Comments on: Honorary Ladettes R Us

By: W. Kiernan

W. Kiernan — Sun, 19 Dec 2004 17:03:34 +0000

I've decided that this glass ceiling for female bloggers business has gone too far, and I must do my part. I was about to launch - any day now, really - my own blog, discussing general topics from a high-level perspective, which was to be called "Frown Blog." It was going to be a great, great blog, perhaps not quite so illimitably great as Fafblog of course, but coming up close in second place, and it would soon be the hot spot for everyone who is anyone throughout the entire blogosphere. Early indications showed that "Frown Blog" was going to be blogtastic, blogmatic, fabu blogodelic and that the commenters would be the creme de la creme of the blog1337. Y'all were invited, of course. But now, alerted to this outrage of numerical discrimination - three percent, seven percent, whatever, it's not enough - I'm going to have to disappoint the eager crowds. No "Frown Blog" for you sexists. I shall not blog until all the sisters are freely blogging too. For how can I, as a man, enjoy my blogerty, when these women are so cruelly tramped down in blogmission? (I know, you all hate me now.)

By: David Tiley

David Tiley — Sun, 19 Dec 2004 16:55:58 +0000

If the sexiest thing about a person is their voice*, then the way to work out the cuteness of the CT bloggers is to listen to the sexiness of their voices in our own heads. For me, that’s a fantastic argument for more women. *it’s because ideas can be erotic. Don’t deny it – you know it’s true.

By: cloquet

cloquet — Sun, 19 Dec 2004 01:18:19 +0000

Just an added note, I observe that Volokh Conspiracy bloggers have pictures, and the male participants are all definitely cute. What have you CT bloggers got to say for yourselves?

By: cloquet

cloquet — Sun, 19 Dec 2004 01:00:02 +0000

To Mrs. T.: “And what if we found a great female blogger on European affairs who swears like a sailor and is addicted to esoteric acronymities?)” Why, you should add her to the list pronto!! haha! She can have wonderful exchange of conversation with Dsquared!! haha! I would certainly love to see that!! I agree with Junius Ponds, Kieran you buy coffee and muffies for all, for all the trouble you’ve caused around here. haha!

By: Mrs Tilton

Mrs Tilton — Sun, 19 Dec 2004 00:37:00 +0000

Perhaps in the process of carrying out your suggestions, asymmetries will end up being redressed Oh, I should certainly hope so, Cloquet; but surely that would be a secondary effect? (And what if we found a great female blogger on European affairs who swears like a sailor and is addicted to esoteric acronymities?)

By: Keith M Ellis

Keith M Ellis — Sat, 18 Dec 2004 22:10:36 +0000

That someone can earnestly use the expression “meme/word ratio” is an embarassment in itself.

By: Nicholas Packwood

Nicholas Packwood — Sat, 18 Dec 2004 11:19:55 +0000

The mostly likely cause of gender imbalance in the blogosphere can be summed up in one word: sublimation.

By: cloquet

cloquet — Sat, 18 Dec 2004 05:26:31 +0000

To redress asymmetries, isn’t this another definition for the word “armageddon?”

By: cloquet

cloquet — Sat, 18 Dec 2004 05:16:43 +0000

Mrs. Tilton: Perhaps in the process of carrying out your suggestions, asymmetries will end up being redressed.

By: Nabakov

Nabakov — Sat, 18 Dec 2004 03:07:48 +0000

There’s a quick and easy solution to this whole issue of “gender symmetry ” on CT. Just carry out a little online ‘gender reassignment’. Enter a new name in a box and voila. No surgery involved. Then everyone could amuse themselves trying to guess which CTite sported what genitalia and secondary sexual characteristics – based on content not branding.

By: belle waring

belle waring — Sat, 18 Dec 2004 01:10:55 +0000

OK, that was snarky, and the gender imbalance in the blogosphere is worthy of serious investigation. deb was just getting on my nerves. I have considered posting seriously about this issue for some time, but I just can’t figure out what to say. hence the descent into K-Lo manquee.

By: Mrs Tilton

Mrs Tilton — Sat, 18 Dec 2004 01:10:34 +0000

George, I can’t claim that my comment above had much depth, but it may be that it was not altogether free of the taint of irony. Incidentally, an increased female presence in the group blog in which I (sporadically) participate is one of the things we’d like to see. I think, though, that this is less from a concern to redress asymmetries than from a general desire to see less use of the f-word and insider acronyms.

By: Donald Johnson

Donald Johnson — Fri, 17 Dec 2004 21:46:50 +0000

It wasn’t clear to me if dsquare thinks the evidence is piling up in favor of his solipsism or against it. As one of the anxious figments of his imagination, I’d kinda like to know. On the gender thing, maybe affirmative action would be a good idea. Three of my favorite lefty political bloggers are female, but I don’t think they’re academics. I don’t know for sure.

By: Pollie Anon

Pollie Anon — Fri, 17 Dec 2004 20:01:42 +0000

Well, it is kind of a giggle that so many regulars are in denial about this “gender imbalance” that obviously clearly exists. Does make you wonder where they stand on affirmative action. But OTH what the hell does Deb Frisch want. It’s pretty hard to argue about systemic discrimination at blogspot. Let’s hear it deb, what do you want? To join CT? To nominate someone to join CT? To start your own blog?

By: junius ponds

junius ponds — Fri, 17 Dec 2004 19:59:09 +0000

So, how about that coffee?