An idea I want to put out there

So, I finally got around to watching the girls at Project Lifesize. I think they’re all doing a fabulous job and I really admire the strength and courage and openness it takes to do what they’re doing.

Also, I know I haven’t posted in awhile. I think I got rather discouraged. Which also contributes to this idea.

I did some searching on YouTube and I really found no other Fat Positive, Fat Acceptance type stuff. I would really like to see a channel that encompasses the “fat is not unhealthy” mentality, that is educational about HAES and Intuitive Eating, that has commentary on the various news reports and studies and different aspects of being fat. I would also like this space to have some diversity. I would like to include other social commentary, issues concerning racism and white privilege, issues concerning the Queer community, issues about gender roles and the beauty standard and feminism in general, and politics and issues of the world. I would like to encompass a broad variety of things. I would also like the vloggers to be from different socio-economic backgrounds and be people with different belief structures and different ways of life.

What does everyone think of something like this? Is it possible? Is the subject matter too vast? Would anyone be interested in vlogging? I admit I’ve never vlogged before, however I think it’s an area that really needs infiltration. The FA community is really prominent in blogs, which is an excellent thing! I would just like to see us branch out. And my interests extend outside of FA so I would want to bring them along as well.

As I see it working, we’d make a collaborative channel, like Project Lifesize and it’s sister channel(s). I was thinking maybe 5 or 6 days would have a set person that posts, and then on the 7th day we would take additional commentary from people who aren’t part of the collaboration or viewer contributions or extra posts from the people who are working there. If there was enough interest, we could even post more than once a day with videos from outside the core group. I’m not sure it would really get that far, though I don’t want to limit ourselves either.

I don’t know. It’s an idea I’m kind of excited about, I could definitely get behind it. I guess my little hater is just there telling me no one wants to be involved in this type of project, and no one would watch, and I’m just in way over my head here. Anyone have any thoughts?

Site Changes Update

Hey Folks,

I just wanted to point out a couple changes that’s taken place. First is the blog layout/theme. WordPress has thin pickings when it comes to three columns, and I felt this one was the best for what I wanted. I’m not sure how I feel about the blogroll and stuff being at the bottom, however it’s growing on me.

I’ve added an asexuality feed as well. The feed can be seen at AVEN, but I didn’t like the design and implementation, so I did my own. There aren’t a lot of blogs, however the work is quality. If anyone ever wants to join this feed, just let me know. If anyone wants off, it only takes a request and no questions are asked. I just like spreading the word.

There is a new link at the top called “Shared Posts”. This will lead to a webpage for my Google Reader shares. I share all kinds of things from FA to Celebrity blog posts with a little feminism and local community stuff thrown in. I decided to do it this way because I’ve notice the blogs I follow, especially ones that are a community in and of itself, have repeating posts. A hot topic within the community will be covered by at least five bloggers. I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to rehash the same information in the same way. This is not to look down on any other blogger. We all have our own style and ways we wish to communicate. Plus, there are others who say things way better than I ever could and I prefer to spotlight them instead of try. So please feel free to check out the link, add it to your RSS readers, or don’t. I’d love to hear feedback on it if you’ve got any.

I’m planning several posts and they are coming soon. I have been very busy, thus being overwhelmed couples with my depression/anxiety/culture shock has caused me to be kinda reclusive. I’m feeling more and more revitalized every day so I’m sure posts will be popping up shortly. I’ve got thoughts on SockDreams, Pregnancy and Marriage, a review of Good in Bed, Clothing and it’s ability to make one magically thin (or not), my own racial identity, and much much much more. I look forward to connecting with all of you soon.

How have you been as of late?

ETA: Oh, and I’ve removed HAES links from my blogroll until I can decide how I feel about them. The blogroll is perpetually under construction. So one day a link may be there, the next day it may not. On that note, I am thinking about starting a mutual linking category to help promote community. Basically I would have blogs that I put on my blogroll, and in return they do the same, and we make sure to put it in a visible place. Maybe I’ll make a page for it, with little descriptions and stuff. Of course, it would be blogs that I enjoy though not necessarily agree. Does anyone want to do this with me?

Creating Community

Lindsay over at Babble-on wrote a rather interesting (if lengthy) post concerning whether or not the fatosphere could be a community (and while I would normally link to this, Lindsay has decided to remove her blog. She will be sorely missed.) based purely on the definition of community. It has earned a couple of readings from me.

