Persinette

Totally prepared. Got the whole thing planned out with my mates - including which heavily disliked acquaintance we're tying to the fence as a decoy.

I could probably come up with dozens, but here's the top, uh, four. 1. People who start or finish a statement with 'no offense meant' and expect that be some kind of Get Out Of Being Told You're An Arsehole Free card. (You know damn well that what you just said was rude/snide/overly personal or you wouldn't have added the sodding qualifier.) 2. Friends who seem to hear "Uh, can we move? The lighting's fritzing out my ability to focus and giving me a stonking headache" as "But I want a pony! I waaaant one!" (I have some rather interesting sensory problems. I ignore them up until I can no longer compensate and I dislike bringing them up unless it's absolutely necessary. My friends know this. Many of them are no longer my friends.) 3. "It's my opinion! I'm entitled to my opinion!" Yes, yes you are. My opinion is that you're a flaming idiot. 4. Attempted mind games/emotionally abusive behaviour. This goes double if the perpetrator cries when their target refuses to play nice. Your astonishingly plentiful tears do not move me.

The problem with defending the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary. - James D. Nicholl I thought about building you a boat to survive the river of tears I'm crying for you even as we speak, but the world's smallest violins just aren't a reliable source of lumber, and that cross you're nailing yourself to seems like it'd be buoyant enough anyway. Because I'm a massive sap, a few orphaned poetry quotes: Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore, only kindness that ties your shoes and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread - Kindness, Naomi Shihab Nye Even now, when skin is not alone, it remembers being alone and thanks something larger that there are travelers, that people go places larger than themselves. - Two Countries, Naomi Shihab Nye my one hand holding tight my other hand; come celebrate with me that everyday something has tried to kill me and has failed. - won't you celebrate with me, Lucille Clifton

I tend to favour folk 'n country for my angsting requirements and it delivers threefold. Patty Griffin - Useless Desires (Say goodbye to the old street that never cared much for you anyway The different-colored doorways you thought would let you in one day Goodbye to the old bus stop, frozen and waiting Weekend edition has this town way overrated) Tegan and Sara - Fix You Up http://www.youtube.c...h?v=5ptKhU__eoc (Well there's not a lot for you to give if you're giving in And there's not a lot for you to feel if you're not feeling it You bring it up and bring it in and we'll get you fixed up in no time) Bonfire Madigan - Dishes And Spoon Amanda Palmer - Have to Drive

But you didn't mention any of that. You only mentioned your own problems and tried to rub them in the face of people who you clearly considered inferior. Also, since Persinette is sitting next to me it seemed easier to just say she agrees (rather than her going to the effort of posting). Martin EDIT: Or, alternatively, she forgot to log out.

Invoking the Oppression Olympics never does a cause any good, it merely leads to infighting instead of working towards the desired goal. There isn't a finite amount of anti-oppression work in the world; just because people are picking a battle you don't approve of doesn't mean you and many others can't fight for the things you believe in. Also, your snide description of McMillen as a 'hot lesbian' is unpleasantly reminiscent of the way gay rights have historically meant rights for gay, white, middle-to-upper-class men, with little regard for anyone who fails to meet these lofty qualifications. People are still being fairly polite about telling you that they think your behaviour is out of order. I would suggest that you quit while you are still ahead.

Hey! I was introduced to the forums by clumber, and after reading for a while I decided to join up. Hoping to be active here (and not get myself banned somehow!).