I like what you said there! And I'm going to check out your store :-)

It takes a lot to defy the programming that goes into making girls "nice". First you have to see it, then you have to examine it and consider it, then you have to look for alternatives, and then you jump off a cliff. For some of us, that was fun because Ayn Rand helped. But for others it's nearly impossible. Everything they come in contact with says "nice = good", and "nice girls" don't speak up. The people who teach unarmed self-defense to women say that the most difficult part is to get them to say "NO!" and mean it. - to say "I don't like this, I don't want this, I won't let you do this to me". The hardest part is to get them to hold their own opinion about what will or will not happen to their own bodies?!? If they can't even do that, what hope do principles have in their [cheap shot] tiny brains?

and people surround those who are confident and self assured like a pack of hyenas cynically chiding them for over confidence- when they should be focused on their own core development. I think it's very strong in high school. Less so in college but then again, it shows up in working environments.

That is a very good question. It reminds me of a line Julia Roberts said in 'Something to Talk About'; It's from generations of being bred to keep our expectations low. People with low expectations will accept they're servant role easier.

Exactly...we live in a country full of self doubters...why?? How did we get here? :(

Oh I so agree with you. Confrontation and standing up for yourself can be uncomfortable. It's the difference between someone who believes in their value and someone who doubts it.

So do I... Something else I don't get, when my friends say things like, "I don't like confrontation" I hate when I hear my friends say that. To me it's the same as saying, "I don't like to stand up for myself because I'm not firm in my convictions about who I am and what I believe", OR "I'm afraid someone might not like me." Ugh...seriously?? And these are grown women! How do they have any self respect? Boggles my mind.

Eons ago when I was in high school, a girl on the bus was being bullied. She was crying and nearly in a fetal position in a matter of minutes. I stood up for her against the bully. Of course it was immediately turned on me. No one stood for me, including the girl I rescued. I have to say I was disappointed in my friends, but I did the right thing and knew and accepted the consequences. I'm not very good with PC. I call a jackass a jackass.

Yeah right

oink

Too many people are pigs. They think it's okay to trash other people's belongings, public places...everything is for the taking too.

Heinlein said "An armed society is a polite society." and we see the result. There also seems to be a rise in what I call "anonymous rudeness" - not cleaning up after yourself in a public restroom, for ex. The jerk who does it doesn't care what happens to someone he doesn't know.

Consider, also, that modern humanity [most of 'em, anyway] don't want to be in the minority, or -even worse - alone. If someone speaks out, he might be standing there with everybody LOOKING at him - too scary.

I'm also all for consensus decision-making, but consensual silence re rudeness is different. I usually call people on their public rudeness, and sometimes get a surprise when someone supports me. But I do have instances when it's not worth the energy I have to call somebody out.

Sorry, on vacation right now. There was a series of events which resulted in my not sitting down at my bench for a year [the movers we call "the not slugs" packed our tools randomly], the obligatory "what really IS my point of view" soul searching, finally digging out and sitting at the bench. I hope to open it again in September. There are a few things posted on my facebook store, which actually has the QB name. I'll be imitating a comet when I get product made and in the store - lights shooting across the sky. Thanks for the look.

fruitless hunting. :(

Report back :)

You got it... A bunch of wimps and wusps. I think I will head out to the market and do a little wusp hunting for entertainment today.

Yeah...I have zero faith that anybody else in line will speak up. People are such pansies they just let people cut and trample protocol (and manners) instead of confronting a cheater who stole their place in line. Why people have such hesitation to point and call out ill behavior, especially when it has stepped on their own toes) is totally baffling to me. It's the wussification of America. And again, this starts in elementary schools. And it's no wonder we have the illegal immigration problem that we have. NObody spoke about it... for YEEEEEARS.

Same thing happened to me. It was a knee jerk reaction to do the "call out" but I learned that most folks in lines are satisfied to exchange glances, roll eyes,shake their heads, etc at the cutter. An actual "call out" is just not PC. Appropriate PC allows for such polite comments such as: Excuse me, you may not have noticed there are 20 people in a line in back of you. (This should be followed by a friendly laugh and a smile.there should be no hint of sarcasm which could only provoke or embarrass the cutter.) If the cutter does not respond immediately to the comment, PC protocol requires that another person in line comes forth with a new comment, and so on. This action should continue until the line becomes an angry mob at which time anything is fair game including serious swearing **!!#& and racial slurs (only if the cutter is different than at least 85% of others in line.) I am glad I could share this Emily Post moment.

I once called somebody out for cutting in line....and everybody looked at ME like I was the asshole. Only in the movies.

Oh...lol Mandi. Can't Mandi himself sing too?

awesome!

I loved him in Dead Like Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=614Orzf3S...

for Mandy Patinkin!
that guy can sing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OZfoFAs2...

"Is this a kissing story?".

I'm checking it out (the etsy store)