"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupry in The Little Prince.
I've been on this site for almost a year now. I've watched people come and go - departures largely the result of the lack of funds. (Which is understandable given the current economic climate.) But it's also a symptom. I think that when reality "bites" a fundamental truth is exposed - this site is not an "essential". This site is just a waystation while people sort out and come to terms with their own sexuality. Because the reality here is not a sustainable way of life.
Here you can create a whole new persona, and no one can call you on it - and say "liar, liar, pants on fire". This site provides a forum in which the participants can play out their delusions and a support system of sycophants who provide approval and support without being privy to the facts. Sometimes I feel that people just approve eveything - because they just want to be included in a "community" and they are afraid if they expressed the truth - they would be ejected from it.
One of the things that I've gotten out of this site is a new appreciation for the definition of beauty.
By and large the people here seem to be caught up in a superficial, traditional definition of beauty. Now everyone will stand up and say there's nothing traditional here. But in point of fact this site is almost "uber" traditional. There's very little that's truly unique. Yes, there are body modifications - peircings and tattoos. But piercings and tattos have become so commonplace in the real world - that to truly be a rebel - you'd have to have no modifications. Yet the argument goes on in here - amongst the very people that should be most tolerant - when those who have mods denigrate those that do not. And don't get me started about how many of the "suicidegirls" represent a very narrow range of the women in our society. How many truly plus-sized women ar eSG's? So what happened to the concept of freedom of expression - is that pure hypocracy?
If you think that those who are on this site are not traditional - then go over to the geting married group and check out the choice of rings and gowns for their wedding day. Yes, there are some who think out of the box, but by and large the majority are traveling down those traditional paths that they claim to have rejected.
While people have sequestered themselves on this site - the world has moved along and beyond them to where there's really not too much that's new under he sun. I look at the "suicidegirls" and their pictorals and to be frank - there's not many that come across as truly original and fresh. Over time they just look the same as those from the prior month, and the one before that, and the one before that....I may as well be looking at the "french postcards" of a century ago. And to be frank - most of those were actually more imaginative.
Reading the posts here, -from the mundane everytday journals, to the poetry, to the artistic expression, to the ramblings of the emotionally developmentally disabled and illogical and the expressions of joy to just plain fun - this has become another form of voyeurism. I can weep with the sad, laugh along with the joyous, laugh out loud at the idiotic, cry for those who are truly damaged - and realize that I am witnessing a segment of society that,while they set themselves apart, they are no different - no better, no worse - than any other generations that has gone before this. There is no condition expressed here that wasn't expressed a milleneum or milleneums before.
My appreciation for beauty is not a superficial. I love the variety of people. Short, tall, thin, fat, old, young - none of it matters. It's just the shell that takes us on our journey. I appreciate the beauties inherent in their personalities and their actions. I appreciate the beauty of their journeys taken. The leaps of faith to put themselves into a relationship and mske those relationships work in the daily trials and tribulations of life.
On the other hand, I've seen people utilize their resources unwisely and irresponsibly and seen other's congratulate them for it. Because, to some, apparently we are on this planet just to have fun - and - let's not let responsibility ever get the upper hand. And then, I've seen people who will break themselves to be responsible - and very few congratulate them on their sacrifices.
I've witnessed acts of gratuitous kindness towards people who truly have conducted themselves irresponsbily and wonder why these people reward that irresponsible behavior. It defy's logic. Are they so in need of a human connection that they will support a degenerate lifestyle just to feel included in some sort of human society?
I've witnessed the truly sweet - who are trying to be responsible - and still create a new world for themselves where they can feel truly free. Then, question thelmselves, because deep down they still yearn for that American Dream of the one man one woman, multiple children, picket fence existence.
I have met individuals from this site that are absolute monsters in real life - sexual predators - yet manage to portray themselves as "sweet" on this site.
I've seen people denigrate the people in their lives for their appearance/size, and then go on to congatulate people on this site for their appearance/size and wonder that no one points out their own insincerity.
I've read the posts of people who bash their friends and family, apparently without fear that they would ever have to answer to it, then claim that they would never harm anyone. Obviously forgetting that words can cut like a knife and that there's no privacy on an internet site.
I've seen people meet, get married, then move on. I've seen people come on as voyeurs and leave bored. I've seen people try use this site for artistic expression or to sort out their emotions - only to realize that their audience was more concerned with their pictures than their art or feelings.
When we grow up, we outgrow this site and leave it to the immature who think they are "expressing" themselves and to the voyeurs who are taking advantage of them. There are those who will ask - then why am I still here? Because it still entertains me - somewhat like watching a series of train wrecks - it's still fascinating. And to some extent, I've come to care about some of the people here - who are truly trying to make something positive out of their lives and the lives of their family and friends.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. And sometimes, there is beauty here....
