Self Defense For Women Magazine!!!

[HuangKaiVun]

Has anybody seen the new "Self Defense For Women" magazine (put out by Black Belt?)

There were a lot of great articles in there using real kung fu in real life. That's the kind of stuff I learned and use in traditional kung fu, and fighting experience has taught me that all of that stuff works when used by men against men as well.

The women (all 20ish) were beautiful and powerful, though there were surprisingly no older females featured in the mag. I'm thinking of having one of my non-20ish students featured in the magazine - perhaps even in a photo beating ME down.

Personally, I was a bit disappointed at Diana Lee Inosanto's "glamour" shot on page 61. I thought that she looked much more attractive and real in the cover photo clothes. I kept thinking "bordello madam" even though Inosanto probably didn't intend her readers to cultivate that image of her. That's not something I'd want any young relative or student of mine to model herself after.

I really enjoyed this magazine, and I think Kung Fu Magazine might be able to take this subject to an even higher level.

What does everybody here think about this magazine?

[Budokan]

I bought this magazine for my wife to peruse and perhaps jump-start an interest in self-defense for her. I read the magazine and overall thought it was a good effort. My only carp: It tended to concentrate a little too much in philosophy and tone on rape and prevention thereof, rather than self-defense.

Still, I thought it a good effort. I agree about the cover and the interior glamour shot, too. But, at least they had the good taste not to have the glamour shot on the cover...!

[Stacey]

its good, but one complaint


They put hot girls in there with 3 months exp, when there are very good middle aged blackbelts who have been kickin it since the 70's.

I thought It was very good and focussed on what most women in the MA are into. Its good to see, it will be better when the women who have been working their tails off for 50 years get some spotlight.

No one cuts Pan Qing Fu out for looking like the kind of guy thats looks like a weirdo kiddy perv. Or that elephant nosed tai chi master, or Judo Gene Lebell. I think that the woman deserve the same respect.

I don't open blackbelt to see some calvin klein underwear model who dabbles in kardio kickboxing.

[Chang Style Novice]

There's a Zamboni smoothing out the 9th circle right about now!

I agree with Stacey.

[wushu chik]

I bought it to take a peek into what they were doing! It was a good effort, but to Cosmo for me. They needed to focus more on the main issues at hand, and not deal with all the petty BS. Just my personal opinion.

~Wen~

[GeneChing]

All the martial arts mags are trying to break into the Yoga/Cardio trends now. That means hard bodied young women in jog bras and spandex. Sort of a new sexiness, a healthy empowered sexiness. I suppose that's what martial arts needs.

But to me there is an intrinsic problem. That is in real martial arts, someone always takes the shot (and it's not always our good buddy HuangKaiVun ;) ) Nothing sexy about a bloody nose, unless you're really kinky and we DO NOT want to go there. Yoga and cardio kickboxing can be sexy because nobody's getting the snot beat out of them, but we all know that this is a major component in training. You can't start out a master. You gotta pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues, right? Those dues ain't pretty. Pretty girls don't want to pay those dues. I just keep imagining those 24 hour fitness ads with Cindy Crawford. I mean really, would I punch her in the nose? No way. It would be like spitting on the Mona Lisa.

But all the mags have been trying to work this angle. BB has this new mag. IKF has it's monthly last page with some MA cutey. We have our got qi? girls (although FWIW, we have more got qi? masters and grandmasters than girls.) Personally, I'm all for more sexiness in MA, and definately more women too. But we'll see what the market will hold.

[Serpent]

Originally posted by HuangKaiVun
I'm thinking of having one of my non-20ish students featured in the magazine - perhaps even in a photo beating ME down.


Maybe I should send my grandma over. She could beat you down, Huang, while mixing up a batch of sourdough bread with one hand, all the while not taking her eyes off the latest episode of The Bold And The Beautiful.

[rogue]

Hard body women are great, and you can never underestimate how much strength and fitness matter in self defense. My wife has had to defend herself several times and did so only with attitude, strength and not wanting to be a victem.

A side note about hard body gals, back in the mid eighties when my wife was modeling, her hard body (we're talking Rachel McLish type but not even that big) was thought too extreme. Now she see's women on the cover of magazines and gets steamed about her bad luck for being ahead of the curve. :D

[SevenStar]

Originally posted by GeneChing
All the martial arts mags are trying to break into the Yoga/Cardio trends now. That means hard bodied young women in jog bras and spandex. Sort of a new sexiness, a healthy empowered sexiness. I suppose that's what martial arts needs.

But to me there is an intrinsic problem. That is in real martial arts, someone always takes the shot (and it's not always our good buddy HuangKaiVun ;) ) Nothing sexy about a bloody nose, unless you're really kinky and we DO NOT want to go there. Yoga and cardio kickboxing can be sexy because nobody's getting the snot beat out of them, but we all know that this is a major component in training. You can't start out a master. You gotta pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues, right? Those dues ain't pretty. Pretty girls don't want to pay those dues. I just keep imagining those 24 hour fitness ads with Cindy Crawford. I mean really, would I punch her in the nose? No way. It would be like spitting on the Mona Lisa.

But all the mags have been trying to work this angle. BB has this new mag. IKF has it's monthly last page with some MA cutey. We have our got qi? girls (although FWIW, we have more got qi? masters and grandmasters than girls.) Personally, I'm all for more sexiness in MA, and definately more women too. But we'll see what the market will hold.

If the sexy girls have paid their dues, I don't see a problem with it. IK/IKF started the last page thing years ago (I had a subscription back then, but not because of that last page, of course :) ) and they used to have women like michelle "mouse" krasnoo, who in addition to being hot had put in their time in the training hall.

[Budokan]

Uh, for what it's worth, many of the women on The Bold and the Beautiful are super HOT.

[Stacey]

How about getting women experts to write the articles, but then illistrating with washed up porn stars.

When Anna NIcole attacks, Chaisey Lain counters the mauling with an eagle claw to the eyes.

Who wouldn't read the magazine?

[Former castleva]

HMMMM

Is not MA practice sexy enough yet? lol
Why should any such commercial additives or anything be added to it too?
Nothing wrong with hotties doing MA but I think that kind of a direction concerns me a bit,that is how it sounds like to me.
Nothing wrong with that SD magazine idea btw,can´t see that but sounds good.

[GeneChing]

I'd love more sexiness in martial arts. Bring on the hotties. However, my point is that martial arts can be hard on beauty. Sparring tend to flatten noses. So if we can take out the sparring, maybe we can attract more hardbodied girls with pert noses. I know if I had a nose like Sarah Micheal Geller, no way would I spar.

