What does it mean to be cool?
Just to be cool ...
What does it mean to be cool? Some of us think that being cool - the most important thing in our life. But is it really so? Well, it’s an extremely hard and multilateral question. For that reason I decided to conduct a survey on theme: “What does it mean to be cool?”
In this very work you’ll find some interesting information about “what does it mean to be cool” nowadays and in the past times.
Chapter 1.
All the recent talks are converging on this theme or these near to it… The sharp rise of aversion to LS is discussed albeit the problem lays not at all here … Talks are going on destitution of real Doms or subs – but they can be met freely… The truth is that they are rather prone to meet one another but that’s really an oddity, isn’t it? Talkers about the squalor of the preaching ones aren’t remembering the SUBJECT of the preachments anymore. To say it short a crisis of the form is arrived. How to become a cool one? The exact meaning of the word ‘cool’ as it used here needs to be formulated from the very beginning. The cool one isn’t the one who is professional, or desirable, or tall and mighty. NO. The cool one is the person with whom it’s nice to mix. You can be and stay forth a total ignoramus concerning safety, you can rant out any jazz about some Codex statutes new-coined by yourself, you can profess back-alley morals and strings – shortly, you can be either a vanilla or a jerk. BUT. You can be a cool jerk at that. It would dawn on you that people are able to find excuses for your faults when they feel themselves comfortable with you. That they are ready to help to rectify your errors, willing to tolerate your blunders and watch your back. The recommendations are divided into two groups – for Tops that are called Doms here but the advice is good for sadists as well, and for bottoms called subs here albeit maso and slaves are too coming in the category. The truth is that both parts are useful for Tops and bottoms alike. Each of the parts addresses one group directly and the other… well… really also directly but it isn’t very noticeable from the first glance …
Some Advice to Doms.
Don’t jump about - a Dom isn’t a clown. You’re perfectly seen by all, they’re aware of and wonder-stricken by you. Providing you’re really cool…
Don’t lose a sense of reality. When it appears to you that all are ready to kneel before you - doubt it and think again. But don’t be disappointed with the result – all that isn’t so grand as they say it in books …
Don’t lose a sense of humor – be ironical to yourself. Among people I know, one trying to position himself as Dom was patted on the head, the other’s butt was jokingly touched with a whip . Both made a real fuss stating that it was a put-down. Both aren’t taken seriously anymore. A Dom simply can’t take some trifle as a degrade – he isn’t a monument to himself.
Don’t value yourself on your money. A hand full of gold can’t hold a whip firmly.
Don’t think that being a Dom makes you better. Not in the least!
Don’t call yourself a Dom from fear of calling yourself a sub. A good sub commands much more respect than a scabby complexes-ridden Dom. It’s well known who’s who in reality.
Think before speaking and be true to your word. The main thing is not to fret over some blunder you said or made for begones are begones.
Speak what you think. Having no thoughts – keep silence. Itching to speak – make a joke. But don’t be the first who laughs at it.
Master the art of drinking. Inebriated Doms do exist but smashed Doms don’t. Notwithstanding how inebriated is a Dom he answers for his words and doings all the same, not dosses out and arrives home in a fairly clean state.
If you can do something good for a person, do it. Calculating out your gain mind that it’s what whores do. Better not to assimilate their ways.
A sub and a sub of yours are two essentially different things. A sub of other fellow is a third different thing and is almost not a sub.
Deciding to command make sure that here is anybody who shall gladly obey. But don’t indulge in vain hopes…
Any human being is interesting. It’s simply not everyone can see it. You’re a gifted one, aren’t you?
Some Advice for subs.
Don’t be afraid. Nobody will bite you. You can be spanked though but you hadn’t come here for nothing, had you?
Correspond to your status. If there’s nobody to show off do it simply for practice. May it be that you hadn’t noticed somebody?
Show off your status. Doms really are like babies needing to feel just a tiny bit of power - so pamper them. But be careful not to pamper a bit too thick.
Don’t use the status. Don’t use the Codex. Don’t use the rules. I mean - for your own good. Nobody except you is obliged to fulfil the rules you’d decided right for yourself.
Take the consequences of your actions notwithstanding that it don’t always brings pleasure. Some ways do bring more than pleasure though along with some pain, eh?
If your Master isn’t accessible for others it’s not a cause to cut yourself loose. Personally, I would kick away a slave profiting from my unavailability to receive complaints against her. Not to let her profane me.
Enjoy the life. A depressed sub is worse than a sozzled Dom.
Be grateful – in general and for all that is. Simply for a practice. You’d love it.
Don’t call yourself a sub trying to cast off your responsibility for decision-making – really the responsibility is falling on the subs over and above.
Don’t be lazy. A lazy sub is worse than a depressed one.
Take the initiative - for lack of it is a real laziness.
Don’t consider the Dom liable to you. Liable to have devices, premises, to feed you, to do you good… He isn’t liable to anything even if it offends you a bit.
And now the last but not least – rather the main – advice to both groups.
Don’t you ever try to make an icon out of yourself. An icon may be revered but never loved. Don’t try to be holier than the Pope for saints aren’t loved either. Don’t pursue the love of masses for people resent love that is wished on them.
Just be cool.
What do people think about being cool.
Nowadays we are all interested in this problem, “What does mean to be cool?” Why? Because we are teenagers. We are full of information from TV, Internet, teachers and of course our friends. Due to this fact we decided to conduct a public opinion poll in our school and ask about it our class mates, our teachers and parents.
