I haven't read the responses to The Results are In. Because I'm scared to. I bet I offended a lot of people, and yeah I was being dramatic when I called the whole community sexist. I'm sorry for generalizing.
(Just in case that didn't get noticed right away...)
I'm sorry for generalizing.
I don't need to see anything that was written, scathing or otherwise, to chide myself for falling into the very mindset that I gripe at others for adhering to.
May I... tell you a little about my mindset? (If the answer is 'no,' then here's something for you instead! )
So, there's two stories that really shaped how I think about issues of equality. One has to do with women's suffrage. The other has to do with poop.
So, I don't know if this story was true or a thought experiment, but here's how it goes: Women back in the time were talking about how they should have the right to vote. Some women were saying, "Men have the right to vote, and women should have the same rights as men!"
Some other women responded to that with, "Well, women have a ton of rights that men don't have. Men give up their seats to women on the bus, men hold doors for women..." and so on.
But the first group of women answered with, "Those aren't rights. Those are courtesies."
Now I'm not sure if the whole toilet seat up or down argument was valid in 1848, but that's the bit about poop that brings me to my second thought:
A friend of mine was complaining to me about his brother's asshole girlfriend (seriously, even his grandma hated this chick). He was put off because she would come over to their house and use the restroom that he and his two brothers share and then bitch about the toilet seat being up. Her argument was that she shouldn't have to put the seat down, and she didn't want to touch an icky seat. (I'd like to take a moment to clarify, I have been to this friend's house and used the bathroom in question, and he and his brothers keep it very clean.) My friend's argument is that no one uses that bathroom regularly except three males. And (for the most part) they need it up. What's the big deal??
And you know what? He's right. He is 100% right! It's sexist that she thinks she's entitled to special treatment just because she's got different hardware. That's stupid.
I think together, those two stories actually sum up in the most simplest terms how to treat people. You give everyone the same rights (what up gay marriage!), and you don't treat people different or demand to be treated different because of shit like sex, race, orientation, age, social standing, ET CETERA.
Side note, my friend's brother dumped the bitch and is now dating a really nice girl whom my friend and his grandma approve of.
So yeah, if I kept your interest through all of that, here's your reward: I think it's friggin hilarious