Comments on: Ask a Spinster Aunt: giggling, feminism, and you http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/ Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:13:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: The Hedonistic Pleasureseeker http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-114328 The Hedonistic Pleasureseeker Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:35:57 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-114328 Giggling is the coping mechanism of the incontinent. Damn SPAWN, why did she have to have a 14 inch head? Giggling is the coping mechanism of the incontinent. Damn SPAWN, why did she have to have a 14 inch head?

]]> By: Cronedancer http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-114259 Cronedancer Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:03:14 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-114259 A couple of folks have posted about giggling when recounting traumatic events. It is quite normal for people who have been traumatized to smile or giggle when recounting the violent or traumatic event. It is not a sign that you are being submissive! Don't blame yourself for this behavior, blame the patriarchy. A couple of folks have posted about giggling when recounting traumatic events. It is quite normal for people who have been traumatized to smile or giggle when recounting the violent or traumatic event. It is not a sign that you are being submissive! Don’t blame yourself for this behavior, blame the patriarchy.

]]> By: Tina Pajaro http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-94392 Tina Pajaro Sun, 02 Dec 2007 02:12:48 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-94392 In relation to being raped the police said something along the lines of I could go ahead and try to press charges but it would likely be a long, embarassing and pointless exercise and they would end up making me look really really bad. There was a man and woman police officer who came to my house and who I told. They sat opposite and questioned me like an interveiw. They showed no sympathy not in the slightest. They made me sign some peice of paper in which they wrote down their 'interpretation' of what I told them and after I said I didn't agree with the details of how they wrote it they said that I had to sign it to say they had been here and that I understood what they had said to me or they can't leave. I then pointed out again the areas where it wasn't accurate. Then they said again it's just to say we have been here and etc. So I signed this peice of paper (stupidly) that had incorrect details they had written about what happened on it. The only help they offered was their suggestion I be more assertive and added "you know 'girl power'". (this was the female police officer that used the words 'girl power' to me about how I might have avoided being raped.) In relation to being raped the police said something along the lines of I could go ahead and try to press charges but it would likely be a long, embarassing and pointless exercise and they would end up making me look really really bad. There was a man and woman police officer who came to my house and who I told. They sat opposite and questioned me like an interveiw. They showed no sympathy not in the slightest. They made me sign some peice of paper in which they wrote down their ‘interpretation’ of what I told them and after I said I didn’t agree with the details of how they wrote it they said that I had to sign it to say they had been here and that I understood what they had said to me or they can’t leave. I then pointed out again the areas where it wasn’t accurate. Then they said again it’s just to say we have been here and etc. So I signed this peice of paper (stupidly) that had incorrect details they had written about what happened on it.

The only help they offered was their suggestion I be more assertive and added “you know ‘girl power’”. (this was the female police officer that used the words ‘girl power’ to me about how I might have avoided being raped.)

]]> By: Tina Pajaro http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-94389 Tina Pajaro Sun, 02 Dec 2007 01:55:18 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-94389 When I am very nervous and scared I tend to giggle and it is strange inappropriate and I don't know why I do it. When I reported to police about my ex pointing his sword at me and finally about how he raped me I was scared and nervous and for some reason I giggled at a few points but nothing was funny about it. I think it was because I was determined NOT to get really crazy upset because I thought they might think I was disturbed if I showed how upset I really was about it, I was determined not to cry at all, I think maybe I overcompensated. Nothing got done about it maybe it's because I waited so long to tell them or maybe it's because I did that stupid giggle or maybe I should just blame the patriachy. When I am very nervous and scared I tend to giggle and it is strange inappropriate and I don’t know why I do it. When I reported to police about my ex pointing his sword at me and finally about how he raped me I was scared and nervous and for some reason I giggled at a few points but nothing was funny about it. I think it was because I was determined NOT to get really crazy upset because I thought they might think I was disturbed if I showed how upset I really was about it, I was determined not to cry at all, I think maybe I overcompensated. Nothing got done about it maybe it’s because I waited so long to tell them or maybe it’s because I did that stupid giggle or maybe I should just blame the patriachy.

]]> By: Cruella http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-91968 Cruella Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:01:44 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-91968 Speaking as the expert - both a feminist and a stand-up comic, I can assure you giggling is out. Giggling requires being embarrassed to laugh out loud. Fair enough in business meetings but on dates, at the cinema or at a comedy show it's not necessary - just laugh out loud! Speaking as the expert - both a feminist and a stand-up comic, I can assure you giggling is out. Giggling requires being embarrassed to laugh out loud. Fair enough in business meetings but on dates, at the cinema or at a comedy show it’s not necessary - just laugh out loud!

