SS6 04 May's Diaries
skyangel on Nov. 12, 2016
Just as I was preparing to update this week, I caught a last minute viewpoint from Fred on the reading of a deceased persons diaries. I also pondered the morality of it which is why I had Sarah bring it up here. I can see both sides of the argument, one being they may contain sensitive or hurtful remarks about others or information that could disgrace the deceaseds good name, on the other hand would Anne Frank have minded when her words were written privately but proved a valid testimony for future generations?
My own father kept a diary for many years when my mother was at home and after every heated event that happened he would write his own justification in his diary the next day carefully ommitting any of the spiteful comments or physical acts he would have clearly been ashamed to admit to. It was mum who started checking them after she noticed the pattern of writing and it seemed to me it was clear he intended others to read them as it was his way of ‘putting the record straight’!
I also read Kenneth Williams diaries some years ago and though fascinated at the insight into his character and life, as well as his perspective on it, I did feel it was wrong to have made them so public as I don't think he ever intended them to be.
Anyway, food for thought! And for all those of you who were confused by what a UK skip looks like, last week, here's a pic! A RUBBISH SKIP
Have a nice week :)
flamencoprof at 6:31PM, Nov. 20, 2016
I read Anaïs Nin's diaries about thirty years ago and found the insights into a woman's mind and sexuality very interesting. I thought she was very brave as they are very intimate. Be aware I have since found out she edited them a lot; she said to make them more "literary", some say to put herself in a better light!
BearinOz at 6:17PM, Nov. 17, 2016
What a silly arse. The story might've been funny, or at least worth hearing B-) ....I've heard all sorts of stories, from all sorts of friends and colleagues, probably because I have a writer's (albeit amateur) mind, and I'm always all ears ! One of my faves is the "Double Delight" (I'll PM that one...and maybe others). That guy should be taken to the real "Eclipse" (real name different, but similar)club in Cardiff, if it's still there B-)
skyangel at 9:49AM, Nov. 17, 2016
Bear: I can imagine how horrible some people might be. A couple of weeks ago I overheard a neighbours conversation across the fence. The wife had started to tell her husband about an incident at work involving something to do with being transgender and he started shouting her down angrily, repeatedly saying, 'THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TRANSGENDER! You're either a boy or a girl and that's all there is too it!' He ranted on the subject for several minutes and it was clear she gave up the idea of sharing her story with him , and it also made it quite clear to me how ignorant and stubborn some peoples attitudes can be.
BearinOz at 4:29PM, Nov. 15, 2016
I've always been fascinated by all the 'non-vanilla' versions of sexuality, and how I think most people are not as 'straight' as they think they are (if only subconsciously). From 17, when ( like 'Phil') I started working in a steel works, I went from naive kid to almost unshockable, in about 3 years B-) We had a pole truck driver, who was waiting for 'the op'...I think he'd been on oestrogen for some time. He had very long hair, which he had to keep in a hair net, for health and safety reasons. Some of the blokes teased him mercilessly, but I was surprised how many were actually quite nice to..er...her?
skyangel at 3:51PM, Nov. 15, 2016
Fred: Haha I have to admit that the idea for the first panel made me smile. I always feel that they are so comfortable together that dressing in front of each other seems as sisterly as two girls changing in the locker room but at the same time we all know how Nikki feels towards Sarah so she may have different feelings about undressing in front of Sarah. I didn't want to make it a sensual thing like when Sarah watched Janey undressing way back in part one but it was still fun to give it a slightly voyeuristic touch. ;)
skyangel at 3:42PM, Nov. 15, 2016
Phantom: I think you've hit the nail on the head there with how I feel about Nikki. There's been a lot of focus on what it is like to be transgender in the last couple of years especially with Caitlin Jenner and a few movies etc but I still sense there is a lot of ignorance and misunderstanding around plus quite a common attitude that it's still nonsense, so I can well understand those people who find it too scary to take the plunge despite really wanting to do so.
skyangel at 3:32PM, Nov. 15, 2016
Bear: I've not heard of Anias Nin but she sounds interesting! What you say about lappies is a good point though as there's probably far more stuff held on these that says a great deal about ones personality!
skyangel at 3:28PM, Nov. 15, 2016
Udyr: I saw a wonderful film a couple of years ago with Tom Wilkinson playing a guy in his middle years deciding to become a woman and Jessica Lange played the wife who had to suffer the changes. The film was called 'Normal' and dealt in detail with such aspects as Tom turning up at the plant where he worked dressed as female, the pain his wife went through in trying to understand and accept, and the reaction from family and friends on both sides if the marriage, including their two children. It did make me realise what a major decision transition is and how it really is a virtual rebirth as a new person which some might find too much.
skyangel at 3:16PM, Nov. 15, 2016
Barry: Unfortunately Sarah's based on me and I wouldn't be able to resist! But I wouldn't tell anyone else who knew her if anything super juicy came out.
skyangel at 3:14PM, Nov. 15, 2016
Bear: Haha I'd forgotten that Foot in the Grave episode, I haven't seen that show for ages and it did have some really classic moments. I vaguely just remember it was a smallish car and that's about it but a 2cv seems funnier as they are such funny looking cars anyway.
skyangel at 3:11PM, Nov. 15, 2016
Moizmaid: Good questions and I must admit it's something I've not thought much about as I didn't intend to have Nikki relate a transition story. I assume it is possible that she's having hormone treatment and may even have had laser hair removal or some such if she can afford it but I followed a couple of blogs last summer and realised that the hormone pills can cause a lot of side effects and problems of their own so there was too much to cover in this story and it seemed frivolous to just say she's now taking them without exploring the reality further.
