Small Acts

[CovenantJr]

I'm not cynical enough to argue against 'you're beautiful'. But everyone is beautiful? You haven't worked in a benefits office or social services, have you?

Yes, I will continue to contradict all positivity I find until the entire Watch is weary and bitter, or until Danlo bans me (because, let's face it, Jay and Av will never ban anyone).

[Menolly]

until Danlo bans me (because, let's face it, Jay and Av will never ban anyone).

Oh, how true.

[balon!]

Smiles are one of the most influential small acts of kindness I receive. Working at a movie theater has shown me depths of boredom and mind-numbing anxiety, I used to reserve only for the American school system.

so it makes the day infinitely better when you get a moviegoer who smiles at you, and you can tell it's not fake.

so, thanks. You make my job suck that much less. and it helps.

[Cameraman Jenn]

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26956958/?gt1=43001

This guy dove off a pier to save his rat terrier from a shark. How cool is that?

[magickmaker17]

FMLA(Feminist Majority Leaders of America) went around campus last night and wrote things like 'you are beautiful,' 'you look good today,' etc. on practically every mirror.

[CovenantJr]

Maybe it's an American versus British thing, or maybe it's just me, but that would make me think "What the hell?! What kind of pompous berk would flutter around the campus, scrawling simpering messages for total strangers?" I know I make a show of being cynical and aloof, but seeing something like that would genuinely piss me off. One (Balon) is a baffling occurence that can be shrugged off, but repetition becomes infuriating.

[Menolly]

I like the spontaneity of what balon! does with his "you are beautiful" circles, compared to such a message being written repeatedly in one night. But, since it was done by a feminist group, I am going with the assumption that it was only done on mirrors in the ladies restrooms. Even if repetitive, being told such is something college-aged American women need to hear. Self-esteem is a fragile commodity at that age, and I am also assuming the more cynical male students heard about it in the school paper, but didn't see it themselves (and that's if magick's and batty's school is coed). So, while I agree with you that seeing it repeatedly on a continuous basis would be infuriating, I think a one off instance of it, even if done throughout campus, perhaps done on a semester or annual basis, should be applauded.

[AjK]

Maybe it's an American versus British thing, or maybe it's just me, but that would make me think "What the hell?! ... repetition becomes infuriating.

I have feelings on both sides of this one (and no I don't mean on both sides of the pond. ) Obviously I have to infer some things here not having witnessed the exact details, but ... I have a tendency to view orchestrated, large-scale, premeditated activities like this in a different light than Balon's "you are beautiful" circles. Neither one necessarily better or worse than the other but certainly each of a different nature. A large(r) group of people trying to effect social change through public display can carry some aspects or motivations that make me less sympathetic. This can be the case even when idealistically I am 100% in agreement with their stance on the subject (as I am with this one.) For example, so many people take up larger causes for almost purely self-oriented or even completely selfish reasons. They also have been known to do damage to people or property in the name of a "just" cause. So in situations like this I am more inclined to favor Balon's approach. Not necessarily just because it doesn't do damage or get its message delivered to hundreds of passers-by, rather it just strikes me as more sincere when applied on a more private person-to-person level. I can't quantify that or completely rationalize it thoroughly, but it is certainly the way it strikes me.

Self-esteem is a fragile commodity at that age

... and often at any age. This is exactly why I said above that I was 100% in agreement with the message. Speaking only for myself, growing up male (still male actually ... er, hopefully) I was somewhat ignorant of what females of any age go through. Having a wife, 2 step-daughters and a daughter has opened my eyes quite a bit. If the messages on the mirrors or wherever helped people, then I would vote for putting one on every mirror in town, whether FMLA sponsored or simply Balon sponsored.

[balon!]

Neither one necessarily better or worse than the other but certainly each of a different nature.

rather it just strikes me as more sincere when applied on a more private person-to-person level

It took me a while to decide exactly how to spread these things around, but I came to the same conclusion as you said. I do not like it when large groups of people make an active effort to sway opinions of other large groups of people, even when they feel it's for a positive cause. IMO, the vast majority of emotions are internally controlled. It's no place of mine to try to convince anyone that the way they feel about themselves is "wrong."

However, I also know that my own self-image was very destructive to me for a long, long time. Hindsight is 20/20, but I imagine that if even one person had said something like "you're beautiful" to me, it would have made all the difference. Leaving an anonymous note like the circles leaves it to whoever finds it to decide how to react. I'd like the think that if whoever found it didn't care, or didn't need, that they would leave it, or place it somewhere else.

Who knows, Cov! One might make it's way over to you, and you'll have a revelation!

[aliantha]

For the record, Magick and Batty go to a women's college -- about 800 undergraduate women. (The grad program is coed, but I don't know the gender split, and it's only a few hundred students together in any case.)

So yeah -- not too many men's bathrooms on campus. And the dorms are all female.

[Cagliostro]

Wow...that sounds great. If you are a guy and have a small smattering of looks, you could be very popular. But even better than that, if you can find one, having bathrooms all to oneself would be great.

[Avatar]

I know I make a show of being cynical and aloof...

It's only a show? Are all my illusions to be shattered?



--A

[High Lord Tolkien]

Maybe it's an American versus British thing, or maybe it's just me, but that would make me think "What the hell?! What kind of pompous berk would flutter around the campus, scrawling simpering messages for total strangers?" I know I make a show of being cynical and aloof, but seeing something like that would genuinely piss me off. One (Balon) is a baffling occurence that can be shrugged off, but repetition becomes infuriating.

It's just you.
You're just an a$$hole.
But you know what?
You are beautiful as well.

[magickmaker17]

Wow...that sounds great. If you are a guy and have a small smattering of looks, you could be very popular.

You might be surprised. Males often feel very uncomfortable here, because we're very protective of our own. If you're a male walking around the campus by yourself, or even with a girlfriend, be prepared to get stared at. You'd have more luck if you came to one of the functions on campus, but the reception still isn't terrific. Its actually rather amusing to watch.

[Wyldewode]

I know I make a show of being cynical and aloof...

It's only a show? Are all my illusions to be shattered?



--A

Yep.

[Lord Mhoram]

Maybe it's an American versus British thing, or maybe it's just me, but that would make me think "What the hell?! What kind of pompous berk would flutter around the campus, scrawling simpering messages for total strangers?" I know I make a show of being cynical and aloof, but seeing something like that would genuinely piss me off. One (Balon) is a baffling occurence that can be shrugged off, but repetition becomes infuriating.

It's just you.
You're just an a$$hole.
But you know what?
You are beautiful as well.

I laughed really hard at this.

[High Lord Tolkien]

Maybe it's an American versus British thing, or maybe it's just me, but that would make me think "What the hell?! What kind of pompous berk would flutter around the campus, scrawling simpering messages for total strangers?" I know I make a show of being cynical and aloof, but seeing something like that would genuinely piss me off. One (Balon) is a baffling occurence that can be shrugged off, but repetition becomes infuriating.

It's just you.
You're just an a$$hole.
But you know what?
You are beautiful as well.

I laughed really hard at this.

[madsage]

Well, I thought last night's Vikings game was REALLY fun, though it didn't get the ratings it deserved.

[Wyldewode]

I don't follow?

[Auleliel]

Maybe it's a small act of non sequitur?