(no subject)

[scottishlass]

This is the first time in a long while that I actually bothered to write a letter to the editor.
Because auf this article.

Here is what I wrote in response:
Dear Sirs,

I'm writing concerning the fashion article: "Wookiee at Me! Clothes Make the Myth" by Washington Post staff writer Robin Givhan that was published on Friday 20th May in your on-line edition.

First of, I always have admired that your paper tries to be impartial on so many political and also social issues, giving information in a concise and understandable way, but the aforementioned article reeks of prejudices and mean-spiritness.

Of course there are stereotypes in fandom but your staff writer would have done better if s/he would have refrained from tossing all Sci-Fi fans and HIstorical re-enactors into the same pot.
Perhaps it is true and *we* (as in SciFi/Fantasy/Re-enacting costumers) are setting us up for ridicule, but at least we are doing something with our pastime. We meet, we research, we sew and design. The majority of us hold down high-pressure jobs and this is our way to get away from all this.
Secondly, I really have to object to the way your writer is referring to over-weight ppl. These ppl already have a lot of problems, and they really don't need a newspaper of your caliber to start bashing on them, albeit in a fashion article. Being on the heavy side was once a fashion, it was admired and immortalized on canvas. Ms. Givhan should put as much effort into her 'research' as she put malice into her article.

All in all, I have the feeling that this article was just a very clumsy and badly done effort to continue the Star Wars hype. If you have to go with the flow, at least try to keep up the quality of your paper and try to avoid writers and their little scribblings as below par as Ms. Givhan's.

Yours sincerely,


I really had to restrain myself or I would have said some more *slanderous' things. I think this stupid cow has some major issues with fans in general and costumers in particular. Perhaps some Han Solo or Anakin Skywalker reenactor ditched her, or some kids in her youth didn't let her join their super secret Star Trek club because she couldn't manage the Vulcan greeting. Anyway, no wonder she *only* writes in Fashion .... she might want to pass up as a tough investigating journalist but she only comes off as a ridiculous, mean-spirited (and to use her own prejudice) anorexia ridden, frustrated heifer.

I'm a re-enactor and proud of it.
I'm a Star Wars fan and proud of it.
I'm on the chubby side and in past times artists would have immortalised me on canvas, AND I'M PROUD OF IT!

Comments

[lily-cat.livejournal.com]

Wow...I wonder who lit the fuse on that chick's tampon? That whole article was really uncalled for!

Good for you though, darlin! We costumed folk have to stick together!

i dressed up for Star Wars at midnight...had an AWESOME time! Wouldn't have traded it for anything!

I hope someone writes you back! :) Keep us posted!

~*Sara*~

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean ... one of the best times in fandom was when we all dressed up and wore our stuff. :)

What I can't understand is that she had so many cliches in her article that her editor hasn't thrown her out for it.

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

Nice! Did you email it to them?

I've got to send my letter in too.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Yeah Is ent it to letters@washpost.com and hopefully I'll get a response back ... though it will be either some automated message or no response at all :-(

[elfnut.livejournal.com]

I never actually wore a fandon costume, but i would if I could. People who look down at fans for their hobby make me gag. EVERYONE has a hobby or a mania, and as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, they have no right to judge others.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Yep ... her only hobby probably is how many herbs are in her low-fat farmers dip she uses for her carrots. :)

[ceruleanedge.livejournal.com]

ew.. that girl never got out of junior high.. her thought process, maturity level and writing skill are still stuck somewhere around there. she has major insecurity issues writing like that. bravo una for writing to them. that was an immutare AND poorly written article. you sounded much more articulate in your defense than that piece of **** warrants. hope you get a civil response.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Thank you Pri.
I tried to be as civil as possible, otherwise I would have called her a mal-nutritioned, frustrated, miserable, little heifer :)

[miriel361.livejournal.com]

I hate people who can only criticise. I hate people who feel strong when they dump on other people. I hate people who gang up against people who are different.

I admire people who have the courage to do their own thing and who bring a little bit of magic into this world. Go you Una!

And we know there are alot of men out there who prefer to hold a bit more in their hands than androgynous beanstalks.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Hehehe, yep true ... and sometimes guys you really don't think they would prefer gals like me.
I guess it is always about how you hold yourself inside your body. Due to restrictions of society chubby girls are taught early to feel ashamed of their bodies and hence they feel uncomfy and are not as open and self-confident as skinny or normal weighted gals. So zaftig girls don't get noticed. But take a Rubens girl who is confident ... she can get any guy she wants.

But returning to the little mean-spirited frustrated wannabe-bitch, I hope she will choke nibbling on her low-fat celery stalk, watching her facourite soap and sitting alone in her apartment surrounded by her cats, and having great conversations with her sophisticated fashionable designer suits which have so much more charisma according to her. All the while her neighbours, some high-powered geeks with a great sense of humour, overfed tabby cats and SciFi paraphernalia strewn all over their comfortably cluttered apartment are having a great time meeting up with equally geeky folks who have a good laugh. I know it's a cliche but she has used so many of them I am absolved to use this one ;-)

[spacellama.livejournal.com]

I'm a re-enactor and proud of it.
I'm a Star Wars fan and proud of it.
I'm on the chubby side and in past times artists would have immortalised me on canvas, AND I'M PROUD OF IT!

Right-on.

*applauds*

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Well I need to loose weight, there is no way around it, but while I never want to be as skinny as probably that staff writer, and having meaningfulless discussions with my new designer labelled suits, I would love to loose some weight I gained through all that chemical bull shit I had to take in the last few years.
But that is only so I can wear my favourite clothes again and move around a bit quicker than I do atm ... if it was up to His Hubbiness™ I could stay the way I'm now.