journalgirl:

thisgingersnapsback:

So we’re all familiar with how horrible my job is, right? And I mean, I’m not talking about what I have to do—that’s a breeze. It’s the people I work with, the people I work for, and the environment I work in. It’s all toxic, toxic, toxic.

Last night was just sad.

It was late, which is when most mothers with W.I.C. will come in the store. I’ve always had suspicions that this was because they felt embarrassed or ashamed for having to use WIC, and since running WIC checks usually takes a long time, practically everyone in the nearby area is aware how they’re paying for the food they’re getting. 

Well, last night my suspicions came true.

A very young mother and her mother came through my checklane late last night, probably around 10pm. “This is our first time,” the older woman explained as her daughter loaded the belt up with WIC-approved groceries. “We’ve never done WIC before—so we’re sorry if we messed it up.”

I told her it was absolutely fine—I get first-timers all the time, and it’s nothing to worry about. She seemed surprised by how friendly I was, so I kept it up—I was already liking these two women a lot, they seemed like genuine, caring and friendly people, so being super nice to them wasn’t a problem.

“I’m just—embarrassed,” the younger woman said quietly, looking behind her mother at the growing line of customers behind them. And I knew what to expect, I knew that I’d be hearing the customers behind them complaining—usually loud enough for those buying with WIC to hear—and my heart sank.

“It’s why we came in so late,” her mother chimed in, “I told her, you know, there’d be less people here.”

“That’s awful.” Was all I could think to say for the moment. I continued through the checks, moving quickly (I like getting them through fast to avoid the biting comments customers behind them sometimes have to say, but it doesn’t always work) and just couldn’t help it anymore. “It’s so stupid,” I said abruptly. I probably sounded angry, and the two women looked surprised. “No, it really is. I love WIC, it’s absolutely awesome. I have family members and friends who use it, and it’s a great program. But people want to automatically judge anyone who walks in here and uses it, like they’re lazy or something, and it’s not okay.”

The older woman agreed, “We tried this once before, across the street, but the cashiers were so nasty, we left. And my daughter—she works HARD,” her voice got a bit louder, and she shot looks at the customers behind her, as if to say “I dare you to say one word about her.” She shook her head. “She has a job, she has a family, and she just needs a little help, that’s it. Just a little help. She’s not some freeloader like people think.”

I nodded, and proceeded to keep my mouth closed. Not because I disagreed obviously, but rather because if I began talking about it too, I would get heated and wouldn’t shut up.

I continued with the checks, still moving quickly, and at the end the two women thanked me profusely. Before they left, the young mother stopped and asked, “What nights are you here?”

I told her, and realized I’d probably be seeing a lot more of her. And from what I hear, this isn’t uncommon—mothers on WIC will look for particular cashiers and attendants who they feel comfortable with, who they’re not afraid of being judged or scorned for needing a leg up.

And that just broke my heart. The state of things, where it’s so accepted to make fun of, look down upon, and even apparently openly mock and scorn mothers for using WIC that the goddamn cashiers will do it. And these mothers are too ashamed and embarrassed to file a complaint—and even if one is made (I’ve seen it happen once when feathers got SERIOUSLY ruffled) no one takes it seriously.

Just, no. Fucking no. If you’re one of these people who has the “If you can’t feed ‘em, don’t breed ‘em!” fucked up mentality, go drive off a cliff. I hate you. I hate you with every fibre of my being. These mothers NEED assistance. And you’re probably the same goddamn mouth-breathers who hate abortion or birthcontrol or at least coverage for either one—you just want more and more excuses to hate on these mothers, these women*, these people who need help. I mean, fucking hooray that you’re not in their situations, because you probably couldn’t handle the emotional strain that a fucking SHOPPING TRIP puts on them.

And if you work in a grocery store, or any store that accepts EBT, WIC, etc., and you see this kind of behaviour among your co-workers, STOP IT IN IT’S TRACKS. Tell them THIS IS NOT OKAY. Even if someone is selfish and cruel enough to want to act on these fucked up ideas of harassment, they should be professional enough to keep their attitudes to themselves or they should lose their fucking jobs if they can’t.

Sorry for this long rant, but just… Ugh. It broke my heart and disgusted me, and made me realize why a lot of the WIC customers I check out are repeated customers who will wait in a giant line for me rather than a shorter line for someone else—sure, it’s nice to think that it’s just because they like me, but now their actions and preferences hold a much different, much more saddening reality.

First, the tags by Sugarbooty, a woman I’ve come to admire more and more over the years (and her being on one of the best shows on TV shows she has fantastic taste!):

 #i remember my mom being in the WIC program #and us using food stamps #and i am really dating myself here but this was back when #you had to use this ridiculous monopoly looking money instead of a card #and i use to help my mom with the grocery shopping #getting the milk #and the shitty cereal #and the cheap bologne #and everything else we needed #and i disappeared when we got to the check out line #my mom could give a shit about someone saying some mean or spiteful to her about being on welfare #people are scared of loud talking white women with brown children #but i gave SO MANY SHITS yall #i gave SO MANY #what if people i went to school with saw me standing in line with the food stamps #and knew that i was REALLY poor #as if the free lunch program i was on and the good will dresses i tried to doll up by having perfectly pretty and straight hair #weren’t telling enough #i really sympathize with the embarrassment of living on welfare #no one had to say anything negative to me about it #i had PLENTY of those voices in my own head #i’m not on welfare anymore #but i help pay for it with taxes#and i am A-O-FUCKING KAY WITH THAT!!!! BUY SOME STEAKS AND SOME VEGAN CHEESE!!!! you have my blessing even though you dont need it!!!

