From: harmfanx@aol.com (HarmFanX)
Subject: ASSC: AFTSD (late) Notes of a Middle-Aged Newbie
Date: 3 Dec 1997 05:53:00 GMT



Pressed between multiple obligations (tidying up in advance of the Fire Dept.

visit tomorrow, making a Phil Ochs comp tape for a friend, etc.), I someone

can't resist taking a few minutes to sum up what little there is to sum up so

far. So forgive the fact that this will be rushed (and probably posted a few

minutes after midnight).



Has reading ASSC the past year or so Changed My Life? Somewhat. It sure changed

my mind. Although I try to be wary of stereotypical thinking, the images I had

in my head (of what a group like this might be like) when I first ventured into

Alt.Sex land (back when it was easier to find the real group underneath the

spam) were, indeed, stereotypical (exploited women, misogynistic men). Instead,

I found well-written, thoughtful explorations of just about every level of

sexual politics from just about every viewpoint (OK, I've officially failed to

fail to suck *up* here), and an honest exchange (at least occasionally) from

both sides of the tip rail (shockingly honest on a few of those occasions)..



All of which gave me the courage to come down to NYC (my "strip club

territory", since nothing of note happens locally) a few times this year, and

check this all out in person, where I found myself doing things I never

imagined myself doing in front of a crowd of strangers.



Which has to count as *some* kind of change. The final meaning and significance

of which I'm much too tired to think about right now...maybe next year at this

time.



Robert