The internet, the rights of children and the childlike

This whole topic is one very dear to the heart of the author of this blog.

I as I'd hope every one of us believes in the rights of children such as the right to a safe happy childhood, the right not to be abused not least sexually by adults  but in our modern sophisticated world it seems it's harder to ensure they do not encounter inappropriate material or are groomed for later sexual attention.

Let's make this plain, this blog and what it is about is 100% behind those who are trying to keep children's lives safe, happy and free from adult predators.

Blogs however have methods where people can show they follow them often publicly and the words used to describe those that do may not help as Google, for instance call those people "Blog Members" so you might think they contribute to the blog and there is an inference the person on whose blog they have placed their following have approved them.

It's the opposite actually, they choose to follow your blog, can't contribute unless you personally allow them, approve themselves although you can remove them later and I regret to say I had to remove one after it was brought to my attention material I would consider hostile to children's interests was on their site.

The internet is we have to remember is the internet, a place where many people do things that legal but may not be, to borrow a British phrase, ones cup of tea and some take liberties too  deserving reporting.
The following is for readers of this blog:

 
Some followers may host "Adult "  material usually with a screen between your instant access and their own site to tell you so if you do not want to see anything that may be termed that, I would strongly suggest you do not click on them.Please don't presume I've necessarily endorsed followers either as I may not have checked their sites before you click on them! Not a few of us who  are childlike don't want internet porn either.

Acts regulating the internet have been passed whatever controversies continue about some unintended consequences or it if restrictions for under 16s are needed on social media.

I really wish 'adult sexual' content sites had to use a separate internet domain that you had to opt into with your internet browser as it is all to easy to find adult sites with the most innocent search terms and if your are or have been a parent it would rightly alarm you especially in an era of mobile internet access that increasing number of children have. Speaking as one who is ALG I'd also block it that way on all my internet capable devices too.

 
Followers of this blog are just people that like it some of which while I like them as people you may not feel their site is one you'd like to visit and generally I'll only act on those sites who compromise child safety by their content by showing for instance pedophilia but remember I WILL.

Welcome back

Easter came which we referred a bit about on last weeks blog and the start that goes very with it like events that I should be away to this weekend  and eggs obviously.

It's been a long time since I started it being an unashamedly littles blog even if bits may have come from other accounts elsewhere talking very much about what interests me as well as my life as one and part of the reason for this was to help explain what it's about and to encourage others in accepting this part of them.

When you can, you feel more at ease being who you really are regardless of what gender background (if any) you may have because the funny thing is every adult (a groan up) has a childhood base that the other areas of your life are built on so if you don't feel at ease with your younger side to the point perhaps of denying it, then quite often it trips you up. 

Beyond the schoolgirl look this is one that I like in Spring and Summer for being outdoors having fun playing and exploring out and about.

If you are transgendered, the whole identification issue can lead to a situation where your past childhood gender is effectively discarded as if you land as the man or woman you are without those bonds that those assigned at birth have and importantly drawn from.

It is common place in today's society for example for woman to hold on to the interests and passions of their girlhood without any question to their abilities in the world of work. Is that a bad thing?

Many of best creative ideas it seems to me come from that childlike state of mind (is it no accident so many in the creative industries are like that), prepared to think out of the box, drawing inspiration from their pasts?
What you may do with this childlike side is very much your own affair but it may involve wearing more girlish  styles of clothes (and what options we have!), possibly some kind of play or the rediscovery of pastimes you really enjoyed such as sports or arts/craft work.
The one thing I have learned thinking last night while together with a group of littles was the sense of personal  innerpeace I've found since, the feeling free to express my real feeling and emotions by simply being me rather than a reduced down 'groan up' version that simply left me sad. And to be with others, contributing and sharing in that fun.

Hugs, Jo
x

St Trinians

No this isn't about my school although I've told you a bit about that in the past but in 2012 Ronald Searl who did such a jolly good job of illustrating St Trinians died. He always felt this work overshadowed some of his other excellent material and maybe over here we're guilty of it.

This said it took a special kind of a man to get into the head of just what a all girls boarding school could be like when the authority figures weren't really in control and to extend the series as much as he did ending up with the science class blowing themselves up. No chance it would happen with me around cos I'm terrified of matches!

