Forum posts made by she

Drunk driving deaths exceed gun deaths (at least as of 2009), maybe we should get rid of the 21st Amendment as well; after all, that’s another hobbies people do for nothing more than enjoyment.

Would you be willing to agree with this statement, or are you one of the people that drink and thus are against it?

I don't drink and drive and I love to drink, it is just the way I live, by my standards and my rules when it comes to the point that I can damage my life or any other.

..saying that, I will tell you that you are repeating your self and you don't have good argument there. It's like saying, since I have to take my daily medicine for lymph gland because is out of order, I will use cocaine as well, because my liver is getting damaged anyway.

I am not sure if I understand this..what I read from people who defend delete button, is that they don't want to be bothered with extra step when they will want to delete, yes essentially their work, even though moderators are working their asses off so they can get attention they want from readers.

As I see it it is easy and I am quite surprised that Nicola is willing to consider lush people's opinion on this one. We have hide button (for those who want to delete/hide their work, but are just not quite decided what to do; this button can be used for those who are still working on their already published stories) and when decision is firm and you definitely want your story off your list, easy, just send pm to mod and is done deal.

Why so much resistance with one small step for authors when it would make moderators work easier?

This whole thread is preposterous. I wasn't able to watch news, so I don't have info how did family of those children react and how outrageous they are, specially with people who still defend your obsolete law.

I am not sure if you (the ones who defend 2 amendment) are not realising that not only USA has problem with mental desease, all countries do, but problem with USA is that mentally ill people can get semi automatic gun in their hands and go crazy with it.

I shake my head in disbelief and think to myself, that maybe with that attitude you really need and 'deserve' your 2 amendment.

Yes, you should disable it.
I am not a moderator so I can easily say that you should do what is easier for mods. I can imagine how irretating must be when people are changing their minds on monthly bassis, beside I think personal request is fair if someone wants to permanently delete a story.

So, I am extremely thankful for the great job our team here does. =d>

Me as well. I don't think I say this enough to moderators, but job you guys are doing is amazing and I don't even want to imagine with what you have to cope in day to day issues with other writers. I just hope my thank you message after recieving moderators approval, is enough for you to see my appreciation.

Sorry for coming in with congratulations so late. Well deserved winners, great stories! So again congratulations!!! Enjoy your prizes, I have Soray and Gigi and I can say Lelo trully is the best.

What a threat, what a threat, wahat a threat!!! It is almost like back in days of DamonX era and almost like a treat! giggles
What a refreshment!
I am partying today but will come back to this

Happy birthday from me too! HAve lovely your day

Happy birthday! Have wonderful your I day

Jeez...you're just getting money from both sites this month, ain't you?

Congrats btw, and thank that fortune teller while you're at it...

I know right!!! I've must have been goooood, lol


Thanks to all for congratulations.

E-books are home, although I have issues ordering last 3 of them..
I will try to leave review at Amazon and give you my feedback here.
All well, and keep publishing your work!

I thought I was using good humour

I told you about popped eyes o_o , but at least few of us had a great laugh altogether!

What a thread!!! I dislike most of the 80' but was huge Bros fan as child and this is their When Will I Be Famous, lol

ENJOY!!
http://www.youtube.com/embed/KOJ8JKZlFZY

NO! Is this happy birthday to LUSH??


I just want to say simple thank you, Nicola for this experience. Site is brilliant,I never had a need to go and browse around for another adult site,this one completes me

What do you mean "Bring them back?" They're still here.

You see, I was afraid of this. What, they are keeping it low profile, gathering in dark catacombs and whining how democracy didn't bring them any good and god for sure didn't have in mind blacks to have any rights but to serve them? And with angry fists pointing up they mantra that god will do them justice and that one day their preside is yet to come? Fuck. please don't tell me they are active.


I just want to clarify one of my sentences, when I said that I mock this thread, I certanly didn't have in mind LM and his efford to bring us new topics to discus, but in what way this thread is going and that there are people who actually don't see nothing wrong in humiliating another person when there is law required to do the non personal justice. I actually learn a lot from Think Tank, and Lush in general.

Driving on the sidewalk is not a mistake though. There is a big difference between a mistake and something dangerous. You never drive on the sidewalk because what if there are kids on the sidewalk or adults on the sidewalk. She is a complete idiot. However I think she deserves more of a punishment than that.

