Shoot the Wall (A.K.A. The Rant Thread)

[T.o.b.y]

Eh, sleep doesn't help, rant away and get it out of your system! (What my ex co-workers called venting. It worked!)

 

It is interesting how many people seem to think the world should be organized so as to cause as little friction as possible in their own lives. I don't particularly want my games or books or movies to have sexually graphic content, for example; but if it really bothers me, the solution is incredibly simple; go do something else. But noooo, some people have to demand that the content be changed to suit them.....

 

There, I vented. I feel so much better now.

 

(And I'm guessing the guy in the magazine feels better now for having had his say .... :D  And to give HIM the benefit of the doubt: sometimes people can say things when they're ranting that come out sounding a way they don't really mean .... man, this line of reasoning could go on forever....)

 

Of course it could, and even if he did mean it (which I had the impression he really did), then he probably has a reason for doing so. Usually, I am pretty good at understanding other people's points of view, though as you say in your signature, that does not mean I have to agree with it.

 

But there a very few things that I stand before simply bewildered and annoyed, and this (to me) irrational aversion towards gay relationships is one of them. I mean, why, why, why would anyone mind what two other people do in their own bed at their own risk and fun and responsibility? In what way does any two strangers, who are consenting adults, having sex with each other (or simply being interested in sex with each other) have any negative impact on a third party's happiness (or lack thereof)?

 

This man whose letter I got riled up at was not complaining about explicit sex scenes, by the way (show me a big-name game that has explicit gay sex in it and I'll be very surprised). He was objecting to the mere fact that a few computer games now have characters in them who are openly gay as becomes evident through dialogue such as them talking about their (ex-) partner. That and the option (note: one option among many!) of choosing a same-sex romance for your own character.

Apparently, while playing Mass Effect, his male Shepherd (= name of the protagonist in that game) was flirted with (gasp!) by another male character and "somehow" he ended up in that relationship arch, to the dismay of the player. Now, as far as I know, it takes more than just one click to get into bed with anyone there, so there must have been quite a number of somehows. Maybe this guy should rethink a few things about himself...

 

Anyway. It's Christmas time, no good in getting upset about other people out there. Better to be thankful for a quiet evening at home with a bowl of hot soup and the kind of brain that can see pictures of Irene Adler without thinking "gahhh, a self-proclaimed gay person!" or "gahhh, a woman who is prettier than me!", but "oh, nice, a gorgeous sexy character on my favorite television series."

 

[Arcadia]

But there a very few things that I stand before simply bewildered and annoyed, and this (to me) irrational aversion towards gay relationships is one of them. I mean, why, why, why would anyone mind what two other people do in their own bed at their own risk and fun and responsibility? In what way does any two strangers, who are consenting adults, having sex with each other (or simply being interested in sex with each other) have any negative impact on a third party's happiness (or lack thereof)?

Beats me, I've never understood it either!

[Carol the Dabbler]

What truly bewilders me is the otherwise logical, rational men who positively salivate at the thought of two women getting it on -- but then can't abide the concept of two men doing likewise.  I mean, nobody's saying they have to participate!

 

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

One of my female friend's got a girlfriend, but whenever she talks about her significant other there's always that one group of boys who burst into laughter for no friggin' reason. I've half a mind to go wring those boys' necks, I swear.

[T.o.b.y]

One of my female friend's got a girlfriend, but whenever she talks about her significant other there's always that one group of boys who burst into laughter for no friggin' reason. I've half a mind to go wring those boys' necks, I swear.

 

:lol: That's the kind of feeling I remember from going to school. Wanting to wring boys' necks.

 

The good part is, they grow up too. Some day. I went to a reunion last year about this time. It was ten years since I'd seen my former class mates. One of the biggest assholes back then now works with disabled children. Others more or less stayed the same as I remembered them, but nobody called me names. They got up and made room for me at the table. They asked about my life and career, pleasantly and sincerely interested, and I asked about theirs. And I remember discovering sometime during the conversation that I hated absolutely nobody in the room. It was lovely.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Same thing happened at my class reunion.  (And my classmates are presumably saying the same thing about me.)

 

But right now, Bendy, boys your age will snicker at just about anything related to sex.  That's apparently how they show they're cool.  Or how they show that they're embarrassed.  ;)

 

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

That reminds me of the time my science teacher talked about her days living in Chicago. She lived a little ways from one section of the city called Boytown, and when one kid asked, "Why's it called Boytown?" she answered, "Think about it."

 

You should've seen the complete and utter shock on my classmates' faces.

[Arcadia]

I actually had to look that up, Bendy, to find out what they were shocked about. :D The only reference I'd ever heard to Boys Town before now was to Father Flanagan and his home for boys. Oh my, the times they are a-changin'.....

[Carol the Dabbler]

I actually had to look that up.....

 

Me too.  Seems like they could just as logically call it Girlstown (the one in Chicago, I mean, not Father Flanagan's place).

 

[SherlockedCAMPer]

I guessed what it was referring to with out loking it up, then looked it up to confirm I had figured right.

[T.o.b.y]

I should stop googling around. I only find things that make me sad for the rest of the week. Have a look at this quote from a recent interview with Martin Freeman:
 

Freeman also spoke about the copious amount of homoerotic fan fiction Sherlock has inspired, and how it has started intruding on his real-life marriage to co-star Amanda Abbington. Some people have a hard time letting go of the dream, believing that not only are Holmes and Watson a couple, but so are Freeman and Cumberbatch. “There are people that are actually absolutely determined that Amanda is my beard. Me and Benedict are friendly but we’re not married!”