I've been on this site for almost a year now. I've watched people come and go - departures largely the result of the lack of funds. (Which is understandable given the current economic climate.) But it's also a symptom. I think that when reality "bites" a fundamental truth is exposed - this site is not an "essential". This site is just a waystation while people sort out and come to terms with their own sexuality. Because the reality here is not a sustainable way of life.
Here you can create a whole new persona, and no one can call you on it - and say "liar, liar, pants on fire". This site provides a forum in which the participants can play out their delusions and a support system of sycophants who provide approval and support without being privy to the facts. Sometimes I feel that people just approve eveything - because they just want to be included in a "community" and they are afraid if they expressed the truth - they would be ejected from it.
One of the things that I've gotten out of this site is a new appreciation for the definition of beauty.
By and large the people here seem to be caught up in a superficial, traditional definition of beauty. Now everyone will stand up and say there's nothing traditional here. But in point of fact this site is almost "uber" traditional. There's very little that's truly unique. Yes, there are body modifications - peircings and tattoos. But piercings and tattos have become so commonplace in the real world - that to truly be a rebel - you'd have to have no modifications. Yet the argument goes on in here - amongst the very people that should be most tolerant - when those who have mods denigrate those that do not. And don't get me started about how many of the "suicidegirls" represent a very narrow range of the women in our society. How many truly plus-sized women ar eSG's? So what happened to the concept of freedom of expression - is that pure hypocracy?
If you think that those who are on this site are not traditional - then go over to the geting married group and check out the choice of rings and gowns for their wedding day. Yes, there are some who think out of the box, but by and large the majority are traveling down those traditional paths that they claim to have rejected.
While people have sequestered themselves on this site - the world has moved along and beyond them to where there's really not too much that's new under he sun. I look at the "suicidegirls" and their pictorals and to be frank - there's not many that come across as truly original and fresh. Over time they just look the same as those from the prior month, and the one before that, and the one before that....I may as well be looking at the "french postcards" of a century ago. And to be frank - most of those were actually more imaginative.
Reading the posts here, -from the mundane everytday journals, to the poetry, to the artistic expression, to the ramblings of the emotionally developmentally disabled and illogical and the expressions of joy to just plain fun - this has become another form of voyeurism. I can weep with the sad, laugh along with the joyous, laugh out loud at the idiotic, cry for those who are truly damaged - and realize that I am witnessing a segment of society that,while they set themselves apart, they are no different - no better, no worse - than any other generations that has gone before this. There is no condition expressed here that wasn't expressed a milleneum or milleneums before.
My appreciation for beauty is not a superficial. I love the variety of people. Short, tall, thin, fat, old, young - none of it matters. It's just the shell that takes us on our journey. I appreciate the beauties inherent in their personalities and their actions. I appreciate the beauty of their journeys taken. The leaps of faith to put themselves into a relationship and mske those relationships work in the daily trials and tribulations of life.
On the other hand, I've seen people utilize their resources unwisely and irresponsibly and seen other's congratulate them for it. Because, to some, apparently we are on this planet just to have fun - and - let's not let responsibility ever get the upper hand. And then, I've seen people who will break themselves to be responsible - and very few congratulate them on their sacrifices.
I've witnessed acts of gratuitous kindness towards people who truly have conducted themselves irresponsbily and wonder why these people reward that irresponsible behavior. It defy's logic. Are they so in need of a human connection that they will support a degenerate lifestyle just to feel included in some sort of human society?
I've witnessed the truly sweet - who are trying to be responsible - and still create a new world for themselves where they can feel truly free. Then, question thelmselves, because deep down they still yearn for that American Dream of the one man one woman, multiple children, picket fence existence.
I have met individuals from this site that are absolute monsters in real life - sexual predators - yet manage to portray themselves as "sweet" on this site.
I've seen people denigrate the people in their lives for their appearance/size, and then go on to congatulate people on this site for their appearance/size and wonder that no one points out their own insincerity.
I've read the posts of people who bash their friends and family, apparently without fear that they would ever have to answer to it, then claim that they would never harm anyone. Obviously forgetting that words can cut like a knife and that there's no privacy on an internet site.
I've seen people meet, get married, then move on. I've seen people come on as voyeurs and leave bored. I've seen people try use this site for artistic expression or to sort out their emotions - only to realize that their audience was more concerned with their pictures than their art or feelings.
When we grow up, we outgrow this site and leave it to the immature who think they are "expressing" themselves and to the voyeurs who are taking advantage of them. There are those who will ask - then why am I still here? Because it still entertains me - somewhat like watching a series of train wrecks - it's still fascinating. And to some extent, I've come to care about some of the people here - who are truly trying to make something positive out of their lives and the lives of their family and friends.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. And sometimes, there is beauty here....
As for the train wrecks, I don't wish to sound judgemental but I hate to see trains get hurt, even if they're just diesel-electrics. OK I have a little train fetish, but it doesn't have a negative impact on my life. Let's just drop it.