Category: Misc

Recently I went to a Meetup group called Just This: Zen Writing. It took place at the Austin Zen Center.

There was a few minutes of meditation, then there was a prompt, then we all wrote something based on the prompt, then we took turns reading out loud what we wrote and commenting on each others’ writing.

The prompt was from the Diamond Sutra:

All conditioned dharmas
Are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, or shadows;
Like drops of dew, or like flashes of lightning;
Thusly should they be contemplated.

The leader played a few minutes of some monks chanting the Diamond Sutra.

One thing I found interesting is that a few people wrote quite a bit, but a couple of people only wrote a few sentences.

Here is what I wrote:

Chanting, marching, motion.

Driving. Highways. Night. Sunrise.

Things are more fleeting for me that they really are. I speed by, they remain in place. Someone may see me speed by in a second. We exist only for a second to each other. The motionless destination gets closer, yet too slow for me.

Mountains, rivers, oceans sometimes visible for a few seconds before obscured by trees and distance, or the setting of the sun. Horses and trains in Alabama are replaced by horses and trains in Illinois. Georgia pines blend into Arkansas pines. Trucks and truck stops, unique yet interchangeable across state lines and times of day.

Machines, cars, tractors arise and pass away as do deer, horses and hills. Crossing Maryland for 12 minutes, crossing Tennessee for eight hours. Engines drone as sun shines and rain falls. People live and die, birds land and rise. North, south, east, west. Job, school, family, wandering, reunion, escape, new life. Everything arises in the horizon in front of me and passes away in the horizon behind. And to them you are someone roaring by to be seen same time next year, or never again.

Big Jim prefers Theravadan suttas, but he went with the program.

“Dame Autumn has a mournful face” by John Atkinson Grimshaw (6 September 1836 – 13 October 1893),  assumed allowed under Fair Use.

I don’t seem to get anywhere with women, but sometimes I have fantasized about photographing women.

It would probably be a great way to meet women and see lots of naked women. On the other hand, it would also be very expensive. I would need an actual camera, and a studio, and some lights.

When I was living in Chicago, I knew a guy who did a lot of photography, including women. A lot of the women were models who were glad he charged very little money. He may even have done it for free. Some of the women were a bit on the skanky side in my opinion. I do not find tattoos attractive at all. From what I could tell, his wife did not seem to mind him photographing all these other women.

He would also photograph Renaissance fairs and air shows. I do not know if he went to any air shows in Illinois, but he did go to a few in Wisconsin. Maybe he was at the Janesville Warbird Weekend (also see here). People really seem to like WWII aircraft. Is it because it was the last war we had no doubts about?

Instead of only taking pictures of women standing around, I would need to give them something to do. Using the famous “idea list” technique, here are a few possibilities:

• Walking on a treadmill
• Cleaning
• Hanging clothes on a clothesline
• Folding clothes (ironic, I know)
• Changing a light bulb over and over and over again
• Rearranging books on a shelf
• Cleaning and shooting guns
• Jumping rope
• Yoga
• Painting (art or painting a wall)
• Cooking
• Stuffing envelopes
• Trying on different hats and boots
• Writing on a white board
• Cutting cake slices
• Cleaning a glass door
• Practicing with a sword
• Adjusting her hair

Yes, a lot of these are “domestic” tasks. But I thought it would be nice to have some more variety that just a woman bending over while working on a spreadsheet.

Big Jim hates alcohol and loves women. He is the opposite of Brett Kavanaugh.

“Eve” by Pantaleon Szyndler (26 July 1846, – 31 January 1905),  assumed allowed under Fair Use.

A list of things you never hear, with a few I wish I did hear.

1. Daddy didn’t mean those harsh things he said. That was the meditation talking.
2. I only wrapped my car around the tree because I was concentrating on my driving.
3. I only had sex with that person because I was aware of what I was doing.
4. I only lost my job because I was following the Five Precepts.
5. My wife left me due to my skillfulness.
6. I got into that fight due to right speech.
7. I heard about this sangha with a lot of hot women. (I do wish this was more common.)
8. I want a man who is serious about meditation. (I wish more women felt this way.)
9. I am going to become an alcoholic because Buddhism ruined my life.
10. I want a guy who meditates and wants lots of sex. (Again, I wish more women felt this way.)

Big Jim wishes more women were interested in meditation than alcohol.

 “Welcoming Descent of Amida Buddha” at the Metropolitan Museum, assumed allowed under Fair Use.