I really don't see how is humiliation better than taking her driving licance away permanently. Not that is bad on individual level, but can and it will have big consequences in law itself. It is not democratic, it is personal, it is not ethical and law of the modern democratic country shouldn't allow non traditional to become traditional. And it can and it will if this is not only one case. So next time , lets say, when domestic violence will happen, with a good attorney who will base his/hers defence on this case and domestic aggressor will get idiot sign for a week? You are headed this road if..

Well I think I can get a tiny sense of smug self-satisfaction from knowing who would win ;)

When I saw your post, I knew I will win and I began to write my thank you note, giggle, that self confidence is not there for nothing, I thought to myself, he must have payed a visit to his local fortune-teller



@ Nicola. I think everyone would do the same and support Lush authors with money Lush gave them.

You gotta love this modern age! You can be part of any discussion listing internet stats. I suppose I have to express deepest apology, because thinking and even worse saying out loud that maybe there is better place than greatest USA.

Funny thing is, not even one person did ask me question Why nor was curious how come I have so strong but different oppinion, even funniest is that defending something as powerful as feminism is, are doing opposite to it - it is easy to judge. (not that I took any of it personaly)

I don't know how else to tell you how it is here and how I feel, how I live, but after this thread. I am so happy to say that I am Europian and that has nothing to to with Geography.

Thanks guys!
Money I won, I am giving it back supporting Lush publishing and Lush authors! Hoplefully you have lot's work ready, that your mojo is sparkiling, because I have a lot of money to spend on your books
Thanks again, Lush http://upload.lushstories.com/769-I-Won.jpg

Could you elaborate on the connection you see between the KKK and non-traditional forms of sentencing? I don't see the connection yet.

Apart that my post was deep sarcasm and mocking this thread, asociation that I got for KKK is Chef's post and the way she expressed herself:...just don't learn, bet she doesn't do it again,she will learn faster if she will be humiliated...
I haven't studied non traditional US laws, but as far as I am familiar it is gray aera giving opportunity to shit like this slide away. Mentioning KKK didn't have racism in mind but their agression, how were they threating, frightening whites if..not obeying their ways.
Personaly, non traditional doesn't feel very democratic to me.

sure, sure, oooooor....you guys can bring back Ku Klux Klan, they were quite effective as well in educating and convincing people not to repeat the same mistake again.

So to all of you who think this was an ok punishment, are you also for every city and town having a Stock downtown to place people in such as this woman?

After such hard elections, people are tired, they need some kind of a amusements. maybe to throw rotten eggs and tomatos in them? that sounds like fun and is a punishment, right!
people will be humiliated and for sure they will learn something, they will not brake down, becom revengefull, take their legal gun and kill several people in amusement park! ah, no..that cannot happen in America.

NO, judges are not seated to educate. They are there to adjudicate the law. If the law says an acceptable punishment is to have the offender post or hold a sign, sobeit. But I strongly doubt that is what the law says. Admittedly, judges' decisions exceed their authority many times; that is why we have a systm of appellate courts. Without law and the legitimacy of law, we are doomed to chaos.


lol, of course you are right, judges are not there to educate not as you read it anyway. I meant that someone who represents country with their laws, has to have the same dignity that unwritten law requires, with judgment and punishment people should learn something, that is why is there judgement is there, to re-educate people not to make the same mistake. Of course not everyone is fast learner

The Idiot sign is just way out of their authority. It is not democratic, it is not ethical and just rude. I could actually swallow rude but as you said letting slide any exceed of authority is way straight back to black middle ages.

compared to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and many African countries? no, it's not a shitty place to be a woman - it's just that it could be better - nothing wrong with striving for something a little better - it's got it's issues, yeah, but it's come a long way in the last 6 decades. :)

oh, i don't think you're ignorant, She, far from it! *hugs* i just think that you, because of your background, where you live, you have a different perspective is all. and i don't doubt what your saying - just like PETA makes it hard to be pro-animal rights at times and critical mass makes it hard to be pro-bike... there are always people who will give any idealogy a bad name - i was just making a point that it's the people you have an issue with, not feminism itself. poeple hijack movements all the time for their own gain or beliefs - for example, i don't think Christianity is bad - but there are a lot of people who do bad things in it's name for their own selfish reasons.

