tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181761213124309364.post6292020211793773833..comments2023-05-25T10:58:32.040-04:00Comments on By Any Other Word: Men in UniformRosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14729019275679534785noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181761213124309364.post-48543620345254676592008-02-06T03:49:00.000-05:002008-02-06T03:49:00.000-05:00Rose,Given your history, I can totally understand ...Rose,<BR/><BR/>Given your history, I can totally understand where you're coming from. Uniforms can be a very powerful symbol of authority and membership in a specific group. This is often an advantage, but as your experiences point out, can also sometimes be a major disadvantage.<BR/><BR/>There are some in the fire service who advocate changing our uniforms simply because they do look so similar to those worn by the police. Some departments have done so: I can think of at least 2 or 3 major cities (and there are probably more) where firefighters wear embroidered polo shirts instead of the traditional uniform shirt and badge. And even the departments that still have the traditional uniforms are more frequently wearing just their screenprinted (under) t-shirts in lieu of the uniform shirt except for more formal/official situations.<BR/><BR/>I realize that your feelings go much deeper than just the superficial issue of a uniform though. Believe it or not, I'm often intimidated by police officers too. I work with several regularly, am on a first name basis with most of them and consider s few to be good friends. I've even had a few in my family. But, when I'm driving down the road and see a cruiser behind me or on a side-street, or if I walk into someplace where an officer I don't know is present, I often get nervous, even though I rationally know I have no reason to be.<BR/><BR/>So, thank you for acknowledging me in whatever fashion you feel most comfortable, and believe me, I don't take offense to any trepidation on your part.<BR/><BR/>And, I promise to never strangle you with my fire hose. Asphyxiation's not my kink...I'm just into spanking. ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181761213124309364.post-39341177888081379512008-02-04T00:11:00.000-05:002008-02-04T00:11:00.000-05:00Hi Rose!I very nearly was defeated this evening wh...Hi Rose!<BR/><BR/>I very nearly was defeated this evening when I saw, because of life such as it is, that I had 741 unread blog entries in my feed reader.<BR/><BR/>I didn't know where to start, except to just hit the "Mark All Read" button and start at the beginning.<BR/><BR/>I'm so very glad I didn't do that! I ran down the list just once and hit the most important blogs. I'll leave Chris to make his own comments but, truthfully, even though I'm not much intimidated by firemen these days...<BR/><BR/>policemen are enough to make me wet my pants in fear when they so much as look at me. So, for different reasons obviously, your entry resonated with me :)<BR/><BR/>sparkleSerenity Evertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12269108286146880037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181761213124309364.post-14706731016137640702008-01-21T14:34:00.000-05:002008-01-21T14:34:00.000-05:00Thanks, JA! That isn't incoherent at all. I supp...Thanks, JA! That isn't incoherent at all. I suppose that that is exactly what this post is about - letting it out, acknowledging the fear even if it is completely mortifying to do so. And it certainly is mortifying. I've been debating about deleting this post since I posted it. But hopefully by putting it out there I'll be able to deal with it a little better. <BR/><BR/>It just feels so ridiculous sometimes. I've been through some things that other people would find completely horrifying, and yet I want to hide from police officers and such as if they are boogeymen. It makes no sense!Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14729019275679534785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181761213124309364.post-89087840103455899832008-01-18T20:07:00.000-05:002008-01-18T20:07:00.000-05:00Thanks for sharing--this really speaks to a lot of...Thanks for sharing--this really speaks to a lot of things I go through.<BR/><BR/>One thing I've found is, "rational me" can NOT get through to "emotional me" by using rational arguments. "Emotional me" just gets more and more frantic, feeling un-listened-to, like she (in my case, they) have to keep pushing and struggling to get across the fear.<BR/><BR/>The thing that's been helping me the most? Let out those feelings. Express them. Allow yourself to say, "I am terrified. I am angry. I am sad" or whatever the feeling is. Express the feelings, and then maybe you can say, "Do you think that feeling is about today, or the past?" Don't push it. If "emotional you" insists that the feelings are based in the present, allow it to sit for a few days, weeks, whatever. Listen to the emotions, and allow them out.<BR/><BR/>I say this like it's easy. It's not. It's really a struggle to allow yourself to feel instead of being rational.<BR/><BR/>It can help if you have a therapist, or a friend/partner/supporter, or a journal, or a blog. Express the feelings to them, and if you're lucky, there will be someone *outside* to play the "rational" role (hopefully, someone who will listen first).<BR/><BR/>Sorry if this is incoherent, didn't get much sleep last night.Jigsaw Analogyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15051811184421446296noreply@blogger.com