BTW I heard Mitchell Brothers, a major strip club in the city, was advertising erotic kickboxing. I was all ready to go do some hard hitting research for y'all, but then I heard it was just erotic boxing, and I was more interested in the sidekicks and roundhouses.:p

[eulerfan]

Originally posted by GeneChing
I'd love more sexiness in martial arts. Bring on the hotties. However, my point is that martial arts can be hard on beauty. Sparring tend to flatten noses. So if we can take out the sparring, maybe we can attract more hardbodied girls with pert noses. I know if I had a nose like Sarah Micheal Geller, no way would I spar.

Ugh. Sore spot. We were doing drills in class the other day. Sifu said, the fancy stuff is all well and good but, in a real situation, it's that first, unexpected punch that will determine a lot in how the fight goes.

So he had us pick a way to handle the first, unexpected punch and drill it, play with it, see how it worked.

My partner kept throwing his punch past my ear.

"Aim at my face." I told him.

"I might accidentally hit you."

"That's okay. Accidents happen. This exercise won't do me any good if you aren't actually trying to hit my face."

"I can't. I'm afraid I'll get your nose."

"YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION. Please, just do it."

"I'll try."

But, of course, he didn't. So, I'm now practiced at deflecting a punch that wouldn't have actually hit me in the first place. I feel so safe.

I think he would have if I were ugly or butch. It's sooooo frustrating.

[ewallace]

I prefer training with small stocky women with short hair, rolled up sleeves and a visible mustache. Those are the kind that will attack you after a lesbian rights demo turns violent. One must always be ready.

[Martial Joe]

I bet this magazine has alot of nut-shots in it.

[Chang Style Novice]

I'm sorry to say, Eulerfan, that I probably wouldn't have the heart to try and punch a pretty woman in the nose either, no matter how much she desired it, or how good a reason she had for desiring it. And yours is about the best reason I can imagine.

D@mn, it sucks being gallant sometimes.

[HuangKaiVun]

Rape prevention and philosophy (especially about avoiding carjacking and kidnapping) ARE self defense - even for men.

The women I know are fed up with the 21st century obsession with sexiness from the MALE perspective.

To that standard, every female has to be long, underweight, big breasted, and young (<25 years of age). Redneck boors like Serpent drool over this kind of image while getting whacked down by their grandmothers.

The trouble is that very few women actually fit that male-drooling model (not that all men drool at that "ideal" anyway). When they read a magazine like this, they feel as if the magazine isn't catering to them. Yet it seems to do every effort to cater toward young males who think of women strictly as sexual objects.

In order to sell itself, this magazine has tried to make itself into part Playboy, part Journal of Asian Martial Arts. It's not my place to tell the magazine what to do, but I'd have preferred less catering to MEN and more to WOMEN.

As far as sparring and getting hit, my experience with working with women is that they are conditioned by male society NOT to strike back. But once they get past that inhibition, they can give out as much as they take. In fact, I'd go as far to say that women's pain tolerance is much higher than men's on a general basis.

Better to come out on either side of the road than stand in the middle.

[eulerfan]

Okay, let's be honest and clear, here. Sexism is not something only perpetrated by men. This magazine isn't blatently targeting men and ignoring women.

I want you to go to a magazine store and compare women's magazines and men's magazines.

IMHO, the beautiful women in men's magazines are far more realistic than the beautiful women in women's magazines. The girls in Maxim have little bellies and some inner thigh fat. Cosmo models have flat stomachs and stick legs.

Trust me, and I know it's hard to grasp but Self Defense for Womwn has unattainable beauty in it because it IS targeting women.

[ewallace]

The women I know are fed up with the 21st century obsession with sexiness from the MALE perspective.
Just as quite a few males say that they are disgusted with obese women publicly stating that fat is beautiful! Fact is neither are healthy. The day when the Callista Flockhart body type is a sex symbol is the day when my family will barbeque new york strip no less than 4 days a week.

The problem I see with all of this is that so many people in today's society use the media as a guide to live their lives by. Women thinking that love is as seen on "Days of Our Lives" or "General Hospital". And men thinking that the love of their life will come with built in flotation devices ala Baywatch. Fact is that they are nice to look at but most folks I know like all natural.

What was this thread about again?

[Chang Style Novice]

I ought to mention that even with my male training partners I have a hard time bringing myself to hit fullout. I'm just too nice a guy to want to bust anyone's face open for 'mere' training.

And I agree fully with Eulerfan's last post, too, about sexism being not just a male thang.

[HuangKaiVun]

Maybe, but it doesn't make the women who actually read this stuff any happier.

[KC Elbows]

"I know if I had a nose like Sarah Micheal Geller, no way would I spar. "

My nose is about the same size as her, I spar all the time.:D

My teacher has a good take on it. He'd say "You don't hit her, I hit you. Your choice." Usually, that makes the decision right there.

[wushu chik]

Come on guys, you now that when it comes to us girls, you guys are a lot softer, slower, and more "loving" when it comes to sparring. I don't know how many times i've heard "BUT SIFU....SHE'S A GIRL. I don't wanna hurt her". :rolleyes: Okee, well, I am sorry, but most of us girls can throw just like you guys! And we get ever more p!ssed off when you all try to be nice and soft!

As for my nose, it's been punched enough...and it's already upright enough, i really don't worry about it. BUT, if ya knock me in the mouth or my eye, you'd better be ready to bring it....because I am gonna hurt ya!

~Wen~

P.S. For the record, I believe Sarah Michelle does MA. But I think she does judo!! Don't know if it's true or not, just something I read!!

[Prairie]

I haven't yet seen this magazine. I didn't even know of its existence until I saw this thread. If they continue producing the magazine, I hope they get rid of the "glamour" shot as it's not consistent with the nature of a martial arts magazine. It just seems stupid.

[wushu chik]

My point exactly Prairie. If i wanted to see Diana Lee Inosanto's clevage (I wouldn't, so don't assume anything) I surely wouldn't have bought a Womens Self Defense mag. It's just kinda stupid in my opnion as well!!

Some of the articles they have in there are good, NOT great, but good, and they get a point acrossed. It's just kinda sad when they have to go all "Cosmo" to sell it.

~Wen~

[FatherDog]

Originally posted by wushu chik

P.S. For the record, I believe Sarah Michelle does MA. But I think she does judo!! Don't know if it's true or not, just something I read!!

" She studied Tae Kwon Do for five years, and now she's taking kickboxing, boxing, street fighting and gymnastics. "
--http://us.imdb.com/Bio?Gellar,+Sarah+Michelle

Gotta love the imdb.

[Ryu]

I haven't seen it, but from what you guys have said it makes me wonder....