Here is an idea list that I had.

A few days ago I was in the bathroom/restroom at work. I could hear someone grunting in the next stall while doing their business. I guess whatever they were pushing out was pushing back.

As I am a man of action, when I force it out, it comes out. No grunting, no struggling, no pushing back, no questions asked.

What made me really uncomfortable is that I could recognize who it was. I thought, “I really do not need to know this about you.”

So when it was time to do the daily idea list, I thought about what I should do.

• Ask them to confess their sins
• Play porn on my phone to compensate
• Threaten to record and blackmail
• Record it so if I hear them again in the future, I can hear it in stereo
• Get all drill sergeant on their ass
• Support them, talk them through it, tell them that together we will get through this
• Grunt in support, or pretend you are grunting in code
• Or make it a competition
• When you see them later, look them in the eye and say: “I know what you did last summer”
• Start preaching: Can I get an amen from somebody!

Big Jim is always there when you need him.

“Ocean Greyness” by Jackson Pollock (January 28, 1912 – August 11, 1956), assumed allowed under Fair Use.

Here are some miscellaneous quotes about Idea Lists from a few posts and comments on James Altucher’s site. None of this is original to me; I am simply gathering it in one place for my convenience.

From The Idea Matrix – What Changed Everyone’s Life After “Choose Yourself”:
Comment from James (responding to someone else) about idea lists:
I will add one more thing to your list, and you even refer to it above, but it’s “Come up with Ideas for Others” , even if you don’t know them. Even if you never share them. It’s good practice. Another thing is: “10 things you’ve learned from XYZ” where XYZ could be another person, a book, or an event in your life. Because if you can find 10 things you learned from that person then chances are at least one is a good thing.

From How To Become An Idea Machine: Write down ten ideas. About anything. It doesn’t matter if they are business ideas, book ideas, ideas for surprising your spouse in bed, ideas for what you should do if you are arrested for shoplifting, ideas for how to make a better tennis racquet, anything you want. The key is that it has to be ten or more.
One possibility right now is to list ten ideas that are “too big for me” and what the next steps might be.

Check out Ideas For Ten Ideas A Day.

From The Ultimate Guide for Becoming an Idea Machine: IDEA SEX. Combine two ideas to come up with a better idea. Don’t forget that idea evolution works much faster than human evolution. You will ALWAYS come up with better ideas after generations of idea sex. This is the DNA of all idea generation.
OLD TO NEW: 10 old ideas I can make new. (Dorothy, Wall Street, etc). Similar to idea sex.
10 ridiculous things I would invent (the smart toilet, etc).
10 books I can write (The Choose Yourself Guide to an Alternative Education, etc).
10 business ideas for Google / Amazon / Twitter / you
10 people I can send ideas to
10 podcast ideas I can do. Or videos I can shoot. (“Lunch with James”, a video podcast where I just have lunch with people over Skype and we chat).
10 industries I can remove the middleman.
10 Things I Disagree With that everyone else assumes is religion (college, home ownership, voting, doctors). Or, for any one of those ideas. 10 ideas why!
10 ways to make old posts of mine and make books out of them
10 ways I can surprise Claudia. (Actually, more like 100 ways. That’s hard work!)
10 items I can put on my “10 list ideas I usually write” list
10 people I want to be friends with and I figure out what the next steps are to contact them (Azaelia Banks, I’m coming after you! Larry Page better watch out also.)
10 things I learned yesterday.
10 things I can do differently today. Right down my entire routine from beginning to end as detailed as possible and change one thing and make it better.
10 chapters for my next book
10 ways I can save time. For instance, don’t watch TV, drink, have stupid business calls, don’t play chess during the day, don’t have dinner (I definitely will not starve), don’t go into the city to meet one person for coffee, don’t waste time being angry at that person who did X, Y, and Z to you, and so on.
10 Things I Learned from X. Where X is someone I’ve spoke to recently or read a book by recently. I’ve written posts on this about the Beatles, Mick Jagger, Steve Jobs, Bukowski, the Dalai Lama, Superman, Freakonomics, etc.
Random: 10 Things Women Totally Don’t Know About Men. (that turned into a list of 100 and Claudia said to me, “uhhh, I don’t think you should publish this”).
Today’s list: 10 More Alternative to College I can Add to my book: “40 Alternatives to College”.
10 Things I’m Interested in Getting Better At (and then 10 ways I can get better at each one).
10 things I was interested in as a kid that might be fun to explore now. (Like, maybe I can write that “Son of Dr. Strange” comic I’ve always been planning. And now I need 10 plot ideas).
A problem I have and ten ways I might try and solve it. This has saved me with the IRS countless times. Unfortunately, the Department of Motor Vehicles is impervious to my super powers.
10 ways I can release more endorphins into my body
10 ways I can help people build their idea machine
10 Ways I can turn my next book into a webinar for Oprah
10 things I can talk about in my next talk on May 3
SCAMPER is a mnemonic that stands for:
Substitute.
Combine.
Adapt.
Modify.
Put to another use.
Eliminate.
Reverse.

