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Post by Bean on Jun 25, 2017 8:04:11 GMT
He's pimping his ride, for sure! It's great he's so enthusiastic, it must be really nice for you to have him not just tagging along, but being so keen.
We have our tabloid press, and they're awful for panicking people, and encouraging bigoted and hateful behaviour and opinions. They jump to the conclusions that give the punchiest headlines, it's not about reporting what's happened. Even when one of them does vouchers for a supermarket we shop in, I won't buy it - I'd rather pay £5 more for my shopping than give them my custom. And sometimes one of them has a day where they make a free paper, bu I won't even take it to line my guinea pigs' cage with - I just refuse to act in any way that encourages these scumbags to carry on doing what they're doing.
I don't know if you've seen our news following the Grenfell tower block fire the other week (which was started by a faulty fridge freezer)? It turns out many high rise buildings have the same sort of flammable cladding. Some councils have decided to evacuate all the residents from affected blocks until its removed. Some residents have been able to stay with family and friends and the council have secured a lot of hotel rooms but not enough for everyone, so some people have had to stay in emergency accommodation, which is basically an airbed on a leisure centre floor.
There are some residents who have refused to move, saying they've been living there with that cladding for 10 years, so are happy to remain for the weeks until the work is done. They think it should be up to them. Other people think as it's a safety issue, they shouldn't be permitted to put themselves at risk, especially as they're also potentially putting the lives of people in the emergency services at risk if there does happen to be an incident and they need help (the fire service said even if they stationed fire engines outside so they could respond immediately, they still couldn't guarantee being able to contain a fire).
I can kind of see both sides, but if I was someone who wanted to stay, I would be persuaded to move if someone told me I was putting others at risk. It's going to take months to sort all the buildings out, so this is probably a situation we will hear a lot about. I really am puzzled as to how this material ended up being used on so many buildings when it doesn't meet safety standards. There are so many building and fire regulations these days, being cheap just doesn't cut it.
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Post by bazookagoof on Jun 25, 2017 14:24:39 GMT
Ha! Very true. And it's amazing what strength you can discover in a fight or flight situation. I was with a friend when she was attacked by some bloke - it was daylight, but he was definitely under the influence of something. He was a really stocky guy so weight-wise we couldn't easily shift him. I don't even really remember it, but I jumped on his back and threw a series of punches onto his head until he staggered away a bit dazed and we ran off (and spent the next hour or so driving round in a police car looking for him). My hand hurt so much the next day. It's the only time I've ever punched someone properly in my life. I think even when having play fights with my brother, when I'd think I was punching as hard as I could (it never bothered him, so I really tried!), I definitely wasn't. Bean, I'm glad you didn't break any of your fingers punching that creep in the head. If this were a self-defense forum, I guarantee you'd probably get a lot of what we call "Monday-morning quarterbacking" from guys telling you how you should have handled it. Instead, I'm going to say that since you saved your friend and got out without serious injury, that's what really counts here.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jun 25, 2017 14:30:20 GMT
Oh well done Bean love I am just sorry that you hurt your hand. Sometimes if you are threatened, you have to go into total attack mode and not stop until your adversary is immobilised. Yes Baz sweetie, you are so right there.
That tower block incident was dreadful Bean love and now they are going around and looking for the same cladding in other buildings and taking necessary steps. Plymouth has one or two and it was on the local news.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by Bean on Jun 26, 2017 8:07:36 GMT
I'd probably have thought I'd do something entirely different in that situation, but at the time, it was just an instinctive decision about what'd get him off my friend the quickest.
I did slightly better than the other friend that was with us - she was hopping around trying to take off her shoe after remembering some magazine article which had said it could be a good weapon. Only I think they meant stiletto type shoes and she was wearing little plimsolls...!
The other part to this story was that we went straight into the nearest building (a cinema) to get help. The police came, took statements and told us they'd call our parents to let them know what had happened before dropping us home, but in the meantime could we drive round with them to see if we could spot him. So we got into the back of a police van to go off with them.