Suvorina Stella Ruslanovna, the teacher of German language:
To be cool - means to know the answer to any question, to find a solution from any situation. To be cool means to help people, to give true advice.
Not cool person is a person, who has a cool car or who goes to cool
parties. They frequently are limited; show off, and from themselves
represent nothing. Cool is the one who in a life has achieved much from
work, not that to whom all has got from parents or relatives.
Rita Sergeevna, the teacher of English language:
To be cool - means to be fashionable, clever, successful and purposeful person in the collective.
Ivanova Valentina, mother:
To be cool – means to be clever kind, to have good friends, to be good and a lovely daughter, to read many interesting books, to visit many interesting places, to help people and, at the end, to like life and everything around you.
Korableva Larisa Nikolaevna, the teacher of English language.
Well, what does it mean to be cool? In a big dictionary we can read about it:
“To be fashionable and attractive”.
If I were a teenager, I’d support this idea. Moreover, I should add here to use some informal words, special for my age, and circle of acquaintance. They can change with the time in spite of being our favorite ones. I used to be of this opinion. But all in good time. Everything is changing. We are getting more and more experienced.
Now, I’m different. I think to be cool-means to be self-sufficient and independent. If you have any ideas to say to your children, can provide for them, you are cool. Also, for being cool you should be very well- educated and have your own business.
Fedorova Olga Vladimirovna, the teacher of English language:
To be cool means try to do everything with pleasure. Hard work done with pleasure makes life cool.
Pisareva Nina Ivanovna, the teacher of English language:
In my view to be cool means to be well educated, successful and decent.
Ponomareva Anna, mother:
What does it mean: to be cool? So many people, so many opinions.
To my mind, it means above all to be fairly independent, that is to solve the problems without anybody’s help. You should develop your ability to work without assistance.
To be cool, in my opinion, also means to be a real friend. It’s evident that you can’t be a real friend if you make fun of others or laugh when somebody makes a mistake. You should remember that those who share things with friends and give them help when in need make others like them. Your real friend always keeps promises and tries to do all the things you asked him. It’s great to have a friend. “A life without a friend is a life without a sun”, according to an old German proverb.
If you consider yourself “cool”, you shouldn’t forget about your health. Being in good health is all the rage nowadays. That goes without saying good health is not something we are able to buy at the chemist’s, that’s why it’s so important to lead healthy life-style. By keeping fit, changing bad habits or surrounding conditions we can make our body last without major problems. First of all you must miss no chance of outdoor activities as an antidote to our sedentary lives. Skating or skiing in winter and swimming in summer must become part of your everyday life.
If you want to be “cool” you should be well-informed. Nowadays younger generation is the best informed ever. They are really lucky. Mass-media (newspapers, television, magazines, etc.) play the most important role in the development of the values of the teenagers. They can use the media in different ways at different times. Sometimes teenagers want to escape from reality and play computer games for long hours.
For some teenagers being cool means practice extreme sports.
Some people think that extreme sports are crazy and never try them. In my opinion extreme sports make you cool and brave.
I’ve asked my friends what do they think about extreme sports. The first person I talked to it was my best friend. Here is what he said:
“Personally I don’t understand why they do it. Maybe it’s like a drug; they do it for the first time just because some of their friends said it was great. The more they do it the more they want to do it again. Or probably they start doing it because they want to show how cool, strong and courageous they are. I’d never try anything like that, I’m addicted to safety.”
Well, I absolutely agree with him, but there are some other thoughts. For example: a girl from my school told:
‘I’m just dying to do BASE-jumping. All my friends do it. It’s a relatively new sport, BASE is an acronym for building, antenna, span (bridge) and earth (cliffs). Jumpers leap from stationery objects and deploy a parachute. Unlike skydiving, no aircraft is involved. They’ve said it’s a feeling nothing can be compared to, in a short period of time you experience so much. They go almost every month, I think they are obsessed. Even though it’s pretty dangerous I’m not a least bit scared, the only problem is my parents – I’m afraid they won’t let me do it.”
Of course our parents won’t let us do it, but if you don’t listen to them your friends will think you are old enough so you are cool.
Then I spoke to my father’s friend who is a lot older then me. He is interested in extreme sports so I wanted to know his opinion.
“I work in a bank and I can’t say it’s a particularly exciting job. You often want a change. You get bored with e-mails, faxes, deadlines, work challenges. I found a perfect in scuba diving. When I do it all my personal problems go away, and when I get back to real life they don’t seem that bad anymore. And to add up to that scuba diving is an ultimate thrill and a real pleasure. I’ve also made a lot of friends who share the same passion. I’d never abandon it. Never.”
In addition to all this I want to say that some people can feel fear. On the other hand extreme sports can relax you.
So what are those extreme sports?
Scubadiving
SCUBA Diving is much like meditation... Although considered an extreme kind of sports, in good underwater conditions it is all about relaxation and sight-seeing at the same time. SCUBA diving is perhaps the next best thing after space travel. And you need just about the same amount of equipment,. Here are all the essentials
mask
snorkel
fins
wetsuit
regulator (a mouth piece with hose that is attached to the tank)
BCD (buoyancy controlling device)
tank (for compressed air)
a pressure gauge (it is attached to the tank to monitor the amount of air left)
Snowboarding.
