By David Futrelle
Men’s Rights Activists — and their close cousins the MGTOWs — fret endlessly about what they see as the unfair power women wield over hapless straight men seduced by their sexy bodies.
MRA granddaddy Warren Farrell has been warning men for decades of women’s “cleavage power” and the apparently hypnotic spells wily women can cast with their asses; these days, MGTOWs and racist conspiracy theorists alike obsess over the evil effects of women wearing yoga pants on the fragile male psyche.
But one MGTOW Redditor wants his fellow lady-avoiders to be wary of another hidden tool women have in their sex appeal arsenal alongside their actual arses: their unclothed arms.
Damn these diabolical body-having ladies and their infernal … limbs!
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@Moon_custafer
The kind with curvy legs do. The only reason I know this is because my brother once called me piano legs. I knew what he meant immediately — but I like the shape of my legs anyway. Bonus: they get me places. I’m not always so strong in the face of the attempted humiliation of my body, but I’m not gonna waver on this one.
Sheila Crosby,
That picture isn’t even a fail, it’s gorgeous! It looks like on purpose vfx.
@Lainy
Absolutely. And I don’t consider myself depressed. But yeah, it’s harder to stay positive when you’re cold and you don’t see the sun. I find full-spectrum light bulbs helpful.
@Lainy
Seconding Kat. Though if it’s a vitamin D deficiency the full spectrum bulbs won’t help. They’re for the brain patterns only. Next winter when it starts to get worse see a doctor and ask about testing for vitamin D levels.
@ Kat
Yeah, I try my hardest to take care of myself. I haven’t been on any anxiety or anti depression medication for a while now. My doctor says a lack of sunlight can make it a lot worse which is why a lot of people have more problems in winter, or that more people just have like seasonal depression. I do take Vitamin supplements to help.
But one of the things that really bothers me and makes it so difficult is having to be under so many layers of clothes. I know that sounds really weird and maybe even a little vain, but I feel the best when I’m wearing as little as possible.
I sometimes think it might be because I used to wear a lot of clothes when I wasn’t in good places. Like after my sexual assault or when I was using drugs. I couldn’t stand anyone to look at me or looking at myself so I would be under so many layers and baggy clothes. So maybe I just associate it with that feeling. So I guess I’m just interested in if anyone else has that issue.
Thanks Kat and Kupo
I’ll do some research on these light bulbs and see if they help at all.
@Lainy
I have a Norwegian friend with bipolar disorder who gets SAD (seasonal affective disorder) in the winter. It sounds like you might have some variant of SAD? In her case, 10k lumen+ bright lights help quite a bit. Ultraviolet bright lamps if you have a Vitamin D deficiency. I can confidently recommend Alaska Northern Lights as a company, I’ve bought from them and they have excellent customer support.
@Lainy
I feel better when I’m looking my (self-defined) best. I think that’s human nature.
My cats, on the other hand, always look their best. But they’re cats.
Harvesters of the Male Gaze
“Harvesters of the Male Gaze”
Ahh, shit, it just doesn’t have any ZING to it…. Oh, well, Harrison Ford is gettin’ old, anyway….
Re winter depression,
I think mine isn’t vit D related because I take modest amounts of vit D during winter* and I can feel my mood fluctuating rapidly between sunny vs. cloudy weather, even in summer. Daylight lamps help a little.
Aside from lamps, does anyone have ideas on what might help?
* And even that’s probably unnecessary considering my diet.
@Lainy: Yes. My depression definitely gets worse in the winter. I try to get more vitamin D from food then but it doesn’t always work out.
You guys are the best, you know that? It’s really nice having a small community of people that I can talk about things in my life and get an objective third party view from. I really wish the triggering trolls hadn’t had kept me from commenting in the past. I wish I’ve done this sooner.
@Ingmar
Thank you for your concern. I have been hoping that fashion since the 2010s becomes more gender non-conforming, but the opposite seems to have happened annoyingly.
I’m trying to buck that trend by wearing strapless tops and skirts at least at my local LGBT group. They look nice but I do admit the former can feel a little tight around the chest, especially since I am flat-chested.
@ Weird (and Tired of Trumplings) Eddie:
The lesser-known sequel to Riders of the Purple Sage.
While the Victorians definitely had different sexual and gender norms to now, the idea that they were generally repressive and prudish is exaggerated.
This article gives a good overview of the myths vs realities.
Reading Foucault on this years ago was quite an eye-opener 🙂
Re depression in winter: while my Black Dog seems to rear its head whenever it likes, I tend to suffer worse depression when the weather is warmer. Cold weather makes me feel happier (and where I live, winter is usually very bright and sunny, like today).
Bonus Mei-Mei pic, because it’s been ages 🙂
http://i63.tinypic.com/15s4r60_th.jpg
He must be especially put out when those wanton strumpets show their ankles.
@Lainy
♥ ♥ ♥
@Mish, @Mei-Mei
♥ ♥ ♥
“Conquer your lust and master your own destiny.” At least they aren’t on board with the nofap thing.
Speaking of the Victorian era, reactionary British politician and all-round loathsome human being Jacob Rees-Mogg’s book on the subject, which has been heavily criticized by, you know, actual historians, has sold fuck-all copies. There is a God!
@Cat Mara, while I enjoyed that, I don’t think Rees-Mogg wrote for mass sales. Tory politicians publish in order to give the appearance, within their party, of some intellectual hinterland. It’s CV material for when they try for the top cabinet jobs, particularly the big one. Even the damning reviews from historians probably won’t bother him overmuch: this is a party which distrusts academic experts, after all.
@ Mish of the Catlady Ascendancy
This. Also, the Victorian era being about sixty years long, social conventions likely shifted around a bit over several generations, as well as varying by geography and social class. Treating it as a mono-culture is like writing about 20th century people as if they experienced Leave It to Beaver* and Punk rock in the same decade.
*I also have issues with the image of the 1950s, or even just the 1950s’ portrayal of themselves – as if media back then was all Leave It to Beaver and no Peanuts or The Man In the Gray Flannel Suit or Chocolates for Breakfast, etc.
@rv97
Fashion is so incredibly political, that I don’t understand today’s populist call against “politicized” vs “unpoliticized work” supposedly non divisive, actually appealing to people to crush critical thought I think.
You are right in a sense, before 2010’s we had lots of “emo” “scene” which pushed many boundaries for guys, also a loto more goths, especially makeup and nail polish. Now a lot less long hair, more beards and cropped sides, but also more skinny jeans, bare calves and ankles and, sometimes shaved rest of the body, ironically, even arms, often.
Depends on the places of course, but I think these aspects would give you leverage to wear what you want confidently and proudly.
@Mish
Pepper says hi!
@Kat,
right back at you, as always <3
@kupo
Pepper's face is just exquisite. She reminds me a little of my Piper (my eldest floof). Different eye colour, but the same beautiful crystal quality.
http://oi67.tinypic.com/9lg8ll.jpg