Why is it that whenever a group of women get together to discuss something on the Internet there is always some stupid male, often one who knows nothing about the subject, who insists on butting in and making long, nit-picky posts that he thinks “prove” that all of the women are wrong.
Yes, it is trolling, but it is a very specific type of trolling that appears to be rooted in the belief that two women cannot gather together and have a discussion without needing a man to tell them what to think. Has any feminist writer invented a term for this?
I don’t know, but Suzette Haden Elgin has invented an entire language for women. What I remember from it (hope this is accurate, it’s been years) is a single word that expresses the concept “the women being stuck in the kitchen cooking at holiday parties while the men enjoy themselves.”
El: That’s the sort of creativity I’m looking for. (Though I have to admit to being one of those sad people who enjoys cooking.)
No, you’re both wrong. Allow me to elucidate… (just kidding).
Jeff: Sssh, I was hoping to catch a real one.
Schmuck isn’t good enough?
Cathy: “Arsehole” would have done, but neither it nor “schmuck” is quite as precise as I wanted.
“Androspastic” (my coinage) works for me. From “androspasm: an exaggerated reponse to an imaginary attack on male vanity.” (ditto)
Antibechdelite? (see Bechdel’s law)
Hmm, that sounds like something I would do. But I’m female. Just opinionated. I’ll look again, maybe I’m missing something!
At any rate, I am pleased to have found you again via Neil Gaiman’s blog, and now that I’ve figured out how to make a Google Reader page I actually will be reading more of your work! Somehow Emerald City never stuck in my browsing habits. (And my previous plan of going to all the Wiscon panels you were on has not been working very well the past few years. Alas.)
Erin: Welcome back. Sorry about the lack of WisCon attendance. I’m hoping to correct that next year.