Snowboarding is a winter sport which is a lot like other "-boarding" sports but also has a distinctive features of skiing. It originated in USA in the 60's with a kids' toy dubbed "Snurfer" but really lifted off in late 70's when first "true" boards were designed. It took another 10 years to gain some public interest. Popularity of snowboarding sky-rocketed in late 80's bringing it to the top in 1994 when it was declared an Olympics sport. Riders stand sideways on the snowboard, so everybody has to choose which leg is leading. Those with left leading foot are proudly claiming themselves 'regulars' and calling everybody else a 'goofy'. As if it wasn't enough to distinguish yourself from the mass, there are lots of riding styles you can attend to. Freestyle and freeride are by far the most popular ones among the varieties of snowboard styles. Freestyle is all about jumping and doing crazy tricks whereas freeride, considering its name, is mostly in riding around and just enjoying the process. Another popular theme: how dangerous is snowboarding? Put it like that: it's as dangerous or safe as you want it to be. Drive with care, don't sit where you could not be seen clearly from a good distance, don't try to do tricks if you are not ready - you got it. However, you can kill yourself snowboarding. Even worse, you can also kill somebody else. It's always important to stay in control and you will have a good chance to be alive, healthy and generally ok.
Mountain bike.
Strictly speaking, mountain biking is an extreme sport in which the participant rides a bicycle off road. But to me MTB is more than just a sport or whatever, it’s something I can and will do any time, regardless of the weather, season, location and especially road conditions. First, it always makes me feel good. Furthermore, it’s so easy and convenient - you just mount in the saddle and start pushing pedals, going faster, faster and yet even faster, driving yourself to the limit and beyond. Then, you can go long distances easy and fast, also in cities, where it is a good remedy for all those countless traffic problems (I’ve found it is often faster to get to the center of Moscow by bike than by any other vehicle, including subway, buses and cars). Also, it helps me keep myself fit and healthy, allowing me to spend more time outdoors going ‘back to nature’.
My personal favorite is driving along the forest paths used for horseback riding – you get all kinds of obstacles there, i.e. steep hills and pits full of mud, branches that are lying across or slapping you in the face and a lot more to make your life difficult – nasty flies and mosquitoes, as well as something-that-is-left-after-horses, to name a few.
This type of mountain biking is called cross-country or XC, to be short. There are also other types such as downhill (DH), trial, dual, slalom, BSX and so on and so forth but those IMHO have much less to do with pure and permanent biking fun because they usually involve lots of protecting equipment (as it is with downhill), special tracks (BSX, duel, etc) or customized-and-rather-expensive-dual-suspension-with-disk-brakes bikes (downhill again). Looking at this list I can say that I do like trial but that jumping is just not for me and I never was any good in it so I’d better stick to my XC.
Chapter 2.
Dandy. The wearing of Clothes wisely and well.
Now let us have a look at history and evolution of so called “Dandies”. According to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary a dandy is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and the cultivation of leisurely hobbies. Some dandies, especially in Britain in the late 18th and 19th century, often strove to affect aristocratic values even though many came from common backgrounds.
The practice of dandyism first appeared in the revolutionary 1790s, both in London and Paris. The dandy cultivated a skeptical reserve, to such extremes that the novelist George Meredith, no dandy himself, was of the opinion that "Cynicism is intellectual dandyism." Some took a more benign view. For example, Thomas Carlyle in his Sartor Resartus wrote that a dandy was no more than "a clothes-wearing Man, a Man whose trade, office and existence consists in the wearing of Clothes. Every faculty of his soul, spirit, purse, and person is heroically consecrated to this one object, the wearing of Clothes wisely and well: so that the others dress to live, he lives to dress...And now, for all this perennial Martyrdom, and Poesy, and even Prophecy, what is it that the Dandy asks in return? Solely, we may say, that you would recognise his existence; would admit him to be a living object; or even failing this, a visual object, or thing that will reflect rays of light..." This image shows two 1830's dandies. Their elegant clothing, arrogant expressions and posture show how they emulated the dress and mannerisms of the aristocracy.
Etymology
The word dandy made its first appearance in a Scottish border ballad about 1780, but probably not with its more recent meaning. It was perhaps a shortened form of jack-a-dandy, (Encyclopedia Britannica 1911) and it became a vogue word during the Napoleonic Wars. Well, in the slang of the time, a dandy was differentiated from a fop in that the dandy's dress was more refined and sober.
As you know, in the 21st century the word "dandy" has become a jocular adjective meaning "fine" or "great," and is often used sarcastically. However, sometimes a well-dressed and self-absorbed man is still referred to as a dandy - often with a connotation of homosexuality.
Dandyism in France
In France dandies were sometimes celebrated in revolutionary terms as self-created men who consciously designed their own personalities and broke radically with the traditions of the past. By their elaborate dress and idle, decadent lifestyles, French bohemian dandies sought to convey their contempt for and superiority to bourgeois society. This fancy-dress bohemianism became a major influence on the Symbolist movement in French literature during the latter part of the nineteenth century.
As it was generally believed an aspiring dandy must have no profession other than elegance. . . no other status but that of cultivating the idea of beauty in their own persons. . . . The dandy must aspire to be sublime without interruption; he must live and sleep before a mirror.
Later Dandyism
The gilded 1890s provided many suitably sheltered settings for dandyism. The poets Algernon Swinburne and Oscar Wilde, Walter Pater, the American artist James McNeill Whistler, Joris-Karl Huysmans and Max Beerbohm were dandies of the period, as was Robert de Montesquiou, who inspired Marcel Proust's Baron de Charlus. In Italy Gabriele d'Annunzio and Carlo Bugatti exemplified the artistic bohemian dandyism.