Who's it targeting? Very few women want to see "clevage models" just as most men don't want to see men in "sexy modeling" poses either. If it's truly a magazine for women and women's self-defense why bother so much with the glamour stuff?
There's nothing wrong with femininity in MA or anything. In fact I think it very sexy for a woman to train hard in a sport of any kind really. If glamour shots of women reflect "hard work in MA" then I'm all for it. If it's just bikini model stuff I find that hard to swallow in reference to the training. That's just my attitude towards it.
I've occasionally been teaching women self-defense these days, and in my personal opinion I'd like a women's self-defense magazine to really stay away from the "cute glamourous" thing because it quickly becomes the "tough but vulnerable" garbage that I think self-defense is trying to get rid of. Women are not vulnerable any more then men are.

Again though I haven't seen the magazine. :) But it sounds pretty well made, so that's a good thing for BB. What it should include is real life experiences of women for women, have many articles written by female law enforcement officers, etc etc.
Keep real life in view, and the glamour at the back burners. :)

my 2 cents

Ryu

[ewallace]

In fact I think it very sexy for a woman to train hard in a sport of any kind really

That does it. Ryu has confirmed what I always suspected. His confessed love for Japanese girls was really just a cover for his obsession with Venus Williams.

[wushu chik]

Originally posted by ewallace
That does it. Ryu has confirmed what I always suspected. His confessed love for Japanese girls was really just a cover for his obsession with Venus Williams.

OMFG....uh, NO comment....LOVES TO YOU RYU!!!

~Wen~

[eulerfan]

Originally posted by wushu chik
Come on guys, you now that when it comes to us girls, you guys are a lot softer, slower, and more "loving" when it comes to sparring. I don't know how many times i've heard "BUT SIFU....SHE'S A GIRL. I don't wanna hurt her". :rolleyes:

Okay, you should totally try to cultivate an antagonistic relationship with at least one guy in your kwoon.

I mean, there must be at least one guy who bugs the crap out of you, right? Well, work that angle. Get some training out of it.

I used to have two guys who disliked me so much they would not fain pull a punch. I'm down to one, now. I need to get on that but I really like everybody else.

[Serpent]

Originally posted by HuangKaiVun
To that standard, every female has to be long, underweight, big breasted, and young (<25 years of age). Redneck boors like Serpent drool over this kind of image while getting whacked down by their grandmothers.


Oh man, is that all you got?! :rolleyes:

No doubt your idea of sexual perfection is a naked man playing the violin while submitting to your ineffective self defence techniques, so why should we be concerned with your views.

And besides, look at any women's magazine and check out all the musclebound, square-jawed hunks virtually naked over every page. It's no different. Only insecure little mongrels like you, Huang, can be bothered to get upset about it.

You don't like it? So go and do something better. Or ignore it. Or at least shut the **** up.

[HuangKaiVun]

Serpent, it's so typical of a boor like you to try to take a decent discussion and twist it into an evil one.

Guys like you rape and kill women - and guys like me teach those women how to prevent that. I'll bet that you've hurt quite a few females in the past and are PROUD OF IT too.

The real issue is that you HATE WOMEN and don't want them to do martial arts. That's why you're trying to ruin my effort to draw them into the art. This is because strong women are threatening to you. You can't push around a women who'll fight off your evil actions.

It's men like you that destroy the lives of women. And it's men like me that'll always oppose you.

When you come to hurt me and my students, I look forward to facing you down.

[Ryu]

"Guys like you rape and kill women "


That is a very serious statement to make....even over the internet.

I applaude women's self-defense, and the men who have a passion for helping and respecting its growth.
However, I think that kind of insult is a little too far.

My 2 yen....


(Besides, everyone knows if Serpent was truly like that I'd of killed him off a long time ago. :) )

Ryu

[Serpent]

Oh, Huang, you've got all the answers, huh!

Your leaps of logic are amazing. I simply pointed out that sexism against men is just as bad these days as it is against women. From that you deduced that I rape and kill women! :eek:

You've got one twisted little brain, boy. I have enormous respect for strong women. I think everybody should be strong enough to stand up for themselves, man and woman.

Where have I said anything that makes you think I'm trying to prevent you from drawing women into the arts?

The truth is I would advise anyone, man or woman, against coming to train with you, but that's because you have a brain the size of a pine kernel but an ego the size of a mountain. It's you I don't like, you loud-mouthed, insecure, self-important maggot. I've got nothing against women. Quite the opposite.



When you come to hurt me and my students, I look forward to facing you down.


And why are you still so convinced that I'm coming to get you? You're the one that wants to fight. I'm not going to travel to the other side of the planet to bash a dwarf.

I'll make it easy for you to read:

You're not that important!

But you do make me laugh!

[HuangKaiVun]

Because you're trying to ruin this thread with profanity and insults - the kind you routinely hurl at anybody who's not like you.

You call me a "dwarf". I don't even want to think about what you call - let alone DO - to the women you beat.

You HATE this thread, you hate its progenitor, you hate the people that this thread is trying to reach. Instead of trying to offer something productive, you offer barbs and bile. That's because this is how evil men like you try to push people - especially women - around.

If women became stronger, that would be the worst thing for you. They'd actually start RESISTING YOUR ABUSE and then you couldn't have your way. This is the way of the future, and you'll learn the hard way.

Fortunately for you, I live on the other side of the world and you'd NEVER come to fight me.

The women in your life might let you beat them to a pulp, but this "dwarf" never will. Fight me at your own risk.

[eulerfan]

Originally posted by HuangKaiVun
It's men like you that destroy the lives of women. And it's men like me that'll always oppose you.


:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

ahem

:(

A bit of thought about the women I know who have had their lives destroyed by a man and this is what I have to say:
Unless you think Serpent was the CEO of Enron, I think you can take it down a notch. Because you are on some shakey ground here. What you just said, what it implies about women....I mean, is there a tower anywhere in this scenario?

Think about it.

[HuangKaiVun]

Yeah, there's a tower.

Anybody who tries to hijack a thread on making women stronger is a VERY SICK DUDE.

This Serpent guy could've posted something NICE and SUPPORTIVE, but he has chosen to ridicule women's rights. That's BAD.

You should've killed Serpent a long time ago, Ryu. You screwed up.

[joedoe]

Jesus Huang, you need to loosen up.

[HuangKaiVun]

That's what all the men who do the beating say to the people who they beat up.

Not saying that you are that way, but BEWARE.

[joedoe]

LOL. Sorry Huang, I am having trouble taking you seriously now.

[Serpent]

Man, if I actually gave a toss I'd be concerned for your mental health, Huang.