I am thinking out loud here..Don't you think, that maybe, just maybe this time around, you, because you are American, have different perspective and not as you pointed out? Feminism was born in Europe long before 60' last century, had few waves and reached point in modern Europe when is not needed anymore, not in forms that were in the past anyway..

it's not bad in the US - at least, not if you're looking at what it's like in the rest of the world, but it could be better - it SHOULD be better, not just for women, but for everyone of every race, sexual persausion, etc - EVERYone. there's no reason that we shouldn't' all be treated equally and with love and respect and until that happens, people need to make sure to keep pushing, and that's what i feel it is, not my right, but my obligation to do - that doesn't mean, as i said, being a so called 'femme-nazi', but it does mean standing up for my rights, speaking up when they are being trampled on, expressing my opinion. that's what it's all about.

So now is not bad? In previous post you made it sounded like shitie place to be as woman.

and you're wrong - lol - don't take offense at that, but you are. you said "But feminism is not all good as we all know". no, we don't all know that. don't let a few people who go over board define feminism. there are bad apples in every bunch - should i say that Canadians (sorry to pick on our northern neighbors, but it's mostly out of envy) are rat-bastards simply because someone from across the border was mean to me? people are not all good as we all know - the concept of feminism as an ideal, however, is. :)



..and I wondered at what point you will call me ignorant, lol. Just because you don't know about something, you didn't grew up with doesn't meand that it doesn't exist. Women in 90' who called themselve feminist and had nothing to do with femimnist movement ruined that word. No question about it, but I really can provide you with some liknks/studies if you want.

Apparently you need them, if you have that discrimination, you need strong movement. I didn’t know that it was that bad in the USA (since you do call yourself great nation, giggle, but thanks for that post, Sprite), it is my huge mistake assuming that modern democratic world doesn't have issues that I, here on old continent, am not dealing with. I don’t know how is situation in Canada because Dancing Doll listed and talked about feminism in the world, which I, and most people in here, are aware of, but knowing that, going to vote, drinking red Bordeaux when discussing it in living room with girlfriend, doesn’t give me the right to call myself Feminist. I am not. It is my duty to exploit what was given to me by birth, it is my duty.

Elit said it right, although he said people are selfish and individuals and he is right to one point, but being modest as well. People do help, students are involved, citizens are organized, the difference is that 'we' have no need to get name, praise or recognition for help we do. It is not perfect here and we have to deal with after waves of discrimination, those invisible inequality in society.., but I do not need applaud from someone because I helped old lady to cross the street and stopped one car for her, that doesn’t mean that I am revolutionary fighter for civil rights, I just helped one lady. It is my duty. When I feed lonely street dog from shelter and take him for a walk, doesn’t mean that I am PETA activist, no need for names, it is my duty. With being ‘good’ I am showing respect to people who fought for me to have this easy life, so calling myself feminist it is disrespectful towards those who actually took a risk to make changes.

But feminism is not all good as we all know, we as women did get revengeful and did punish men for being men. In 90’ was really ugly here, women were wild, disrespectful, aggressive, loud, frustrated.. and when I was 15, I was first time called mockingly feminist. I went to the library and educated myself to see what that means. I realized that just because I was independent, self-confident young girl (because my parents raised me that way) I was labeled as one of those feminist who were drawing paintings with their period blood (that was good one, Elit)

So when it comes down to the OP and the poem, as said in my first couple posts, reading it as 21. Europian century woman, it is personal disrespect toward herself.

Feminism, as a word, has gotten a bad name. So be it, but the challenge of women within society continues. Just because we have voting rights, etc., doesn't negate the overall challenge of the woman experience in today's world. Being a feminist doesn't mean being a humorless militant about women's issues. Don't confuse the connotation of the word versus the actual idea of feminism. You brought up race, and it's a decent analogy, in that races nominally have equal rights but still face struggles. The difference is that in most people's ideals, divisions of race would go away completely. Women, however, will always stand distinct from men, and as such, there will always be issues of gender in society, both as a continuance of history's struggles (i.e. we still don't have equal pay), and as a result of a fundamentally different experience (i.e. we give birth).

I am not confusing anything and I am so not intimidated by bad reputation that feminism has today, usually I am defending it..
Exactly, they are challenges, it is not movement and as I said it before it's our duty fight those challenges but that still doesn't give us right to call ourselves feminists.



p.s. let me just add this, since discussion is closed by famous X ;), apart what was said about new age frustrated feminists who are blaming world for their wrongs, there is another popular group of new age feminists, and those are young overly self-confident ladies with some kind of power in their life, who call themself feminists just because it is in. They have just vaguely or zero idea what feminism means. It is disrespectful.