The 20th century had less patience with dandyism: the Prince of Wales, briefly Edward VIII was something of a dandy, and it did not help his public appeal.
Edward VIII
Aristocratic imitation: Dandies lacked noble blood, connections, and any innate characteristics of aristocracy. They were like actors living out fantasies that could never come true, adopting outward characteristics that aided in this public and personal deception.
Fashion: Appearance and the latest fashion was everything to a Dandy. They delighted in elegance and accessories such as white gloves, etc. A significant part of their day was spent grooming; they also believed strongly in cleanliness; most probably bathed regularly.
Mannerism: Dandyism was largely defined by a self-cultivated personality. Dandies thought of themselves as " . . . gentlemen in a barroom, who talk about 'my fields, my woods, my peasants,' hiss the actresses at the theatre to prove that they are persons of taste, quarrel with the officers of the garrison, to show that they are gallant, . . ."
Bohemian Idleness: Dandies had the time and the money to devote to living extravagantly. They were wealthier than Bohemians, having enough to live without employment. Many were owners of large inheritances. They never sought to earn or gain more wealth but lived in constant risk of losing their wealth, gambling and squandering carelessly. A typical dandy would hunt, smoke, gape, drink, take snuff, play billiards, stare at passengers getting out of the coach, live at the cafe, dine at the inn, . . . grow stupid as they grow old, do no work, do no good, and not much harm. This decadent lifestyle forced many dandies into a life of poverty and to become, in effect, their bohemian counterparts.
Merging of Bohemia and Dandyism: These two seemingly different worlds very often mingled. Dandies befriended Bohemians and frequented the same cafes. While many dandies were forced to live a bohemian lifestyle, bohemians sometimes adopted dandy ways.
Gentleman Driver
Dandies fortify their souls on dangerous sports. A shining example of this type of sportsman dandy is Count Giannino Marzotto, who twice won the prestigious Mille Miglia auto race for Ferrari. The man who emerged the winner was not some professional, caked with exhaust and dust and oil fumes, but a handsome young man, who paused on the way to the podium to receive his trophy to purchase flowers, and after affixing a boutonniere, threw the rest of the bouquet to one of the beautiful women in attendance.
The Dandies were no prissy class of gentlemen, or mincing walkers as their elegant forebears, the Macaroni's, had been. They were the well dressed, witty and elegant men of a new generation. Led by George 'Beau' Brummell. They are mostly remembered now for their sartorial dress, but in fact the group of men were also known at the time for their wit, amiability and loyalty.
The Excesses of the eighteenth century dress with foaming lace, richly brocaded coats, high red heels, powdered wigs and gaudy jewelry were left behind for a simpler age of elegance, in dress anyway. To generate revenue William Pitt put a tax on hair powder in 1795. It was a curious tax with a long list of exceptions but it was hoped by Pitt to generate around 210,000 guineas in revenue. In fact it was the beginning of the end. Whig leaders met in September of that year and cut off their queues and vowed to abandon the use of hair powder. The move was met with immense support and the tax only raised 46,000 guineas.
The style of the well dressed man was defined by Brummell as that which drew no attention to himself. Dark coats, unadorned, but of the most exquisite cut were worn over linen of the snowiest white and well starched neck cloths. Only the waistcoat could display the lavish embroidery and design. "Give me a man who makes the tailor, not the Tailor who makes the man." Brummell's influence also extended to two other innovations, the top boot was replaced by the Hessian with its heart shaped top and tassel. It suited the patriotism of the time for the Hessian was solidly German while the top boot was French and Napoleon was the enemy. All the best gentlemen had their boots made by Hoby whose premises were on the corner of St James's Street and Piccadilly and employed some 300 workmen. With the hessian boot came the pantaloon which replaced the knee breeches. The problem with pantaloon's however was the wrinkles they formed. To fix this Brummell came up with the the foot loop (shown in the picture above of the William, 6th Duke of Devonshire.)
The Dandy did spend some hours on his toilette each morning - this is true, but their influence on society was more than just the figures they cut. They were also believed the taste and elegance of manner and style of person was as important as their dress. As one contemporary remarked:
The manners of the Dandies were themselves a charm. Their speech was pleasnt, their language thoroughbred. Many among them were highly-gifted, doing all that they did well; the less apt, always to the point, letting it alone; with enthusiasm, wihtout illusions - a school of gentlemen, liberal, openhanded; ephermeral as youth and spirits, yet marked with this endearing quality, that they remained, with few exceptions, true and loyal friends, tested through later years of adversity.'
This later 'adversity' was invariably debts and bankruptcy and more than one had to flee to the continent. Brummell was once asked how much a young man, just being launched in London, would need for clothes. Tongue in cheek Brummell replied, "With strict economy it might be done for 800 pounds a year." In fact Brummell's income was at least twice that figure. While he lived relatively sparingly, rarely entertaining, and without practicing extravagence in clothing, he was till bankrupt by 1816 - the product of gambling.
Conclusion.
After having conducted a survey on pupils’ and teachers’ opinions we have drawn the following conclusion. The priorities in our life for teenagers and adults are a little bit different. For children they are clothes, modern activities (sports, music, computers), trendy friends and only then good marks at school. As for adults they are first of all good education, a well-paid job and self-sufficiency.
What should we do to find these right priorities? We should read more and gain our life experience.