Big Jim has some big ideas to change the world.

Obłok by Ferdynand Ruszczyc (1870-1936), assumed allowed under Fair Use.

This page will collect quotes that I come across that (in my opinion) express thoughts related to Buddhism by people or authors that I think are/were not Buddhist.

This page will be updated on an irregular basis as I encounter more quotes.

She has an illusion and you have reality. May you find your way as pleasant.

– The Keeper, Star Trek: The Cage, after restoring Vina’s beauty (as well as creating an illusory Christopher Pike to keep her company)

 

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs…
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting…
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim…
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you…
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it.

– lines from Rudyard Kipling’s If

 

Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.

― Frank Herbert, Chapterhouse: Dune

 

All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone

– Blaise Pascal

 

Too many people dream of places they’ll never go, wish for things they’ll never have, instead of paying adequate attention to their real lives.

– Odo, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, “If Wishes Were Horses”

 

Big Jim wants all people to be enlightened.

Standing Bodhisattva Maitreya (Buddha of the Future), ca. 3rd–4th century Pakistan (ancient region of Gandhara) at the Metropolitan Museum, assumed allowed under Fair Use.

I recently read a book that is on the recommended reading list of the StreamEntry sub-reddit: Thanissaro Bhikkhu’s With Each and Every Breath. I thought it had some good things to say about meditation and is a good guide.

There are a lot of references to “breath energy” and many calls to “follow the energy”. That sounds a bit like woo to me.

It has a lot of good tips on dealing with problems you can encounter in meditation.

One tip that helped me is that when your mind wanders, just ask yourself if continuing to think about something other than your breath is helpful. The word he uses is “skillful”. I have used this tip to deal with other problems. A couple of issues that I have had are trying to control the breath (which sometimes leads to me being out of breath or getting dizzy), and falling asleep. I tell myself to “focus on observing the natural, awakening breath.” Over the past couple of months, it has helped quite a bit.

A few other tips to deal with drowsiness are: to change the meditation object (such as going to a mantra, or focusing on death), to change the length of the breath, to change the posture, to open your eyes for a few seconds, even to stand up. He also recommends walking meditation, but I do not like walking meditation.

When you have a comfortable focus on the breath, he recommends expanding awareness to different parts of the body. To me this sounds like body scan.

I have also found a way to deal with itches. I just tell myself that I can inhale and exhale one time without scratching. I do this two or three times. Sometimes, the itch goes away. If not, I just scratch the itch. Sometimes I don’t really have to scratch; I just put a finger on the spot that itches and that takes care of it. I know some people say you should not scratch an itch since it will make things worse, but this works for me.

Another thing that I do is I usually “warm up” with a few minutes of deep breathing/qigong exercises. This helps me settle a bit faster, and makes me less likely to try to control my breath.

Big Jim is focusing on the breath to improve his life.

“Pilgrim’s Visiting Album” from 18th century Japan; image from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, assumed allowed under Fair Use.

Signs that someone is an asshole:

• They say “Laugh! It’s a joke!” or some variation thereof.
• They ask checkout clerks to break a $100 bill.
• They drive a Lexus.
• They vote Republican.
• They think they walk their dog with a retractable leash, but let the dog go wherever it wants.
• They are a head of state who picks a fight with Canada (Cool And Nice And Dang Awesome).
• They say or do something to shock people (as Ed Brayton said, “If you spend a great deal of your time pretending to be an asshole to get a reaction from people…you aren’t pretending. You are an asshole.”)
• They put their phone on speaker when they are in public.
• They use “virtue signalling” as an insult (but never against Susan Collins; she is independent up until the moment she votes).
• They bring a dog into a business that is not pet-specific.
• Intentionally giving someone else unnecessary work, and thinking that other person should be grateful.

