Rants about chatting

No one is more arrogant toward women, more aggressive or scornful, 

than the man who is anxious about his virility. ~~Simone de Beauvoir

Saw this quote online today, and it reminded me of chatters ...... It's not the first time, and won't be the last, but the other day, I started up a chat with someone who's local to me (meaning within 50 miles! lol) and we exchanged the usual up front questions about age and jobs. This one was a teacher. I think in all, we exchanged maybe 5 lines of conversation when his next line was ... "So, are your nipples brown or pink?" And my reply was "and... we're done!" and he promptly went on my "ignore this person" list. Ok there are some creepy types out there, but this one bothered me a bit... he was up front enough to tell me he was a teacher .. and he's out there teaching our kids????? ACK. Why is it that men think they need to know that? Are they under the assumption that asking those kinds of questions turn women on? 

When it comes to conversations with the opposite sex .... are there limitations to the kinds of questions one should ask? or answer to? I checked, and there are a number of websites that deal with chatting etiquette. And most have sound advice. One of the worst things to deal with are what I like to call HNG's, or Horny Net Geeks. They're the kind who are generally rude, and ask about personal information as if it's their God given right to know everything about you. They have little or no manners, and seem to treat people like they don't have feelings, like they're not other real people. Or perhaps they assume that because we're online and chatting, we're so desparate, that we'll answer to anything just to talk to someone, no matter that he's a sorry HNG. For me, I don't and won't, put up with that kind of behavior. And I'm encouraging the rest of you to get a thick skin when it comes to getting questions like this, and put that HNG in his place. We're better than that. And deserve to be treated with respect. 

 Well, I could fill this with a bunch of "If only... " phrases. But the men who are worthy, already know it. And the ones who are HNG's on a selfish pursuit won't read this anyhow. LOL

HUGS to everyone!!

Blogging

As usual, I can be found most often in a chat channel using IRC (Internet Relay Chat). And today we were talking about blogs... (curlers): I blog every few days or so, sometimes it's just a little blurb or something *shooes figures no one cares what I have to say anyway hehehe (curlers): me too (curlers): lol (shooes): :) (curlers): no one wants to read my drabble, but I share it anways. (Gal): funny how every blogging place has its own great features. Wish my fave features from each was all in one place. (TuLips): just like your men, GAL :)) (TuLips): no one give two hoots about what goes on in my life, cause it's boring hon (TuLips): Dear Blog... today I woke up... woohooo - started out right then :) (BobEvans): do you record your dreams for public review? (TuLips): just her sex ones, BobEvans (Gal): hahaha!! and yeah. I've done that, get up in the middle of the night and blog. then go back to sleep. but then, I'm not normal. (BobEvans): I don't know if I want to put all my info out there and soon the conversation in the chat channel died off: (Gal) and everyone is off reading something personal about someone else, in some other place, some other time. (curlers): lol (Gal): why are we all fascinated with how others are living? (Gal): is it because we're not as connected as we once were? And I got to thinking (don't I always ??? lol) about blogs in general. What's the draw to reading other blogs? And .. do those who blog read a lot of others? Or just a select few? Do those who don't write blogs tend to read more of them? Perhaps its like being a voyeur - getting a glimpse into another person's life and experiences. I tried to consider the type of blogs that interest me most. Usually it's the ones that are well written, with a dash of humor thrown in; and usually about life experiences and real thoughts. I don't usually care to read an unknown person's fiction, but I DO enjoy the fiction if I already know the person. It's funny, once you start reading a blog, and getting a slice of that person's life, you tend to go back and read it again. Besides the MySpace blogs of friends that I read faithfully, I read two others, and they're no one I've ever spoken with before. But it can be fun! And I hope those of you reading this feel the same way about my blogs: Its just a little slice of the pie from my little corner of the world. And hopefully brings a smile every now and again! So go out there and read a blog! or... write your own! And if you do, let me know where it is, so I can read it too!!

HUGS to everyone!

A Date with Scooter

I became single in the month of June. And by September, I had struck up a chat friendship with a gentleman who's nickname escapes me. But, that's not important. Let's call him OhioGuy. (It was probably something close to that.) We'd struck up a chatting thing off and on for a few days before he said he would be in town and wanted to meet for dinner. We had swapped pix, life stories, and all the other things that come up in topics. I was hesitant, but he reassured me. So, after work, I decided to drive on up. He had given me directions to the hotel, and said that I should pull up to the valet parking (ooo la laaaaa, did I feel special!) So, amidst a bunch of nerves and all that, I arrived. And met OhioGuy. He was there, waiting in the lobby for me. He opened the door, said "You must be Linda", and gave me a brief hug. As with every internet meet, you're never quite sure what you'll get ... some folks don't look like the picture they sent, and some do. And while a picture might be worth a thousand words, it's hard to judge things like height if there's no reference point (or the colored, numbered stickers like they have on doorways to 7-11's!! haha) He was a bit shorter than anticipated (not a big deal) but the smile was just as friendly. 

 We walked uptown a couple blocks to a restaurant, and sat down, ordered dinner. Now, first dates usually make me nervous, and eating isn't a top priority, but its what everyone wants to do it seems! Ah well. A few awkward smiles across the table and the conversation starts with simple things ... the drive, what business he's in town for, the usual stuff. And somewhere in this conversation, a few things shock me: First, he's not really single, or separated. (for me, that's a deal breaker) . Then he tells me that everyone calls him Scooter, and always have, and would I call him that too? Well, sure. But. The phrase "Ohhh Yessss Scooter" just has an odd ring to it, am I right? [laughs] But the one thing that convinced me that a one night stand is NOT in order, is that with his white hair and beard (which he didn't have in the pic he sent) made him look very much like my Dad. At this point, I'm pretty certain the evening isn't going to go the way Scooter thought it might!!! 

 After dinner, we go back to the hotel, and up to his room to change into swimsuits, because this particular hotel has a hottub on the rooftop. It's a warm Indian Summer kind of evening, and we have it to ourselves. We're smiling, and talking, and I'm looking at the stars as they pop out into the night sky. There's a gym up here, too, and it's full of men working out. And about 15 minutes later, the doors roll open and all these men are done working out, and check out the temp of the pool (too cold) and several come slip in this huge hottub with us. After smiling and exchanging looks (and oh yes, eavesdropping on their conversation) , two and two finally come together -- they're on the LA Galaxy soccer team. So there's chubby-me, my date Scooter, and 5 or 6 young hardbodies in this hottub. I'm not sure if this is a good thing, or a bad thing. Wait. Its a good thing.... nothing like a bit of eye candy to round out an evening!! 

 Back in his room, we changed into street clothes again. Well, I did. He decided on a pair of loose shorts and a T-shirt. A couple of kisses later, the old "I better hit the road, long drive, work tomorrow" excuse comes out. He walks me down to the lobby, waits until the valet brings my car, and kisses me goodbye. I drive off into the warm night air with mixed feelings. It was really nice to be on a date again, to laugh and be with somebody, but ... this was not The One. lol