BarryCorbett at 6:20AM, Nov. 15, 2016
I wouldn't have read the diary, but it would certainly be a temptation.
BearinOz at 3:50AM, Nov. 15, 2016
I missed the skip link too ! Jeeez, that doesn't even look more than a 2m cubed one ! You've just made me remember the Renault 4 (or was it a 2CV?) in a skip, outside Victor Meldrew's house ! B-)
skyangel at 2:46AM, Nov. 15, 2016
Infected: I tend to agree with that. Although we like to look on ourselves as unique individuals we are also part of one large body labelled Human and it's only when we share our thoughts and feelings that we begin to see that many other people think the same way and react just as we do to events which is what to me makes reading the account of somebody who has lived through extraordinary events more absorbing, because I can relate to their feelings and partly 'live' the event with them through their words. The only auto's I normally avoid are celebrity ones.
skyangel at 2:35AM, Nov. 15, 2016
Tupapyon: I'd read it!!
skyangel at 2:34AM, Nov. 15, 2016
Ashley: I know. I found two other amusing pics; one with a whole caravan in a skip and another filled with something like concrete that was absolutely level right across and the words 'DO NOT FILL ABOVE LOAD LINE!' on the side.
skyangel at 2:28AM, Nov. 15, 2016
Kim: That's very sound advice indeed. When I kept my own I definitely expected to share parts of them as I'd fill the boring empty spaces with silly doodles and daft remarks which made my brother and sister laugh but then I did have moments where it felt liberating to write how I felt but also felt held back by knowing I might lose control of what I wrote, even in code. One of the nicest things about doing this comic is that I have shared a lot of myself and events in my life through it very publicly, but in a rather abstract sort of way so the thoughts and feelings are real but I can distance myself from it all by saying it's just a story.
skyangel at 1:26AM, Nov. 15, 2016
Tommym: I've been asked several times why Nikki doesn't go for the transition ops but of all the transgender people I've met while doing this, I could count on one hand the number who went for the whole deal, so that only really speaks for a very small minority and I wanted Nikki to represent those that would like to follow but feel unable for a variety of reasons.
skyangel at 1:19AM, Nov. 15, 2016
DV: I couldn't work out if the skip was a small one or if it just looked like that through the overloading! That's a good point about keeping a diary too. The ones I did myself during my teens felt very private at the time as some of the stuff I was writing was about crushes and relationship stuff, but now that's all so long ago that it feels more amusing or too boring too share. I started writing some entries in code after the first year as my brother enjoyed picking the lock on the front of my five year diary and dad would occassionally try to find out what I'd written about him!
fredhedges at 7:27AM, Nov. 13, 2016
Now what I really would have liked to see are the 2-3 panels before what we have been shown here! I mean the clothes-changing scene that must have been cut for publication (hehe). Sarah's watching...we're both girls, right? My imagination is working overtime. Seriously I don't know any trans people well at all and appreciate learning something more about it here. I also appreciate the challenges of respectful artistic representation of our Nikki. Very well done.
Phantomduck at 8:52PM, Nov. 12, 2016
Nikki seems to be playing it smart until things like this are more accepted among us.
BearinOz at 7:13PM, Nov. 12, 2016
...watched a prog about Anias Nin, the other day. She had a hard time trying to GET her diaries published (too salacious!),so back in the early 50s she self-published them, buying her own gear and typesetting,etc. Fascinating lady.
Udyr at 5:30PM, Nov. 12, 2016
I would NEVER make a diary myself, i'd be so scared of people reading it! It is such a super personal thing, depending how deep you decide to go about your life in it. Nikki's not being out for her job is understanding, its sad her wife doesn't let her be her though. But again i don't know if turning gender in front of the kids might confuse them considering their age. Maybe wait til they're old enough. Depending on how well they adapt
BearinOz at 4:52PM, Nov. 12, 2016
p.s.(diaries)....certainly not the suicide notes! Not before I'm dead ! B-)
BearinOz at 4:51PM, Nov. 12, 2016
Yeah, I don't keep a diary, but the nearest is what's on this lappie...I wouldn't want certain friends or family to see all that's on here, while I am still alive, but dead, I can't be embarrassed, eh? B-) ....on Nikki, I've known several males and females of assorted sexuality, over the years. I was naive enough to think their (and intersex people's) rights would just become SO mainstream and widespread, but it seems the fight is never ending, and a Trump victory and other things in the world seem to be retro steps. Sigh. Isn't old HampsterHead talking about repealing marriage equality?