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FanGirls are scary

August 23, 2010 By

A few months ago I began a site which, because of its nature, attracts far too many “fangirls”.  After falling victim to the sharp, albeit  ineloquent, tongue of a Twiward or Alex O´Loughlin fan a few times I have come to one conclusion.

Fangirls are scary.

Seriously, its not the paparazzi who force these male actors and musicians into hiding, its the fangirls! There is a reason the obsessive teenies were referred to as “Nazgirls” during Lord of the Rings epic run. There is a reason Twihards are considered to be far more deadly than the sparkly vampires they obsess over.

They are the extreme of the fanatic brigade. If you dare to make a less than complimentary statement about their sweethearts buck teeth, broken nose, or crossed eyes then prepare to reap the whirlwind! Since starting my little site (a tongue in cheek rating site) I have received no end of abuse. I´ve been accused of  favouritism (only acceptable if your favourite is the same as theirs!), editing the results so my own favourite would win (oh, honey, life is really too short) and to date have received four threats of violence and vengence (meladrama and obsession taken to the extreme)

A death threat?  I´ve reached the big time!

I feel for the object of their adoration I really do. Some of these girls are one rebuttal short of fully fledged stalker.

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I am Pro Choice

May 6, 2010 By

This topic arose because I was recently questioned on facebook by a pro-life activist. At the time I was defending a young woman who chose to have an abortion because, during a previous pregnancy, she almost died.

I am pro choice because I believe that each person is the owner of their own body. I believe that the woman should always take priority over the fetus, most especially when it is a life and death situation.

I am pro choice because I firmly believe that no one has the right to force a woman to carry a fetus to term. Yes, maybe she should have been more careful. But accidents happen, rape happens, forced pregnancies happen…

Yesterday I was asked how I would have felt if my mother had aborted me.

How would I have felt? Thats fairly obvious. I would have felt nothing because I would not exist.

I am not, contrary to popular belief, pro choice because I am pro abortion. A fine line blurred, but there is a marginal difference. I am pro-choice because, for me, it is the right thing to be. To force a woman to carry to term is to dictate what she can and cannot do with her own body and that is a dangerous precedent to set.

I do believe that women should be counselled before they make the choice. That they should, at the very least, be aware of all options available to them. But still, if her choice is to terminate her pregnancy, then she should have the right to do so legally and safely.

Private content to follow

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Religious Fervor at Easter

April 2, 2010 By

Try as I might the only statement I can ever give in response to many religious festivals here is simply “I don´t get it”. Never more so than at Easter, when Spain seems to take a step up and really push the whole thing to its limits.

I try and be respectful of the beliefs of others but really I watch these processions with an amazement almost bordering on horror. The constant re-enactments of Jesus upon the cross, the men walking up the streets beating themselves with sticks and whips smeared in red paint as fake blood… Then there are the onlookers, the men and women brought to their knees, sobbing, literally sobbing as the statues of Mary or Jesus pass them by. They line the streets, every single year, just to touch the statue, to cry and lament, and scream various tributes “guapa” as she (Mary) passes them by.

I read an article a few days ago entitled “Faith and Fanaticism: Religious Fervor in Early Modern Spain”. Early Modern? You don´t need to look back at Spain´s history to see religious fervor, just walk into any main street during a major religious holiday today!

I wonder, atheism aside, if it is perhaps that I originate from a more reserved culture. Even the deeply religious in the UK do not exercise this level fervor. There is no wailing, lamenting, sobbing or screaming at any of our festivals – behaviour which, even loving Spain like I do, really does make me feel more apart than ever.

Try as I might I simply do not get it.

I do not understand why a statue of Mary will reduce the young Spanish women of today to tears or why grown men will either dress in robes or fake punishment as a sign of their penance.

This Spain, however much I try, I will never comprehend. A part of time really looks forward to the finish of yet another religious holiday. Maybe I can retire to bed for a few days.

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