Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: Boobs!

279 Responses

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  • Sacha,

    Surely the central matter of causality would be covered in Hussy Science 101?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Earth Science is not without its knockers...
    the Large Hardon Collider
    will be feeling inadequate
    if there is a causal link between
    casual boobs and crustal bust...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    feeling inadequate

    Not the same as feeling a right tit?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    I had a conversation with a younger, quite conservative, woman, who was quite appalled by the original comments, but also quite appalled by boobquake.

    I pointed out the attitude was hardly that unusual, and hearkened back to The Thread That Shall Not be Named.

    I said something like "and that's why we do Tits Out For Ourselves Day".

    She thought that it was "playing into the menz hands etc"

    And so, I said "Look, here's what it comes down to for me. It's my body. I have licence over it. And if I choose to exercise that by getting the girls out on occasion, because I LIKE to, I shouldn't be made to feel that I am doing anything other than wearing a pretty dress. Not that I am 'inciting adultery', or being a hussy or whatevs. And you can choose to disagree, and that's your right. But the fact is, they're my boobs and so tomorrow, I am going to take them out for a nice lunch."

    Although, if we do cause an earthquake, I am going to feel _bad_

    (And Sasha, I could have said this over on the other post, but you could request to follow me on Twitter, I wouldn't mind :)

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Being a modestly (pun intended) sized woman (that means I'm in the same league as Keira Knightly, and I will be exceedingly RUDE to anyone who tries to commiserate with me about it, because actually, I'm very happy with my body), showing cleavage is a little ineffective, if not actually impossible. But I'm thinking tight jeans, and a lacy-is-it-see-through-or-isn't-it-and-perhaps-if-you-look-a-bit-harder-you-might-be-able-to-work-it-out-possibly-just-before-you-realise-that-it's-not-the-done-thing-to-go-around-staring-at-women's-breasts close fitting top, showing every proudly-earned post-baby roll.

    This really makes me think, because when I've heard discussions of this I automatically assume "dressing revealingly" = "low-cut top" and/or "short skirt". And as low-cut tops are deeply impractical for my work/commute and I very very rarely wear skirts (and don't *own* any above knee-length, I'm pretty sure), I wasn't planning on participating.

    But that, of course, is an assumption. And shows just how much mainstream discourse on women's dress gets focused on Teh Boobies and the revelation, or not, thereof. Followed closely by skirt/trouser length, even though a tight pair of jeans displays a lot more than most miniskirts ever do.

    So I think that tomorrow it's my most clinging pair of trousers and figure-revealing t-shirt, for what that's worth - and thanks, Deborah, for reminding me to check my assumptions at the door.

    She thought that it was "playing into the menz hands etc"

    Because if we put on a free show they won't be enticed by our charming feminine mystique into marriage, right, girls? And that would be TRAGEDY.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    152,000 attendees? It's going to be like lotto tomorrow. As in, I'll have about a 1 in 18 million chance of seeing anyone participating, but if I do, it will make my day!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    the Large Hardon Collider

    Ah, I remember fondley Miss Higgs Bosons behind the cyclotron shed.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    I'd feel really awful wearing a low-cut top on Monday so that the crackpot thoughts of an Iranian cleric so insignificant that he isn't even named in Emma's post could be shown to be false.

    I know that Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi is talking out his arse. I don't need to wear a low-cut top to prove this.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    playing into the menz hands

    Doesn't everyone know that women dress for other women?

    you could request to follow me on Twitter, I wouldn't mind

    But however would I preserve my modesty?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    I'm really glad that the women who felt their breasts were "too small" tended to get kindly responses but the underlying beliefs that those statements reflect are very sad - both that small breasts aren't worth showing off and that big breasts are inherently less modest.

    Allow me to point out that the idea that "all men prefer large breasts" is, in fact, a myth -- or a combination of myth and widely held assumption.

    Are you requesting some corruption?

    Not "requesting corruption", so much as just, shall we say, "keeping abreast of developments".

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Allow me to point out that the idea that "all men prefer large breasts" is, in fact, a myth -- or a combination of myth and widely held assumption.

    I, for one, would like smaller breasts. Or at least more ripped ones.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Allow me to point out that the idea that "all men prefer large breasts" is, in fact, a myth -- or a combination of myth and widely held assumption.

    Plus, not all women do either. Besides that, I can think of many other parts of the body that have just as much chance of me noticing. I think ankles and arms can actually be quite stunning. In total, I am more interested in the brain, especially after I lost a bit but It don't matter cause it's just in my head.:)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    For once, you agree with me, Ben (well... sort of).

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • chris,

    Me too, if I may. I believe a lot of counseling is done in this area. It seems to be a firmly held misconception.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Allow me to point out that the idea that "all men prefer large breasts" is, in fact, a myth -- or a combination of myth and widely held assumption.

    Plus, not all women do either.

    Ah well. As a friend who underwent a mastectomy is fond of saying, "It could have been worse, they left the biggest one."

