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IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
Thu Jul 10, 2014, 11:02 AM Jul 2014

This may seem trivial on the surface,

BUT! While this is by far my favorite religious site, regardless of how long I've been off wandering, I did dawdle awhile on another allegedly Christian website that claims strong leftist credentials. By and large I found them reasonably compatible. Then they held an outdoor festival and naturally posted pictures, partly to publicize the tee shirts that are a major fundraiser for them.

My reasonably mild comment drew a rather hostile official response, however. I noted that most of the male readers were probably more focused on the two pastors' wives who were practically flashing all their female assets. I didn't even put it that bluntly, instead referring to 'barely-there tops' and their distraction from the publicized intent. But I'll wager the Hooters waitresses dress more appropriately than the two wives. I'm talking little more than pasties here.

Now of course they're all huffy with me. I noted that I didn't question anyone's faith or ethics, merely the absence of a reasonable dress code and its effect on tee shirt promotion. There are bound to be differences between generations, and I doubt any of us will wear a stitch in heaven. At least CS Lewis didn't seem to think so. I don't even have a problem with discreet nudists so long as they don't streak through my front yard or something. And anyone who loves Maxfield Parrish and other Victorian fine art the way I do shouldn't be mistaken for a hopeless prude.

What I do have a problem with is people who set themselves up as superior moral leaders and then get their shorts twisted when questioned even in a fairly mild manner.

And of course I do want to ask the men in this group, whatever their generation, whether they like their own beloved female family members 'dressed' that way. I'll ask my feminist friends to please spare me any false assumptions by blowing this question far out of proportion, too. When we marry we do need to be considerate of our partner's feelings. But one thing I've noticed watching DWTS; when the men have had any say-so about their partners' costumes, they've invariably designed more material, let's say.

What do YOU think about the whole shebang?

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
This may seem trivial on the surface, (Original Post) IrishAyes Jul 2014 OP
You should have flashed them. rug Jul 2014 #1
Well, the last time I tried that, I broke the internet IrishAyes Jul 2014 #5
BTW, while keeping locations and identities confidential, IrishAyes Jul 2014 #8
Lol! You are far from that. rug Jul 2014 #9
Well, I do have the pleasure to report IrishAyes Jul 2014 #10
RE Women's style of dress - It all depends on No Vested Interest Jul 2014 #2
I've also often heard (and even seen) people aggravated when IrishAyes Jul 2014 #6
I've experienced many incongruous situations like this. hunter Jul 2014 #3
If they'd seen me during my stage career, they wouldn't have acted like IrishAyes Jul 2014 #4
UPDATE IrishAyes Jul 2014 #7

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
5. Well, the last time I tried that, I broke the internet
Thu Jul 10, 2014, 05:05 PM
Jul 2014

and Gore and Zuckerberg got after me for it, so now I'm afraid. But thanks for the thought just the same.

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
8. BTW, while keeping locations and identities confidential,
Thu Jul 10, 2014, 07:27 PM
Jul 2014

I did pass along your suggestion and offered regrets I couldn't comply.

You should watch what sort of mission you send me on; you know how easily I'm led, being a poor little weakminded woman!

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
10. Well, I do have the pleasure to report
Fri Jul 11, 2014, 11:50 PM
Jul 2014

that the town secretary declared me in public to my face to be the hardest headed person she's ever known. Oddly enough I forget the circumstances, but that's probably because there've been so many. And that may be nothing compared to what's said after I attend a city council meeting. I know they fight like cats and dogs among themselves, but they might coalesce against a common thorn in their side.

But really, I think we get along much better now. Either that or they've basically given up trying to pee on my leg and tell me it's raining.

Still I have to say that you might be the best dragon slayer I've seen in a long time.

No Vested Interest

(5,167 posts)
2. RE Women's style of dress - It all depends on
Thu Jul 10, 2014, 01:02 PM
Jul 2014

whom you're dressing for.

Is it for your spouse? Some would like their women to reveal, some wouldn't.

