I have recently been reading the book Feed by Mira Grant and it has really got me thinking about media. The story is all about zombies, politics, and media. I have not finished it yet but the main premise of the story is that the news sources that we currently value failed the world during the outbreak of Kellis-Amberlee turning people into zombies. While everything was in the early stages and more or less just small pockets of outbreaks the media was either too biased or too tightly censored to give people the information they really needed. News stations and newspapers were limited in what they could or wanted to say but the blogging community was there ready to provide the world with the real story. The narrator does mention that there is still the need to sift through the information that is not truthful or relevant but that blogs were where the news was. The narrator and her blogging team are hired to follow the political campaign of a senator running to get the republican presidential ticket. He is actually the first politician to ask for bloggers to be a part of his press team and not because it is popular but because he knows that this young lady and her team are known for being honest about what they do and see. It is no surprise that even in this imaginary future politicians and those that are a little older do not believe that bloggers are legitimate. However, they mostly don't like the fact that bloggers can not easily be censored. I just liked how this story shows the bias inherently engrained in our "unbiased" news sources and just how much control there is over what can be released.
It makes me wonder if one day my blog will be seen as a place to go for information, entertainment, or just to watch me poke semi-dead things with sticks and then run like hell.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
The Hypersexualization of Our World
I was first introduced to the concept of hypersexualization during my psychology of gender class back at Lynchburg College. The class impacted my life in a number of ways mostly in how I saw the world. This class was also the class in which I came to terms with the fact that I cannot hide the fact that I am a transgender man any longer. But back to the point, in this class we talked about the hypersexualization of children specifically.
For those unfamiliar with the concept, hypersexualization is where we attribute and force sexualized ideas onto things. Such as saying a male and female toddler that play well together are boyfriend/girlfriend. This also can be seen in children that participate in pageants such as those that the young girls on "Toddlers in Tiaras." They think that they have to be sexy or fit the stereotype of the ideal woman at the age of 4. They get fake tans, wear sometimes overly revealing outfits, etc. This is also seen in the dances and music kids listen to, like the booty popping that a young girls dance group of 7 year olds did to single ladies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir8BO4-7DkM). The girls are talented but that dancing is rather sexual for their age. This can also be seen when we look to studies done on middle school kids that report having at least oral sex at a higher rate then the past. There are plenty of stories out there about groups of middle school aged kids out at restaurants or the movies that play the game stone face (look it up but I warn you it isn't very pretty).
Hypersexualization is not limited just to our children but it is enmeshed throughout the way we view things. One such example is the argument on transgender people and restroom use. Warning I am mildly biased in this argument (if you couldn't guess already). However, I see it this way: I am in there to use the restroom, relieve natural bodily functions. At no point are my genitalia exposed to anyone but myself. If you happen to see what's in my pants then we have a greater issue of "why the heck are you in my stall?!?" Now for the most part no one every questions FTM (female to male) using the men's room, often because we easily go unnoticed and the culture of the men's room lends itself to not look into small detail too much. Today though, I came across an article discussing the way a Fox news reported for some radio show handled the story of a MTF (male to female) that had used the women's restroom at a restaurant in TN. Some other woman happened to also use the restroom at the same time and upon seeing a "burly man in a dress" she complained to her husband and they complained to the owners (who bless their hearts sided with the trans woman). Well this Fox news guy, Todd Starnes, caught wind of it and interviewed the man and woman. Not only did the couple have hateful and derogatory things to say (such as burly man in a dress as well as calling the woman a cross-dresser and saying her using the women's restroom was a safety hazard) but the reporter went right along with the hate speech. One major argument used by the husband, as well as some people who commented on the article, was that trans people in the bathroom are a hazard to the children and women. Also in the comments people kept equating being a trans woman in the women's room meant that they wanted to go in there and take pictures of the women. Why does every encounter between biological men and women have to have some sort of sexual motivation? These same people would be in outrage over seeing someone like me walking out of the women's room too but according to their logic because I don't have a penis I have to use the women's restroom but because I look male (because I am) then using the women's room means that I am going in there to rape their women and children and take inappropriate pictures. It is really sad when sexuality and gender are confused and even more sad when something like using the bathroom becomes an overtly sexualized act (for some it is but that has nothing to do with being trans, that falls into a whole different ballpark of sexuality). Honestly just because you are only concerned with what is in your pants doesn't mean the rest of the world is the same. Most trans women that I know are attracted to MEN, meaning they are not interesting in your boys, girls, or women. Just like I'm not interested in men, boys, or girls. If you see me looking at you in the bathroom it might be because I am pitying you because your penis is significantly smaller than mine but lets be honest I don't look at penises (just not my thing).
