Use It or Lose It

At the gym, some people seem to spend more time socializing than working out. And when they socialize, they stand around the equipment, blocking the way so others can’t use it. Other people sit on a weight machine or a stand on a treadmill, reading a newspaper or book rather than actually using the machine.

It is so annoying to be waiting for a machine and to watch as someone takes his time having a conversation while still sitting there, but not working out. And if you ask them politely if they are done, you get a glare back and the comment, “I’m not through yet.”

Use the machine or get off it. It’s really inconsiderate.

--Curly

The Feminist Backlash

In my last post, I mentioned how a lot of people still seem to be against being unionized. This makes me think of how so many of my younger students are against feminism. They proudly state that they don’t need feminism. Some of them, especially the women, even go so far as to say that they don’t want to be associated with intellectuals or with lesbians or with man-hating, as though all feminists are those things. A number of my female students say they want to wear short dresses and make-up and find men so they can be stay-at-home parents, and they claim that feminism has nothing to offer them. Except, obviously, they wouldn’t be at university without the work early feminists did to demand equality for women, and they wouldn’t be in a position to choose what to wear or how to live without feminism. They’d simply be expected to be pretty housewives rather than being empowered to make that choice.

What has caused this feminist backlash? We still have imparity in the world, and feminism is about challenging and fixing inequity. I try to explain this to my students, but they seem to think the world – or at least their narrow area of it – is completely fair now, and that there is nothing more to fight for. And they certainly don’t want any part of feminism.

--Curly

Union Man

I’m in the union at my job. I think it’s important to make sure we are all treated fairly. But quite a few of my colleagues aren’t in the union and act as though it’s a strange concept. In fact, one colleague (admittedly a difficult one anyway) mocked me for being in the union and for being a union rep.

How can anyone think being unionized is wrong?

--Curly

All My Exes Live in Texas…

This is not so much a rant as a quandary – how much contact is it good to have with one’s exes? Is it better to cut them off completely? My problem with that is that these people were once important to us, so shouldn’t we try to preserve whatever we can of the relationship instead of losing it completely? But then if we do, how much should we tell each other about our lives, including current relationships? It’s hard to renegotiate those boundaries and to move back to being friends from being lovers who shared everything.

For example, I think it’s courteous to tell the most recent exes that we are seeing someone new, and I have done that, but then I haven’t received the same courtesy back and instead found out via a mutual friend. So what’s the right protocol?

These days, I lean more towards to minimal contact side of things. What do others think? Should our exes stay in Texas?

--Curly

Sick Students

Sometimes I complain about students skipping class, but now I must complain about those who come to class even when sick. It’s great that they show dedication, but then they cough and sneeze all over me and their fellow students. I’ve been sick since the beginning of the term, primarily because of my students and all their germs. I get over one cold and then get a different one.

Stay home if sick!

--Curly

Good in Bed

Why do so many men seem to think they can turn lesbians straight? I wish I got money for every time a man claimed that all a gay woman needed was a good fuck and that he was just the man to offer that service; I’d be rich now if I’d been collecting.

I know lots of men find female sexuality (whether straight, bi, or gay) threatening. And I also know plenty of people – male or female – who want to believe they are so good in bed they can “convert” another person’s sexuality. So together these feelings and beliefs are a bad combination that leads men to believe that women couldn’t possibly prefer (or enjoy in addition) sleeping with women instead of men.

But it is tiresome to hear such a stupid comment. Face it: you’re probably not all that good in bed anyway, and even if a straight woman would have you, a bi or gay women could do better. You’re not converting anyone.

--Curly

Don’t Text and Drive

The subject line of this post says it all. It isn’t safe to text and drive. So just don’t! You are making the road less safe for yourself and others.

University is for Socializing, not Studying

The new semester is under way and I’m already getting annoyed with my students. They get a clear time-table listing the hours of class, and they receive a detail syllabus too, with info about when class is and where, and what they need to do in preparation for each class.

And yet the students feel the need to email me to ask when and where class is and whether they need to attend. Some even say they have other plans. I do know they have to work, although one would think they’d arrange their work schedules around class. But sometimes they admit these plans are social.

Are they are university to socialize or to study? Why should I have to explain over and over again that if class is listed as being from 9-12 or 1-3 or whatever it is that is when students need to come? Is it that hard to understand?

--Curly

Prunella Lives!

I apologize profusely--especially to my cherished comrade Curly--for my absence. I am glad to see that Curly has been keeping the blog alive and lively.

I can't promise that my appalling lack of posts will be changing anytime soon, but I will make an effort to appear here more regularly!

--Prunella

Ranting about Vegetarian Meals

Continuing with the vegetarian theme from the last post, I wonder why nearly all vegetarian meals at restaurants:

1. prominently feature mushrooms or peppers or both,

2. are pasta-based,

and

3. include no real protein.

Do people give no real thought to vegetarians? Not all vegetarians like mushrooms or peppers, want pasta, or happy to be protein-free. Just like carnivores, we deserve healthy, well-balanced, varied meals.

--Curly