Re: I was hoping to hear your thoughts about this, V!spyderfyngersApril 30 2011, 19:10:43 UTC
Well, hello! I'm sick of it for a few reasons, and none of them are going to make me seem especially fluffy.
I find weddings incredibly creepy. Actually skin-crawlingly creepy. If you want to get married, that's fine and that's great, and I hope it makes you happy. But the concept terrifies me. Dresses, families getting together, binding legal contracts - ohgodno. It's visceral. I actually shudder at the thought.
And then there's royalty. I'm not necessarily a republican, but I do find hereditary privilege of that magnitude hideous and ridiculous. And that palace would make a damn fine museum if we just kicked those goons out of it.
...and then we're invited to fawn. Oh, it's so sweet, oh, it's so romantic, oh, doesn't she look lovely - no. Fuck off. I wouldn't go all gooey over a relative's wedding, let alone someone I've never met whose life is so far removed from my own that it's actually hilarious. It's been inescapable here, and presented as something we all love and crave.
Re: I was hoping to hear your thoughts about this, V!froggyhMay 1 2011, 10:53:26 UTC
"that palace would make a damn fine museum if we just kicked those goons out of it."
Hahaha! It totally would.
When they first got engaged I was kind of 'meh, good for them, I hope they're happy together'. Then they came up here and it was all 'Let's go shake hands with Wills and Kate, and what do you mean you want to go to class instead?! Don't you want to lick their arses rather than talk about Tolkien? You're not allowed to go to class because you're carrying a bag!' (yes, some bloke from Estates wouldn't let me past him because I was carrying a bag. Funny thing for a student to be carrying).
And then there was the day itself, with all those stupid flags hung up in the dining hall and out of the windows and in Tesco. I have nothing against the Union Flag, but it's not something I want to be bombarded with when I'm trying to have my breakfast. Seriously, there was one taped to the juice dispenser.
/rant
If all this makes me a Debbie Downer, well, there are worse things to be called.
Re: I was hoping to hear your thoughts about this, V!enthusiasmflailMay 2 2011, 04:12:57 UTC
Hee, hello!
Ah, glad to have solidarity in Debbie Downer-ness! I find weddings to be...curious...events. Most of my friends are unmarried or single, but it has been surreal to witness the weddings (and the preparations) of my friends who are. The stress of planning these things is unbelievable. And the scrutiny! The scrutiny is overwhelming! So often, despite the couple's best intentions, the plans for a simple, low-key wedding warp into this giant clusterfuck of consumerism, politics, hurt feelings, entitlement, raging gossip and insecurities. While I'm happy to chip in for wedding and bridal shower gifts, I find it really strange that we lavish a married couple with gifts (who have the most social and economic currency in our society, particularly if you happen to be white, hetero, and middle-class), but we do nothing of the sort for those who are (generally) in more need of material gifts, like single mothers, 'singletons' or elderly pensioners. A good friend of mine revealed that the money given at their reception paid off all her student loans and then some. While I was genuinely happy for her, it grated a bit that she received all this money just by virtue of getting married. It helps solidify this perceived sense of superiority that's granted just for getting married.
As far as royalty goes, I love learning about their history (so many macabre bits!), but the concept of a monarchy is morally abhorrent. While their current relationship with Britain and the Commonwealth is pleasantly benign, we tend to easily forget that they are essentially a very wealthy, high-maintenance welfare family. I agree- that palace would be a friggin' incredible museum.
The fawning was insufferable, wasn't it? The American media were particularly bad for this. For them, the wedding was akin to a lavish celebrity wedding. My mom is a dental hygienist, and she dared to say that Kate Middleton was a good-looking girl, and seemed to have a nice 'girl next door' quality about her. Her dental patient stared at her in horror, and said that she had *never* seen a girl more beautiful than Kate, and that she did *not* appreciate my mom's 'snippy' comments. My mom didn't say anything remotely unkind in word or tone, but was sassed just for not fawning over her! If someone genuinely thinks that William and Kate are the best ever and win all the things, that's just fine and it's their opinion, but I find the expectation to fawn foolish and degrading.
