DISQUS

testddd

Test

Great point, DM.

I agree. People see what they want to see ultimately. If you're belief is one way or another it changes your receptivity to information. It also affects your research, etc. Everything we experience is filtered. I guess that's why it's so hard to grasp at what really is.

Yeah, I'm a little bummed about it, but you know... i guess it's no biggie.

You're right. I have little opportunity to watch tv. I was at work until 7pm then i futzed around shopping till 9ish.

NO GIRLS ALLOWED! Isn't that the deal w bach parties?

Dude, how you liking Oregon?

"For instance, in the 1700 and 1800s, it was believed by many scholars that (middle class) women were “naturally” more childish and infantile than men, and that men were inherently more capable, intelligent and resourceful at dealing with events in the marketplace, and that women, due to their infantility, needed to stay home and be protected from what went on outside."

Science lacked any sense of rigor or observation during this time. In the 1700's and 1800's some people also believed that the lumps on your skull indicated your temper. I don't see how this argues for how current distinctions are similarly arbitrary or stupid. As for how men and women are changing roles, maybe, however even if this were true to the degree you suggest, you would still have to somehow prove this is not also biological. For example, increases in the levels of testosterone in the womb during pregnancy, increases in environmentally present hormones, etc.

"I think human society as a whole puts way more emphasis on these differences than animals do."

Animals are incapable of even conceiving their own difference, so I'm not sure they can even put less emphasis. I also don't think human society (as a whole) has an agenda to preserve some unnaturally weighted system of gender difference.

"Beyond the vagaries of attracting a mate and reproduction, are the lives of male versus female animals that different? Not really."

I'm curious how you can know this. Of course, within any group of like creatures there are similarities, however we know that in many sexually dimorphic species there are fundamental differences in lifestyle depending on the sex. For example, consider the lives of hyenas, which exist in a matriarchal society, or ants, or the great apes. The sex of the particular organism in each of these cases dictates a completely different lifestyle. In the case of hyenas, dominance of the pack, in the case of gorillas and chimpanzees, male / female social structures are very different. In the sense that all organisms must look for food and navigate the environment it is true that we share a lot of common ground. Beyond that there is amazing variety between the sexes. Why should human beings be so uniform in thought and consciousness between the sexes?

"Many are moving beyond the “natural need/desire” to pair-bond or make babies, which blows up the notion that any of that gendered type stuff wasn’t really “natural” at all, if people are able to abandon it."

I'd be curious at the percentages in this behavior. I think this is a serious assumption. Also, I believe its completely impossible to abandon the sexual impulse unless your body has grown beyond the physical capability to make babies, and the sexual impulse is the desire (conscious or unconscious) to generate offspring.

More to come...

To me, this is the same as saying that animal sexual behavior differences are arbitrary. That may be the case, but the result is the same nonetheless. In other words the differences exist. In the animal kingdom, differences exist without needing to be attributed to anything other than biology. Why should circumstances governing human behavior be so different? I think people are uncomfortable with biological explanations because we all want to believe that we have control over fundamental human impulses and feelings. I believe that results from the 1700s and the 1930s would be roughly similar to any other time depending on what you're actually testing ie. arousal patterns, etc.

Aye, that would be fun.

But, this article seems to suggest that there is little difference in arousal pattern based on what women are viewing as long as its some depicition of sexual intercourse. So, how can you establish that it has anything to do with how sexualized a particular gender is? This study seems to be saying that women just get turned on by the depiction of sex.

If the female response is purely based on what our society decides to sexualize then that seems so arbitrary like women could be manipulated into finding anything arousing as long as its impressed on them by society, which endows this amazingly organized (in the sense that there is semi-conscious manipulation) society with an amazing power over biology. I just don't buy that.

What about the bit about women of all orientations being turned on by gay male or hetero sex?

You could say that... MIKE

I thought the description of those things was really nasty... picture a chicken in the form of a sea anemone with the brain of a hookworm. Just a tiny mouth in the center of an array of wings and parts where you put the food.

Well, like I said, if you are saving 5-10% of your income each month (and you have your bad debt under control) then by all means spend as much as you like. I'm not trying to promote an austere lifestyle, just my opinion that you will be better off if you find some compromise and live completely within your means.

I will check out both of these suggestions. I thank you both very much.

Yea, that be Lindsay. I've messed with Swish some, but not since I got a copy of Flash.

It crashes on me forwhat seems like no reason.

Yeah, you gonna be around? I tried calling you when you were in Austin, but you never returned my two phone calls. *cough*

It's funny, but I think the thing he does that works the best is sincerely paying attention to other people and keeping his mouth shut until he has something worthwhile to say.

Yeah, she's OKAY I GUESS.

Hey Sarah,

You should find a club nearby and pick it up again, especially since you like giving speeches! If for no other reason than you may make some new friends in SFO. The early morning meetings work pretty well for me since I normally have trouble getting started in the morning. That's the reason I chose mornings anyway, because I wanted a reason to get up earlier. Jody and I were just talking about taking a trip to SFO and points west in the fall and dropping by to see you and Breen. I think that would be a lot of fun.

Damn, I didn't know you could see me.