Once again, Where in this thread have I suggested that self defence for women is bad? Where have I suggested that people that teach self defence to women are bad?

You even suggested that I hate you. Once again, your ego glows through like a neon bulb.

You are not that important!

In fact, you're really embarrassing yourself here, moreso with every post you make.

You need serious help.

[Serpent]

Originally posted by joedoe
LOL. Sorry Huang, I am having trouble taking you seriously now.

It's taken you this long!? ;)

[wushu chik]

Guys,
keep your personal hatred on the OTHER forum...it's kinda annoying to go to every forum and have you two batteling over the same crap.

~Wen~

PS Back to our regularly scheduled program.....

[Serpent]

Originally posted by wushu chik
Guys,
keep your personal hatred on the OTHER forum...it's kinda annoying to go to every forum and have you two batteling over the same crap.

~Wen~

PS Back to our regularly scheduled program.....

Who died and made you moderator!? ;)

To be fair, I was just annoyed by Huang's usual ego filling up his original post.




quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by HuangKaiVun
I'm thinking of having one of my non-20ish students featured in the magazine - perhaps even in a photo beating ME down.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maybe I should send my grandma over. She could beat you down, Huang, while mixing up a batch of sourdough bread with one hand, all the while not taking her eyes off the latest episode of The Bold And The Beautiful.


I was just being a smartass, making a joke.

So then Huang came back with this:



To that standard, every female has to be long, underweight, big breasted, and young (<25 years of age). Redneck boors like Serpent drool over this kind of image while getting whacked down by their grandmothers.


which was really lame and I told him so. I then had another stab (cos I simply can't resist it) and pointed out, quite in line with the discussion, that sexism in the media is just as bad against guys as it is against women.

To which I got this reply:



Serpent, it's so typical of a boor like you to try to take a decent discussion and twist it into an evil one.

Guys like you rape and kill women - and guys like me teach those women how to prevent that. I'll bet that you've hurt quite a few females in the past and are PROUD OF IT too.

The real issue is that you HATE WOMEN and don't want them to do martial arts. That's why you're trying to ruin my effort to draw them into the art. This is because strong women are threatening to you. You can't push around a women who'll fight off your evil actions.

It's men like you that destroy the lives of women. And it's men like me that'll always oppose you.

When you come to hurt me and my students, I look forward to facing you down.



So let's be fair. I was having a bit of a laugh, then Huang calls me a rapist and a killer. Bit extreme really. But I can't help poking Huang with a stick; the reaction is just too funny.

Still, seeing as you asked so nicely, Wen (!), I'll try to ignore him.

For a little while at least.

:p

[eulerfan]

Originally posted by HuangKaiVun
Anybody who tries to hijack a thread on making women stronger is a VERY SICK DUDE.


I'm trying to restrain myself because I realize this is a personal vendetta and I work hard to avoid being factional but......am I the only one who sees this?

Do ya'll see what he's saying?

[Serpent]

It's not just you, eulerfan. ;)

For clarification, it's not really a vendetta on my part. I just find it enormous sport to batter against HKV's ego. I don't think it really qualifies as a vendetta. More like a hobby! :D

BTW, what does eulerfan mean?

[wushu chik]

Hey Serpie...
No biggy....it's just getting annoying!!

~Wen~

;)

[Serpent]

Originally posted by wushu chik
Hey Serpie...
No biggy....it's just getting annoying!!

~Wen~

;)

S'cool.

:)

[joedoe]

eulerfan is pointing out that HKV feels that women cannot defend themselves so he must be there to protect them, both physically and on the internet :D

[Serpent]

Therefore implying.....

And also revealing....

:)

[Budokan]

Wow. It didn't take long for a positive thread about women's self-defense magazine to turn into a t*tty-twisting name-calling slugfest. Yep, I'm on KFO, all right.

Isn't it about time now for someone to pipe up and say Bruce Lee sucks? :)

[Watchman]

Budokan is correct, Bruce Lee sucks.

[SevenStar]

Watchman??!??! Where in hades have you been?

[Watchman]

Oh, just been out fighting for truth, justice, and the Wing Chun way. Got sick of working and surfed through to see what was going on.

[jon]

Im gonna cry wolf on this one...

Huang as of this thread you just lost *all* credability with me. Your simply acting like a child, ive also seen you doing this often in other threads.
Your method is always the same you rant and moan then challenge to a fight (without knowing *anything* about your opponent). This is blatently rediculous and it doesnt take much to figure that out.
You obviously seek some serious attension and see this forum as some kind of way to get it.

I would *honestly* and going on nothing other than your own words... Peg you as about 14-18 years old, white and probarly (like me) an only child. I expect you have a healthy interest in the martial arts but for all the wrong reasons. I doubt you have many friends and my money says that this is simply an outlet for you to try and have some kind of *status*.

What i will say...
Your efforts are not working for you...
If you actualy *are* everything you claim to be then your words have just led me to the belief that your a young depressed teenager.
To top this all off, you claim to be teaching. Ive even seen you try to justify your rants by saying that becouse you teach it must an effect on your *job* when people *disrespect* you.

Honestly take a step back and look at your posts rationaly.
Serpent could chew you up and spit you back out before you even realised - in debate alone! Yet your foolish enough to challenge a man you have no idea about (other than he is obviously much more intelligent) to a fight?


Im gonna call troll on this one Huang, i dont buy the spiel your spitting for a second.

If you dont like it then challenge me to Mortal Kombat over the internet.

If your *really* who you claim then FFS take a step back and look at exactly what your writing lately! Its nothing but pure egotistical BS.

[eulerfan]

Thanks guys. I didn't want to start a different fight. I just really needed some agreeance.


Originally posted by Serpent
BTW, what does eulerfan mean?

euler was a mathematician I'm a fan of.

Last time I was asked this question, I went into who he was, WHY I liked him so much and annoyed a lot of people, I think. And totally hijacked CSN's pretty funny thread at the same time.

If you're interested and have a couple of Aleve handy, it's here:

http://forum.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17005&perpage=15&pagenumber=2

[GeneChing]

Actually, women in the arts are a touchy subject in the U.S.A. particularly. Maybe it's a backlish to our 'feminist' movement. It's definately getting more interesting with the recent trend to 'girl power' like Tae Bo, Buffy, Charlie's Angels, Brids of Prey and CTHD. I still know many traditional masters who won't train women. I also know several men who don't like to train with women because it changes the atmosphere of the class somehow. So in a strange way, I'm not surprised this thread exploded a little.

FWIW, I wrote for an Italian MA mag a long time ago, Samurai Banzai Pugalto (sp?) and they has a regular centrefold style spread. I thought that was a nice touch - very Italian!