I find weddings incredibly creepy. Actually skin-crawlingly creepy. If you want to get married, that's fine and that's great, and I hope it makes you happy. But the concept terrifies me. Dresses, families getting together, binding legal contracts - ohgodno. It's visceral. I actually shudder at the thought.
And then there's royalty. I'm not necessarily a republican, but I do find hereditary privilege of that magnitude hideous and ridiculous. And that palace would make a damn fine museum if we just kicked those goons out of it.
...and then we're invited to fawn. Oh, it's so sweet, oh, it's so romantic, oh, doesn't she look lovely - no. Fuck off. I wouldn't go all gooey over a relative's wedding, let alone someone I've never met whose life is so far removed from my own that it's actually hilarious. It's been inescapable here, and presented as something we all love and crave.
Generally, I just want it out of my face.
It's always a good time to be Debbie Downer. ;-)
Reply
Hahaha! It totally would.
When they first got engaged I was kind of 'meh, good for them, I hope they're happy together'. Then they came up here and it was all 'Let's go shake hands with Wills and Kate, and what do you mean you want to go to class instead?! Don't you want to lick their arses rather than talk about Tolkien? You're not allowed to go to class because you're carrying a bag!' (yes, some bloke from Estates wouldn't let me past him because I was carrying a bag. Funny thing for a student to be carrying).
And then there was the day itself, with all those stupid flags hung up in the dining hall and out of the windows and in Tesco. I have nothing against the Union Flag, but it's not something I want to be bombarded with when I'm trying to have my breakfast. Seriously, there was one taped to the juice dispenser.
/rant
If all this makes me a Debbie Downer, well, there are worse things to be called.
Reply
Ah, glad to have solidarity in Debbie Downer-ness! I find weddings to be...curious...events. Most of my friends are unmarried or single, but it has been surreal to witness the weddings (and the preparations) of my friends who are. The stress of planning these things is unbelievable. And the scrutiny! The scrutiny is overwhelming! So often, despite the couple's best intentions, the plans for a simple, low-key wedding warp into this giant clusterfuck of consumerism, politics, hurt feelings, entitlement, raging gossip and insecurities. While I'm happy to chip in for wedding and bridal shower gifts, I find it really strange that we lavish a married couple with gifts (who have the most social and economic currency in our society, particularly if you happen to be white, hetero, and middle-class), but we do nothing of the sort for those who are (generally) in more need of material gifts, like single mothers, 'singletons' or elderly pensioners. A good friend of mine revealed that the money given at their reception paid off all her student loans and then some. While I was genuinely happy for her, it grated a bit that she received all this money just by virtue of getting married. It helps solidify this perceived sense of superiority that's granted just for getting married.
As far as royalty goes, I love learning about their history (so many macabre bits!), but the concept of a monarchy is morally abhorrent. While their current relationship with Britain and the Commonwealth is pleasantly benign, we tend to easily forget that they are essentially a very wealthy, high-maintenance welfare family. I agree- that palace would be a friggin' incredible museum.
The fawning was insufferable, wasn't it? The American media were particularly bad for this. For them, the wedding was akin to a lavish celebrity wedding. My mom is a dental hygienist, and she dared to say that Kate Middleton was a good-looking girl, and seemed to have a nice 'girl next door' quality about her. Her dental patient stared at her in horror, and said that she had *never* seen a girl more beautiful than Kate, and that she did *not* appreciate my mom's 'snippy' comments. My mom didn't say anything remotely unkind in word or tone, but was sassed just for not fawning over her! If someone genuinely thinks that William and Kate are the best ever and win all the things, that's just fine and it's their opinion, but I find the expectation to fawn foolish and degrading.
Oof- all of this rambling to say: I agree.
Reply
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