FreeThinker
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- Dec 30, 2005
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(You may take these hypothetical situations as they apply to a person of size, or in any other context.)
Say you're on the street, and you notice someone looking at you. They may be obvious about it, or they may be trying to do it discreetly.
It is possible to embrace the 'appreciative' stare of another as a compliment, or the disapproving glare of another as a challenge, but how does either generally make you feel?
When given the sneer, do you want to fight, cry, or become invisible, or do you have it in you to pity the person?
When given the leer, do you want to thank or chastise the person, or do you just want to get home and wash the slimy experience off yourself?
Also, to turn the tables a bit, does it matter if the person in either scenario is one you might otherwise find attractive? Is being either condemned OR mentally undressed by a neatly-groomed individual with expensive trappings worse than having the same directed at you by a dishevelled, dirty, knuckle-dragger?
Does the age of the person in question make a difference?
Their socioeconomic status?
Their being a member of the gender you find appealing?
Is it any less dehumanizing if the look is one of lust, rather than disgust?
Say you're on the street, and you notice someone looking at you. They may be obvious about it, or they may be trying to do it discreetly.
It is possible to embrace the 'appreciative' stare of another as a compliment, or the disapproving glare of another as a challenge, but how does either generally make you feel?
When given the sneer, do you want to fight, cry, or become invisible, or do you have it in you to pity the person?
When given the leer, do you want to thank or chastise the person, or do you just want to get home and wash the slimy experience off yourself?
Also, to turn the tables a bit, does it matter if the person in either scenario is one you might otherwise find attractive? Is being either condemned OR mentally undressed by a neatly-groomed individual with expensive trappings worse than having the same directed at you by a dishevelled, dirty, knuckle-dragger?
Does the age of the person in question make a difference?
Their socioeconomic status?
Their being a member of the gender you find appealing?
Is it any less dehumanizing if the look is one of lust, rather than disgust?
