Hope this linkk works, feel free to chime in:

 

 

[www.facebook.com]

I think I may be posting on this or another share of it. I can't BELIEVE the general public's response to this. They are nuts! I've never encountered anyone calling me a stripper or prostitute, comparing poling to "may as well have fastest typing speed as an Olympic sport". I'm trying not to get angry, these people are just ignorant (as in, uninformed, really uneducated on the subject) And one woman said something about children seeing it and aspiring to be a pole dancer. Why NOT!? Bet they'd eat their vegetables to get strong. Oh its burnin' my biscuits.

I commented before seeing everyone else's comments saying "YES!" and said I was suprised it wasn't already. Everyone keeps saying STRIPPING. Its not STRIPPING in the OLYMPICS!! Just venting cuz I knew my Veenys would understand. So infuriating some of the things people say, I've just never encountered this from people before, ever.

[www.facebook.com] this is the one I saw. Grrr.

Lots of closed minded people out there. Obviously anyone making the negative comments have clearly never tried it or realize how difficult pole dancing is! Unfortunately I find most people who have never tried it still only see the sexual side of it. A shame really.

They're ALL just saying that. One of my friends even compared it to having an eating contest be in the Olympics. His GF is a hooper, and we have so many friends that do Lyra and Silks. I think I'm the only poler in our little RVA PLF group, but I can't believe he can't see the correlation. I wish I could call him out but you can't tag people. I should sic his girlfriend on him for being a moron.

the stupidity from some of those people is astounding!!!

I know right!?!

I like how the one woman said this would cause husbands to "cheat" on their wifes!

SEE THE LINK ABOVE!!!!!  THIS IS NOT THE CORRECT THREAD.......I REPOSTED IT. 

I noticed it was a different thread, just saying there are more than one, and the one I posted has people on it being just as nasty.

I know, probably glad I didn't see the other post.  Being called a pig?  My feelings are hurt!

And this is in a bunch of threads and news stories, can't see why we can't discuss the Olympics proposition in one thread...

Yeah, people say things without KNOWING who they're speaking to. Totally wrong to call you names, and it just shows thats all they can come up with. And calling it "sleazy" when that video and points were posted and made, how can they still just chime in with a "No its disgusting stripper stuff"? The whole thing is an outrage.

Just try your best not to take it personally, after all, its just another idiot on the internet. YOU know how wonderful you are, and you've always given great tips and advice, I love your videos. You are wonderful!

Awe thanks D!  :)

This is so sad to read. :( These people have obviously never felt pole burn on their inner thighs or ripped skin off their feet and wrists. Pole can be sexy, but that is not all it is. It makes me so sad to see people who think they are morally superior to others because anything other than what they know is wrong.

Lyme,  I'm sorry that lady is being crazy!! [www.studioveena.com] I run into ridiculous people who resort to name calling or are just plan stupid. I don't even both responding....Block, or Delete them. Those negative people love to argue and upset otheres, so while you may want to justify why you love pole. Is it really worth your time to bother with this person? Probably not. xoxo 

Keep on posting and sharing what you love.Your a beautiful person and actions speak louder than words

xoxo, Lyme.

Lyme, I'm sorry that someone could be so hurtful. If she has a problem with pole or you, it's because SHE has a problem. Some people will take any opportunity to spread their hateful opinions, undoubtedly half of those making negative remarks have any idea what they are talking about. I agree with Veena, you're too good to bother with the nonsense. We need not make any excuses, justifications, or apologies for our hobby and passion! HUGS!

Thanks all, and thanks Veena for the kind words. Luv u all!!!!

I don't do facebook so I cant see what is said but I am sorry your getting nasty remarks Lyme I bet we have all been on the recieving end of those comments and its from small minded people who have no idea what they are talking about and sadly are missing out on all the fun :) ((hugs))

I think all we can do to prevent it is to be positive, not defensive and try to popularize pole. If more people did pole and everyone knew at least one person who poles: a friend, colleage, family member, neighbour, etc. then the hateful comments would stop because people would get a better understanding of pole dancing and realize we are not doing anything wrong. Besides it is kind of hard to hate on your sister, or firend, or girfriend who poles when you know they are good people.

I just posted this to the Facebook thread, but reposting here...

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I hope some of the naysayers realize that thanks to the explosion in popularity of pole fitness, and all the studios that have opened in response to this demand, **the number of women doing pole dance for fitness FAR outnumber the strippers.** Professional strippers are the minority in this community. 
I would like to see pole in the Olympics because it's not that different from a lot of other Olympic sports. (Plenty have already mentioned gymnastics - I throw in Figure Skating, too, as another sport that incorporates dance, skimpy outfits and tricks that require enormous athletic skill to do safely.) What's more, it's entirely possible (in fact, easy! common!) to do a beautiful and impressive pole routine without removing a single article of clothing.

Besides, need we be reminded that the original Olympians competed completely naked? Come on, now...

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And of course by saying strippers are the minority, I don't mean we don't embrace them or are trying to push them out of the sport in any way. Stripping is just a different style of pole dance, in my opinion, where the focus is more on entertainment than athleticism. That doesn't make it less valid in any way. 

I am equally confused by those saying "would you want your daughter to aspire to this?" Um... who wouldn't want their daughter to aspire to be an Olympic athlete? That's a pretty ambitious goal and takes hard work, dedication, sacrifice, discipline, confidence... so yeah, I say, go ahead, encourage your daughter to be the Michelle Kwan of Pole Dance, and watch her grow up to be a strong, self-assured, capable woman whom others look up to. 

Well said PK!

 

@Pankake's post: hehehehe naked olympians.  That does throw an interesting curve ball into the debate of Pole & the Olympics. 

I think we're years away from actually having pole dancing as an Olympic sport, which is fine because as a community we're not 100% there in defining who we are as a sport anyway.  There is an organization formed around specifically defining all the requirements for pole in the Olympics- which is great.  All the foundational pieces exist for the puzzle.  What irritates me the most is the category or name of the sport the organization is pushing for entrance into the Olympics: Vertical Gymnastics.  This confuses me because it makes me think of gymnastics, not pole dancing.  Is our own Olympic organization ashamed of using the term "pole dancing"?  I know there is a reason for every action but as a supporter of "pole dancing", I want to see "pole dancing" in the future Olympics- not vertical gymnastics.  I think we're strong enough as a community to stand alone without the sugar coated "vertical gymnastics" term that would please those who have a problem with "pole dancing".  Another point, wouldn't vertical gymnastics qualify pole dancing in the gymnastic sport division?  We would therefore be combined with gymnastics just a division that utilizes the pole.  So in fact, not pole dancing what so ever.  If we're truly commited to paving the way for "pole dancing" as a sport, then serious consideration needs to be made in how the sport is represented.  No closet terms. No sugar coating.  It is what it is. Pole dancing. Raw and real.  I think it's time people start associating the term pole dancing with more and to do that we as a community need to stand up and continue to keep our message clear and concise.  Sorry didn't mean to get on a tangent here but I think there is more to it when situations like Lyme's come about where the stereotypes of pole dancing exist.  I couldn't see the backlash she received but I can use my imagination as I've dealt with many similar situations myself.  Over time, I've learned that my response to the situation is the most important and influential action that I have control over to initiate a change in another's perspective.  Even if you decided to delete that person from your social media, at least writing an educational response could positively educate someone who otherwise might have not seen your perspective whether it's the original poster or others who share differing opinions you're not aware of.  You can't change a way a person thinks but you can plant a seed for them to ponder.  Whether they decide to water it and let it grow is their choice.  But at least you did your part by getting it started.