Anyway as a bit of tribute to the man and what's become an iconic series of films I'm showing this image of the four girls victorious waving their hockey sticks through air having seen of their rivals on the pitch.

There's so much of that in me it's worrying!

Getting by

I saw this manga drawing a few days ago and liked it a lot although I'd of written the first speech bubble as "I started out as a guy" had I been any good at drawing because our girl is showing sensitivity to how she is perceived in her new role among the other girls.

I think one of most important things is having respect for your inner girl, that's to say you don't put her in crass or otherwise crude situations if you wish to hold your own in the company of those born and raised as girls from the outset.

Those of us who started out as guys can't just demand the right to accepted and be granted it; we may have to earn our right to be wear our uniforms as part of being regarded as the girls we truly feel.

It's also important to understand females have spent ages fighting discrimination in the home, in school and in work.

Girls of our sort arguably need to both accept and embrace that same struggle fighting with our genetic sisters  for equal treatment in the workplace and supporting those who even in today's world get a bullet in the head for supporting girls education as fundamental human right.

If you can, learn about those struggles and support our genetic sisters in practical ways.
The path to our acceptance isn't easy but we need to take responsibility for making it as smooth as possible.

Space age living

The week it had to be said  had a turbulent start but ended quite well all be considered gaining a few fans at one place, seeing a misunderstanding led disagreement get to the point of accommodation and finally late autumn weather came to that lead to some photography which is more my idea of fun than dealing with the likes of the DWP which has been central in the last few weeks.

People often hear the groan ups talking about how we live, the type of environment they plan and how that affects things and this taps into some of things we recall of the past.

For instance in the late 1960's and 1970's the way children lived was changing rapidly brought on by both the idea of keeping more green spaces and also using less land for housing.
One famous children's tv series caught it well.

Yes that is a lift to the flat Mary lived in with Mungo the dog and Midge the inquisitive mouse in their town. They had a flat with a balcony that served as their garden and if they wanted more space then they'd go the communal park where fairs and other things go on.

Here's Mary playing with the bright colourful building blocks.

 I often harboured the thought they were trying to prepare us to this more isolated existance where everyone kept themselves to themselves, a far cry from the sort of life my folks had.

For one thing you couldn't just play in each others gardens or on the street, just in doors in the park away from the neighbours and the other is it remove the wonder of seeing the natural environment with it's calming effects.

In your dreams

I love music and often nursed ideas of being in a band with all the disciplines of band practise that go with it.

I never quite go the hang of playing guitar properly and graduated toward the Xylophone but if I'd of stuck with the guitar, this is how I'd love to have practised.

It's just so kawaii.

I am expecting a record this morning as one measure of my interest in music is the number of records and cds around the house - some several hundred - although I try to avoid duplicates in the way some might have regular and deluxe editions, mono and stereo copies and speciality issues by labels like Rhino Hifi, Mobile Fidelity, Analogue Productions and Speakers Corner. 

Every cloud has a silver lining edition

Hey people did you know this blog has had over 7000 page views since it's conception and is read people people on two continents? Quite something, eh?

Well yesterday was quite something in a bad kind of a way cos I was halfway on the commute to work when I senses an 'aura' the warning sign of  migraine which are a lot worse than just a bad headache and had to make my way back home.

Now that of itself doesn't bother me but for two things I was feeling dizzy, the local taxis were all tied up with school runs so I couldn't get one home and critically I'd left my cellphone at home on charge!

Not good as I had to walk though quiet country roads home.

Anyway I got home taking my time and ensuring I kept to where there were houses that if needed assistance I could get some from and the weather was pretty good  - so good -  that decided to take a picture by the Trent and Mersey canal that I like.

Tumblring Adventures

Another week goes by and while rather busy here, I have a couple of things to mention of which the Child Online safety bill is having an impact on some sites but in less than wholly predictable ways with some requiring work arounds and others you might of thought would of been not.

 
The other is oddly enough my random jottings littles centric Tumblr appears to be taking off when it comes to followers being in the mid 50's so thanks for all there who do follow it.