What does it mean to be cool? Some of us think that being cool - the most important thing in our life. But is it really so? Well, it’s an extremely hard and multilateral question. For that reason I decided to conduct a survey on theme: “What does it mean to be cool?”
In this very work you’ll find some interesting information about “what does it mean to be cool” nowadays and in the past times.
Chapter 1.
All the recent talks are converging on this theme or these near to it… The sharp rise of aversion to LS is discussed albeit the problem lays not at all here … Talks are going on destitution of real Doms or subs – but they can be met freely… The truth is that they are rather prone to meet one another but that’s really an oddity, isn’t it? Talkers about the squalor of the preaching ones aren’t remembering the SUBJECT of the preachments anymore. To say it short a crisis of the form is arrived. How to become a cool one? The exact meaning of the word ‘cool’ as it used here needs to be formulated from the very beginning. The cool one isn’t the one who is professional, or desirable, or tall and mighty. NO. The cool one is the person with whom it’s nice to mix. You can be and stay forth a total ignoramus concerning safety, you can rant out any jazz about some Codex statutes new-coined by yourself, you can profess back-alley morals and strings – shortly, you can be either a vanilla or a jerk. BUT. You can be a cool jerk at that. It would dawn on you that people are able to find excuses for your faults when they feel themselves comfortable with you. That they are ready to help to rectify your errors, willing to tolerate your blunders and watch your back. The recommendations are divided into two groups – for Tops that are called Doms here but the advice is good for sadists as well, and for bottoms called subs here albeit maso and slaves are too coming in the category. The truth is that both parts are useful for Tops and bottoms alike. Each of the parts addresses one group directly and the other… well… really also directly but it isn’t very noticeable from the first glance …
Some Advice to Doms.
Don’t jump about - a Dom isn’t a clown. You’re perfectly seen by all, they’re aware of and wonder-stricken by you. Providing you’re really cool…
Don’t lose a sense of reality. When it appears to you that all are ready to kneel before you - doubt it and think again. But don’t be disappointed with the result – all that isn’t so grand as they say it in books …
Don’t lose a sense of humor – be ironical to yourself. Among people I know, one trying to position himself as Dom was patted on the head, the other’s butt was jokingly touched with a whip . Both made a real fuss stating that it was a put-down. Both aren’t taken seriously anymore. A Dom simply can’t take some trifle as a degrade – he isn’t a monument to himself.
Don’t value yourself on your money. A hand full of gold can’t hold a whip firmly.
Don’t think that being a Dom makes you better. Not in the least!
Don’t call yourself a Dom from fear of calling yourself a sub. A good sub commands much more respect than a scabby complexes-ridden Dom. It’s well known who’s who in reality.
Think before speaking and be true to your word. The main thing is not to fret over some blunder you said or made for begones are begones.
Speak what you think. Having no thoughts – keep silence. Itching to speak – make a joke. But don’t be the first who laughs at it.
Master the art of drinking. Inebriated Doms do exist but smashed Doms don’t. Notwithstanding how inebriated is a Dom he answers for his words and doings all the same, not dosses out and arrives home in a fairly clean state.
If you can do something good for a person, do it. Calculating out your gain mind that it’s what whores do. Better not to assimilate their ways.
A sub and a sub of yours are two essentially different things. A sub of other fellow is a third different thing and is almost not a sub.
Deciding to command make sure that here is anybody who shall gladly obey. But don’t indulge in vain hopes…
Any human being is interesting. It’s simply not everyone can see it. You’re a gifted one, aren’t you?
Some Advice for subs.
Don’t be afraid. Nobody will bite you. You can be spanked though but you hadn’t come here for nothing, had you?
Correspond to your status. If there’s nobody to show off do it simply for practice. May it be that you hadn’t noticed somebody?
Show off your status. Doms really are like babies needing to feel just a tiny bit of power - so pamper them. But be careful not to pamper a bit too thick.
Don’t use the status. Don’t use the Codex. Don’t use the rules. I mean - for your own good. Nobody except you is obliged to fulfil the rules you’d decided right for yourself.
Take the consequences of your actions notwithstanding that it don’t always brings pleasure. Some ways do bring more than pleasure though along with some pain, eh?
If your Master isn’t accessible for others it’s not a cause to cut yourself loose. Personally, I would kick away a slave profiting from my unavailability to receive complaints against her. Not to let her profane me.
Enjoy the life. A depressed sub is worse than a sozzled Dom.
Be grateful – in general and for all that is. Simply for a practice. You’d love it.
Don’t call yourself a sub trying to cast off your responsibility for decision-making – really the responsibility is falling on the subs over and above.
Don’t be lazy. A lazy sub is worse than a depressed one.
Take the initiative - for lack of it is a real laziness.
Don’t consider the Dom liable to you. Liable to have devices, premises, to feed you, to do you good… He isn’t liable to anything even if it offends you a bit.
And now the last but not least – rather the main – advice to both groups.
Don’t you ever try to make an icon out of yourself. An icon may be revered but never loved. Don’t try to be holier than the Pope for saints aren’t loved either. Don’t pursue the love of masses for people resent love that is wished on them.
Just be cool.
What do people think about being cool.
Nowadays we are all interested in this problem, “What does mean to be cool?” Why? Because we are teenagers. We are full of information from TV, Internet, teachers and of course our friends. Due to this fact we decided to conduct a public opinion poll in our school and ask about it our class mates, our teachers and parents.
