A few weeks ago we published the story of Lili B., an ex-Playboy bunny. Today, Lili writes on her own blog about her experience of having that article published, and of dealing with the vast array of comments she received.
Lili notes, “the opinions expressed were all over the place, reflecting back to me the incredibly diverse nature of our reactions to topics on sexuality.”
“…A few thought I should offer up my first-born child to Hugh Hefner because he gave me a break by giving me the Bunny position in the first place. (um…..quid pro quo: I busted my near-naked butt in high heels to do that job extremely well!- and- the Playboy Club wasn’t bringing Hugh Hefner buckets of money because they sold $5.00 pitchers of beer…it was because of the Bunnies that the men came in. So, I think I’ve more than repaid my debt of gratitude. There, I said it and I feel better!)”
But even more than the public comments, it was the letters sent to her in private that affected her most. Here, a response from a father, worrying about his own daughter:
“One was from a young man with a 7 year old daughter. He told me that he writes lots of letters to his daughter (he has shared custody of her) and in them, he tells her anything he thinks a loving father should tell his precious daughter: all about life, about right and wrong, about being careful with friends that want you to try drugs, about being careful going out at night and all kinds of provisos for becoming an adult. The purpose of all these letters he was writing was to save them up and then give them to her on her Sweet 16! (*sigh*)
He wrote that my piece made him sob, that it made him worry so much for his own little girl, that he needed to convey to his daughter that no matter what she was faced with, she always had his love to carry her through. He sent me a photo plus some of the letters he was writing to her, and some of the bedtime stories he makes up for her, all of which conclude with her being his most precious Princess who was never more loved. This young man never got to know his own father, which saddened him deeply. He wanted to make sure his own child always knew he loved her, even if something happened to him.
Don’t like ads? Become a supporter and enjoy The Good Men Project ad freeIt made Lili wonder how very different her life might have been had she been fathered like that. And it’s the reason she appreciated every comment. “So for every comment on the comment thread that was less than flattering or downright mean, I say: That’s ok….bring it on! If I get even one such letter back as the one from the young man, it was all worth it! There is now one more person in the world, loving his child better. Could I ask for more?”
Read the more of the responses to Lili’s story over at PoSARC.