Oh, and Wafflers
Sep. 18th, 2006 12:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lederhosenSadly, another lukewarm Wafflers on Friday, starting with the maiden speaker who managed in the space of just five minutes* to veer into sex, religion, and politics, all of which are against the rules.
I'll admit to some hypocrisy on this. Many of the group's speakers, including Rey and myself, do cross those lines now and then. But I like to think we do it in the right way, without pontificating or discomforting anybody, and I'm pretty sure this is not the right way:
"I remember the '70s, when the worst consequence of illicit sex - I'm not speaking from experience here, you understand - was a bit of VD, and that was easily cured with a couple of pills."
I'm sure it discomforted the more staid members of the audience, of whom there are many. And it sure as hell annoyed *me*, because it's so fucking wrong. (I apologise for my language, but STI-related idiocy is something of a hot button of mine. There may be bigger tragedies in the world, but few so unnecessary.) I cannot imagine any woman in the room being that ignorant - even if you've managed not to hear about things like HPV and PID, hello, unwanted pregnancy. And as far as I'm concerned, if 50% of the human race has to deal with the adverse consequences of those things, the other 50% who play such an important role in the process can damn well inform themselves too. Or at the very least refrain from muddying the waters.
The politics bit was also annoying (not quite as obnoxious maybe, but it rankled because one of our better speakers resigned from the group after being censured for breaking that particular rule, and if we're going to ignore it I'd like him back please). The religion bit wasn't quite as grating, but it was enough to complete the triplet. The other four speeches were better, nothing to really complain about, but nothing that really held the attention either. I hope next month will be better, because the last few meetings have been nothing to write home about.
*At least, it was supposed to be five minutes, though it actually went for ten.
I'll admit to some hypocrisy on this. Many of the group's speakers, including Rey and myself, do cross those lines now and then. But I like to think we do it in the right way, without pontificating or discomforting anybody, and I'm pretty sure this is not the right way:
"I remember the '70s, when the worst consequence of illicit sex - I'm not speaking from experience here, you understand - was a bit of VD, and that was easily cured with a couple of pills."
I'm sure it discomforted the more staid members of the audience, of whom there are many. And it sure as hell annoyed *me*, because it's so fucking wrong. (I apologise for my language, but STI-related idiocy is something of a hot button of mine. There may be bigger tragedies in the world, but few so unnecessary.) I cannot imagine any woman in the room being that ignorant - even if you've managed not to hear about things like HPV and PID, hello, unwanted pregnancy. And as far as I'm concerned, if 50% of the human race has to deal with the adverse consequences of those things, the other 50% who play such an important role in the process can damn well inform themselves too. Or at the very least refrain from muddying the waters.
The politics bit was also annoying (not quite as obnoxious maybe, but it rankled because one of our better speakers resigned from the group after being censured for breaking that particular rule, and if we're going to ignore it I'd like him back please). The religion bit wasn't quite as grating, but it was enough to complete the triplet. The other four speeches were better, nothing to really complain about, but nothing that really held the attention either. I hope next month will be better, because the last few meetings have been nothing to write home about.
*At least, it was supposed to be five minutes, though it actually went for ten.
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Date: 2006-09-18 04:08 am (UTC)Cervical cancer/ HPV, where the hell else do you think it would go.
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Date: 2006-09-18 08:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-18 04:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-18 08:22 am (UTC)I agree!! Bring back Steve!!!