kikepa

Do you have the results of this poll taken on a control group, randomly selected from the general population at large? If not, then while it may tell us a bit about us male heelers, it says nothing about how we differ from the non-heeling male public. I wouldn't mind seeing the results of a poll taken on the male public at large which slipped in a few questions about if they'd ever worn heels, what kind, and why.

What's with the black leather? When will these people learn heels for men do not require all these additional trappings, and that a simple pair of jeans works fine? For many of us, it's not a fetish! No need for fetishistic trappings - heels for men will sell a lot better when you simply market them with everyday wear.

Wow. Hear her, huh? Hmmm... (said while tapping a pen, which, coincidentally, sounds remarkably like he....) Well, if she's a bloody funny radio celebrity, then I understand! Seriously - we have our radio celebs in the states, too.

Hey, any excuse to wear heels, huh? (snicker..)

Today I walked in the "Walk a mile in her shoes" walk in Danbury, CT which is an awareness walk for abused women.

What was really nice was heeling for a good cause. I would really recommend that they guys take a look at the site, http://www.walkamileinhershoes.org/index.html as it is worthwhile.

I did, thank you! I found there will be a number of events along a route between my home and my son's!

Looks to me like my April is all planned out! And given the nature of the event, I'm quite sure I'll enjoy having breakfast in heels, wearing them around town, shopping, lunch...

Oh, and of course, for the event in question.

I was at Burger King with a friend of mine with the local high school let out. In walked a wide variety of 16-18 year olds wearing things my high school would never have allowed. One guy was with his girlfriend, and he was wearing long hair in a girl's style, well-manicured fingernails with a cream pearlescent polish, eyeliner, mascara, and clearly female jeans, shirt, and jacket. I thought, "That's terrific!" And I wasn't being facetious about it. My friend, on the other hand, began scoffing left and right, "what's this world coming to," etc. I asked him, "When did you graduate from high school?" He replied, "1972." I thought, "gotcha." I proceeded to ask him if he ever had long hair (yes), wore bell-bottom pants (yes), bracelets (yes) necklaces (yes) or ever had a pair of 70-ish shoes with heels. He balked on the last one, but his long hesitation (rather than a quick no) told me what I needed to know, so I just looked at him for a second, and said, "Well? So what's so different about these kids?" He laughed! Thank God - another breakthrough in realizations. Nothing! Nothing was different about these kids except they were born about 35 years later, and their choice of fashion follows the norms of their day, for their generation, rather than for his generation, or, for that matter, my own. Then I said, "and what's wrong with heels for men? It's not like there's a law against it, or that guys haven't worn heels before. It might not be mainstream fashion right now, but who's to say in a decade things won't be different? You might have to break out those bell-bottom pants..." He laughed again! Laughter is such as wonderful thing.

I'm paring down. To about 10, I think. I just don't need to be lugging heels around when they're either uncomfortable or not appropriate if I choose to wear them out.

"To thine own self be true" is how the original goes, from Shakespeare's Hamlet. But how many of us were aware of what comes next: "And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou can not then be false to any man." What good is it to life our lives if we loose ourselves in the process because we're unable to be who we really are? When we allow someone else to define who we are, we lose our ability to discover ourselves, and to grow as human beings. We fail to reach our full potential. Living a life of truth frees us from the entrapments of conformity. That doesn't mean we must rail against it with outrageous trappings - both extremes are entrapments! Rather, living a life of truth is simply being transparent, comfortable with who we are. There's nothing quite as positive and reassuring as someone who is both fully content with everything they are, and who extends their self-acceptance to others, regardless of how different those others may be. Truth is transparent, and being transparent requires courage! But be encouraged that in so doing, you're freeing yourselfs from falsehoods, smoke and mirrors, and other half/non-truths which keep one in fear and bondage to something less than the truth. Truth is also love, and love casts out fear. So be true to yourselves, by being truthful, and transparent to yourself and others, living lives full of love, acceptance, and free from fear.

I ate breakfast at McDonald's this morning - jeans and my 3" heeled Dexter sandals.

I've found that in recent weeks I'm wearing lower heels, which suits. I still have plenty of pair with 4" heels I wear regularly, but I'm just as content in a pair of Dexters with a 3" heel, which for me feels about the same as a flat.

I have bought a lot o new shoes...

I like them! I think I may have the same pair of your silver cross-strapped heels with the small heel cup, except mine are black leather.

Actually, folks, I'll be soon getting rid of about half my collection. I find that when I buy heels, I'll wear them all for a while, regardless of how they fit/feel, but the only ones I'll hold on to over time are the ones which are comfortable enough for long-term wear.

I'm sure that the same sex couples, who are already living together for life, start marrying, the great spaghetti monster will show up and obliterate the Earth!

Well, if he's of the bolognese variety, I and a few of my friends might gobble him up before he does much damage!

How many same-sex roommates are there out there? Well, excluding college students, which I suspect might count for about half...

I really don't think their sexual preference has anything to do with things. Getting back to ShockQueen's OP, however... First, it pulled in both religion and politics, which are not allowed on many forums, especially in deadly combination with one another. Second, I agree that laws and religion in the US are heavily intertwined - simple history clearly shows the origen of our system of laws. Third, he makes a good point - why not make marriage a religious preference, and allow others to obtain a "civil union?"

Now, here's the sticky part - do those opting for a "civil union" want all the rights and privalages afforded by marriage? Or are they willing to put up with all the responsibilities, as well, like those prohibiting domestic violence, adultery, polygamy, non-support of family members, as well as the ones dealing with divorce, such as alimony, child support, and dissolution of assets under current marital laws?