Second, I’ve been told by friends and acquaintances that I should apply, being as I’m disabled and still fighting for proper disability from the government and live off the little (but growing!) bit I make from art and classes and magazines articles. Even applying for SSI the first time around was incredibly shaming and difficult, because no one wants to admit that they need help, like said above, just a little help, please! And this is probably the big reason why I haven’t filed again despite being denied for the first time in 2009. 

This post just brings the stigma to the surface. Why is asking for a little bit of help so shaming in our society? Why are we looked down on if we admit to less-than-perfection? I work hard! I also live in constant, debilitating pain (I could barely walk around today, and my mother was worried the entire time, even tried to get me to sit in the wheelchair provided by the store, but I wouldn’t because of all this shit, y’all) and have tried to work. Have fallen asleep on the expressway during rush hour. Have spent my days off in bed and in pain so bad, you’d probably be crying, but I’m supposed to be strong and work harder and stop being so lazy. 

I’m just thankful for this post. If it means that 2,000 more people are like, let’s stop being assholes to people for needing help, then I’m all for it. And passing it along. 

dirtyredsdirtymind:

SOPA Emergency IP list:         

So if these ass-fucks in DC decide to ruin the internet, here’s how to access your favorite sites

in the event of a DNS takedown

        tumblr.com 174.121.194.34
        wikipedia.org 208.80.152.201

        # News
        bbc.co.uk 212.58.241.131
        aljazeera.com 198.78.201.252

        # Social media
        reddit.com 72.247.244.88
        imgur.com 173.231.140.219
        google.com 74.125.157.99
        youtube.com 74.125.65.91
        yahoo.com 98.137.149.56
        hotmail.com 65.55.72.135
        bing.com 65.55.175.254
        digg.com 64.191.203.30
        theonion.com 97.107.137.164
        hush.com 65.39.178.43
        gamespot.com 216.239.113.172
        ign.com 69.10.25.46
        cracked.com 98.124.248.77
        sidereel.com 144.198.29.112
        github.com 207.97.227.239

        # Torrent sites
        thepiratebay.org 194.71.107.15
        mininova.com 80.94.76.5
        btjunkie.com 93.158.65.211
        demonoid.com 62.149.24.66
        demonoid.me 62.149.24.67

        # Social networking
        facebook.com 69.171.224.11
        twitter.com 199.59.149.230
        tumblr.com 174.121.194.34
        livejournal.com  209.200.154.225
        dreamwidth.org  69.174.244.50

        # Live Streaming Content
        stickam.com 67.201.54.151
        blogtv.com 84.22.170.149
        justin.tv 199.9.249.21
        chatroulette.com 184.173.141.231
        omegle.com 97.107.132.144
        own3d.tv 208.94.146.80 
        megavideo.com 174.140.154.32

        # Television
        gorillavid.com 178.17.165.74
        videoweed.com 91.220.176.248
        novamov.com 91.220.176.248
        tvlinks.com 208.223.219.206
        1channel.com 208.87.33.151

        # Shopping
        amazon.com 72.21.211.176
        newegg.com 216.52.208.187
        frys.com 209.31.22.39

        # File Sharing
        mediafire.com 205.196.120.13
        megaupload.com 174.140.154.20
        fileshare.com 208.87.33.151
        multiupload.com 95.211.149.7
        uploading.com 195.191.207.40
        warez-bb.org 31.7.57.13
        hotfile.com 199.7.177.218
        gamespy.com 69.10.25.46
        what.cd 67.21.232.223
        warez.ag 178.162.238.136
        putlocker.com 89.238.130.247
        uploaded.to 95.211.143.200
        dropbox.com 199.47.217.179
        pastebin.com 69.65.13.216

Here’s a tip for the do-it-yourself crowd: 
Go to your computer’s Start menu, and either go to
 “run” or just search for “cmd.” 
Open it up, and type in “ping [website address],” 


Once you have the IP for a website, all you really 
need to do is enter it like you would 
a normal URL nd hit enter/press go. Typing in
 “208.85.240.231” 
should bring you to the front page of AO3,
 for example, just as typing “174.121.194.34/dashboard” 
should bring you straight to your Tumblr dashboard. 
Since we’re obviously bracing for the worst case scenario 
which would involve you not being 
able to access the internet regularly, you should,
 save this list.

Dear Tumblr-ers, -ites, ettes, and whatever other things you may prefer,

Please reblog the crap out of this. Add to it if you feel there is stuff necessary but missing.

P.S. Thank you to the lovely who wrote this up.

(Source: kingwizardluna, via lynnehoppe)