 

Other items will be added to the list as they reveal themselves.

Big Jim does not like assholes.

“Wheatfield with Crows” (1887) by Vincent van Gogh (March 30, 1853-July 29, 1890), at the Van Gogh Museum, assumed allowed under Fair Use.

Even though the URLs do not work, I will include them anyway.

http://austin.craigslist.org/w4m/4903406906.html

Im the kind of girl that u can take home to ur mom.
[She is looking for a man who] has a car…has a job…no assistance from the government unless u r a veteran. I work hard for what i have so should u.

Why don’t you work towards learning better English? If that is how you type and/or speak, actually, no, you are NOT the kind of woman I would take to meet my mother.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/w4m/5027278974.html

I am looking for someone who can also be active and be supportive with my choices in life. For me I am a single mom work my butt off to make a living.

If you are a single mom, maybe you need to face the fact that you make poor choices.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/sdf/w4m/5033640326.html

Hey there. Im an AA BBW 46 looking for something worth talking about. Funny witty and charming would be great with an abundance of common sense, taller than 5’10. Slim to athletic, as two fat people Don’t mix.

It’s interesting how many fat people want a fit person, yet so few fit people want a fat person.

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/w4m/5040931183.html

So here’s the problem. I’m attached to more fit and generally attractive men. I was raised around good looking people both male and female but I am a bit on the round side. It’s a huge challenge to find a guy who is into gals who are a bit thicker!

You could try exercising. And eating less. Or you could just wait for a unicorn to fall from the sky. Also, I think you meant “attracted” when you wrote “attached”. If you were attached to a fit guy, you wouldn’t need to place an ad.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/w4m/5057406697.html

I’m a medium BBW/curvy and I love my fluff.
Now it’s your turn! Please be intelligent/witty/sarcastic! Employed (white collar? YESSSS)! Caucasian (just my personal preference). I love tall and thin to athletic men. Yes, fat girls are allowed to be picky too 😉

Yes, you’re allowed to be picky. But fit people are not obligated to find fat people attractive. And I am allowed to say you’re an idiot.

URL not recorded

I am a thick girl (size 16) and I wear it well.

Fit women never say they “wear it well” or “carry it well”, or they are “fit in the right places”. Or “goddess”. Fit women never seem to call themselves goddesses. Or call themselves a “real woman.” It seems like a woman only calls herself or another woman a “real woman” when they are fat. Women never seem to point to a women who runs marathons and says, “Now there is a real woman.”

If you are thick or curvy, or whatever you want to call it, fit guys are not going to care that you “wear it well”. You just have too much of “it” in general.

http://austin.craigslist.org/w4m/5085726824.html

I prefer rugged lumberjack type, tall muscular and bearded. Needs to have a good job and be faithful….I’m a cute Caucasian woman, early 30s, std free, blonde/blue, fair skin, thick & curvy but HWP. 34D and bubble butt.

“thick and curvy but HWP”. That’s like saying you are “smart but stupid”. It’s one or the other.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/w4m/5269884660.html

But I’ve played the waiting game and the dating game …. no good ones have come along. Maybe I’m too picking??

I assume you meant “picky”. No, you’re not too picky. Probably not too bright either. Maybe that is your problem.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/w4m/5269861714.html

Open to all races/heights/age
No men over 325 lbs
Have own private space (no little brothers sharing the room)

How many 325+ lb people are you going on dates with if you need to state that as a criteria?

http://austin.craigslist.org/w4m/5875367438.html

I read a lot. Don’t watch to much tv. I am also currently going to school to get my bachelors in psychology then I will be getting my masters after that.

If you don’t watch “to much tv”, perhaps you read to littel.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/w4m/5878739290.html

Title: disabledbbwseizure patient seeks a true man

disabled seizure patient that is also a cancer patient and psych patient and diabetic.looking for a true gentleman. one that isn’t after sex on the first date.one that at least tries to go to church.i am in a wheelchair at times and use a walker other times.i am looking for a long term relationship

Is meeting guys who are only after sex a problem really an issue for this woman? This woman sounds like nothing but problems.

http://austin.craigslist.org/w4m/5890137707.html

I’m HPV positive. If you’re not already vaccinated, this is transmitted via skin cells. Do your research before contacting me.

You’ve got an STD. Don’t lecture me.

http://austin.craigslist.org/w4m/5887344479.html

Your martial status is not of concern just be real and of good character.

