (just made that up myself… ). When YOU write, you’re putting yourself on the line, with all the risk that entails. THAT is genuine. THAT is real. THAT is sincere. THAT is what I like. But that’s just me. Ya know I’m a fan, B, even when you’re rippin’ on my shallowness and over-sized ego…
PS
I won’t be responding to much of anything, now that I’m kicking the habit…
PPS
Contrary to what some might think, my first paragraph is NOT about _____. Nor is it even about ___________. There’s nothing more to say about “them.” It’s about others, specifically ___________.
Oh yeah, psyque - you come in here like my phantom shink worried about your rep still when I am looked upon now as the town whore. Now, I think after raising five kids, making three kazillian dinners, wiping too many noses, sitting at thousands of ball games in the rain, and tutoring math that I never understood to so many kids “she didn’t know what to do”… town slut sounds like a walk in the friggin’ park. I deserve a libido rush, damn it, and I’m takin it. Hmmm, town slut with a bag of warm oatmeal cookies sounds good. I will share with my buddy Satanical 'cause I wouldn’t want to have hurt his feelings with my rude and impulsive behavior. The devil made me do it.
Yes, yes Tab… you may skip hand n’ hand with us through the park. No cookies for you though… you are watching your carbs, remember?
[size=75](I will take my Adderall now, and retire with my buddy psyque for the week. ttlu loveys.)[/size]
.
Good point about personality, which should have been 
i have a slight feeling that you were hinting at me with that…
)
… so I will close my eyes and concentrate heavily on angels, puppies, Snoopy… ah yes, rainbows, sunshine and yummy cookies and milk. Chocolate chip, I think. No, maybe oatmeal with raisins right out of the oven. Everybody sing,
). Give me an honest, open rant about, oh…let’s see…ummmm…I don’t know, maybe being ignored due to age-ism 