 

Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my... Okay. Ever since I heard about Ms Abbington receiving death threats (however insincere I hope those were), I know that some people are not good at discerning between fiction and real life. But still, this is kind of appalling. So far, I thought it was still all about the Sherlock characters, and some people not liking Mary. Bad enough, of course, but this? Also, how does he know this? Does he receive really creepy fan mail? Do people, like, walk up to him in the street and... Ugh, I don't even want to think about it.

 

I can understand fantasizing about fictional characters. Totally. Fictional people cannot be hurt, cannot be insulted, their privacy is as fictional as themselves, all is well. But real, live people? Okay, we none of us can completely control our brains, fine. But making such fantasies public? Shoving them in the faces of the people you daydream about? And being actually upset that real life does not conform to your wishes? What the hell...?

 

Another item on the list of things I can't really be neutral and perceiving and understanding about. Can't even manage the understanding part. I feel like Sherlock looking at Irene's face: ??????

 

Only in a bad way.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

I saw that interview as well Toby. It's crazy what some people think. If those people want to do a johnlock, fine but a freebatch or whatever the shipping would be, No especially since both guys are taken by women regardless if the actual ring status.

[sittything]

This is like the same snogger crap people have been pulling for years with David and Gillian. Fine, you want to ship them in real life, fine.  BUT KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!  Do not directly tweet them, message them, or write stupid/threatening things to them. 

 

[SherlockedCAMPer]

This is like the same snogger crap people have been pulling for years with David and Gillian. Fine, you want to ship them in real life, fine. BUT KEEP IT TO YOURSELF! Do not directly tweet them, message them, or write stupid/threatening things to them.

 

Agreed sitty. We may discuss Sherlock at length and to the annoyance of others on here but we do it respectfully and try our best to separate the real world from Sherlock.

[Carol the Dabbler]

This is like the same snogger crap people have been pulling for years with David and Gillian.

Even longer than that. Circa 1970, Leonard Nimoy's wife was getting some pretty nasty-sounding threats in the mail -- dunno whether it was from people who shipped Kirk/Spock, or whether they just wanted Nimoy for themselves. Some people are utter twits, and apparently always have been.

[sittything]

I for one ship BC with his scarf...

 

[Arcadia]

Actually, I think it's the separation from the scarf that gets my heart going pitty-pat...... :D

[T.o.b.y]

I must admit that there is a very selfish side to my outrage at this kind of "fan" response. For me, the relationship between the two main characters is really the heart and soul of Sherlock, and I do wonder how an actor, even a very professional one, can continue to play a role with all that crazy baggage associated with it without becoming incredibly self-conscious about it all, and I am (probably irrationally) afraid that this will have a negative effect on future scripts and performances.

 

This is probably me doing the actors a huge injustice... :lol:

[Carol the Dabbler]

Probably!  :D

 

[Shadow Dweller]

Bromance, delicious fuel for fantasies  :D

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

[SherlockedCAMPer]

I hate colds and getting one 3 days before Chtistmas is even worse. <_< Hoping the elderberry/echinacea capsules work.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

New "fun" for the holidays: electrical outlets in the dining room go out but the light fixture still works. All circuits appear to be working normally, even flipped the circuits off then back on in the circuit breaker box. :( now camped at parents' and started listening to a church service over 30 min late because I had to pack up to get a safe outlet.

[Carol the Dabbler]

New "fun" for the holidays: electrical outlets in the dining room go out but the light fixture still works. All circuits appear to be working normally, even flipped the circuits off then back on in the circuit breaker box. :( now camped at parents' and started listening to a church service over 30 min late because I had to pack up to get a safe outlet.

 

The outlets are presumably on a separate circuit from the ceiling fixture.  I assume that you reset all of the breakers (even the ones you didn't think could possibly be involved, because you never know what the original electrician had in mind) with no success.

 

Have you checked any GFI circuits (e.g., in the kitchen and bathroom) to see if they've been tripped?  If so, try pressing the reset button.  A dining room probably isn't on a GFI circuit, but you never know.

 

Have you checked to see whether any breaker switch is refusing to stay all the way "on"?  If it can be pushed all the way but then bounces back a bit, there may be a problem on that circuit, which will presumably require the attention of an electrician.

 

Did you recently add any new electrical devices?  If so, unplug it and then reset the breakers again.  Anything with a heating element is the most obvious suspect, but just about anything could be the culprit, since its internal wiring could be defective (even if it appears to be working properly).  If there's nothing new plugged into the outlets that have stopped working, then try unplugging everything from those outlets.  Reset the breakers, then test the outlets with something fairly foolproof, such as a nightlight.  If that works, then one at a time, plug something back in and put it through its paces, and if that works, plug the next thing back in.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

We have the original outlets before the GFI's were made the standard for the kitchen & bath.  Also light & outlets are the same breaker (I flipped all of the switches that weren't marked Furnace & Appliances) for each room.  It's crazy.  The wiring is about 29 years old and was basically to the minimum standard for the time.  The townhome was built more or less on the cheap just well enough to pass standards & inspections but not last 30 years when the previous owner was rich enough to buy the place but not rich enough to do major upkeep/updating before selling it.