Not everything needs to be sexual. Why can't we just let our kids have friends? Why do they need to mimic our sexualied dancing and actions and dress? Why can't people just use the bathroom? Why the heck are you in my stall? Why are you so concerned about what is in my pants? My sexuality is between me and my fiancee (who loves me as a man and happens to like that fact that I am a man who doesn't center my manhood around my penis or it's size). So if you are really that concerned about encountering a trans person in the bathroom then just don't use the public restrooms, that is your choice but telling trans people that they cannot use the public restroom in which they identify and are safest is unconstitutional and discriminating. Oh and just so you know if you are concerned about a trans person assaulting your child in the restroom you should do some research because statistically a family member and white men that identify as straight are most likely to be pedophiles but lets not cloud our opinion with facts or anything. Anyways stop turning everything into sexually motivated, get out of my stall, and do your research because as G.I. Joe said, "Now you know and knowing is half the battle." Oh and that old gem of knowledge being power.
Sidenote: A number of the arguments used are invalid and flawed arguments in nature. I feel that before some people try and argue they might want to study some of the falicies in argument. Might also help to know something about the topic you are arguing too. Oh and saying transgender is unnatural, there are a number of animal species that natural changes sexes (such as: flatworms, clownfish, gobys, bees, slugs, parrotfish, etc.).
For those unfamiliar with the concept, hypersexualization is where we attribute and force sexualized ideas onto things. Such as saying a male and female toddler that play well together are boyfriend/girlfriend. This also can be seen in children that participate in pageants such as those that the young girls on "Toddlers in Tiaras." They think that they have to be sexy or fit the stereotype of the ideal woman at the age of 4. They get fake tans, wear sometimes overly revealing outfits, etc. This is also seen in the dances and music kids listen to, like the booty popping that a young girls dance group of 7 year olds did to single ladies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir8BO4-7DkM). The girls are talented but that dancing is rather sexual for their age. This can also be seen when we look to studies done on middle school kids that report having at least oral sex at a higher rate then the past. There are plenty of stories out there about groups of middle school aged kids out at restaurants or the movies that play the game stone face (look it up but I warn you it isn't very pretty).
Hypersexualization is not limited just to our children but it is enmeshed throughout the way we view things. One such example is the argument on transgender people and restroom use. Warning I am mildly biased in this argument (if you couldn't guess already). However, I see it this way: I am in there to use the restroom, relieve natural bodily functions. At no point are my genitalia exposed to anyone but myself. If you happen to see what's in my pants then we have a greater issue of "why the heck are you in my stall?!?" Now for the most part no one every questions FTM (female to male) using the men's room, often because we easily go unnoticed and the culture of the men's room lends itself to not look into small detail too much. Today though, I came across an article discussing the way a Fox news reported for some radio show handled the story of a MTF (male to female) that had used the women's restroom at a restaurant in TN. Some other woman happened to also use the restroom at the same time and upon seeing a "burly man in a dress" she complained to her husband and they complained to the owners (who bless their hearts sided with the trans woman). Well this Fox news guy, Todd Starnes, caught wind of it and interviewed the man and woman. Not only did the couple have hateful and derogatory things to say (such as burly man in a dress as well as calling the woman a cross-dresser and saying her using the women's restroom was a safety hazard) but the reporter went right along with the hate speech. One major argument used by the husband, as well as some people who commented on the article, was that trans people in the bathroom are a hazard to the children and women. Also in the comments people kept equating being a trans woman in the women's room meant that they wanted to go in there and take pictures of the women. Why does every encounter between biological men and women have to have some sort of sexual motivation? These same people would be in outrage over seeing someone like me walking out of the women's room too but according to their logic because I don't have a penis I have to use the women's restroom but because I look male (because I am) then using the women's room means that I am going in there to rape their women and children and take inappropriate pictures. It is really sad when sexuality and gender are confused and even more sad when something like using the bathroom becomes an overtly sexualized act (for some it is but that has nothing to do with being trans, that falls into a whole different ballpark of sexuality). Honestly just because you are only concerned with what is in your pants doesn't mean the rest of the world is the same. Most trans women that I know are attracted to MEN, meaning they are not interesting in your boys, girls, or women. Just like I'm not interested in men, boys, or girls. If you see me looking at you in the bathroom it might be because I am pitying you because your penis is significantly smaller than mine but lets be honest I don't look at penises (just not my thing).
Not everything needs to be sexual. Why can't we just let our kids have friends? Why do they need to mimic our sexualied dancing and actions and dress? Why can't people just use the bathroom? Why the heck are you in my stall? Why are you so concerned about what is in my pants? My sexuality is between me and my fiancee (who loves me as a man and happens to like that fact that I am a man who doesn't center my manhood around my penis or it's size). So if you are really that concerned about encountering a trans person in the bathroom then just don't use the public restrooms, that is your choice but telling trans people that they cannot use the public restroom in which they identify and are safest is unconstitutional and discriminating. Oh and just so you know if you are concerned about a trans person assaulting your child in the restroom you should do some research because statistically a family member and white men that identify as straight are most likely to be pedophiles but lets not cloud our opinion with facts or anything. Anyways stop turning everything into sexually motivated, get out of my stall, and do your research because as G.I. Joe said, "Now you know and knowing is half the battle." Oh and that old gem of knowledge being power.