[Serpent]

I think women in the arts is a very valuable trend to encourage. And the more girls there are in schools, the more girls will join up. It's always trying to get those first few girls/women in and get them up to a decent standard that's the hardest thing.

However, the whole idea of the female ma centrefold is really no different than the male martial artist having shots taken with his top off, flexing his muscles. You have to remember, if the photos are in there then the subject probably agreed to them.

Sexuality in the media is a given these days. What we need is more people of varying looks and bodytypes getting involved so that we don't have a Cosmo/catwalk archetype developing in the ma's.

Still, martial artists (male or female) that train hard and regularly have the best bods anyway, right! ;)


(HuangKaiVun, read the other people's posts very carefully before you reply.)

[joedoe]

Still, martial artists (male or female) that train hard and regularly have the best bods anyway, right!

I mustn't train hard enough or regularly enough :(

[Serpent]

Originally posted by eulerfan
Thanks guys. I didn't want to start a different fight. I just really needed some agreeance.



euler was a mathematician I'm a fan of.

Last time I was asked this question, I went into who he was, WHY I liked him so much and annoyed a lot of people, I think. And totally hijacked CSN's pretty funny thread at the same time.

If you're interested and have a couple of Aleve handy, it's here:

http://forum.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17005&perpage=15&pagenumber=2

Wow! I've never known anyone that was a fan of a mathematician before! That's kinda cool. ;)

I'll check out that thread.

[Serpent]

Here's another thought. Are any of you guys that find the glamour shots of girls offensive bothered at all by the shots of guys, be they masters or otherwise, that appear page after page in MA mags?

There's usually at least one shot of a dude, usually the main feature dude, often printed as a poster. Would many of you people think twice if this shot was of a guy with only some baggy pants on, posing in a stance?

So why not a girl?

[Watchman]

So why not a girl?

Because the psychological objectification of men by women doesn't foster an environment wherein men must be afraid of phsyical assault by women....

....whereas the opposite is true for women.

[eulerfan]

Originally posted by Serpent
Here's another thought. Are any of you guys that find the glamour shots of girls offensive bothered at all by the shots of guys, be they masters or otherwise, that appear page after page in MA mags?

There's usually at least one shot of a dude, usually the main feature dude, often printed as a poster. Would many of you people think twice if this shot was of a guy with only some baggy pants on, posing in a stance?

So why not a girl?

I said it before and I'll say it again. Sexy shots of women in mas will sell those magazines to women. That's the purpose. Convince women that mas are sexy and you will convince them to join.
Hell, if you manage to convince men that knitting is sexy, you'll see a lot more guys knitting. It's the biological imperative. It's pretty powerful.

As for not wanting women at your school because it would change the classroom dynamic....you're call. I don't really care. But, brass tacks, if you can't prevent a woman from walking in and messing up your school, you might not have the strength and pressence befitting a sifu. That sounds pretty weak to me.

[Ryu]

Good post, Watchman.

[Serpent]

Originally posted by Watchman


Because the psychological objectification of men by women doesn't foster an environment wherein men must be afraid of phsyical assault by women....

....whereas the opposite is true for women.

It's an interesting point, but something of a straw man argument. There is not a single aspect of popular media where women and men are not objectified sexually. The idea that this promotes the likelihood of physical attack is not really proveable. Psychos attack women though a sense of disempowerment which will manifest whatever the media feeds them.

The whole concept of objectification is somewhat skewed in its perception anyway, IMO. The fight for equality might not have the prizes people would expect...

[Ryu]

For the record, I don't like it when the media objectifies men either.

Ryu

[Watchman]

Neither do I.


There is not a single aspect of popular media where women and men are not objectified sexually.

The saturation of something in popular media doesn't make it good, right, or proper.

In order for physical abuse and rape to occur at the high rate it does in American society, both parties - men and women - must buy into the myth of male dominance and female helplessness. In fact, belief in the myth makes it a reality.

"Rape culture depends upon the construction of women as a category of persons desirable to men, unable to resist men's attack, and therefore available as objects with which men can satisfy a variety of desires, including the desire to prove their manhood. Women's second-class citizenship is not simply a contributing factor, but it is part of the motivation for male violence." -- Martha McCaughey, "Real Knockouts"

There is also an interesting essay called "Defining a Rape Culture" that appears in the University of California at Davis' rape prevention education program that I suggest.


Psychos attack women though a sense of disempowerment which will manifest whatever the media feeds them.

Objectification must occur before one person can commit a violent, dehumanizing attack against another. The term for this is "psychological sanitization".


Hell, if you manage to convince men that knitting is sexy, you'll see a lot more guys knitting. It's the biological imperative. It's pretty powerful.

It's only powerful for individuals who practive no self-mastery and are able to be led around by the loins like animals.

[eulerfan]

I agree with Serpent. I would like to add that men who abuse women, tend to get into frequent altercations with men. I think that's pretty clear evidence that the problem is anger, not the objectification of women.

[Serpent]

Originally posted by Watchman
The saturation of something in popular media doesn't make it good, right, or proper.


I couldn't agree more.

However, how is a picture in a martial arts magazine of a hot chick who can kick your arse making her into a second class citizen? It's more like a warning than an invitation.

Also, American society? When are you people going to realise that there is a whole wide world beyond your borders?!

Gee, this topic is bouncing around all over the place like a rubber ball!

[Serpent]

Originally posted by eulerfan
I agree with Serpent. I would like to add that men who abuse women, tend to get into frequent altercations with men. I think that's pretty clear evidence that the problem is anger, not the objectification of women.

Well said!

And, on a slight tangent, there is a large amount of abuse by women against men. However, statistically it's not too prevalent, mainly because most guys in that situation are too embarrassed to report it.

[eulerfan]

"It's only powerful for individuals who practive no self-mastery and are able to be led around by the loins like animals."

Come on! I think you can practice self-mastery and still want to be attractive to the opposite sex. I worry about how to make myself appealing to men. Because I'm tired of being alone. I want a special someone. Call me a monkey if you will. I think it just makes me human.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

[Watchman]

Also, American society? When are you people going to realise that there is a whole wide world beyond your borders?!

I made mention of American society because I happen to be a Yank - with the result being that I give more attention to researching the issues in question with that perspective because my students also happen to be Yanks - and because Yank Land happens to have a higher occurence of rape and sex assault than any other nation on the planet.

[wushu chik]

Watchman~
You feeling alright hon...yer posting a lot.....what's up??

~Wen~

[Ryu]

I don't think "not wanting to look attractive to the opposite sex" is what is being said here. There's nothing wrong with that at all. All that's being said is that certain stereotypes and attitudes can become very negative in a culture (and it's not just the US that does this...) when they become engrained in media, popular culture, etc.