I think you'll find most legislators, including the those who're very liberal, allowing civil unions to take place without conferring on them both the rights and the responsibilities afforded/required of traditional marriage.

The justification is simple - such unions are considered to be beneficial to society, but only when they're true commitments for life. To that end, the laws exist which hold married couples accountable for providing for one another and contributing to a healthy family while avoiding unhealthy behaviors.

Towards this end, I would propose the entire set of laws current titled "marriage" be conferred to that of "civil union," with the only change being that same sex unions be allowed, with "marriage" becoming a subset under "civil union," with only three words remaining under that heading: "of opposite sex."

Alternatively, as ShockQueen suggests, the marriage clause could be relegated to the religious category, but I think you'll find quite a few atheists desiring a marriage who would find that approach rather objectionable.

There is a simpler solution: Just allow same-sex marriages and if those obtaining such a union don't like the term "marriage," they can just get over it, while those who oppose same-sex marriages can just get over that, too.

Alternatively, if there is evidence that same-sex marriages are not healthy for society, and shouldn't be allowed, then now is the time for that information to come to light, too.

Bottom line: It is not likely we will stop progress. It is very important, however, that progress continue in an objective, rational direction, based on facts and scientific evidence. If those with hidden agendas would prefer otherwise, well, then they can just get over it!

Rounded, meaning I don't mind almond toed shoes, provided there's enough wiggle room.

I suppose plastic tips cause less damage to floors but then I quite like the damage metal tips cause.

Even when it's to busted tiles?

I like heels, but not the noise.

I'll stick with leather heels. I don't mind a hard composite cap to lessen the heel wear and provide some good traction, especially as these are easily replaced, increasing the life of the shoe.

Yes, actually, my avatar really is me! I actually am a small, 3/4" high Martian who balances on my short tail and walks around with two outstretched arms.... It's in Brooklyn. The bridge... Seriously, my avatar and name mean many things. I've explained it before, but for the most part, I just like it.

Most people call and we get together elsewhere. I've had five buzzers in the last year, three of them sales people.

They're fun when I walk out in heels!

I've never had much luck with pumps, except for the ones that have a snug instep. But then it's the instep that lifts the shoe instead of the heel cup. I did have two that didn't slip, but to achieve that, they were way too tight, and had to go.

Who knows what she would have said if she ran into someone wearing oxfords, dress pants and a tie! That might have really freaked her out!

"and the bulldog that gave birth to you!"

Wouldn't that be a "cowdog" that gives birth, rather than a "bulldog?"

Oh, my gowarsh! While looking at the pics, I thought of occupations which fit: 1. Stripentomology 2. ICFCLFAA Spokesperson - International Committee for Cute Little Furry Artificial Animals. 3. Gardener 4. VP Public Affairs, Chevrolet, Corvette Division 5. Vintor 6. Garden pixie 7. Legal Representative, Erector Set, Inc., Bondage Department 8. Government Sales, Jet Fighter Division, N. W. Ayer & Sons. 9. Vice Chanchelloress to the Supreme High Council, Pureblood Coven 10. President, Eohippus Preservation Society 11. Cannery worker 12. I haven't a clue... 13. Manager, Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home t-shirt sales 14. Chief, Alternative Product Development, Vacutek Packing 15. Wife of the Delta Bathroom Fixtures President. :0

I like 'em! Good, well-fitting leather sandals are hard to find.

Since I cannot extract a picture from the Blu-Ray disc, I took a picture of the TV screen.

Amazingly hot! Er, "clear!"

And clearer than what a screen capture would have given you with VHS.

Have you looked at WinDVD? I do full-res screen captures all the time. Then again, it's on my computer...

I think I have the exact same belt as you... Anyway... I think there's something disharmonious about that combination. Perceptions do change over time, however.

You can't go wrong with this elegant style in black, silver, or red!

It's the women it seems, who are generally better at thinging through the fog of indoctrination on this particular issue. While they are much more likely to be indifferent than in favour, there is not the breadth of caveman-like, testosterone fueled, irrational homophobia you see expressed in many men.

While I agree with you in principle that women can be supportive, it's also the women on other fashion forums who've been the most outspoken against heels. Could be that data is skewed, too, as no decent caveman-like, testosterone fueld, irrationally homophobe would be caught dead on a fashion site, right?

On the other hand, it could be that when it comes to fashion, men are more comforming to narrow standards than are women.

The first time I bought a pair of heels in public was in the mid-80s. The salespeople were nice but didn't know what to think. The last time I bought a pair of heels in public it was like I was the fifth man in the store buying heels that day. The first time I wore a pair of heels in public was around 2002, late night, at a restaurant. The hostess spotted my discrete heeled boots, got a funny look on her face, and after seating the folks in front of me, went in the back. A moment later the manager of the restuarant came out and saw me to a table. I asked him point blank, "Is it something I said?" and he said, "No, she just need to use the restroom." Maybe... Maybe not. Don't know. The last time I wore heels at a public restaurant, I received the usual glances and double-takes, but the waitress (different one) noticed but didn't bat an eye and was normaly chatty throughout the evening. The first time I viewed open discussions (fashion sites, not here) about men wearing heels on the Internet, the amount of flak was insane, mostly from the girls, even though guys were a full third of the posters. The last time I viewed open discussions about men wearing heels on the Internet, there was no outrageous flak, and quite a bit of acceptance, even among the guys, a few who admitted they'd considered it themselves. Apparently, via the Internet, the world's gotten out, people's minds/perceptions have changed. That's a good thing.