Thoughts on social networks and emotional support

I'm a very spatial/visual person. When I think about abstract concepts, I often turn them into visual metaphors. When I think about my own emotional well-being and stability, this is especially true, and it's been the same metaphor for a very long time -- a web made up of elastic cords, from the thickest to the very fine, each representing a caring relationship, from the strongest "chosen family" bonds to the most tentative "well-meaning almost-stranger" and the ways in which stress diffuses throughout that web through expressions of support, ears, and shoulders.

I'm a deeply social and communal person, and my social network is absolutely central in my life, and crucial to my well-being, and my ability to weather stresses, external and internal, without crashing. The ability to talk things out and get emotional support is one of the biggest factors in my stability and management of my own moods. I have no doubt that this network is what allows me to deal with my bipolar without meds (this isn't a blanket prescription -- I'm right on the border, in terms of severity, of needing meds), and what helps me weather stresses, and allows me to support other people in my life when they need it. Sometimes this support is also practical, but by and large, it's the emotional component that I'm talking about, and that is most present inside my own head. It's something I feel on a very deep level -- something that goes far beyond a few words on a page (given that so much of my social interaction, even with my nearest and dearest, happens online these days) to being the tangible force that buoys me through rough times. It has very real and profound effects on my daily life. If you're reading this, you're probably some part of that for me. Thank you. I can't overstate just how much it means that even through the darkest and hardest parts of my life, the one thing I can never truly convince myself of is that I am totally alone in facing that.

Stupid and offensive laws, part 32671.

Supreme Court refuses to hear AL sex toy ban

On a related note:

For those who don't think pussies and their playthings are political, the new documentary Passion and Power: The Technology of Orgasm (Wabi Sabi Productions) will set you straight. Co-produced and co-directed by Wendy Slick and Emiko Omori, the film offers up a disturbing history of the first vibrators as well as a glimpse into the real-life consequences of laws still on the books in four states that ban the sale of them.

I just ordered the book and the movie, incidentally. More once I get them. Also ordered O: The Intimate History of the Orgasm, and added on one of my favorite silly sex movies, Super Sucker in order to hit the free shipping.

Also finally remembered to email Di about where that sexology program in PA is -- I know she's doing it mostly as a distance learning thing, and I'm really curious to find out more about it.

On other sexuality-related subjects (yes, this is a link-dump):

As usual, Susie Bright hits the nail on the head regarding scare tactics and prurience integral to the child porn hysteria

I get particularly angry about how this topic is used to bludgeon freedom of expression and to pass laws that are blatantly unconstitutional, but about which no politician ever interested in holding office again can speak. (Harmful to Minors is the best book I've read so far on the schizophrenic and destructive approach our culture takes to children and sexuality -- it's got the guts to talk about what we're doing horribly wrong in our attempts to handle the topic, and why none of it is the best approach to actually protecting children from predators. There's another one I've read in the past year or so on the more general topic of sexual censorship, but I'll be damned if I can remember the title, and my "books I've read" spreadsheet is at work right now. Too bad cover art isn't useful for searching).

And, randomly, an interesting little article about "friends with benefits"

OK, really need to go back to sleep now. I've been up puttering around for more than four hours, and it's starting to get light out.

Whatever Happened to Susan Foreman?

In watching The Dalek Invasion, I found a funny little gem in the special features; apparently it was part of a larger series of satirical BBC radio plays.

Although most of what I can find by googling talks about where it doesn't match canon (well, duh. Satire.) I thought it was quite funny. Sadly, I haven't found a link to the actual audio online, but if you happen to rent this disk, don't forget to find it on the special features (after the Blue Peter bit on how to make swiss roll Daleks).

As a note, it's on the second disk of the set, along with almost all the other special features.

Hee.

I think Jovana must be having a party upstairs. I heard the dogs barking, and someone talking to them, and wandered back to see who'd stopped by. Random cute girl with a beer standing in my kitchen looking for the bathroom. I told her where it was, then asked if maybe she was looking for Jovana's, and when she confirmed that, I pointed her upstairs. She didn't seem particularly thrown by the fact I wasn't wearing clothes, which was good -- since I was expecting that it was someone or other I knew, it hadn't occured to me to put anything on. Still, it's nice that little faux pas didn't happen about an hour ago, when I was watching porn and wanking in the living room (everyone's out tonight). Might've been a touch more awkward.

Incidentally, does anyone have any good recommendations for finding some new sexuality icons? I've got a few I like, but I'm looking for some more, especially since I'm doing the porn reviews pretty frequently on my sexuality filter.