I would say more, but my eye hurts. :mad: :D

Watchman, I am going to give a small speech on this material in a few weeks. Is there any respected sites, etc. you could give me that has some good info on "rape culture in media" etc.?

Thanks.
Ryu

[eulerfan]

Originally posted by Ryu
I don't think "not wanting to look attractive to the opposite sex" is what is being said here. There's nothing wrong with that at all.

It is what is being said. In that part of the converstation. That part is about wanting to look attractive to the opposite sex. Seriously. Go review. :D

[Serpent]

Originally posted by Watchman


I made mention of American society because I happen to be a Yank - with the result being that I give more attention to researching the issues in question with that perspective because my students also happen to be Yanks - and because Yank Land happens to have a higher occurence of rape and sex assault than any other nation on the planet.

Point taken, and I'm not surprised that Yank Land has the highest occurence of rape and sex assault, but it happens everywhere. Most of your research is probably at least partly valid everywhere.

Back on the subject (and watch this segway to keep things on-topic! ;) ) Do you think the got qi? girls are fueling stereotypes and contributing to the prevalence of rape and sex attacks?

I know some of those girls post here, so please chime in ladies.

[Ryu]

The word "objectify" means to make an object out of. It has nothing to do with an attractive woman posing for clothes ads, sports stuff, etc.

To objectify someone means to purposely do away with their personal aspects, opinions, dreams, etc. and focus solely on their bodies for the sake of entertainment of someone else.

Now I'm not saying that doesn't have a place somewhere in society, but I am saying that if this type of thing is the only way people are shown in media, popular culture, music entertainment, etc. then it can (and does) foster negative cultures and sub-cultures. An angry person who is violent still "objectifies" the people he attacks (man or woman).
Because the angry and violent individual will see the other male as simply an "object" to let his anger out on. It's the same "objectivization" but it's now objectifying the person in a violent and angry way, and not in a sexual way.
But both are "objectifying." The only real difference in in the motivation.

Objectifying anyone in anyway is wrong, IMO. Not only can be very disrespectful, but also quite innacurate and unrealistic too.


Of course if you nearly lose an eye in a "knife grappling" match, you tend to not see the people in question anyway..... :(

:D

Ryu

[Watchman]

Ryu:

The McCaughey book I quoted from above is probably your best source off the top of my head. I'm currently hunting for more sources myself that will help highlight the issue.

The problem you run into is that the term "rape culture" is thrown around heavily and shifts definitions depending on what group is using it at the time. I subscribe to McCaughey's explanation which I cited above. The issues surrounding it are nebulous themselves and there are no easy answers to any of it - although I wish there were. It would make my work a LOT easier.

If you happen to find any material yourself, please let me know.


Do you think the got qi? girls are fueling stereotypes and contributing to the prevalence of rape and sex attacks?

I've never paid any attention to them, so I don't have any comment. With the trolling bait aside, my personal opinions on visual matter that perpetuates what I've talked about side with McCaughey's.

A word about objectification, however. I don't believe, for example, that just because some Schmidlap digests a steady diet of porn it automatically makes him a sex offender anymore than Doom 2 sends kids off on maniacal killing sprees. Objectification is part of a broader morass of personal and cultural contributors that lead to psychological sanitization which broaden the road to the perpetration of physical acts.

One thing to think about, though. Sex offenders don't just grow up in an emotional vacuum and wake up one morining deciding to rape women out of the blue. There is a process that they grow through and some conscious decisions toward sociopathic behavior along the way. It seems to me that one should think about what factors lend a perceived credence to their decision making.

[Ryu]

Thanks for the tip, Watchman.


And to be completely off topic..... I think I wrote the word "objectivization" up there somewhere instead of "objectification." :(

Man, it must be late.

Oyasumi, everybody.

Ryu

[Serpent]

Way to avoid the question, Watchman! ;)

Rape is rarely about sex. It's about power.

Power is desired due to insecurities, anger, impotence (not only in the sexual sense) and so on.

Media representation of all people has little to do with this. It certainly has a lot to do with propogating a particular body type that is then considered "normal" and desirable. Beyond that I don't think your arguments hold water. Trendy more than anything else.

Ryu said:


The word "objectify" means to make an object out of. It has nothing to do with an attractive woman posing for clothes ads, sports stuff, etc.


I think you'll find very few people make this distinction.

[eulerfan]

Originally posted by Ryu
The word "objectify" means to make an object out of. It has nothing to do with an attractive woman posing for clothes ads, sports stuff, etc.

To objectify someone means to purposely do away with their personal aspects, opinions, dreams, etc. and focus solely on their bodies for the sake of entertainment of someone else.
Ryu

If it has nothing to do with attractive women posing for sports stuff, why are we talking about it? Why bring it up? The objectification of the women in this magazine is wrong. That was the original argument I've been disagreeing with.

And your definition isn't satisfied here.
Since we're focusing on the Martial abilities of these women as well as their bodies, they aren't being objectified, are they?

For the Kant in you who I see screaming to get out, they are being treated as means and ends.

[Ryu]

Well I do make the distinction, and I also said "oyasumi"

That means "beddy-bye" for Ryu and his eye.....

Just to let you know though.... telling Watchman that "rape is about anger and power, not sex." is like telling a medical doctor that he needs sterilized equipment for safety.

Watchman would be the first to say rape is about anger and power. There's no better way to have "power" over someone than to see them as merely an "object." That's not just for this subject......hell that can go for "war" too.

Ryu

[Ryu]

Let me go to sleep!! :D My eye!!! LOL ;)

Well I said in the beginning that I didn't see this mag, so I can't make a statement about it until I see it.
What I am disagreeing with is the possible motivation behind certain "glamour shots."
If the glamour shots are decent and are done with training and martial art in mind, then I really have no problem with them.

But, if the shots are done with the motivation "sexy women will sell so many copies!" then I don't think that's as good (integrity-wise) as the first motivation.

It is quite possible to have photos of women posing for sports stuff, martial arts, with two completely opposite motivations in mind.

And as far as Kant, he and I would be buds.... :cool:

Now let me go to bed!
:D

Ryu

[Serpent]

Sure, I'm aware of Watchman's knowledge. That was more a qualifying statement for my other points.

For goodness sake, enough about your eye! You can still see can't you! ;) <--- Hey look! It's Ryu!

You need these: :cool:

Also, read eulerfan's post. She's making my point better than I can!

[Serpent]

For glamour to sell mags or for their martial talent?

Errmmm...

What about both! It's a MA media dream!

;) <--- There you are again!

