Comments on: My Vagina Killed Your Jetpack http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/ "I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit" - Ripley Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:13:23 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: AlphaGirl http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-46492 AlphaGirl Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:44:32 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-46492 So, I'm guessing you made it to about the third paragraph before childish discomfort about a word kicked in. Try getting over yourself and reading the rest of it. Then I'll engage with you on the topic at hand, not your made up topic of my perceived man-hate and bad feminism.  So, I'm guessing you made it to about the third paragraph before childish discomfort about a word kicked in. Try getting over yourself and reading the rest of it. Then I'll engage with you on the topic at hand, not your made up topic of my perceived man-hate and bad feminism. 

]]> By: Jay http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-46491 Jay Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:23:12 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-46491 Wow, I am incredibly offended. You refer to women in this article as "vaginas" more than "women" or "females." What gives you a right to reduce women to their sexual organs? You are as bad as the men you hate. I'm honestly surprised you didn't start reducing them to the c-word. Since when does a feminist do the very thing she is so pissed off about men doing: reducing women to sexual objects? I tried reading this article but kept getting stuck on being referred to as what lies between my legs. How can you expect men to treat you well when you don't even treat us well? Wow, I am incredibly offended. You refer to women in this article as "vaginas" more than "women" or "females." What gives you a right to reduce women to their sexual organs? You are as bad as the men you hate. I'm honestly surprised you didn't start reducing them to the c-word. Since when does a feminist do the very thing she is so pissed off about men doing: reducing women to sexual objects? I tried reading this article but kept getting stuck on being referred to as what lies between my legs. How can you expect men to treat you well when you don't even treat us well?

]]> By: AlphaGirl http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40774 AlphaGirl Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:27:06 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40774 When I teach persuasive essay writing, I teach my students that just believing something doesn't make it true, and certainly doesn't make it convincing. So, if you're going to throw around a statement like "anti-boy bias in schools", have some evidence to back it up. I'm not going about the business of laying out evidence that there <i>isn't</i> an anti-boy bias, unless you bother to layout evidence that there <i>is</i>. When I teach persuasive essay writing, I teach my students that just believing something doesn't make it true, and certainly doesn't make it convincing. So, if you're going to throw around a statement like "anti-boy bias in schools", have some evidence to back it up. I'm not going about the business of laying out evidence that there isn't an anti-boy bias, unless you bother to layout evidence that there is.

]]> By: AlphaGirl http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40773 AlphaGirl Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:26:37 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40773 When I teach persuasive essay writing, I teach my students that just believing something doesn't make it true, and certainly doesn't make it convincing. So, if you're going to throw around a statement like "anti-boy bias in schools", have some evidence to back it up. I'm not going about the business of laying out evidence that there <i>isn't<i/i> an anti-boy bias, unless you bother to prove that there <i>is</i>. </i> When I teach persuasive essay writing, I teach my students that just believing something doesn't make it true, and certainly doesn't make it convincing. So, if you're going to throw around a statement like "anti-boy bias in schools", have some evidence to back it up. I'm not going about the business of laying out evidence that there isn't<i/i> an anti-boy bias, unless you bother to prove that there is.

]]> By: Welmer http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40760 Welmer Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:59:17 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40760 <blockquote>In the book Nerds: Who They are and Why We Needs More of Them, psyhcotherapist David Anderegg postulates that our steady decline in math and science – both interest in and performance of – is due to the overall anti-intellectualism in our society. Kids who are interested in math and science are nerds. No one likes nerds. Nerds don’t get laid. Nerds are mocked by other kids of both sexes who are often egged on by their parents, or even following their parents’ lead.</blockquote> Perhaps it has a lot to do with the rise in single mothers and the anti-boy bias in schools. But that's for another article. Anyway, The Spearhead has <a href="http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/10/19/the-feminization-of-science-fiction-and-fantasy/" target="_blank">another post up on the feminization of scifi (and fantasy)</a> that analyzes the problem from a different perspective.

In the book Nerds: Who They are and Why We Needs More of Them, psyhcotherapist David Anderegg postulates that our steady decline in math and science – both interest in and performance of – is due to the overall anti-intellectualism in our society. Kids who are interested in math and science are nerds. No one likes nerds. Nerds don’t get laid. Nerds are mocked by other kids of both sexes who are often egged on by their parents, or even following their parents’ lead.

Perhaps it has a lot to do with the rise in single mothers and the anti-boy bias in schools. But that's for another article.

Anyway, The Spearhead has another post up on the feminization of scifi (and fantasy) that analyzes the problem from a different perspective.

]]> By: @Amy_said http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40602 @Amy_said Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:19:21 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40602 You are spot on! I, too, fell behind in math as a kid and didn't ever recover. Ended up with an English degree as well, which I mightily enjoyed getting. But it didn't set me on any career path, and I'd always fancied myself growing up to be an inter-planetary archeologist (hey, I was 8 years old). My question is: Where's the threat? Between this dude and Dirk Benedict's infamous rant about BSG, I'm boggled. If you have a son who shows an interest in math and science, then INSPIRE your child. Why the crap are you lookin' at TV shows and fanfic as the source? And I think it's cool to be a nerd ONLY once you grow up. We can all rock on with our geek selves because we survived high school and, hopefully, are fairly functional at what we do in life. We can wear our geek badges with honor. But in a school setting? Forget it. Got pot pies from Trader Joe's, by the way, so my girl duties are done there. But I'm happy to pass out babies since that's the only thing Dirk thinks I'm good for. You are spot on! I, too, fell behind in math as a kid and didn't ever recover. Ended up with an English degree as well, which I mightily enjoyed getting. But it didn't set me on any career path, and I'd always fancied myself growing up to be an inter-planetary archeologist (hey, I was 8 years old).