Sidenote: A number of the arguments used are invalid and flawed arguments in nature. I feel that before some people try and argue they might want to study some of the falicies in argument. Might also help to know something about the topic you are arguing too. Oh and saying transgender is unnatural, there are a number of animal species that natural changes sexes (such as: flatworms, clownfish, gobys, bees, slugs, parrotfish, etc.).
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Notebooks to the Past
I randomly find notebooks that I have used for various things, like classes or work or just for passing notes between friends. It never ceases to drop me into a nostalgic place when I get the chance to look back and read things from my past. I came across a little jotter pad from RA training a few years ago that I had used to have a conversation unheard between myself and another RA. Almost instantly I was sent back to the moment passing the little notepad back and forth, to the evening we had sat and talked on my futon while she vented her frustrations with her girlfriend of the time. It was nice to visit those moments because they reminded me of where I have come from, my journey to where I am now. I enjoy getting those moments from time to time, even if they were bad moments they still make me smile. There is a downside to these moments though, when you seek them out and intentionally try and live in them. Living in those past moments leaves little time to keep moving forward and creating new and even more exciting moments to stumble across. The best part of just happening across those things is that it just happens, its a surprise. I'm sure one day I will just happen across the letter that my fiancee wrote to me and when I do I will be transported back to the day that I opened it, to the moment I read it, and maybe even to that first smile she gifted me with or the many nights spent on skype together. If I had continued to seek out the past moments from before I would never have these new moments to look back on with her and if I get stuck in these moments being created now then I will miss out on creating new moments with her and any future children we have.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
All I ever need in life I learned from zombie culture
For those who know me well, you know I wrote an obnoxiously long thesis paper title "Apocalypse or War: The History of the Zombie and the Human Response." Some have even said that I am obsessed, I say I got to spend an entire semester watching movies, tv shows, reading books, comics, and articles. To add to the arguement that I am mildly obsessed, I am still reading zombie books and my collection has more then doubled since the end of that particular semester. I actually just started a new zombie series by Mira Grant. Her trilogy looks at the post-rising days through the eyes of three young bloggers. In fact blogging has become the main source of news and entertainment in this world. I recommend that if you have a few bucks to at least pick up the first one Feed.
Some key things that I have learned from zombie culture that can be employed in all areas of life are:
Always be prepared but flexible. Being over prepared to the point of rigidity gets you nowhere good and having no preparation leaves you with a lot of holes to try and cover last minute.
Don't be too high and mighty. If you can't function without expensive things then you will not do too well off. Be ready to eat cold canned beans and wear whatever rags that you can find.
Stay in some sort of shape because you never know when you may need to move quickly. This could be running for your life or it could be running to catch your connecting flight.
Sometimes useful things come from areas unexpected, like blogs.
Never stop learning because you never know what skill or information you may need.
Don't be too quick to judge because sometimes even a zombie is more then just that (reference Zom-B and Zom-B: Underground).
Learn that sometimes loving someone or something really does mean that you have to let it go (or kill it yourself). Sometimes in order for those we love to grow and develop we have to let them walk away from us.
There are tons more things that can be taken from zombie culture and thousands of resources, websites, and blogs out there dedicated to just that (so I encourage you to explore those as well). These are just a handful that have been in the back of my mind as I have been reading my books. Oh and don't forget that poking zombies with sticks might be fun and easy with only one but remember that when you poke living(ish) things with sticks, they sometimes get mad.
Some key things that I have learned from zombie culture that can be employed in all areas of life are:
Always be prepared but flexible. Being over prepared to the point of rigidity gets you nowhere good and having no preparation leaves you with a lot of holes to try and cover last minute.
Don't be too high and mighty. If you can't function without expensive things then you will not do too well off. Be ready to eat cold canned beans and wear whatever rags that you can find.
Stay in some sort of shape because you never know when you may need to move quickly. This could be running for your life or it could be running to catch your connecting flight.
Sometimes useful things come from areas unexpected, like blogs.
Never stop learning because you never know what skill or information you may need.
Don't be too quick to judge because sometimes even a zombie is more then just that (reference Zom-B and Zom-B: Underground).
Learn that sometimes loving someone or something really does mean that you have to let it go (or kill it yourself). Sometimes in order for those we love to grow and develop we have to let them walk away from us.
There are tons more things that can be taken from zombie culture and thousands of resources, websites, and blogs out there dedicated to just that (so I encourage you to explore those as well). These are just a handful that have been in the back of my mind as I have been reading my books. Oh and don't forget that poking zombies with sticks might be fun and easy with only one but remember that when you poke living(ish) things with sticks, they sometimes get mad.
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