It's been going for a good number of years having survived the Tumblr purges, inter age regression communities warfare and a fair number of people just dropping away from Tumblr in general.

Meanwhile and not entirely unconnected with some of the above, this was something I just loved doing at school way back when be it solo skipping or playing skipping games to rhymes in threes or more taking turns.

Given it is the resumption of schooling and the Autumn Term it's rather apt for me. 

 
Such fun!

The Barney Mysteries

 

It's a warm post ban holiday day here as I type this weeks blogs so having been at EBS he old adage "You can't but a good book down would seem to apply around these parts of late  as some more new to me books by Enid Blyton arrived recently that cannot be bought now.

These copies are actually editions from the very early nineteen-seventies where while still in hardback form they have been cheapened by printing the frontspiece and spine direct to the jacket and missing off the rear of what would of been the back of the paper dust jacket the original hardbacks had.

 There are six novels in this series of mystery adventures that feature Rodger and Diana Lynton and their cousin Peter, ophaned, who goes under the name "Subby" in the series and his dog Laddie who are also joined by Barney an motherless circus boy who has been on a quest to find his absent father and who has a money called Miranda.

The "Barney Mysteries" is the title these usually are grouped under although some use "R Mysteries" with the "R" coming from the R in the names of all the titles.

The children visit sleepy villages and seaside towns that it transpires are riddled with intregue and it's that they look into.

One of the strengths of this series is the stories are full of atmosphere and good humour, the strong characterization making for much more depth  than most of her work and more sophisticated language that made it the only series Enid herself recommended just for those of eleven years and upward while still staying within child friendly themes.

Cold smiles!

When some likes go back in time would it surprise you to find actually there's something I do really love?

I first encountered this when I was chronologically little usually in folded over cardboard containers from the frozen food cabinet in our nearest towns store looking for something to have with our Sunday main meal.

Called Neapolitan Ice cream, it has the strawberry, vanilla and chocolate flavours all in one arranged so when you slice it, you get equal portions of each flavour and it went well with jelly!

Just marvellous!

I also had Viennetta for the first time in ages last week with cream and chocolate outer shell and that was delicious.

Life on the hoof

 

Just before I'd normally be orf this week here's this weeks post.You know this is so me as I just adore horses and ponies spending hours petting and talking with them to the point of begging folk to stop the car so I get out to them in the fields.

My brother was wild about horses, still is, taking part in gymkhanas and other competitions spending hours on horseback and subscribing to the Horse and Hound magazine and has a fair bit to do with the Arab Horse society, doing photography for some big cheeses. 

I spend quite bit of my time with him and share the same love of country life and its routines.

Bitter-sweet

It is a warm start to what will be a very warm day having woken up early to get a few chores done and then have to wait on the honey bees gathering nectar just where the waste bin is to finish their thing before putting it out.

Last night I was watching a tv show on the BBC presented by Chris Packham, the noted environmentalist around ADHD and its impact from childhood to adult life to the point one Woman recently diagnosed in her late 40's was effectively dependent on her children to keep her on track with appointments, family tasks .

it was interesting to see also how in early childhood especially at school age, the start of negative self images and becoming isolated creeping in.

What people call executive functioning is something I am aware I struggle with although unlike many on that show it is less lots of different idea balloons you're doing a  flip-flopping balancing act with so much as not knowing where to start and fear of "blank paper" that leads to paralysis.

That had quite a bit to do with "And where is your homework?" conversations as a child although later on I did quite well with supported open learning in later years probably cos I could create a framework that ensured I got the hours per week and the exercise completed for marking rather trying to fit in someone else's.

Dyslexia is more my major intellectual disability coupled with acquired brain damage with things like having five word memory recall which messes up dictation, very poor short term memory  coupled  associated issues with calculus and sequencing.

The lack of support at the time meant by the time I'd left formal education I just felt I couldn't really learn anything and lacked any confidence  just just further messed things up (and that's before gender issues come in).

It's taken a lot of work and generally remapping things to get to the point of being able to work with ideas and changed situations.

The originals of the Help! problem

 

Dealing with situations that I am struggling in has always been difficult but seeing a post by a very close friend recently rather brought into focus just what makes them so and this week I'm looking at that.

H.E.L.P!