Suvorina Stella Ruslanovna, the teacher of German language:
To be cool - means to know the answer to any question, to find a solution from any situation. To be cool means to help people, to give true advice.
Not cool person is a person, who has a cool car or who goes to cool
parties. They frequently are limited; show off, and from themselves
represent nothing. Cool is the one who in a life has achieved much from
work, not that to whom all has got from parents or relatives.
Rita Sergeevna, the teacher of English language:
To be cool - means to be fashionable, clever, successful and purposeful person in the collective.
Ivanova Valentina, mother:
To be cool – means to be clever kind, to have good friends, to be good and a lovely daughter, to read many interesting books, to visit many interesting places, to help people and, at the end, to like life and everything around you.
Korableva Larisa Nikolaevna, the teacher of English language.
Well, what does it mean to be cool? In a big dictionary we can read about it:
“To be fashionable and attractive”.
If I were a teenager, I’d support this idea. Moreover, I should add here to use some informal words, special for my age, and circle of acquaintance. They can change with the time in spite of being our favorite ones. I used to be of this opinion. But all in good time. Everything is changing. We are getting more and more experienced.
Now, I’m different. I think to be cool-means to be self-sufficient and independent. If you have any ideas to say to your children, can provide for them, you are cool. Also, for being cool you should be very well- educated and have your own business.
Fedorova Olga Vladimirovna, the teacher of English language:
To be cool means try to do everything with pleasure. Hard work done with pleasure makes life cool.
Pisareva Nina Ivanovna, the teacher of English language:
In my view to be cool means to be well educated, successful and decent.
Ponomareva Anna, mother:
What does it mean: to be cool? So many people, so many opinions.
To my mind, it means above all to be fairly independent, that is to solve the problems without anybody’s help. You should develop your ability to work without assistance.
To be cool, in my opinion, also means to be a real friend. It’s evident that you can’t be a real friend if you make fun of others or laugh when somebody makes a mistake. You should remember that those who share things with friends and give them help when in need make others like them. Your real friend always keeps promises and tries to do all the things you asked him. It’s great to have a friend. “A life without a friend is a life without a sun”, according to an old German proverb.
If you consider yourself “cool”, you shouldn’t forget about your health. Being in good health is all the rage nowadays. That goes without saying good health is not something we are able to buy at the chemist’s, that’s why it’s so important to lead healthy life-style. By keeping fit, changing bad habits or surrounding conditions we can make our body last without major problems. First of all you must miss no chance of outdoor activities as an antidote to our sedentary lives. Skating or skiing in winter and swimming in summer must become part of your everyday life.
If you want to be “cool” you should be well-informed. Nowadays younger generation is the best informed ever. They are really lucky. Mass-media (newspapers, television, magazines, etc.) play the most important role in the development of the values of the teenagers. They can use the media in different ways at different times. Sometimes teenagers want to escape from reality and play computer games for long hours.
For some teenagers being cool means practice extreme sports.
Some people think that extreme sports are crazy and never try them. In my opinion extreme sports make you cool and brave.
I’ve asked my friends what do they think about extreme sports. The first person I talked to it was my best friend. Here is what he said:
“Personally I don’t understand why they do it. Maybe it’s like a drug; they do it for the first time just because some of their friends said it was great. The more they do it the more they want to do it again. Or probably they start doing it because they want to show how cool, strong and courageous they are. I’d never try anything like that, I’m addicted to safety.”
Well, I absolutely agree with him, but there are some other thoughts. For example: a girl from my school told:
‘I’m just dying to do BASE-jumping. All my friends do it. It’s a relatively new sport, BASE is an acronym for building, antenna, span (bridge) and earth (cliffs). Jumpers leap from stationery objects and deploy a parachute. Unlike skydiving, no aircraft is involved. They’ve said it’s a feeling nothing can be compared to, in a short period of time you experience so much. They go almost every month, I think they are obsessed. Even though it’s pretty dangerous I’m not a least bit scared, the only problem is my parents – I’m afraid they won’t let me do it.”
Of course our parents won’t let us do it, but if you don’t listen to them your friends will think you are old enough so you are cool.
Then I spoke to my father’s friend who is a lot older then me. He is interested in extreme sports so I wanted to know his opinion.
“I work in a bank and I can’t say it’s a particularly exciting job. You often want a change. You get bored with e-mails, faxes, deadlines, work challenges. I found a perfect in scuba diving. When I do it all my personal problems go away, and when I get back to real life they don’t seem that bad anymore. And to add up to that scuba diving is an ultimate thrill and a real pleasure. I’ve also made a lot of friends who share the same passion. I’d never abandon it. Never.”
In addition to all this I want to say that some people can feel fear. On the other hand extreme sports can relax you.
So what are those extreme sports?
Scubadiving
SCUBA Diving is much like meditation... Although considered an extreme kind of sports, in good underwater conditions it is all about relaxation and sight-seeing at the same time. SCUBA diving is perhaps the next best thing after space travel. And you need just about the same amount of equipment,. Here are all the essentials
mask
snorkel
fins
wetsuit
regulator (a mouth piece with hose that is attached to the tank)
BCD (buoyancy controlling device)
tank (for compressed air)
a pressure gauge (it is attached to the tank to monitor the amount of air left)
Snowboarding.
