Appx 10 threads earlier WymenLover posted about The Female Brain, and in the course of the discussion, in response to another poster, wrote this:

"This board deals with more than merely the "essentials" of hobbying.  Most of us deal with women in every aspect of life: wives, former wives, girlfriends, daughters, co-workers, and now-days, even bosses."

That passage activated the unwanted serious side of me, and I wonder, for those inclinced to share:

1. how has experience in the hobby changed the attitudes and behaviors of hobbyists toward women generally, either for the positive or the negative, in either the civvie or the hobby spheres of life? ;

2. has this change come about as a conscious effort on your part?

TY for allowing me a serious-minded digression.  i hope it's only momentary.

I used to be tied up in knots on the inside about women, their beauty and attractiveness.  I felt that monogamy had locked me in 'tll the grim reaper takes me away.  

Now I can actually relate to the really cute girl at the pastry shop as a person, knowing I'll never really get into her pants, but that's OK, 'cause I have another outlet.

I feel I've tamed that inner beast because I can feed him a big piece of raw meat once in a while.  In the meantime, I'm not tongue tied, I'm relaxed around any woman who's even vaguely hot.

I wonder what happens to those who tie up the inner beast or don't acknowledge it exists, neurotic or worse?

I used to look at women as a veiled mystery. Now I see women merely as mercenary opportunists, and governed solely by whatever societal mores and restraints they individually acquiesce too.  

I mean this not as a derogatory indictment of the gender; but simply a reality.

much more about the rich emotional complexity of women and therefore experience my own emotional life in deeper ways. That has been the result of conscious effort on my part after the serendipity of discovering this potential avenue of exploration.

... it's just shopping.

Does interacting with anyone providing a fee-based service particularly enlighten you about human nature? Not really.

Most people who come up with deep rationales for why they "hobby", such as platitudes about "connecting" and the like, mostly are justifying it to themselves because they feel guilty about it.

Me, I love sex and nekkid ladies, free's good, bought's okay too. Changed me? lightened my wallet now and again, but beyond that not especially.

Good exercise though!

People nowadays are so busy being introspective that they forget to have fun...

O.

I do recognize the mercantile nature of the exchange, but so many of our interactions with others could be described that way, even withing (especially within) the family unit.

What makes intercourse with providers interesting (pun obviously intended) is not so much the physical activites that go on, but that we engage in them in the first place.

After a while, you learn a lot about the person's life and they, yours.

This has to have an effect on one, and in my case, I think it is a positive one.