That means trouble in my language as two things tended to happen when I struggled which I guess we all do at times.

The first was the school I went to had a considerable amount of disabled children, mainly physically and there was a drive very much around independence and self reliant, frequently excessively so that you'd be called out all the time time with statements such as "There's no such thing as can't ", "No One's going to do it for you", "No, don't help them, they've go to figure it out for themselves" directed at anyone who even offer.

It didn't help that it was an era where autism and dyslexia were seen as excuses for non compliance and willfully paying no attention so you got no special support only threats of corporal punishment for not following the norms and being useless at spelling and math.

Because of that any offers tended to given to others they thought HAD needs and you were purposefully shamed.

In time you learned to never be seen to ask for assistance and if you know something was coming up either avoid it or plow on regardless of the fact you were getting nowhere fast.

Thus Help! equalled shame and more.

Now I did hurt my wrist badly recent at a littles get together and we had a baking session so needless to say I was struggling to make pastry the rolling was excruciatingly painful when a organizer had to say "It's okay to ask for help" before I felt able to accept someone helping me complete the task that was necessary.

I can see how all of those bad experiences shaped my reactions even as they get in the way of trying to do more and I need to learn to accept help and understand today I won't be attacked and shamed for it.

Introducing Lauren

Yes it's finally here, for Christmas.

Although I don't endorse living your life as a stereotype - I sure haven't lived mine like one! - I have a classic girl fixation with dolls something that's been with me since childhood actually that in that typically confused way was 'permitted' by Mommy when many other things weren't.

I've written about a few of my dolls before but this one is special cos I found it in a store that was scheduled to close down within a few days.

She's a Vanity Fair doll coming with a certificate of authenticity that the designers called Laura but I beg to differ about that name so I went ahead and Christened her Lauren instead as I just love that name after removing all the packaging  with bubble wrap over the joints.

I like her face and hat.

Dollies is really more what girls like me need.

Children's Magazines again

Although the weather has been lousy for most of the week coupled with being very ill I do get out rather than living life behind a screen, interacting with people and that means at the very least I get to go to the general store and newsagent quite a bit.

I had been looking for a while at comics and magazines aimed for children are both displayed and also the kinds of content because in the time I've been on this planet things have changed.

Most comics and magazines are still sold on a "sales or return basis, the newssagent gets a credit for any unsold copies that are gathered up and collected by the distributor but an increasing number are going for direct sales with indviduals taking out subscriptions with copies being posted out in timed intervals to you.

Inspirations for comics can come from anywhere.

This one from the mid 1940's only had a short run came from parents in the United States who felt existing comics wre too sensational, lacking any meaning content and purely escapist and so mixed more wholesome stories, comic strips in with information about what girls could get involved in and interests.

A kind of "mash up" between comic and magazine.

I really like that cover and the concept.

  A more modern co-ed version is this published by Bayard in France which mixes a short story with comics set in the past with features on science, nature and intresets in a way that is lively, leaping off the page and easy to read.

A well written comic or magazine gently pushes language development, introucing new words and concepts and this is aimed more at 8-14 which given my reading problems is about right and guarantees you do get a challenging gripping story to read given I struggle with Young Adult fiction nevermind naytrhing really intended for adults.

Revisiting an old book

There are things you may have and do feel like revisiting such as books you had for an awful long time and today I'm writing about one.

A good many years back was the internet was becoming more a thing and I first got online I learned from sites I visited not just a bit more about upcoming releases and some variants of Beatles albums but also of books that went more into the history the Band and their Singles and Albums together with marketing.

One name I learned about was the American Bruce Spizer who did write and I eventually got his more useful supplement to 2004's Capitol Albums Volume One box set which had more of the facts, figures and story of these albums than the official enclosed booklet.

Some years ago I bought a few in a kind of paper back form the first editions of a new series of books he wrote around specific albums and one I recently re-read was The Beatles Finally Let It Be, the title being a pun based upon just how long and how many attempts that sessions that ended up as the Let It Be album and its accompanying movie it book until they were "let be" and released.

In it for example you learn of Magic Alex who saw himself as an electronics wizard inventor who appeared to the ear of John Lennon and his plan to build for them the bestest recording studio around with 72 tracks in a world where most had only 8.

