Posted by DR on July 03, 2005 at 21:24 [67.83.76.91]
In Reply to: Re: Agree with diapergirl80, jess and Soggy Susie posted by Noel on July 03, 2005 at 15:43
Hiya Kimmie,
You wrote:
"I hate when people think women need to come together to build anything."
I never said women must "come together" to empower themselves. Rather, I said they must build *their own* voices, websites, and organizations to reach that goal. A woman can build a one-person organization if she likes, but in doing so, she's made *her* voice heard. Sooner or later people will begin reading what I say and not what they *think* I said.
And you wrote:
"I don't feel comradery for a particular group. That's typically a male trait."
I couldn't disagree more. Comradery knows no gender. That *you* feel no attraction to a particular group reflects upon you and you alone.
But that's okay too. I never said that people *have* to be in groups to find success. Rather that empowerment comes from setting rules to live by for the self, for the group, or for the community. Those who do not choose to live by your rules need not participate. They are free to do their own thing.
And you wrote:
"The only reason I do anything around the community is strickly for my own sake."
Me too. Teaching others benefits me. Writing a long-winded post about male-female populations benefits me because I'm so sick and tired of hearing men whining about how there aren't any diaper women around. A greater awareness can be helpful to others, but I write to serve me.
Teaching doesn't contradict this philosophy. Women teaching women to own their voices serves the self first, then it serves women, then it serves the larger community.
Finally, L.E. hyperbolized my post -- responding that diaper women don't just need a "loud mouth." Frankly, loud mouths are the problem. We don't need more of those. Rather, we need confident voices, whose owners do not run away when pushed or harassed. Kimmie, you wrote:
"If you're enjoying having me around, then I'm enjoying being around. If you're not happy I'm around then I'm still happy to be present, otherwise I wouldnt be."
*That* is exactly what it means to own your voice and to be responsible for it. *That* is the lesson diaper women must learn, and they can do so simply by following your poignant example.