Two things that don't happen to me all the time, but happen often enough to annoy:
1) At work, people observing that I'm a "woman driver." Which I guess means they have some doubt that I have the physical strength to operate a steering wheel and the mechanical aptitude to know that pushing down on the gas means go faster. Or maybe just that I'll be distracted by my nails or my period at a critical moment.
Ugh, I'm not Twisty, I know they aren't literally thinking any of these things, they're usually just kinda bemused by the novelty and joke factor of a woman behind the wheel. Like if you saw a dog driving. You don't think ill of the dog, you just have to comment.
2) People online discovering that I'm a girl, knowing nothing else about me, and immediately approaching me for hot cybersex. Really? Not that I'm always against hot cybersex, but it takes something more than the amazing discovery that we have different genders. Do you do this at the supermarket?
I'm still not Twisty, but it bothers me tremendously when I run into people talking as if "woman" was a synonym for "sexy person." That the presence of girls was both unusual and sexual, all in itself. Like people amused by "woman drivers," these people aren't the majority and they don't dominate society, but god they're obnoxious chucklefucks.
In both cases the weird common factor is people acting like women are way, way less than 50% of the population. I suppose it was true on the roads in the 1950s and the Internet in the early 90s, but times they have a-changed. At this point, there's no excuse for not getting with the program.
Yes I agree with everything you just said. I don't usually say anything, but I like your blog.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is when guys online find out I'm a female and send me pictures of their penis. Usually named some random string of numbers so I don't know what they are.
ReplyDelete...I've stopped clicking on photobucket and imgshack links for a reason.
Back in the 80s, this was a running joke among the computer geeks. The quintessential first rite (early form of chat) message: "Are you female? If so, I would like to have sex with you."
ReplyDeleteZOMG You're Female? Mind=Blown.
ReplyDeleteI will admit that I tend to find many women sexy. But maybe that's just because I'm a guy.
As for the driving thing: wankers.
Wanger pics? I must be old... that used to get you arrested.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'll agree with you... it's stupid to be still thinking that way.
And Anonymous... check the email headers, they give a 'ell of a lot of information...
Dan: It's usually linked to me over IRC. No email headers to check. :/
ReplyDeleteOne of the guys afterwards was like "Do you like it?" I had no idea how to respond in an appropriately scathing manner.
Anonymous: I would have said, "What are you, an internet flasher?"
ReplyDeleteBetter idea, don't tell them you're a woman at all. Just don't bring it up. It shouldn't matter.
ReplyDeleteUnless of course we're dealing with the kind of guy who asks right off the bat; that should ring alarm bells.
Owen - Oh, c'mon, don't tell me I was asking for it. I should be able to use a feminine username-like my own goddamn actual name-without being told I'm clearly an attention whore for flaunting my vagina like that.
ReplyDeleteI'm warped. My Mom is the best truck driver/heavy equipment operator that I know. I grew up in farm and ranch country. women worked in the field with men then did housework and made lunch and dinner. .
ReplyDeleteAnonymous : Try 'You call that a penis?'
ReplyDeleteNobody should use their "own goddamn actual name" for their user name unless it's necessary, such as when applying for a job. Who knows what information people will be able to gather about you from your real name and what you say in your posts?
ReplyDeleteDan, I like that one. Although my personal favorite response to flashers, virtual or otherwise, is, "Oh my gosh! It's like a penis! Except really small!"
ReplyDeleteBluebird - My first name. It's not uncommon.
ReplyDeleteOr even, you know, going as "abc_girl" or "xyzette" Simply making my gender known--which happens instantly in the real world, after all--shouldn't be some sort of attention-whoring vagina-bearing.
Owen posted with an identifiably male name, and yet I don't see anyone going "oh, well if you want people to take you seriously you don't need to go around just advertising that you have a penis."
Ermmm ... you just now noticed that we men are all sex first and friends second?
ReplyDelete