Is it for the approval of other women? Most women are not interested in seeing too much, but like current fashion.

Is it for the approval of other men? That's where decolletage comes in.

Is fit for yourself? Most - not all certainly- women know what looks attractive on them, and what is unbecoming. A self-confident and self-reflective woman does not need to dress for the approval of others.

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
6. I've also often heard (and even seen) people aggravated when
Thu Jul 10, 2014, 05:11 PM
Jul 2014

a woman makes it clear that she damn well doesn't care if anyone finds her attractive or not, and that acts as its own powerful aphrodesiac. Of course I don't mean slovenly, but rather natural and not gussied up like a kewpie doll. Back in the day I could get more attention in sweatpants than some women could in a mini skirt. After all... no, I'm not going to say that... for once...

hunter

(38,322 posts)
3. I've experienced many incongruous situations like this.
Thu Jul 10, 2014, 02:56 PM
Jul 2014

In my youth especially there were "hippies" of the sort who live perfectly (twisted) "family values" Republican lifestyles, except they smoke pot, wear tie-dye clothing, and the women don't wear bras while serving their men granola for breakfast. (Today most of them would call themselves Libertarians and shop at Whole Foods.) But behind the facade their society reeked of money, misogyny, fundamentalism, objectification of women, and racism... same as it ever was.

On the other hand there were quite conservative religious people who would let weirdos like me live in my car in their church parking lots, practice non-judgmental non-evangelical outreach to other community misfits such as myself, and still dress "nice" for church on Sunday. Even among the Catholics there would be powerful progressive women.

If there's any quick explanation for my own family values, I'm of a matriarchal, practical, socialist, Scandinavian, transplanted to the Wild West of the U.S.A. family... Clothing was always a practical matter. On a nice summer day nobody had swimsuits because swimsuits are useless clothing for most of the year. And in the depth of winter, bathing in the kitchen of a Housebarn full of people and a bunch of farm animals downstairs, modesty is all about how you act, never about what you happen to see.

Anyways, the church you describe is more likely a rigid patriarchy as both pastors are male...


IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
4. If they'd seen me during my stage career, they wouldn't have acted like
Thu Jul 10, 2014, 05:03 PM
Jul 2014

I'm some sort of prude. Because believe me, especially in small theaters where backstage space is almost nonexistent, everybody changes in front of everybody else all at once because that's appropriate (in my eyes) due to the situation. But posing as my moral superior while trying to sell me a tee shirt and getting huffy when I make a simple marketing comment doesn't fly with me at all.

I have my own notions which it's true not everyone understands or agrees with - but they can't tell me in essence to sit down, shut up, and fork over $ while I'm at it. That's toooo much.

Essentially I've come to the notion that those well-covered men are parading their wives as sexual trophies to impress other men. And make $. I mean, what's one of the first power plays by captors in war - deny their victims clothing. Then there's the Stockholm Syndrome some captives adopt as a survival mechanism. These particular women probably knew exactly what they were signing up for, but even slaves have their own pecking order.

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
7. UPDATE
Thu Jul 10, 2014, 05:49 PM
Jul 2014

When I checked FB just now, that group had finally responded with a fine blend of snarky sanctimonious that rather strongly hinted I might have Sharia leanings.

I left them my final message that was the most exquisitely polite way I could manage to tell them to take a long walk on a short pier. If I showed up at one of their festivals in a Druid costume or dressed as an ancient Celtic goddess, their so-called tolerance would vanish in a heartbeat. But I told them I still wanted the shirt on back order from several months ago because I do approve the Love Thy Neighbor theme regardless of how much I now doubted its true practice in some circles. I won't blame the song when the choir's off key. But they won't see another dime from me, and I'm sure they're cheering over that.

Yes I WAS nice to them! I didn't breathe a word about Emperesses having no clothing etc.. And I left w/o saying the H word out loud. Okay, so I did say everything but... Anyhow, the only reason I'll go back is just to quietly check and see how long they leave that whole thread up.

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