Dear Houellebecq,

I am not a complicated person. I take things
at face value - and I genuinely try not to
hurt people. I wake up every day with the
intention to be loving and happy as best
as I can. I try to make each a new day
without carrying over the baggage from the
previous day. I've always tried to
put myself in the other person's shoes, so I
can feel what they're feeling, not just what
I'm feeling. I try to look with four eyes instead
of just my two.

The key to any
discussion is to be able to communicate - and
that is extremely difficult when people aren't connecting.
People either connect or they don't.

From what you've written about me -
We obviously don't. (And by the way, just
for the record - I've never looked up someone's
posting history - as I said - I take things at
face value).

Still I won't worry too
much about it - you've got plenty of support
from your other people. You're in good
company - (no sarcasm intended - I like my
head too much).

I do feel a slight twinge of regret
though, on what could have been ... because in
some ways I'm also hyper, and like to make things
move, but there is a spot of calm deep within me,
from which I don't stray too far ...

Ah well, life is full of regrets,
this one is something that I will have to
learn to live with.

Just before I go though, I'd like to contribute to your
thread one more time - there have been many posts on
the topic of fashion trends - here's my view ...

cont'd...

cont'd...

Fashion to me spells - luxury.
It comes in all shapes and sizes.
Like a morning in the Louis Feraud boutique in Toorak,
(with someone else's credit card).

I dream of luxury with unashamed extravagance -
Dior couture, a Valentino ballgown, investing
in the ultimate accessory; a witty velvet slipper,
designer fragrance, a slip of silk, small exquisite
pieces that are the lynch pins of style and can change
your mood, your look. Daydreaming you can have the
luxury of choice, you can go anywhere in your mind ...
It's pure fantasy ... and that's a fact!

"Some people believe that luxury
is the opposite of poverty.
No - it is the opposite of vulgarity."
Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel.

"Give me the luxuries of life
and I will willingly do without
the necessities."
Frank Lloyd Wright.

HarryC "The amoeba walked off this thread onto dry concrete and didn't even leave footprints"

Ah well... thats the last we will here from that ameoba then

As for "You're always going to struggle expressing individualism in a suit anyway. "

but it is sure easier to express it that way than being forced to wear those black pajamas the vietcong wore or the regulation boiler suits more popular with the socialists.

and like I said,... its the man who makes the suit.... not the otherway around....

so I guess HarryC... just did not make the cut... or help the cut of his suit even

Houellebecq:"ow much seriously cruel stuff has been said to antiseptic"

[Pomeranian mode on]
Ah, but that doesn't count, because antiseptic isn't "one of us" and he sometimes asks questions, the bully. Even worse, he's a misogynist who hates all women. That's obvious because he calls them "dear".

It's the duty of all "reasonable" and "enlightened" members of OLO to abuse him roundly every time he posts, becuase that way no one will be bullied by his questions and "we" don't run the risk of breaking out in thought.
[Pomeranian mode off]

The grey men (and their drab women) in their grey suits and their grey, slow, turgid thoughts are, as always, doing their monochrome best to throw a grey blanket of authoritarian conformity over what could be a colourful and enjoyable discussion group.

I'm more comfortable in fluoro yellow or safety orange - at least it gives the poor things something to aim at, even if it increses the risk of being buried under a grey papier-mache pile of spitballs.

How sad that this discussion has deteriorated
to this breakdown in communication.
I was hoping that we could deal constructively
with the situation with the ultimate goal of
stumulating further discussion. It seems
that people are unable to deal with things in a
positive way - and are reluctant or unable to
modify their judgements - they're more interested
in condemnation than explanation.

Time to move on to another thread ...Looks like
they'll be no group hugs on this one.

"Little Miss Muffet
Arose from her tuffet
To box with the old kangaroo.

There came a big wombat
To join in the combat,
And little Miss Muffet withdrew."

Houellebecq,
You know me! But you do not know that I born in a cave! Greece had war with Italians (Nusoline) after Germans (Xitler) and after civil war.
My unkle was communist captain, my father was head of my vilage and in the special forces with Westerns. For many moths per year my family and other vilagers was moving in a rocky castle with caves to protect their lifes. I born there! While I born in a cave I am not a Neandertal but ONLY a cave man!
In my life I put suit ONLY in the church when I married! NEVER again. I was member of a developed council where most times was president of Democracy. Many times of cause my job I was in meatings with top level political personalities. NEVER BUT NEVER I PUT ON SUIT.
I feel as a clown if I wear a suit. I born free and I do not like the press from the customs. or fashions or suits.
You can call me a CAVE MAN BUT DO NOT ASK ME TO WEAR SUIT. I WILL NOT!
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide