Can I just say that EVERYONE sells SOMETHING. I mean, I get that Dove is owned by Uniliver who sells skin-lightening cream in Indian and African and OMG that's horrible! but it shouldn't negate any good efforts on their part. Everyone is behold to some corporate god, even Jez. Or am I the only one who noticed Jez rails against unrealistic body images while being sponsored by Crunch Fitness?
Yesterday I was so put out with some of the comments that have been cropping up on Jezebel lately. I decided last night that I was DONE and not coming back. The ageism and (sometimes reverse) sexism that I've been seeing have disappointed me terribly.
But then I read every one of these comments and decided that, in fact, Jezebels really are the most amazing crop of people on the internets and that it's a gift that y'all are all out there.
Keep up the positivity and seeing beauty in everyone. That's what makes me teary-eyed- not a Dove commercial but the generous spirits of so many of YOU.
..and I'd SO love to meet the woman who one woman described as "looking very knowlegeable" and "was probably a wild child back in the day...or even now/still"
Semi off-topic but I think the Jezzies will enjoy this trivia. I have met director Pinny Grylls, and as ridiculous as her name is, her best friend (who will marry my friend this year) is called Ticky Headley-Dent.
Say it out loud. Say the names together. It will bring you pleasure for days.
tatiana, your writing is always so insightful and a pleasure to read. i love your ending to the post because comments and judgement today extend to the online world, where a lot of times we'll never see the face of who might be complimenting or insulting us. it's easy to forget there is a real person at the other end who's going to react very viscerally to the typed word aimed at them.
It's always a good feeling when a stranger compliments you because you know without a doubt that it's genuine. (Unless it's the creepy corner-store guy, because his compliments do not count because he's creepy.) If the complimenter has no idea who you are and does not want anything from you and says something nice just because they were moved to, it really can make you glow a little. I'm shy and camouflage it by being very serious and businesslike, so I rarely compliment people I don't know. Maybe I should start.
Most of you I only picture as your avatars. Which means to most of you, I look like a squirrel with her head in a coffee cup. I don't look much like a squirrel IRL, though. More like a pale Irish girl with a bubble butt and the dreaded Shropshire Ankles of Doom. However I do have my head in a huge coffee cup every morning, so there is that.
@terribletwenties aka Aesop's Foibles: Correction: A pale girl of *Irish Descent*. Don't wanna false-advertise. Oh and thanks to all of you who talked about your painful school experiences, i.e. being bullied etc. I was too, and awfully. I actually had to leave a school because I was afraid of getting hurt. So it's comforting, somehow, to know I was not the only one who felt so very small back then. *squeeze*
Also, it reminds me of the Chicago Public Library ad campaign that's going on now. It's got pictures of unlikely librarians. (A granny DJing, someone with tattoos and piercings, that kind of thing.)
I read Jezebel because I love the commentary, and I'm in awe of the posters. I think so many of you are amazing and faboulous, and I'm glad I've had the chance to meet some of you at the NY meetups. It's such a great thing to look forward to every day.
I have a notebook that is filled with notes from friends that say positive things about me, and I look at it whenever I need to feel better about myself, especially if I'm lonely or depressed. It makes me feel validated and not beat up on myself. I've had issues with depression since I was 12, and whenever it comes back in again, it feels like a weight on my head that I have to fight through.
I feel much better about my looks since I was younger, but still get insecure about feeling plain or uninteresting-looking, and still have a mental self-image as a shy nerd despite making strides to overcome that or not feel bad about it. I don't really like being photographed, there are only a few recent photos of me that I do like, and I still cringe at myself n some.
@beatrice2000: Photos are tricky because it's easy to zero in on whatever we don't like about ourselves, because we're used to seeing ourselves so we no longer look at the big picture, only this bump or how our tooth is crooked (seriously, I just realized one of my teeth is facing my tongue. 20+ years and I'm just noticing!)
But when you see people in person you don't look at all that. It's more about the total package. And you aren't plain; you have fun curly hair. :)
Generally, I think everyone is pretty in some way unless they are not a nice person.
I tend to be pretty confident, too, but my new office (just started work this week) has a wall-sized mirror RIGHT next to my desk. This has caused me to realize that I hate my hair, have terrible posture, and should never wear silver eyeshadow again. I also hate my chin more than is rational. I should bring in curtains and cover this thing up.
The woman with the pulled-back dark hair and the beautiful wide mouth has one of the most compelling faces I have ever seen. I wish we could hear her speak!
01/10/09
01/09/09
But then I read every one of these comments and decided that, in fact, Jezebels really are the most amazing crop of people on the internets and that it's a gift that y'all are all out there.
Keep up the positivity and seeing beauty in everyone. That's what makes me teary-eyed- not a Dove commercial but the generous spirits of so many of YOU.
01/09/09
..and I'd SO love to meet the woman who one woman described as "looking very knowlegeable" and "was probably a wild child back in the day...or even now/still"
01/10/09
01/09/09
Say it out loud. Say the names together. It will bring you pleasure for days.
01/09/09
01/11/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
Most of you I only picture as your avatars. Which means to most of you, I look like a squirrel with her head in a coffee cup. I don't look much like a squirrel IRL, though. More like a pale Irish girl with a bubble butt and the dreaded Shropshire Ankles of Doom. However I do have my head in a huge coffee cup every morning, so there is that.
01/09/09
01/10/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
01/09/09
I love the Jezzies. You all are so much fun.
I feel like I am too much "I R SERIOUS COMMENTER. THIS R SERIOUS THREAD" when I do comment, so I don't say a lot, but reading is super fun.
01/09/09
"I R SERIOUS COMMENTER. THIS R SERIOUS THREAD"
that should inject a little levity into your comments in no time. I know I'd laugh. :D
01/09/09
Jezzies bring the funny and the punny....
01/09/09
I have a notebook that is filled with notes from friends that say positive things about me, and I look at it whenever I need to feel better about myself, especially if I'm lonely or depressed. It makes me feel validated and not beat up on myself. I've had issues with depression since I was 12, and whenever it comes back in again, it feels like a weight on my head that I have to fight through.
@Sour Patch Bitch (r.n. spy returns in the spring): I've only met sarah.of.a.lesser.god, and I think she's awesome.
I feel much better about my looks since I was younger, but still get insecure about feeling plain or uninteresting-looking, and still have a mental self-image as a shy nerd despite making strides to overcome that or not feel bad about it. I don't really like being photographed, there are only a few recent photos of me that I do like, and I still cringe at myself n some.
01/09/09
But when you see people in person you don't look at all that. It's more about the total package. And you aren't plain; you have fun curly hair. :)
01/09/09
I tend to be pretty confident, too, but my new office (just started work this week) has a wall-sized mirror RIGHT next to my desk. This has caused me to realize that I hate my hair, have terrible posture, and should never wear silver eyeshadow again. I also hate my chin more than is rational. I should bring in curtains and cover this thing up.
01/09/09
01/09/09
First, LOLOL.
*sobers*
Tatiana, you have been banging out the killer pieces lately. Write the **** on.
01/09/09
01/09/09
01/09/09