Women are affected by issues all the time that they probably don't trace back to issues of equality - whether it's being labeled a slut for being promiscuous, violence against women, political arguments in current modern day society about right wing pro-life/abortion issues, contraception etc. even in the recent elections stem back to women's rights issues. You have modern day politicians advocating that women should be forced to have their rape baby because 'God intended it'. And that's just in the world we have direct experience with, to say nothing about genital mutilation, forced marriages, rape warfare etc that goes on in the rest of the world.

Yes, women are affected, men as well, children, cenior citizens, homosexuals, animals, enviroment, working class, rich people..yes, everybody do have issues.. but we, men and women are equal in front of the law.
Politicans are trying to get votes, save some money..Priests are trying to get more church goers or do their thing whatever it is, it is all part of the game, but no one can say that you as woman have less rights than man just because of the gender. And saying someone is feminist is saying that he or she is fighting for women to have equel rights..we have them, people from last century (mostly women) got that for us, today what we are doing is what is our duty, raising our voice if we disagree with our leaders.

Most people don't label or brand themselves as feminist, but the basic fundamentals of believing in gender equality means you share those beliefs, whether you're involved in raising awareness for any of these causes or not. Some of those homeland issues might have influenced the way a person voted. That simple act is still an action that shows that one does care about some of those issues. It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's just unfortunate that it's become a scary word to so many people.


It is become a scary word for so many people because changed, movement doesn't exist anymore become something else under that name but if you think that it does exist that there are issues where women and men are not equal, please show me some research, show me articles about existing feminism today, tell me how you are active or your people. You or me cannot be called feminists just because we are women and we believe in equal rights, neither of us is activist for equal rights. How come? because we have equal rights there is no need to be active about it. It is like saying I am pro that blacks have right to vote in USA. Who cares if I am pro, it is done deal, they have right why would I go into that again.
My two cents anyway

these hips are big hips.
they need space to
move around in.
they don't fit into little
petty places. these hips
are free hips.
they don't like to be held back.
these hips have never been enslaved,
they go where they want to go
they do what they want to do.
these hips are mighty hips.
these hips are magic hips.
i have known them
to put a spell on a man and
spin him like a top

This poem, like many of Clifton's poems, is feminist. Feminist doesn't mean anti-male. There is nothing anti-male or emasculating in any of her imagery. She is saying that her body doesn't fit the stereotypical ideal of feminine beauty and that it doesn't matter. She is self confident about her body, knows that it can and has been used to please men sexually, and therefore she is attractive. Her hips are symbolic of her attitude toward life. She is free. She is not bound by pettiness and other people's opinion of her. She is not enslaved by society's idea of what is beautiful or sexy. She is happy being who she is. The words that she uses to describe her hips are power words. Mighty, magic hips, free hips, hips able to go where they want and do as they please.

She isn't defined by her body or her sexuality, but by her freedom and independence. Her self is more than her hips, more than her weight, and much more than just a machine for making babies and pleasing men. The only men who would feel emasculated by this poem or it's sentiments are men who already hate women for being women. Men who just want sex dolls and dishwashers might be threatened by the freedom Clifton expresses in the poem, but men assured of their own sexuality and identity aren't threatened by her, the poem or the sentiments it expresses. She is saying that she is a complete woman, free, independent and also sexual.

The poem seems very straightforwardly feminist to me. It's a "I am woman hear me roar," kind of poem without the blatancy or stridency of I Am Woman . Clifton's poetry often features body parts and uses female sexuality to express thoughts about freedom and self reliance. This particular poem is political in the sense that being any woman is political in a patriarchy. She is not intimidated by men, but that doesn't mean she wants to castrate them. On the contrary, she uses her sexuality happily.

As I see it, this poem is not 'I am a woman hear me roar' but I am roaring to be heard as beautiful equal woman. It is a difference.

As far as She's contention that feminism isn't needed in the 21st century, I'd like to point out that it is a constant struggle to maintain the rights we have won. Given a chance, the right wing will take our rights to control our own bodies. The fight for women's rights is feminism. Are you saying women shouldn't fight for their rights, or are you under the impression that all the work was done in the seventies and eighties?