[Watchman]

eulerfan:

I owe you an apology. I should have mentioned up front that I haven't seen the magazine in question, so anything I've said didn't apply. I stepped into the discussion in response to a question that Serpent asked in general about objectification. With KFO being what it is, the thread took a turn from there.


Watchman would be the first to say rape is about anger and power. There's no better way to have "power" over someone than to see them as merely an "object."

Ryu is correct.

[eulerfan]

Watchman,

I'm beginning to see that. That's why I started saying, "Wait, I'm talking about this magazine, here." It took me a while to realize we weren't really on that subject anymore.

So, I apologize for my density.:(

Ryu,

Night. Take care of that eye. And when you wake, tell me what oyasumi means, you catagorical imperative having *******!;)

[Ryu]

Serpent,
Yeah I can see :D I'm just milkin it for what it's worth. I'm a sympathy addict. ;) Haha
I think Eulerfan has some great points. I'm talking more on motivations behind things.... it's kinda big with me. :)

Eulerfan,
I agree with a lot of your points. Don't get me wrong. I've seen my fair share of people who go off the deep end for what's in my opinion very decent photos done with the right motivations. Photography isn't evil, and neither is attractive women.
"Oyasumi" means "goodnight" in Japanese. :)


Watchman,
"Ryu is correct."
How I love those words. Let's all say them together! ;)


Okay, last post for the night. (For real)
Night everyone.

Ryu

[kungfuyou]

Originally posted by Serpent


Well said!

And, on a slight tangent, there is a large amount of abuse by women against men. However, statistically it's not too prevalent, mainly because most guys in that situation are too embarrassed to report it.

I strongly have to agree with this!! I have an uncle, 6'2" who is (well getting divorced now) married to a woman who is 5' nothing and she used to beat the snot out of him, and he would not lay a hand back. She would call the police and say HE was the one beating her!! He would never call the police or anything until my mom (his sister) stepped in. A lot of roles being reversed in this day and age.

Another thought, about how Cosmo and the like, they sell their magazine's with sexual content, focusing on women and how they look. Now you look at those women in the magazine and the one's reading it, most of the one's reading the magazine do not look like the one's IN the magazine, yet how many MILLIONS of magazine's are sold each issue that come's out? Many woman complain about how this make's women look, many more DON'T!!

I personally think more female's in the MA's is a great thing, no matter what the reason they start, once they start training, they will learn some invaluable information that may end up saving there lives, whether they realize it or not.

I know my wife would love to learn MA for protective purposes, even though she is sexy enough!! ;)

*sorry for the waste of bandwidth, just had to blurb!! :D *

[Serpent]

What do you disagree with? Aren't you agreeing with me?! :confused:

[eulerfan]

Originally posted by Ryu
And as far as Kant, he and I would be buds.... :cool:
Ryu

Nothing has become clear to me as a result of this debate but that one thing.

I think Serpent would be in Nietzsche's camp.

You could have a water baloon fight. Two against two. It would be fun. I'd be watching with De Montaigne getting increasingly drunk while we talked about the dangers of drinking.

[Serpent]

I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult! ;)

BTW, isn't Huang quiet all of a sudden!

[eulerfan]

You're reading too much into it if you even wonder about that.

[Serpent]

Actually, it was just a joke! ;)

What do you think about an NHB jelly wrestling contest, Kant vs Nietzsche? Who would win?

;) :D

[eulerfan]

Hmmmm. Pre or post syphilitic Nietzsche?

[Serpent]

Eww! Hadn't considered that angle!

In reference to your guesses, I would say that I identify with both Kant and Nietzsche. I don't think they're in any way mutually exclusive (not that you suggested they were). I was trying to think which I would lean to if I had to choose and I can't really decide.

Interesting....

[eulerfan]

They were contemporaries who didn't get along. Freaky Freddy has some nasty things to say about the man in his writings. So, people I know have tended to go with one camp or the other.

Philosophies aside:

I tend to think of Kant as more of an idealist, a moralist, somebody of very constant character.

I think of Fred more as a realist, amoral(not immoral), he is who he is at that moment without apology if it contradicts the man he was yesterday.

[Serpent]

Good points. I hadn't really considered them in that light. However, I can't help but identify well with Kant and many of Fred's incarnations! ;)

So, from your earlier comment, are you suggesting that the following applies to me also?



he is who he is at that moment without apology if it contradicts the man he was yesterday


or do you place me more in common with some of his more general philosophies? I find it's an interesting exercise in self-examination to question others on how they perceive you... if that makes sense!

[David Jamieson]

Fred's sister Liz was twisted. Can't say much about Kant. :rolleyes:

Objectification of everything is the psychological state of the sociopath.
Power is a side effect of this and not really sought after, just the endless pattern of objectification.
Not caring about anything. More of a sympton than a result.

Although when it's brought into the context of causing serious damage to someone else. Then it is right to look for a defensive ability.

As for the magazine. I agree with the basic concept and it appeals to the modern sensibilities. If everyone could take care of themselves we wouldn't need to fight.

Marketing tactics will always appeal to the base primal interests. You can guarantee people will buy dat! :D

peace

[eulerfan]

The first one.

I haven't seen any huge personality changes or anything. I just get that feel from you. Don't take it as an insult. I'm more like that than anybody I know. Except maybe Michel.

Actually, are you familiar with Michel de Montaigne? He's my personal favorite. He's credited with inventing the essay. He was a huge proponent of educating women. He sent his sons off to school but educated his daughters himself. He didn't trust anybody else to educate a woman properly.

He has a very socratic wit, too. I'm rarely absolutely sure if he's having me on or not. I love that.

[Serpent]

No, I haven't come across him. I'll have to check him out.

As for my Nietzsche-like tendencies, I'm always ready to be proved wrong or to take on a new perspective. That's the root of all learning, after all. Whether I'd draw attention to an updated view, however, I don't know. So I guess you're right! ;)

[TaoBoy]

Okay Serpent...put the books down...you're scaring us. ;)

[FatherDog]

Personally, I prefer Hume, as far as philosophers of that general era go. Kant's absolutism bothers me on some fundamental level.

One of the most satisfying moments of my college career was getting my final paper back from honors philosophy, dissecting Kant's main ethical thesis and providing a counterargument, and seeing in big red ink "This is an excellent argument. Did you come up with it yourself? I don't see it in any of your cited sources..."

You know you're doing something right when your teacher wonders if you're copying from established philosophers. :D

Kant, however much I disagreed with him (and however messy he was about some of his axiomatic premises) was an excellent philosopher and a master logician; some of his proofs are dazzlingly exacting and complex. Nietzche, on the other hand, was great for quotable quotes but pretty short on actual arguments for his ethical standpoint. He was more of a pedagogue than an actual philosopher, IMHO.