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    But what Russell is referring to (I believe) is me pointing out that people were able to have long conversations about Boobs on Bikes without ever asking what the women involved thought or felt about it, robbing them of all agency over their own actions and all importance in the debate.

    And also simply that I realised I was being rude about them and their appearance when there was no cause to do so.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I know that Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi is talking out his arse. I don't need to wear a low-cut top to prove this

    How about going about bare-headed and in a short-sleeved blouse -- the kind of "immodest" dress that would get the shit kicked out of you by thugs like Sedighi if you walked down the wrong street in Iran?

    Vile as the likes of Brian The Bish are, are least we live in a country where he doesn't get a faith-based pass for common assault.

    And it's also worth remembering that it is no leap at all from dirty whores cause natural disasters, to dirty whores just ask for any physical or sexual abuse that comes their way. Now if you'd excuse me, I've got to go air out my rather tight "Dykes for Bush '04' tee-shirt (me man-boobs have expanded a bit over the last five years) -- while my male gaze might be totally irrelevant here, a little solidarity isn't out of line.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    It's boobquake every day at my house, and New England is notoriously free of seismic activity. In fact, we're conducting a simultaneous experiment on the correlation between gay marriage and the downfall of civilization, and coming up a big fat negative on that one too. Yay.

    (If anything, didn't we just establish definitively that natural disasters are caused by closing down strip clubs?)

    Have to say, too, the Iranian cleric doesn't surprise me. Grown adults on the other side of the enlightenment, however, who still come over all John Ruskin at the thought of genitalia au naturel? Harder to fathom. Witness some of the "ewww, hair!" squeaks (from metropolitans!) on this article about Crystal Renn's NSFW but rather gorgeous photo spread in French Vogue.

    Can I get a holla for a Bushquake?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    The backlash has its own Facebook event, Brainquake. The discussion there is quite good.

    And The Friendly Atheist, who has form in these matters, looks at why Boobquake went viral.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    The backlash has its own Facebook event, Brainquake. The discussion there is quite good.

    "So-called feminist"? Oy... one of the nice things about PAS is that anyone trying to play authenticity bingo would be smartly reduced to a small mound of ash.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Witness some of the "ewww, hair!" squeaks (from metropolitans!) on this article about Crystal Renn's NSFW but rather gorgeous photo spread in French Vogue.

    Can I get a holla for a Bushquake?

    I've been trying not to make it male-gazey by commenting on what I might or might not "like", because it's not about me and that's not the point.

    But seeing as you asked, the full-frontal shot of Crystal Renn there is both hot and strong. And it's odd that so many people seem to thank that pubic hair should not only be trimmed (which is clearly is there) but actively deprived of life.

    Although, there is some suggestion there that it's a merkin.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    For those like me who are non-Facebook-compliant, the origin of Brainquake is detailed here.

    there is some suggestion there that it's a merkin.

    Oy. Everything's fake these days.

    Craig, if it comes to authenticity bingo (generally futile, but sometimes of use), I think it's at least worth noting that Negar is, well, Iranian.

    But I reckon there's more convergence than you might think between boobquake and brainquake. I liked Negar's comment further down that page:

    Thanks for all your comments. I'm in close touch with Jen McCreight on Twitter and clear that her intention was to test superstitious claims with science. This effort , hers I mean, is in fact a #brainquake What has ensued in the aftermath of her posts is a bit iffy. Brainquake is a celebration of the talents, the ingenuity and the accomplishments of women. That's all.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I've been trying not to make it male-gazey by commenting on what I might or might not "like", because it's not about me and that's not the point.

    I'd much prefer that it was about everyone thoroughly enjoying their freedom to celebrate the human body because that's just what civilised people can do,(then I might even want to join in) but, why is it not about celebrating what you like as a human,RB. Isn't it to expose the myths/preconceived rather common attitudes all over the world, in the broader sense. If not,then just one cleric has managed to get this much attention? Why do we have to make things like this about us and them? Otherwise it just feels like tit for tat.(ducks for cover) Jus' sayin'

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Craig, if it comes to authenticity bingo (generally futile, but sometimes of use), I think it's at least worth noting that Negar is, well, Iranian.

    Sure and I don't want to reach for another bingo card (White middle-class First World Privilege myopia), but as I've seen Deborah say before: Women aren't the Borg. Don't tell me how to do my feminism, and I'll repay the courtesy. I just don't think injecting "so-called feminist" into this discussion is particularly useful. Boobs and brains don't have tto be a zero sum equation, do they?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Heather W.,

    Internationally, you can't go past the USGS worldwide real-time earthquake monitoring site.

    There is also the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology site http://www.iris.edu/seismon/ - earthquakes from Magnitude 4. The Emergency and Disaster Information Service website displays some from about Magnitude 2.5.

    Not a complete list - for example this morning's earthquake near Kaikoura (3.9) doesn't currently show in either site.

    North Shore • Since Nov 2008 • 189 posts Report Reply

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