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scarlet13 scarlet13 is offline
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scarlet13 and i found out where my edge is and it bleeds into where you resist

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DreamingOfAtlantis wrote :
I was just looking up the origin of the phrase and found by Googling for "like a fish needs a bicycle." It turns out the phrase was taken from a philosopher who said, "Man needs God like a fish needs a bicycle." In that context, I think it carries the energy of, "We don't need this at all," unless the philosopher was making some other point other than atheism.

Maybe like a monkey needs a bicycle. Monkeys can use them. But the message I always felt was intended by the original phrase was that even if a woman wanted one, she didn't need and couldn't really make use of one. Maybe that's not how it's meant, but if the intent was to say, "We don't have to have one but can if we want," then the richness of the English language would have allowed millions of other ways to say it.

My issue is not about dependency, it's about semantics. It's a poor way to put it and does carry a negative implication of no need or ability to use. How would women feel if men said, "A man needs a woman like a fish needs a bicycle?" When someone comes up with a phrase that doesn't have a "lack of use" connotation and applies to both sexes, I'll go with that.
I understand what you are saying, but i think you have to also take into account the climate of the times when the phrase originated- when women were denied reproductive rights, a man couldn't be procecuted for r.aping his wife, etc, etc. i also think that sometimes it's hard for men to understand why women get angry enough to say things like this, because (white) men have always had property rights, voting rights, reproductive freedom, and they have never felt like a piece of meat walking by a constuction site or been harrassed sexually at work with no recourse.

personally, if the reverse was said, it doesn't bother me one bit. I also don't think that the phrase is offensive now- a woman doesn't need a man to be successful, raise a child, and live happily, if she so chooses.
- October 12th, 2009, 12:45 pm
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nightling nightling is offline
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scarlet13 wrote :
I understand what you are saying, but i think you have to also take into account the climate of the times when the phrase originated- when women were denied reproductive rights, a man couldn't be procecuted for r.aping his wife, etc, etc. i also think that sometimes it's hard for men to understand why women get angry enough to say things like this, because (white) men have always had property rights, voting rights, reproductive freedom, and they have never felt like a piece of meat walking by a constuction site or been harrassed sexually at work with no recourse.

personally, if the reverse was said, it doesn't bother me one bit. I also don't think that the phrase is offensive now- a woman doesn't need a man to be successful, raise a child, and live happily, if she so chooses.
Scarlett there are still states where a man cannot be convicted of raping his wife. In fact, not long ago, I was in the bathroom and could overhear the conversation of two men outside in the hall who thought there was no one around. They were discussing how it would be better for one of them to just go ahead and marry the girl he was with for this very reason. I wish I had known who his girlfriend was. I am sure he is quite charming and perfect right now and she has no idea what she's getting herself into with him.
- October 12th, 2009, 12:48 pm
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clearlyoblique clearlyoblique is offline
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I mean really, if today, I went cycling without a bra while roaring ... is anyone going to see it as a protest? As a demonstration of my freedom to choose? I tend to think they will roll their eyes and continue driving.

But ... only if I give them the right of way ...
- October 12th, 2009, 12:58 pm
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lacedwithhope lacedwithhope is offline
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clearlyoblique wrote :
But you wouldn't steal one from me?

Would you?
CO, I would borrow your purple pen, but I would give it back. I like purple, too. I'm neither an accountant nor an engineer. In my field, it's the engineers that are ... uh problematic.
- October 12th, 2009, 01:28 pm
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scarlet13 scarlet13 is offline
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scarlet13 and i found out where my edge is and it bleeds into where you resist

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nightling wrote :
Scarlett there are still states where a man cannot be convicted of raping his wife. In fact, not long ago, I was in the bathroom and could overhear the conversation of two men outside in the hall who thought there was no one around. They were discussing how it would be better for one of them to just go ahead and marry the girl he was with for this very reason. I wish I had known who his girlfriend was. I am sure he is quite charming and perfect right now and she has no idea what she's getting herself into with him.
i probably would have walked out and told him to his face he was a #$%^& disgusting piece of &%%$# that should die in a fire.

but i'm like that. *shrug
- October 12th, 2009, 01:33 pm
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scarlet13 wrote :
i probably would have walked out and told him to his face he was a #$%^& disgusting piece of &%%$# that should die in a fire.

but i'm like that. *shrug
All by myself in a deserted hallway confront two men larger than me discussing something like that? I don't think so ... I would report them to the authorities, but for what? They would have denied it I am sure. I wish I knew who the girlfriend was though. That has bothered me.
- October 12th, 2009, 01:38 pm
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i probably still would have, but i'm either crazy, stupid, or ba11sy. or mabye all three.

I also confront people who think the salad bar at the grocery store is their own personal buffet.
- October 12th, 2009, 02:16 pm
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scarlet13 wrote :
i probably still would have, but i'm either crazy, stupid, or ba11sy. or mabye all three.

I also confront people who think the salad bar at the grocery store is their own personal buffet.
I've written about too many people who disappeared to take a risk like that.
- October 12th, 2009, 02:42 pm
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lacedwithhope lacedwithhope is offline
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clearlyoblique wrote :
... today, I went cycling without a bra while roaring ...
I hope you didn't wear a tank top! LOL
- October 12th, 2009, 03:29 pm
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clearlyoblique wrote :
If it helps you to revise it to say "A woman needs a man like a frog needs a bicycle." Sometimes, metaphors are imperfect. You know, like people.

A Frog needs bicycle like a Lady needs a diamond ring.

A bicycle reminds the Frog of something important, like the inevitability of evolution.

And, 23 pages? ... either you lot have too much baggage, or too much caffeine!
- October 12th, 2009, 04:18 pm
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