Helpfully, a friend of ours was passing and saw us getting in, and he ran straight round to my house (I lived the closest) to inform my family he'd just seen me in the back of a police van! Luckily they didn't have to wait too long for the call to say why, and tell them I was fine. It was a long night! We didn't find the man unfortunately, but the police van did end up stopping to help out some other officers with a minor drugs bust. We were safely locked up in the back, but it was certainly one of those evenings you're glad to see the end of!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jun 26, 2017 8:13:56 GMT
I always used to wear stilettoes Bean love and I was always aware of them as a potential weapon. I was being touched up one day by a man on the tube and I accidentally on purpose stepped back onto his toe. He may think twice before doing it again. I am so glad you made yourself safe love by running into the cinema, that is exactly what I would have done. Shame they didn't catch the bugger though, they will eventually if they haven't already.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 26, 2017 21:16:32 GMT
Tubes are the worst, Jo! People crammed in like sardines. Easy for an opportunist I think my parents would have been more concerned with not being my first call, than with me being in the back of a police car. Too bad you didn't find the guy. He probably did it to other women, too Shoes aren't the best weapons, unless the potential victim is carrying the shoe. If a woman has to bend down and take off her shoe to use it, she'll definitely be a victim. Being aware of our surroundings is a major plus for women, and just having something in our hands that we can use to stop a man from having a chance to hurt us, is sufficient. We don't have to kill or maim anyone, though getting away from an attacker won't stop him from attacking someone else. I don't buy those newspapers, either. They are fake news, and nothing but. The headlines are what most people read, and the headlines tell the reader what to think. Most people watch TV news, or get it off the Internet. I think the impact of the news report depends on the wording, as well as pictures and quotes from authorities. Still, that doesn't explain the number of incidents reported, and we only get the incidents that happened in our area. now.org/resource/violence-against-women-in-the-united-states-statistic/These are only the reported incidents. Many women won't report abuse or rape, because they have no other options. Many won't report because their families don't give them any moral support, it's their fault for acting like sluts. Many won't report because they can't emotionally handle the questions, trial, etc. Women are still treated as sluts for having sex, so if they have had a sex life, that's used against them as if they have no right to say no, if they've ever said yes. It's really hard on the victims.
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Post by Bean on Jun 27, 2017 7:26:58 GMT
If you are the victim of a sexual crime, it's most likely to be someone you know. That coupled with the victim blaming culture 'she shouldn't have been walking down that road' 'did you see what she was wearing?', I can appreciate why lots of people don't come forward.
As much as we might change our behaviours to try to make ourselves safer, if someone does get attacked, it can only ever be the fault of the person who commits the crime. But that does seem to get forgotten by a lot of people.
Jo, I'm sorry you had that experience on the tube. The train I used to get to work was really crowded and I'd always try to find a corner to stand so I had fewer people around me. Not because I was worried about that - I just hated not having personal space and having everyone crammed up against me with their morning breath!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jun 27, 2017 8:26:02 GMT
I would have just slipped the shoe off Piggles hunni, I wouldn't have t have bent down but I see what you mean. I think it is awful the way women are not supported when they have been attacked, no wonder so many refuse to report it. That is true Bean love, most sex crimes are by people we are related to or know. It is alright love, I think he came off worse but it would have been really awful for someone more nervous than I. I also had a guy who used to swing his crotch towards me when I was sitting on the train and he saw standing, until I elbowed him and was of course, very sorry as my arm slipped!!!
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 27, 2017 19:49:48 GMT
Lol, armed slipped Trains and packed busses are give assaulters a captive audience. There have been a couple of cases where the men on the train tackled the assaulter, and held him for police at the next stop. At least some men are changing their ways, though it would be great if all men would, and women, would help anyone who is being assaulted. Bean, it's called slut shaming in the US. Bra straps showing, clothes a bit tight or revealing, and the worst part is that schools have dress codes making girls dress so they don't distract the boys. What about boys learning to control themselves, so everyone can get an education? There is definitely a double standard in the US. If a woman is assertive, she's a bitch. If a man is assertive, he's a good leader. If a woman gets annoyed or upset, it must be her time of the month. If a man gets annoyed or upset, he must have a good reason. It's insidious, so very hard to prove, although some people have changed places, and found how much difference it made for a client or customer to think he was talking to a man, than when he thought he was talking to a woman. I saw a news segment on boys at a school in the UK wearing skirts because it was so hot, and the school wouldn't let them wear shorts. I had hoped the boys were pointing out how skirts put girls at a disadvantage, but their reason for wearing the skirts was definitely more fun We just finished a spot of wild weather, with 1/2" hail and torrential rains that almost drowned out the thunder. I got some pictures, and sent them to hubby.