]]> By: Seraphine http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-91122 Seraphine Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:07:22 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-91122 Girls snicker. Boys snigger. It's a biological fact. Girls snicker.
Boys snigger.
It’s a biological fact.

]]> By: warren http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-88532 warren Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:24:07 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-88532 Well, I'm deeply concerned that anyone could possibly be worried about their various oral and nasal expressions of bemusement. I can't exactly say why. I'm formulatin' a theory. One minute Ok. I find all this categorization of the various manic states in which we momentarily lose control of our breathing, when we are wracked in the spasms of involuntary reptilian muscular responses, the very thought that should we be forced to then categorize and evaluate the appropriateness of our responses, when we are least able to exert control, from our conscious minds, over our behaviour. Well, I'm incensed. I propose a new motto,err, jingle, err song for the movement: Free to Giggle is Free to be, Free to Squee for you and me Oh what a wonderful world it would be to overthrow this laughocracy. Freedom to Squee, for you and me. Oh what a wonderful world it would be. Warren Well, I’m deeply concerned that anyone could possibly be worried about their various oral and nasal expressions of bemusement. I can’t exactly say why. I’m formulatin’ a theory. One minute Ok.

I find all this categorization of the various manic states in which we momentarily lose control of our breathing, when we are wracked in the spasms of involuntary reptilian muscular responses, the very thought that should we be forced to then categorize and evaluate the appropriateness of our responses, when we are least able to exert control, from our conscious minds, over our behaviour. Well, I’m incensed.

I propose a new motto,err, jingle, err song for the movement:

Free to Giggle
is Free to be,
Free to Squee
for you and me
Oh what a wonderful
world it would be
to overthrow this
laughocracy.
Freedom to Squee,
for you and me.
Oh what a wonderful
world it would be.

Warren

]]> By: Sally http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-87975 Sally Tue, 11 Sep 2007 23:38:32 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-87975 My husband giggles--no joke. He giggles like the effin' Pillsbury dough-boy, especially when he's tickled. And at 6'5" it's a little off-putting to most folk. Don't get me wrong, he also chortles, snickers and guffaws, but his go-to laugh is the giggle. My husband giggles–no joke. He giggles like the effin’ Pillsbury dough-boy, especially when he’s tickled. And at 6′5″ it’s a little off-putting to most folk. Don’t get me wrong, he also chortles, snickers and guffaws, but his go-to laugh is the giggle.

]]> By: Hedgepig http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-87806 Hedgepig Sun, 09 Sep 2007 23:33:43 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-87806 One of my favourite Toto lines is "I led some raids down in Africa". It does seem a bit random compared with the rest of the song's sentiments, but hey, it was the 80s. Now, do you want to know how good this blog is? I was sitting here reading it for the first time and the hugest, weirdest looking fucker with eight legs (at least) sauntered across my desk. Using my non-Buddhist reflexes I grabbed the nearest barely soiled tissue from among the detritus and slammed it down on the scuttling critter. I missed. It disappeared into the dusty labyrinth of crap on my desk. Did I run squealing from the room? (and is a girlie squeal as natural or un- as a giggle?) No way. I am still here reading reading reading these joyous twisty words. I'm kinda shitscared too but I'm still here. One of my favourite Toto lines is “I led some raids down in Africa”. It does seem a bit random compared with the rest of the song’s sentiments, but hey, it was the 80s.

Now, do you want to know how good this blog is? I was sitting here reading it for the first time and the hugest, weirdest looking fucker with eight legs (at least) sauntered across my desk. Using my non-Buddhist reflexes I grabbed the nearest barely soiled tissue from among the detritus and slammed it down on the scuttling critter. I missed. It disappeared into the dusty labyrinth of crap on my desk. Did I run squealing from the room? (and is a girlie squeal as natural or un- as a giggle?) No way. I am still here reading reading reading these joyous twisty words. I’m kinda shitscared too but I’m still here.

]]> By: Marcy http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-87766 Marcy Sun, 09 Sep 2007 06:58:14 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/09/03/ask-a-spinster-aunt-giggling-feminism-and-you/#comment-87766 <i>Most of the men I know seem to think that a woman who finds them funny is sexually attracted to them, and that a woman who doesn’t laugh at their jokes is not sexually attracted to them.</i> I'm inclined to think that what also happens is that if a woman doesn't laugh at a man's jokes, HE doesn't find HER attractive. Apparently, it indicates that she doesn't "get" him. Most of the men I know seem to think that a woman who finds them funny is sexually attracted to them, and that a woman who doesn’t laugh at their jokes is not sexually attracted to them.

I’m inclined to think that what also happens is that if a woman doesn’t laugh at a man’s jokes, HE doesn’t find HER attractive. Apparently, it indicates that she doesn’t “get” him.

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