That plan effected the recording of this album they only found a 8 track system riddled with so much hum and noise it was simply not fit for purpose, a building where there was no provision for cabling from studio to control room to recording consoles and where the was so little screening of noises such as that from the boiler, it had to be turned off whenever they were recording.

He also inexplicably had eight speakers, one per track where you only needed two for stereo mixing.

Magic Alex was really way out of his depth lacking real knowledge but John believed him even though he was close enough to people who worked and even owned, as George Martin their producer did, studios and knew just what was really needed and possible.

That fascinating little story one of several showed just how gullible the four beatles, not least John were back then handing over vast sums of money to people who knew little but how to gain their money.

It was fun re-reading this volume.

Extracts from the Toy Box

Well from the least expected places there seems to be more girls like me from what I've seen so if you're reading this for the first time, welcome.
To business now, following on from that bit of a resorting of casual sporty clothes I found a few things from my childhood I want to share.

I loved the wombles at the time, really I did having pictures, records and having watched the Tv series and here's my Great Uncle Bulgaria which is a late 1990's version as I think I lost the original like you do.
Also I found a C70 battleship made by Lesney of England in 1976 which is in very good shape with just a few marks on the underside. I wasn't really into war related toys  much so I think someone bought it me (kinda forget who just now) so I just kinda took care of it putting it on a shelf so it wasn't played with unlike my dolls or thumbed like my annuals.

I gave it a bit of a dust before taking this picture

Top shelf edition! (Very SFW!)

Been a bit busy this week tidying a few things up, sorting  somethings I don't really use but are in great shape for charity and dusting -atchoo! - the top shelf in my room.

 Well when doing that I found something I hadn't mentioned before on here that is I just loved Sesame Street for the characters and especially the message it put over in what could be  very selfish and commercial set of values found elsewhere. 

That was a plushie my parents bought me some years ago.

Other interesting things include in a totally unplanned conversation with the legendary Grump hearing him give acceptance to those of us who are adult littles who love dressing and "playing" or otherwise re-enacting more the age we feel whither it's a school based thing or more the life outside of you enjoy from that time.

That was pretty much what I had been up to this weekend at the Easter party, enjoying the Egg Hunt.

The only thing that matters is in being our authentic selves we deal with, to the best of our abilities, those most essential adult responsibilities we have.

 

Times past and present

I've a little time to kill today so I thought I'd work on this weeks entry tonight instead of leaving it until later and I'll start of by thanking those of who read and remarked on last weeks entry.

One recurring theme from the last seven days has been how you can be transported back in time by such things as rewatching tv shows or  hearing and  maybe discussing such things as music as you recall people, places and events from that period that link in with your childhood. 

There's a phenomenon people call the 'Earworm' that enables to you recall the sounds and tunes when they are heard again even if it may of been decades since you last heard them. 

It may even be one reason people listen to and collect recordings from the past apart from the joy listening to music can bring.

I had a number of those moments this week listening to Boom Radio hearing tracks I hadn't heard on radio for ages and going into a different world.

Then talking some more around the subject of schooldays and the notion of being a schoolgirl with a few people in a more personal way proved interesting for the similarities in what we get from it - being the child, the love of uniforms and structure, finding an inner peace and when we first realized we were different than our peers.

The observant will note its no coincidence the tops are just like mine cos this is the most comfortable in my own skin I can feel and these days it matters so so much.

Conversations

It can be taxing I guess when you thought you'd seen off all the challenges of the past whither it was getting in Mom's good books or for that matter she thought you'd grown up so no longer required quite the handling you had when you were younger.

New potentially self absorbing interests though enter as others leave.

The honest answer with me would run something like this:

"Mom, sometimes I just don't seem to be able to stop myself although I know what you said the other day".

"Just saying you're disappointed with me and saying I can't go to the shopping mall on Saturday with my mates doesn't seem to work".

"It may seem odd, Mommy, but those spankings did help me then to turn around my attitudes and behaviour and yes I think although it'll hurt it'll help me remember not to disobey you."

"I'd like you to give me a spanking for this." "Shall I fetch the hairbrush for you?"

*based on actual incident in the past.