I am usually a lurker in the world. Not because I don’t have anything to say, but because I don’t really enjoy disagreeing with people. There are a lot of reasons for that, but it is another blog post altogether. So I generally don’t feel very “accepted”, as it were, into the fat acceptance/activist community. I also find that while I read a lot of the blogs, and they’re extremely well written, touching, and all that, I don’t really relate. As I’ve told Lindsay before, I am often the minority of the minority, something I like to refer to as 1%ers. While I understand that not everyone agrees with everyone else, usually though, people are able to find their group. I haven’t found mine yet. Anyhow, to my point.

I created this blog in order to create a sense of community in a way. I want it to be both accepting and political. I am an asexual, poly, married, fat woman who tries to live naturally and loves animals. However, you don’t have to be any or all of that in order to be here. I believe in the freedom of speech, the right of religion, and limiting the government. Yet, I welcome all opinions and thoughts. That doesn’t mean you can go on a tirade. I won’t allow people to be attacked or insulted, but conversation, debate, discussion, etc., are all welcome no matter what your stance is. Whether you’re fat or thin, dieting or not, a vegetarian or meat-lover, you’re welcome here. I post what I’m interested in, what intrigues me, thoughts I have, but that doesn’t mean I believe only my beliefs and thoughts and ideals are acceptable.

I want to provide an ear for people, a forum, a connection, because there is so little of that nowadays. So whether you’re just looking to have a shoulder to cry on, someone to connect with on a certain idea, advice on what to do with a lover or friend or parent, or just to read and explore, then please feel free. I’m open for any questions you may have, and I hope that my readers will be as well (though they have the option not to be, of course).

There was also a post by Big Liberty concerning being a Bad Fatty Revoluntary. I like this. I see a lot of posts on the Fat-o-sphere feed, and The Fat Liberation, about being healthy. Healthy this, healthy that, healthy, healthy, healthy. I don’t really prescribe to this mentality. Though I don’t knock it, it’s just not my cup of tea. I believe a person should be able to smoke, drink, drug all they want to. I believe we should be able to eat whatever we want, exercise or not, have sex or not, basically do whatever the hell we want without getting shit for it all the time. Yes, I do understand that we’re all interconnected. I don’t believe in hurting someone while we’re doing what we want, this isn’t about anarchy or complete chaotic freedom, it’s about autonomy and choice. I am likely a bad fatty. I don’t exercise, I like soda, I eat processed food. I’m not telling everyone else to do these things, just letting you know that I am one of “those” fatties. However, I still deserve to be treated with respect. My health is none of anyone else’s damn business. However, if you’re a health fatty, you’re more than welcome to be here.

There are a lot of issues I’m uncertain of. I don’t know if I agree with HAES. The concept sounds good to me, but I’ve been hearing a lot of negative things about the people who advocate this type of lifestyle. For instance, there was a post on Fat Lot of Good concerning Linda Bacon’s Health at Every Size Book. A commenter claimed to have attended a seminar by Linda and made a couple accusations (please read the comments to find out). Linda’s response was not very promising to me, and so I reiterated those questions only to have LInda respond that she would not “join the fray”. I admit I am confused by this. An advocate of the HAES movement refusing to discuss what she teaches. There was another review on the Fatosphere, which I can’t find now but if someone wanted to link to I would greatly appreciate it, which discusses the book “Eat Well”. Which is another pusher of vegetables, whole grains, and whole foods. I tend to find these things incredibly classist and completely against the concept of HAES and FA. I don’t understand why people in the movement are trying to define, yet again, what is acceptable fat and what isn’t. I’m trying to do more research, but I am leaning towards a No. However, if you’re a HAES practicer, you’re welcome here and I hope you’ll chime in when I get things wrong or am confused on issues.

I’ve gotten a little wordy, as I tend to do. Bottom line, everyone is welcome here and everyone’s opinions and thoughts and conclusions need to be respect. We may not agree, but we can still support one another.

My Absense and Return

I have been away my lovely Curvy people. I recently moved across country from Georgia to Portland, Oregon. It was a horrible and wonderful trip. I have also been without my computer while we get settled into the new place, adjust to the NW and city life, and get on a new schedule. I promise I will post soon. My trip and experiences here have sparked my brain. Future posts include being fat and riding Greyhound, synthetic hormones and the link to breast cancer, the double stable American society seems to have concerning pregnancy and marriage, Asexual introduction, and my experimentation with the Oil Cleansing Method. That’s just to name a few

So please bear with me at this time, and I hope you look forward to reading my posts as much as I look forward to writing them.