A married man cheating on his wife does not have good character. But you do you.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/w4m/5230645242.html

I’m attracted to tall guys, thin (big and big don’t really go well together, so I like all the thin guys that can appreciate a bigger woman)

Where does this idea that thinner people should date fat people because big/fat “don’t go well together” come from? I have never heard a fit person ever say they are not attracted to other fit people. Being fit takes a lot of work. Why should someone who puts in a lot of effort to be fit date someone who refuses to do the same? Try exercise instead of asking for a bailout.

http://austin.craigslist.org/w4m/5039658470.html

I do request men only, non smokers, physically fit, and clean. I prefer taller dates, but it’s not a deal breaker. You must be accepting of my slightly older and attention-deprived BBW body, as you can see. If you aren’t attracted to a plus-sized gal, no worries…that’s what the other ads are for, right? Let’s see what Austin has to offer!

Again, if you are fat and do not want to date a fat person, do not get upset if other people do not want to date a fat person, or lecture other people that they have to accept your body.

http://salem.craigslist.org/w4m/5382626647.html

Yep that’s right…I’m a sassy fattie that tells it like it is!

“Sassy”. Another word that only fat women use to describe themselves. Most people who brag that they “tell it like it is” generally do not want to hear it like it is from other people.

http://galveston.craigslist.org/w4m/5479210003.html

Headline: Young, thick and ready to go
Beautiful, curvy, Ebony young lady here hoping for the impossible. I’d love to find a great, tall, successful man who knows how to treat a lady for a long term relationship.

If you know it’s impossible, then why are you looking for it? “Thick” is another code for fat.

http://houston.craigslist.org/w4m/5486091196.html

I’m looking for an older man to hang with. Not only sex but yes I do want sex. I dont smoke or drink. I work and im well educated. I just want to have fun i’m pregnant and have hormones……….

Is this a troll? Or someone who is really messed up? Yet another person bragging about having and/or getting an education, yet they post an ad with a lot of spelling and/or grammar errors. In all seriousness, one of my big fears is misspelling “intelligent”. To top it all off, she is pregnant, and looking for another man. If you gave another man the meal, do not even think about giving me the bill.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/w4m/5485813991.html

Jesus is a big part of my life (the god, not the Mexican)

On one hand, I thought that was pretty funny. On the other: There seemed to be a LOT of ads from Christians. There are also a lot of Meetups about Christianity. Note to Christians: If someone does not go to church, it’s not an accident.

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/w4m/5547320288.html

I am a big girl, I am 20 years old, I attend college, and I have a part time job. Lately ive been feeling a little lonely and i would like to share my time with someone who wants the same. Im like a dog lol. Easy to please with attention, and of course loyal. I just want someone to grow with, and to be there for me in the good and bad times. Someone that can be my best friend. Please don’t respond if your over 30.

Another person attending college, with an error-filled post. Also: If you are a “big girl”, you have probably done growing.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/w4m/5803925661.html

BBW looking for Friendship to turn into more

At least she’s not a fat woman looking for a tall guy, but she had this:

If you are replying please tell me a little bit about yourself, include a picture, and tell me
1. The last craziest thing you’ve done
2. A joke
3. The most embarrassing thing to happen to you.

What are you, an online bank?

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/w4m/5940528606.html

I am looking for someone who is open to something more than just a casual encounter.

Her ad had a naked pic (presumably herself).

http://austin.craigslist.org/w4m/5940960303.html

Title: Tired of my vibrator.
I need some stimulation. I’m very into articulate guys. Also very kinky minded. I like white and Latino guys under 45 and under 450lbs. Art and music interests a plus. Kik me: nowalice

She says she weighs 160, so maybe her upper limit of 450 is a typo. If she has dated guys over 450 lbs, I think a solution would be to just stick to guys under 200 or so. Or stop picking up guys at WalMart.

https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/w4m/6021028252.html

32f seeks m for fwb/dating.
Unique situation; I need someone to talk to me, cuddle me, and make me feel human.
I am currently bouncing around between air bnb’s while I hide from my murderous ex-husbands. Plural, it’s a unique clusterfuck. Stalking orders get filed this week against both.
Hit me up to chat. I am easy going, a gamer, an avid reader, and no drama on my end.
Please send a photo to get a response.