Snowboarding is a winter sport which is a lot like other "-boarding" sports but also has a distinctive features of skiing. It originated in USA in the 60's with a kids' toy dubbed "Snurfer" but really lifted off in late 70's when first "true" boards were designed. It took another 10 years to gain some public interest. Popularity of snowboarding sky-rocketed in late 80's bringing it to the top in 1994 when it was declared an Olympics sport. Riders stand sideways on the snowboard, so everybody has to choose which leg is leading. Those with left leading foot are proudly claiming themselves 'regulars' and calling everybody else a 'goofy'. As if it wasn't enough to distinguish yourself from the mass, there are lots of riding styles you can attend to. Freestyle and freeride are by far the most popular ones among the varieties of snowboard styles. Freestyle is all about jumping and doing crazy tricks whereas freeride, considering its name, is mostly in riding around and just enjoying the process. Another popular theme: how dangerous is snowboarding? Put it like that: it's as dangerous or safe as you want it to be. Drive with care, don't sit where you could not be seen clearly from a good distance, don't try to do tricks if you are not ready - you got it. However, you can kill yourself snowboarding. Even worse, you can also kill somebody else. It's always important to stay in control and you will have a good chance to be alive, healthy and generally ok.
Mountain bike.
Strictly speaking, mountain biking is an extreme sport in which the participant rides a bicycle off road. But to me MTB is more than just a sport or whatever, it’s something I can and will do any time, regardless of the weather, season, location and especially road conditions. First, it always makes me feel good. Furthermore, it’s so easy and convenient - you just mount in the saddle and start pushing pedals, going faster, faster and yet even faster, driving yourself to the limit and beyond. Then, you can go long distances easy and fast, also in cities, where it is a good remedy for all those countless traffic problems (I’ve found it is often faster to get to the center of Moscow by bike than by any other vehicle, including subway, buses and cars). Also, it helps me keep myself fit and healthy, allowing me to spend more time outdoors going ‘back to nature’.
My personal favorite is driving along the forest paths used for horseback riding – you get all kinds of obstacles there, i.e. steep hills and pits full of mud, branches that are lying across or slapping you in the face and a lot more to make your life difficult – nasty flies and mosquitoes, as well as something-that-is-left-after-horses, to name a few.
This type of mountain biking is called cross-country or XC, to be short. There are also other types such as downhill (DH), trial, dual, slalom, BSX and so on and so forth but those IMHO have much less to do with pure and permanent biking fun because they usually involve lots of protecting equipment (as it is with downhill), special tracks (BSX, duel, etc) or customized-and-rather-expensive-dual-suspension-with-disk-brakes bikes (downhill again). Looking at this list I can say that I do like trial but that jumping is just not for me and I never was any good in it so I’d better stick to my XC.
Chapter 2.
Dandy. The wearing of Clothes wisely and well.
Now let us have a look at history and evolution of so called “Dandies”. According to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary a dandy is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and the cultivation of leisurely hobbies. Some dandies, especially in Britain in the late 18th and 19th century, often strove to affect aristocratic values even though many came from common backgrounds.
The practice of dandyism first appeared in the revolutionary 1790s, both in London and Paris. The dandy cultivated a skeptical reserve, to such extremes that the novelist George Meredith, no dandy himself, was of the opinion that "Cynicism is intellectual dandyism." Some took a more benign view. For example, Thomas Carlyle in his Sartor Resartus wrote that a dandy was no more than "a clothes-wearing Man, a Man whose trade, office and existence consists in the wearing of Clothes. Every faculty of his soul, spirit, purse, and person is heroically consecrated to this one object, the wearing of Clothes wisely and well: so that the others dress to live, he lives to dress...And now, for all this perennial Martyrdom, and Poesy, and even Prophecy, what is it that the Dandy asks in return? Solely, we may say, that you would recognise his existence; would admit him to be a living object; or even failing this, a visual object, or thing that will reflect rays of light..." This image shows two 1830's dandies. Their elegant clothing, arrogant expressions and posture show how they emulated the dress and mannerisms of the aristocracy.
Etymology
The word dandy made its first appearance in a Scottish border ballad about 1780, but probably not with its more recent meaning. It was perhaps a shortened form of jack-a-dandy, (Encyclopedia Britannica 1911) and it became a vogue word during the Napoleonic Wars. Well, in the slang of the time, a dandy was differentiated from a fop in that the dandy's dress was more refined and sober.
As you know, in the 21st century the word "dandy" has become a jocular adjective meaning "fine" or "great," and is often used sarcastically. However, sometimes a well-dressed and self-absorbed man is still referred to as a dandy - often with a connotation of homosexuality.
Dandyism in France
In France dandies were sometimes celebrated in revolutionary terms as self-created men who consciously designed their own personalities and broke radically with the traditions of the past. By their elaborate dress and idle, decadent lifestyles, French bohemian dandies sought to convey their contempt for and superiority to bourgeois society. This fancy-dress bohemianism became a major influence on the Symbolist movement in French literature during the latter part of the nineteenth century.
As it was generally believed an aspiring dandy must have no profession other than elegance. . . no other status but that of cultivating the idea of beauty in their own persons. . . . The dandy must aspire to be sublime without interruption; he must live and sleep before a mirror.
Later Dandyism
The gilded 1890s provided many suitably sheltered settings for dandyism. The poets Algernon Swinburne and Oscar Wilde, Walter Pater, the American artist James McNeill Whistler, Joris-Karl Huysmans and Max Beerbohm were dandies of the period, as was Robert de Montesquiou, who inspired Marcel Proust's Baron de Charlus. In Italy Gabriele d'Annunzio and Carlo Bugatti exemplified the artistic bohemian dandyism.