[GeneChing]

It's the hot potato of sex in the studio again.

I'm going to take the tone down just a bit and see if anyone remembers that martial arts mag published by Larry Flynt - I think it was called Combat, but I can't remember. It was printed on high gloss heavy stock, just like Hustler, and tried to take a hardcore street angle. But in evern issue there seemed to be an image of a big woman (WWF -ooops! WWE big) holding a whip. I was planning to write a prank article on women and whips for them but it went belly-up before I had the chance.

For all you forum philosophers - my wife is studying for her masters in philosophy, so forgive me - I had to derail it to Hustler.:p

[Serpent]

Gene, there is absolutely no point in philosophy if you can't also derail the thought to Hustler. Which brings us nicely to Freud, no?

Fatherdog, I think you're way out of my league, however I do like what you say about Kant. What is it about Hume that you find preferable?

TaoBoy, please don't take my books away! They're all I have! And KFO, of course. ;)

[Serpent]

BTW. You know I mentioned that Huang had gone all quiet all of a sudden? Amusingly enough, he's in full voice over in the Northern forum! Check out his BS over there, it's hilarious!

I know you all don't like bickering, but there you have it in case you're interested. ;)

(Surely I'm not the only one that finds this really funny?)

[FatherDog]

Originally posted by Serpent
Fatherdog, I think you're way out of my league, however I do like what you say about Kant. What is it about Hume that you find preferable?

I love philosophy. That's why my college GPA was a 2.9, and the GPA of just the philosophy courses I took was a 3.8 :rolleyes:

Kant basically tried to start from the same place Descartes did (I think, therefore I am) and derive the existence of God and the entirety of science, religion, and an objective system of ethics that works and is necessarily what is 'good' and 'bad' even if you don't concede the existence of God from that and no other assumptions. It's a pretty herculean task, and the fact that he comes as close as he does speaks volumes about the sheer depth of Kant's genius and drive. Unfortunately, he winds up implicitly making several assumptions that aren't actually self-evident along the way, and thus doesn't really manage it. Of course, if you happen to accept those implicit assumptions, Kant's theories provide an excellent moral and epistemological framework based on them, so it's certainly not useless; Kantian ethics are still utilized in many philosophical and moral texts. But he fails to prove that his system of ethics has to be the right one, which is what he set out to do.

Hume, on the other hand, states flat out that if you start with Descartes, you never get anywhere, and no one is going to manage to prove the existence of God at all, ever. And gets on with theorizing and philosophizing about things based on a lot of the basic assumptions we do make.

Hume's theories have their problems, as well, but I vastly prefer his viewpoint on the whole.

And Hustler... who actually /buys/ porn anymore? That's what the Internet is for!:D

[Serpent]

Now I'm going to have to go back over Kant in detail and then read up on Hume. Thanks a lot, Fatherdog! ;)

And I wonder who does actually buy porn mags. Is printed media porn now a f*cked business? (Ooh, that was lame!) Hey KC, for some reason I get the feeling you'd know. And EWallace, what about midget hardcore? I believe that's your area of expertise.

[eulerfan]

Originally posted by GeneChing
For all you forum philosophers - my wife is studying for her masters in philosophy, so forgive me - I had to derail it to Hustler.:p

Dude. You're going to be married to a woman who essentially has a master's degree in putting an argument together.

Good luck with that.

;)

[GeneChing]

serp: That's the great thing about martial arts, whenever someone begins to wax overly philosophical, you can just take it back down tot the base element, which in this case seems to be hustler. Seriously does anyone else remember that mag? It must have come out in the mid 90's...

fatherd: Good point about porn, publishing and the net. We are actually seeing a similar trend in MA publishing.

eulerf: You know it. It was really difficult after she took pragmatism and especially bad since I been out of school for so long now. All I ever really needed to know I learned on this forum. ;)

[FatherDog]

Originally posted by GeneChing
fatherd: Good point about porn, publishing and the net. We are actually seeing a similar trend in MA publishing.


I think that's happening with a lot of periodical publications. There's so much free information out there now, having information isn't really that much of a commodity; what matters is reputation and thoroughness.

It used to be that there were only a very few publications available for niche markets like martial arts, so just about any article that was applicable could get in; even now, Black Belt magazine (for example) has a few regular 'columns' that are blatant advertisements and contain very little actual information. Now, in order to remain competitive, mags for specialty interests have to cultivate a reputation for quality. Sure, I can type "Iron Palm" into Google and get about a million hits, but how many of them are really quality? How many of them are gonna be a bearded hippie charging $10 per technique? :D However, if a magazine like KungFu Magazine has a reputation for always having quality articles, and well-checked facts, then I might go looking through it for stuff on Iron Palm, because the fact that I trust the editors and fact checkers there saves me the time of cross-referencing and researching every link I find on the Net to see if it's really legit.

So, the Internet, by providing more quantity of information, has forced periodical publications to increase the quality of their information in order to stay competitive. A good thing, in my view.




eulerf: You know it. It was really difficult after she took pragmatism and especially bad since I been out of school for so long now. All I ever really needed to know I learned on this forum. ;)

Yay pragmatism!

....I'm such a geek...

[KC Elbows]

Serpent,
Well, it's been a sad day for soft core, I tell you. It's to the point where running a small press girlie magazine just doesn't pay. But I keep going. I don't know what it is, there's just something about the job that keeps me coming back.

BTW, eWallace's field is doing well. He's learned there's no room for egos in midget porn. You've got to keep a small head.

Why was I not banned long ago?;)

[GeneChing]

Actually, considering that the market has been on a steady decline, we have been on a steady increase. Guess something must be going right. I think we are doing something really different with our website vs. our magazine. The web articles are exclusive to the web, not just reprints. We have posted all our cover stories, and a few assorted odd pieces, but the ezine stuff is all fresh and the only place we offer it is online.

KC, if I banned you, who would help me catch all those frickin' squirrels?

[Serpent]

Originally posted by KC Elbows
Serpent,
Well, it's been a sad day for soft core, I tell you. It's to the point where running a small press girlie magazine just doesn't pay. But I keep going. I don't know what it is, there's just something about the job that keeps me coming back.

BTW, eWallace's field is doing well. He's learned there's no room for egos in midget porn. You've got to keep a small head.

Why was I not banned long ago?;)

Because then they'd have to ban most of the regular posters too! ;)

[Serpent]

Originally posted by eulerfan


Dude. You're going to be married to a woman who essentially has a master's degree in putting an argument together.

Good luck with that.

;)

Feminine insight! Now that made me laugh!