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I very much doubt the response reflects his attitude to women in computer science, and your comment regarding "this is not how well-adjusted adults disagree whe

by jdn 13y ago

I very much doubt the response reflects his attitude to women in computer science, and your comment regarding "this is not how well-adjusted adults disagree when having a discussion" is somewhat moot, as it wasn't a discussion. This is where I believe his anger came from, and where my support of his response also stems. The cause of women in computer science (which as a student in a very male dominated CS department, I wholeheartedly support) is not helped by people derailing everything in the manner in which the commentator did. Like many political and ethical discussions, there is a time and a place. If he had said something outrightly and obviously sexist, yes, call him on it. But as it is, I think he had every right to get annoyed and want to nip that derailing in the bud.

ddellacosta 13y ago
as it wasn't a discussion It never got the chance to be a discussion, as the author responded to the opening volley with a shotgun blast. That's his prerogative, of course, as it is his blog, and he can take his ball and go home if he wants to. The cause of women in computer science (which as student of a CS department, I wholeheartedly support) is not helped by people derailing everything in the manner in which the commentator did. It's not a derail. It is a topic which came up because of language the author used, and which is an ongoing problem in the community of software developers. While you are free to believe in a platonic ideal of "pure ideas and discussion," it doesn't exist in this messy world of relationships and human language and politics. If you are still a student, I suggest you take a gender/sexual/racial politics course and try befriending some people with very much opposite viewpoints to your own. You may be surprised at your shift in thinking. But leaving that aside for the moment, let's say the author's main intent was to "nip that derailing in the bud." What do you think the most effective, least hurtful way to approach that would have been? 1) Ignore the comment, 2) assuming he is the administrator of the WordPress blog he writes on, delete/hide the comment, or 3) lash out in a juvenile, sexist, hateful fashion. I'm going to go with 1 or 2 being better than option 3 any day of the week.
- verroq 13y ago
  How is > Apply() is the right way for grown-assed men do things. sexist? Am I not reading enough into it or something? As far as I can tell somebody was making a fuss about some non issue and was shot down for it.
  - reinhardt 13y ago
    You have to take a Herstory class at a Gender Studies Department to understand the blatant privileged sexism dripping from this quote.
  - impendia 13y ago
    It implies that only men are the audience, who would be deciding whether to use Apply() or something else.
    - coldtea 13y ago
      Or it implies than in real life men WILL be 95% of the audience, and doesn't artificially alter his language. Or it implies that whoever reads the text, man or woman, will be wise enough not to give a fuck for such minutiae.
      - impendia 13y ago
        > men WILL be 95% of the audience It has been postulated, I think plausibly, that the commonality of such language is one reason why this gender disparity continues to exist. Personally, I agree with this argument. If you disagree, that is fine -- but please show a little bit more respect.
        coldtea 13y ago
        >It has been postulated, I think plausibly, that the commonality of such language is one reason why this gender disparity continues to exist. The idea that "the commonality of such language" is the reason, is like the idea that video games and action movies create killers and criminals.
- jdn 13y ago
  "and try befriending some people with very much opposite viewpoints to your own." Thank you for your judgements on my friendship circles; those I have relationships with are of very diverse opinions on gender/sexual/racial/wider politicial issues. His reaction may have been juvenile and extreme, but I certainly don't think it was sexist. What makes you say that?

by jdn 13y ago

ddellacosta 13y ago

as it wasn't a discussion It never got the chance to be a discussion, as the author responded to the opening volley with a shotgun blast. That's his prerogative, of course, as it is his blog, and he can take his ball and go home if he wants to. The cause of women in computer science (which as student of a CS department, I wholeheartedly support) is not helped by people derailing everything in the manner in which the commentator did. It's not a derail. It is a topic which came up because of language the author used, and which is an ongoing problem in the community of software developers. While you are free to believe in a platonic ideal of "pure ideas and discussion," it doesn't exist in this messy world of relationships and human language and politics. If you are still a student, I suggest you take a gender/sexual/racial politics course and try befriending some people with very much opposite viewpoints to your own. You may be surprised at your shift in thinking. But leaving that aside for the moment, let's say the author's main intent was to "nip that derailing in the bud." What do you think the most effective, least hurtful way to approach that would have been? 1) Ignore the comment, 2) assuming he is the administrator of the WordPress blog he writes on, delete/hide the comment, or 3) lash out in a juvenile, sexist, hateful fashion. I'm going to go with 1 or 2 being better than option 3 any day of the week.

verroq 13y ago
How is > Apply() is the right way for grown-assed men do things. sexist? Am I not reading enough into it or something? As far as I can tell somebody was making a fuss about some non issue and was shot down for it.
- reinhardt 13y ago
  You have to take a Herstory class at a Gender Studies Department to understand the blatant privileged sexism dripping from this quote.
- impendia 13y ago
  It implies that only men are the audience, who would be deciding whether to use Apply() or something else.
  - coldtea 13y ago
    Or it implies than in real life men WILL be 95% of the audience, and doesn't artificially alter his language. Or it implies that whoever reads the text, man or woman, will be wise enough not to give a fuck for such minutiae.
    - impendia 13y ago
      > men WILL be 95% of the audience It has been postulated, I think plausibly, that the commonality of such language is one reason why this gender disparity continues to exist. Personally, I agree with this argument. If you disagree, that is fine -- but please show a little bit more respect.
      - coldtea 13y ago
        >It has been postulated, I think plausibly, that the commonality of such language is one reason why this gender disparity continues to exist. The idea that "the commonality of such language" is the reason, is like the idea that video games and action movies create killers and criminals.
jdn 13y ago
"and try befriending some people with very much opposite viewpoints to your own." Thank you for your judgements on my friendship circles; those I have relationships with are of very diverse opinions on gender/sexual/racial/wider politicial issues. His reaction may have been juvenile and extreme, but I certainly don't think it was sexist. What makes you say that?