No drama, but hiding from people trying to kill her. And asks for a picture. I really hope I have more self-awareness than these women.

https://austin.craigslist.org/w4m/6092749397.html

I am incredibly picky. I like confident, independent guys which are educated, sensible and can keep me grounded. I am very high maintenance. Send me pic and phone number, I can tex you back.

Demands education, has a spelling mistake on a word that is not that hard to spell. Also, it’s “guys WHO are educated”.

https://austin.craigslist.org/w4m/d/eclectic-interests/6262578860.html

Friendly, outgoing, playful, open minded and (some say) attractive. Nonsmoker. Nondrinker. ***I have controlled HSV (herpes). You have to be okay with that.***

I’ll decide what I am okay with, not you. And maybe you are a bit too friendly.

And then:

Prefer middle aged North Shore and southern coastal New Hampshire gentlemen.

So why are you in the Austin section?

https://austin.craigslist.org/stp/d/can-you-hold-conversation-m4w/6268984587.html

professional , well groomed , easy going guy looking for a girl friend to start with.

Want someone to hold a conversation many of craigslist loose patience.

Don’t complain about other people’s conversational skills when you type run-on sentences like a lolcat.

https://austin.craigslist.org/w4m/d/are-there-really-any-good/6395188252.html

Seeking God fearing/loving, Christian man who attends Shoreline Church, and is living the sober life.

Here is an idea: Why don’t you go to Shoreline and ask there, instead of on Craigslist at 9:30 on a Monday night.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/w4m/5269899184.html

Title: Quadriplegic wants more

Maybe it’s wrong, but I found that amusing. You want more as in….the ability to walk? Almost as amusing as “BBW wants more”.

http://austin.craigslist.org/w4m/5066637423.html

Me: Single, tall, soft and curvy, terribly evil, nerdy, educated, cheeky, impish sense of humor, mildly perverse, social drinker, non-smoker, bon vivant. Decent aim.
You: Same, except maybe the soft and curvy part. I’d rather you hard. Menacing tattoos and facial scars particularly encouraged.

As Neil deGrasse Tyson would say, “Look out! We’ve got a badass here!” Another fat person wanting a fit person. If you’re asking for tattoos, you might as well ask for an arrest record as well.

http://killeen.craigslist.org/w4m/5939587988.html

Why is it so hard to find a great guy? Where are they hiding? All I’m asking for is a guy that knows how to talk to a woman properly. One that can take her on a date and show her that chivalry is not dead. One that is truly interested in getting to know just her! I mean, is that to much to ask? Anyway, if my ad has peeked your interest at all, and you’d like to make a new friend, please feel free to send me a message. Do NOT waste my time! If you have no pic, I will not respond, that simple

So you want a guy who knows how to talk to a woman, but you have a poor vocabulary. And you make a lot of demands, but can’t find a great guy.

When women say they want a guy who can talk to a woman, they don’t mean they want a guy who can hold a conversation. They want a guy who can hold a conversation, and looks like Brad Pitt. I guess there is nothing wrong with that. Just be honest about it.

https://austin.craigslist.org/w4m/6100385924.html

Being taller than me is a must! I love my heels. This really is a DEAL BREAKER! If you’re less than 5’11 don’t even reach out… Not trying to be mean, just being fair, and saving time for everybody!

You’re not mean, just really stupid.

https://houston.craigslist.org/w4m/6109149057.html

I need your honest opinion. Why do men perfer skinny women? Am I considered fat???? What’s wrong with a thicker woman? We cook better, and give it you wetter

Well tell me, what do you think of my body type.

When women stop filtering men based on height, then we’ll talk. People are free to do as they want. Besides, a woman can lose weight, but a man cannot gain height. Yet for some reason, women wanting tall men is a “preference”, yet men not wanting fat women is a bias.

I have realized that when women say something is a “preference”, it’s really a requirement.

I answered a few ads (none of the ones here). I think I placed a couple as well. The email conversations seemed pretty good. Then they would ask my for a face pic. Things always ended after that. I don’t pursue women at all anymore, so I guess I do have more self-awareness. Than just about any other person on this planet.

Lastly:

https://www.craigslist.org/about/best/van/152468438.html

The guys grow up and mature, they learn to need women less, and they settle into a life of resigned solitude, which means that they cheer up because they’re no longer striving for something they can’t have.

Big Jim isn’t where he wants to be, but he doesn’t live in a fantasy world.

“Standing Nude” by Guy Rose (1867-1925), image from WikiArt, assumed allowed under Fair Use.