Please don't get me wrong, I am woman in every sense, proud woman but I just think that we need to step out of the box a bit. With our every action there is reaction. Sometimes our leaders are taking our bone away from us, just so we won't noticed other important issues where we might be successfull, but too busy to notice..
I don't think women should fight their battles under the name of feminism, but under the name of equal citizents. It is not just the name, but who we are. When I am on the street, I am not fighting for woman rights, but my right as human being. Saying I am feminist in 21. century it says that nor you nor everyone around you believe that you have equal rights and I refuse to live like that. Maybe it is just in my head but I see feminism today as paradox.
As I pointed out in previous post, right wing has too much Church influences. I don't know if you can see what I am trying to say here, but is so important how we aproach the problem. Feminism was extremely emotional movement, very powerfull and today is everything about subtle diplomacy.

feminism is always needed. the issue with feminism is people's perception of it. i consider myself a feminist. does that mean i think i deserve special treatment because of my gender? no, it means that i'm proud of who i am and that i think i deserve equal treatment and that, if i am not qualified to do something because i simply am not, than i should accept that AND that if i am qualified TO do something, than my gender shouldn't matter at all.
Exactly and being aware of that, that you might not be good enough for certain position and that that has nothing to do with your gender, it is normal. I personally think (and please don't take it personally because I really don't know you or your life) keeping feminism alive/active is like excuse to blame someone else for your bad calls, or just excuse to say they didn't do/accepted me, something because I am a woman.
Saying feminism is always needed is like saying fighting for everyone has the right to vote. It is done deal, we won, it is time for new changes. We shouldn't waste energy on battles that have been already won.



as far as demanding to be loved and respected, i understand that - some cultures do not value women or certain races, and sometimes you have to fight for your rights and get up in peoples faces - going through the painful growth of slowly getting rights as a gay woman, i get it - all too often i feel, because of legislation and people's attitudes, like a second class citizen - i get where the author is coming from - the battle for civil rights preceded the battle for that the LBGT community faces, but even in the 21 century, in some places, it's important to stand your ground. and homosexuals are finally - just finally, being recognized as equal - not better, but EQUAL - in some of the more liberal parts of these united states as far as marriage, rights in the workplace, and discrimination in general go...

I was expressing my thoughts about poem reading it as 21.century Europian woman. Not as orthodox muslim woman with barely any rights. I am no Che Guevara, I can only make changes in myenviroment. I am straight, but have gay friends and I am very active with helping them, but as I tell them I will tell you as well, fighting on the street with people, trying to change their mind to enlighten them is way too long process, this battle should be fought differently and until church is part of the political system you will never get your rights. So when people are saying I am religious but fighting for gays, sounds so rediculous to me.



so yeah, i get Ms. Clifton's point, i understand her POV and the fact that she chooses to celebrate thru her poetry, her womanhood and her race, rather then be bitter and angry, elevates me.

This is lovely thing about written word, we can read it as suits us. I read that from point of view, as equal woman who doesn't need to demand to be accepted or loved or appreciated as she is, because I simply am loved appreciated and accepted from myself and do not care about how others will see me. Who will love me, adore me as I am, will; who won't I certainly have no interest to point out how delicious I am, because it means I need them to be complete. The truth is that I am complite, full person without anybody's approval, ladies from last century won that battle for me and I certenly have not intentions to disrespect them with fighting that battle over again.

Just because something may not be your thing, does not make it stupid. Simply state is not your thing or don't comment, but honestly there is enough crap in the world without having to act out like that over something we may not be into such as poetry. Just sayin.

and I am just saying that he has the right to his opinion, and if he thinks this is not his cup of tea and that is stupid, he is entitled to do so.
But let me tell you this that you sounds just as judgemental as he did in your eyes.


As far as poem goes and my thoughts about it, have to say that I found it disrespectful in a way that writer is disrespecting herself with this exaggerated feminism. I am not familiar with writer or her background, but reading it as 21.century woman, I would say that she is overdoing it. I have respect for women and feminisem in 70' and 80'. In the 90' feminism reached ugly phrase and in 21.century it is not needed. So this poem leaves me with bad taste and it's cry for being loved, respected, demanding it from someone else is just doesn't make sense to me and I found that rather pathetic. 21.century woman doesn't need other people's approval in a way writer demands.