analog

How can you damn society for something that is purely psychological to you? Your face and name aren't paraded for everyone to marvel at "the not big, but not small woman". There is nothing personal in it. What you see in ads, in fashion shows or wherever you're seeing these "negative" impressions of the female form are being taken into your mind for consideration. If you were truly self-confident, you would see these as the preference of others, and be happy with how you look if you truly feel confident in your beauty. If you're unhappy with your looks it's because you've allowed our damnable "society" to seep into your brain and change the way you look at yourself.

I think it's totally fair for me to say that if you ALLOW others to change your mind for you, it's YOUR fault. Some might say it's a form of "programming" because you're exposed to it so much, but a strong will and confidence go a long way. That's how hate groups and cults get their followers- they prey on the weak-minded, the impressionable, and those who have no self-confidence, because their personal views are easily changed, no matter how horrible the NEW views might be. They feel like it gives them a sense of belonging, that they will be "accepted as they are", which makes them feel special. And then their leader (Calvin Klein, Cosmo, or favorite KKK wizard/cult Father) tell them that if you don't dress this way, or look this way, or think this way, you don't fit in anymore.

Why would someone with low self-confidence and self-esteem see what they perceive as a chance to be "popular" (hate certain people, recruit others for the cult, wear these certain low-rise jeans and be all thin and anorexic-looking) and pass it up? Sure, it may tug on their sensibility for a second, but then hey, why not do it if you can be popular? Anyone here ever do something even slightly immoral/illegal/unusual on a dare because your friends would think you're cool?

And i'm not saying that self-confidence means letting yourself get fat and being happy with it. In fact, most of the time a good self-image makes people WANT to keep up a healthy body/lifestyle because you're proud of what you have and want to keep it in top form. If someone has a car and is proud of it, they're much more likely to keep it waxed and clean and nice-looking than if they don't care about it, right?

Sorry again for this being so long but my late-night ruminations sometimes go on. Peace 'n love, TFP'ers.