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Post by Bean on Jun 28, 2017 7:58:03 GMT
Glad you weren't scared to send a message to those creeps Jo - you can only hope you also put them off trying it with someone else who would be more intimidated.
Haha that school uniform thing was funny - I loved the footage of the boys all clomping along in their skirts with the girls killing themselves laughing alongside them! A nice light news story to counter all the heavy ones. The school have said they'll allow shorts in the next academic year, so they made their point!
I always found that working in offices, it was far easier for a woman to dress for the weather while still looking smart, while men were stuck sweating in their trousers with a shirt and tie. So it's not all bad for us!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jun 28, 2017 8:37:54 GMT
I love to hear about things like that Piggles love, I thnk we have to start banding together to stop these perverts. I saw that on the news too, boys making a point by wearing skirts. They all looked really pleased with themselves so I hope it did the trick lol! I think that is true Bean sweetie, we are lucky in that we can wear cotton dresses in summer and still look ok but white collar workers have to wear a tie and in a hot office. Mind you I find my bra a bind in the hot weather so it must be a similar feeling.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jun 29, 2017 21:02:47 GMT
Something Bean probably never had, Jo, the all cotton, white bras of our childhood. Those things didn't really breathe, and certainly weren't absorbent. We had pads we could buy to put in them to absorb perspiration, just like pads to put in the underarms of our tops or dresses to stop them from getting wet. I think the manufacturers of small safety pins made out like bandits from all of those "shields." Now, we can get bras for all sorts of activities. We also couldn't wear pants to school or work in the 50s and 60s. It was changing over in the 60s, and had changed by the 70s, but while we were finally getting to wear pants when it was cold, men were still required to wear suits and ties. Some places still require that, but everything is air conditioned now, so they're not dying in work. At the company where I met hubby, Digital Equipment Corporation, men were allowed to wear shorts, and often did. I think that was quite unusual for the 70s, but not as unusual, now, especially in computer companies. I loved the boys skirt protest, and I'm glad they did the protest. Civil disobedience is the crux of western culture, and I thought they did a great job. Lite and funny, as you said, but still making their point
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Post by Bean on Jun 30, 2017 8:32:24 GMT
Exactly. I know some things are emotive, but whenever there's a protest that turns aggressive or chaotic, it kills the message they're trying to make. Those boys rocked it (and they couldn't have done it without the girls lending them their skirts!).
Those old bras don't sound fun - I've never thought of bras as being hot and sweaty, but perhaps part of that is that mine are probably less material-rich than those made for ladies with a more ample bosom (I do love that word, my grandma on my mum's side always used it)!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jun 30, 2017 9:04:05 GMT
Very true Piggles love I remember them well. I also remember antiperspirants not working as well as they do today also. I also remember when girls couldn't wear trousers to work; Marks and Spencers being one of the main culprits if I remember correctly. That is the trouble with here Piggles hunni, most places do not consider it necessary to put air conditioning in because we have a limited amount of really hot days but when there is a heatwave everyone really suffers and it is dreadful.
They weren't fun Bean sweetie but I don't find bras comfortable nowadays, probably because I have such a large bust and one which has totally gone south lol!
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jul 3, 2017 17:51:07 GMT
Bras were just coming into their own in the 60s, when matching sets of bra/panties came into fashion. The new, lite weight materials had some problems, such as the manmade fabrics causing lady problems until cotton crotches were added to the panties. At least they weren't all white, totally non-stretch in any direction, and extremely confining. Jo, I know what you mean about size and all, and hope you have something comfy to wear. My biggest problem with bras is my arthritic hands trying to hook them in the back. After a broke my wrists, it was close to 6 months before I could manage a back hook, so I had front hook ones, instead. Those were okay, but as my arthritis gets worse, just having to do anything that finicky with my hands/fingers can be a problem some days. Hubby was kind enough to suggest over the head bras, but I think he almost wet himself laughing over the mental image of me stuck in it, half on half off, lol Won't be doing that any time soon, lol The dresses I bought are working great for the heat and humidity. They are so lite weight, and because they move and aren't restrictive, I don't notice the swelling as much.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jul 4, 2017 8:03:22 GMT
Haha Piggles love, Paul is always laughing at me too so you are not alone lol! I really wish I could find a good bra which supports me fully.
Hugs Jo xx
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