I Identify Myself as Tall.

[Kolchak]

Have any of you seen the story about the white woman in Washington state that was president of the local NAACP and it was found she had been trying to pass herself off as black? If any of the stories about her are true, she is someone in desperate need of psychoanalysis. She has used spray on tan to darken her skin and has changed her hair style to make it look more African-American. She says she identifies herself as being black.

I'm only five-nine, but I want to be six foot six. So starting today I am identifying myself as Tall. You must overlook the fact I'm short because it will cause me great emotional stress and can't live in the real world without thinking I'm tall all the time. If you don't call me tall, I will have to report you as committing a Hate Crime.

If this works out, I may start demanding that people call me rich too!

[Murfreesboro]

Several years ago, my older son didn't get accepted to his first choice college. He quipped at the time that he should have written an essay in which he said he was a black Lesbian trapped in a white male body. This stuff about the woman in Spokane is reminding me of that.

[Andybev01]

CBS has a headline about her story that read in part, "...parents accuse her if being white.'

Accuse?'

[Kolchak]

CBS has a headline about her story that read in part, "...parents accuse her if being white.'

Accuse?'

It looks like this nut job has not spoken to any of her family in years. A real class act, this gal!

[MauEvig]

Well; there are people who are transgendered but I think that's a whole other ball game right there. I say it's their business but I think silly things like gender identification are well, silly anyway. Then again I'm kind of against strictly established gender roles anyway, I say do what feels right inside. I remember once someone thought I was male on here. I actually thought that was a little hysterical. I'm not the most feminine woman, but I'm still a woman.

Interestingly enough, culturally in Puerto Rico, if you feel deep inside that you are Native American there, they accept that you are Native American on the inside, even if you appear white. I find that kind of interesting.

Me...I'm short. There's no denying it. I'm 5'2". My Mom's even shorter at 4' 11" and my dad is 5' 5". I really hate being this short, but it's not like I can help it. People seem to respect taller people too, and taller people seem to be more successful. But life just isn't fair like that.

[Spookymufu]

but I think silly things like gender identification are well, silly anyway.

WTF??

so you're cool with guy using a womans public bathroom and dressing rooms just because they "feel" like a woman on the inside?

Sorry but thats the craziest thing I've heard on this forum, and I lived through iHaunts nonsensical rants

[Kolchak]

but I think silly things like gender identification are well, silly anyway.

WTF??

so you're cool with guy using a womans public bathroom and dressing rooms just because they "feel" like a woman on the inside?

Sorry but thats the craziest thing I've heard on this forum, and I lived through iHaunts nonsensical rants

Reminds me of the guy who said he thought of himself as a lesbian trapped in a mans body!

[MauEvig]

Didn't I tell y'all I was crazy?

No I probably wouldn't feel comfortable about a man dressing up like a woman and walking into a woman's bathroom. That said, it's still their choice and I respect their opinion. I respect most people's opinion; as long as no one gets hurt.

What I really meant is that I don't think we should always expect women to be frail, helpless and child-bearers while men are always big, tough and burly. It's OK for a woman to be strong and independent, and it's OK for a man to ask for help. I don't feel that we should force specific expectations on people based on their gender. So what if a girl wants to play sports, action figures or video games, or a boy wants to play with Barbie dolls or dress up? It's taboo, and out of the statis quo, but I don't really have a problem with it. In the end, men and women should work together, not against each other, and not placed into little societal roles that are restricting.

But that's merely an opinion of course. I support gender equality.

Yeah my opinions are a little odd; but oh well.

[Andybev01]

"There's only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch.!"

-sir Nigel Powers

[Murfreesboro]

Mau, I raised two sons and a daughter, and I had a couple of reactions to your post:

1. Anyone who thinks women are "frail, helpless, and child-bearers" is being oxymoronic. If you are frail and helpless you cannot bear children, because pregnancy and childbirth are among the most physically taxing things any human being can do.

2. We live in a culture that celebrates little girls who enjoy activities or display character traits stereotypically associated with boys. The reverse is absolutely not the case. Woman speak with pride about their little girls who are "tomboys," but I have yet to hear anyone boast about their little boy because he is "just so girly," likes to "wear my make-up and play with Barbies," etc. People don't brag about that. They get concerned about it. Maybe they shouldn't in a perfect world, but that's the reality. The conclusion I draw? Being masculine, and stereotypically masculine, is still the reigning ideal. Women are celebrated to the extent they conform to masculine behaviors. Katniss Everdeen is the hero of The Hunger Games, not her sister Primm.

My daughter's favorite book, so far, has been Jane Eyre. I think she likes it so much because Jane Eyre is strong, but in a completely feminine way. She doesn't go out and hunt wild game or battle men, but she is strong-willed and uncompromising in her ideals. She resists the cultural expectations that press on her and, in the end, she gets the life she wants. After my daughter finished that book she begged me to find her more books like Jane Eyre. You'd think, being an English PhD, that I could do that. But I couldn't. I can't think of a single book that is like Jane Eyre. That type of feminine heroism is unique to Bronte's novel, as far as I can tell.

[Spookymufu]

What I really meant is that I don't think we should always expect women to be frail, helpless and child-bearers while men are always big, tough and burly. It's OK for a woman to be strong and independent, and it's OK for a man to ask for help. I don't feel that we should force specific expectations on people based on their gender.

this I can totally agree with.......

[Andybev01]

We can ask for help but do we have to ask for directions?

I don't want to have to turn in my man card.

[Kolchak]

We can ask for help but do we have to ask for directions?

I don't want to have to turn in my man card.

NEVER ask for directions. That's in violation of Section 7, Code 12, Article 9 of the Man Act.

In fact I am thinking of calling a Man Convention. These wimps who use GPS systems to navigate around are worse than quiche eaters! Either use a road map or go by dead reckoning!!

[MauEvig]

Don't worry y'all, you don't have to ask for directions. We brave women are strong enough to overcome that for you!

On a serious note, I get what you're saying Murf. I guess my point is that society seems to be so overly protective of women, that they can't handle themselves and need a man to do all sorts of heavy lifting, and especially if one is pregnant! I shocked one of my co-workers once when I walked down the aisle to stock a 50 lb bag of dog food.

[Kolchak]

Some Real Man quotes....

Q. How many real men does it take to change a light bulb?
A. None. real men aren't afraid of the dark.

Q. How many real men does it take to cross a river?
A. 100. 99 to build the suspension bridge, and 1 to drive the 18 wheeler across.

Q. Why did the real man cross the road?
A. None of your dang business!