The 20th century had less patience with dandyism: the Prince of Wales, briefly Edward VIII was something of a dandy, and it did not help his public appeal.
Edward VIII
Aristocratic imitation: Dandies lacked noble blood, connections, and any innate characteristics of aristocracy. They were like actors living out fantasies that could never come true, adopting outward characteristics that aided in this public and personal deception.
Fashion: Appearance and the latest fashion was everything to a Dandy. They delighted in elegance and accessories such as white gloves, etc. A significant part of their day was spent grooming; they also believed strongly in cleanliness; most probably bathed regularly.
Mannerism: Dandyism was largely defined by a self-cultivated personality. Dandies thought of themselves as " . . . gentlemen in a barroom, who talk about 'my fields, my woods, my peasants,' hiss the actresses at the theatre to prove that they are persons of taste, quarrel with the officers of the garrison, to show that they are gallant, . . ."
Bohemian Idleness: Dandies had the time and the money to devote to living extravagantly. They were wealthier than Bohemians, having enough to live without employment. Many were owners of large inheritances. They never sought to earn or gain more wealth but lived in constant risk of losing their wealth, gambling and squandering carelessly. A typical dandy would hunt, smoke, gape, drink, take snuff, play billiards, stare at passengers getting out of the coach, live at the cafe, dine at the inn, . . . grow stupid as they grow old, do no work, do no good, and not much harm. This decadent lifestyle forced many dandies into a life of poverty and to become, in effect, their bohemian counterparts.
Merging of Bohemia and Dandyism: These two seemingly different worlds very often mingled. Dandies befriended Bohemians and frequented the same cafes. While many dandies were forced to live a bohemian lifestyle, bohemians sometimes adopted dandy ways.
Gentleman Driver
Dandies fortify their souls on dangerous sports. A shining example of this type of sportsman dandy is Count Giannino Marzotto, who twice won the prestigious Mille Miglia auto race for Ferrari. The man who emerged the winner was not some professional, caked with exhaust and dust and oil fumes, but a handsome young man, who paused on the way to the podium to receive his trophy to purchase flowers, and after affixing a boutonniere, threw the rest of the bouquet to one of the beautiful women in attendance.
The Dandies were no prissy class of gentlemen, or mincing walkers as their elegant forebears, the Macaroni's, had been. They were the well dressed, witty and elegant men of a new generation. Led by George 'Beau' Brummell. They are mostly remembered now for their sartorial dress, but in fact the group of men were also known at the time for their wit, amiability and loyalty.
The Excesses of the eighteenth century dress with foaming lace, richly brocaded coats, high red heels, powdered wigs and gaudy jewelry were left behind for a simpler age of elegance, in dress anyway. To generate revenue William Pitt put a tax on hair powder in 1795. It was a curious tax with a long list of exceptions but it was hoped by Pitt to generate around 210,000 guineas in revenue. In fact it was the beginning of the end. Whig leaders met in September of that year and cut off their queues and vowed to abandon the use of hair powder. The move was met with immense support and the tax only raised 46,000 guineas.
The style of the well dressed man was defined by Brummell as that which drew no attention to himself. Dark coats, unadorned, but of the most exquisite cut were worn over linen of the snowiest white and well starched neck cloths. Only the waistcoat could display the lavish embroidery and design. "Give me a man who makes the tailor, not the Tailor who makes the man." Brummell's influence also extended to two other innovations, the top boot was replaced by the Hessian with its heart shaped top and tassel. It suited the patriotism of the time for the Hessian was solidly German while the top boot was French and Napoleon was the enemy. All the best gentlemen had their boots made by Hoby whose premises were on the corner of St James's Street and Piccadilly and employed some 300 workmen. With the hessian boot came the pantaloon which replaced the knee breeches. The problem with pantaloon's however was the wrinkles they formed. To fix this Brummell came up with the the foot loop (shown in the picture above of the William, 6th Duke of Devonshire.)
The Dandy did spend some hours on his toilette each morning - this is true, but their influence on society was more than just the figures they cut. They were also believed the taste and elegance of manner and style of person was as important as their dress. As one contemporary remarked:
The manners of the Dandies were themselves a charm. Their speech was pleasnt, their language thoroughbred. Many among them were highly-gifted, doing all that they did well; the less apt, always to the point, letting it alone; with enthusiasm, wihtout illusions - a school of gentlemen, liberal, openhanded; ephermeral as youth and spirits, yet marked with this endearing quality, that they remained, with few exceptions, true and loyal friends, tested through later years of adversity.'
This later 'adversity' was invariably debts and bankruptcy and more than one had to flee to the continent. Brummell was once asked how much a young man, just being launched in London, would need for clothes. Tongue in cheek Brummell replied, "With strict economy it might be done for 800 pounds a year." In fact Brummell's income was at least twice that figure. While he lived relatively sparingly, rarely entertaining, and without practicing extravagence in clothing, he was till bankrupt by 1816 - the product of gambling.
Conclusion.
After having conducted a survey on pupils’ and teachers’ opinions we have drawn the following conclusion. The priorities in our life for teenagers and adults are a little bit different. For children they are clothes, modern activities (sports, music, computers), trendy friends and only then good marks at school. As for adults they are first of all good education, a well-paid job and self-sufficiency.
What should we do to find these right priorities? We should read more and gain our life experience.
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