My question is: Where's the threat? Between this dude and Dirk Benedict's infamous rant about BSG, I'm boggled. If you have a son who shows an interest in math and science, then INSPIRE your child. Why the crap are you lookin' at TV shows and fanfic as the source?

And I think it's cool to be a nerd ONLY once you grow up. We can all rock on with our geek selves because we survived high school and, hopefully, are fairly functional at what we do in life. We can wear our geek badges with honor. But in a school setting? Forget it.

Got pot pies from Trader Joe's, by the way, so my girl duties are done there. But I'm happy to pass out babies since that's the only thing Dirk thinks I'm good for.

]]> By: “How many heterosexual Doctor Who fans does it take to change a lightbulb? Both” « Crimitism http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40587 “How many heterosexual Doctor Who fans does it take to change a lightbulb? Both” « Crimitism Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:52:19 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40587 [...] involved. Yeah, again. I’m not going to address every point it makes;  it’s already been done,  it’s so ridiculous that commentary is essentially redundant anyway, and I’m [...] [...] involved. Yeah, again. I’m not going to address every point it makes;  it’s already been done,  it’s so ridiculous that commentary is essentially redundant anyway, and I’m [...]

]]> By: Michael Armstrong http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40435 Michael Armstrong Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:07:26 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40435 Lisa, this is wonderful. You're spot on about anti-intellectualism. As a science fiction geek nerd who found other geek nerds through science fiction, I think one of the hidden treasures of sf is that it provides a culture for those shunned by the larger culture (also, they can get laid). That "oh, science is hard and you should go into English" thing happens to guys, too. I remember getting higher scores in English than science in 9th grade, and my counselor saying, "Well, you should think about a career the humanities." With a little prompting, I could have done science, too. So maybe that's why I became a science fiction writer. Lisa, this is wonderful. You’re spot on about anti-intellectualism. As a science fiction geek nerd who found other geek nerds through science fiction, I think one of the hidden treasures of sf is that it provides a culture for those shunned by the larger culture (also, they can get laid).
That “oh, science is hard and you should go into English” thing happens to guys, too. I remember getting higher scores in English than science in 9th grade, and my counselor saying, “Well, you should think about a career the humanities.” With a little prompting, I could have done science, too. So maybe that’s why I became a science fiction writer.

]]> By: Action Flick Chick http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40426 Action Flick Chick Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:36:06 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40426 Now THERE is an attention getting title! Now THERE is an attention getting title!

]]> By: Bram http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40334 Bram Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:16:01 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40334 Best article in recent memory on anti-intellectualism is <a href="http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0207GREETINGS" target="_blank"> Greetings from Idiot America</a> -- and it will make you laugh and weep. And I think … yeah, it's all <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Idiot-America-Stupidity-Became-Virtue/dp/0767926145" target="_blank"> a book now</a>. Best article in recent memory on anti-intellectualism is Greetings from Idiot America — and it will make you laugh and weep.

And I think … yeah, it's all a book now.

]]> By: Cheri Smith http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40304 Cheri Smith Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:51:24 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40304 I had the same problem in school; math was for boys, and I just needed to learn to type, cuz girls became secretaries until they became wives. Then they had babies, and gave up such nonsense. I refused to learn to type because that was stupid, I was going to be an Artist! This was almost half a century ago,... Strangely, when I got to college, and studied scientific illustration, I was actually o.k. at math and good at science! I do however, wish I had learned to type. I do 3-D graphics vis computer, and there's all sorts of typing needing to be done! I blame Tunnel in the Sky by Robert Heinlein for my love of science fiction. It was the first experience I ever had with the genre and it's been a strong love affair ever since.  So, misogynistus poopyheadicums can bite my butt,... I had the same problem in school; math was for boys, and I just needed to learn to type, cuz girls became secretaries until they became wives. Then they had babies, and gave up such nonsense. I refused to learn to type because that was stupid, I was going to be an Artist! This was almost half a century ago,…

Strangely, when I got to college, and studied scientific illustration, I was actually o.k. at math and good at science! I do however, wish I had learned to type. I do 3-D graphics vis computer, and there's all sorts of typing needing to be done!

I blame Tunnel in the Sky by Robert Heinlein for my love of science fiction. It was the first experience I ever had with the genre and it's been a strong love affair ever since.  So, misogynistus poopyheadicums can bite my butt,…

]]> By: AlphaGirl http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40274 AlphaGirl Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:50:51 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40274 Of course not! It means that you and 80% of your department are robbing boys of opportunities. And you're unnatural. Somewhere out there, there is a man waiting for you to bring him a potpie. Of course not! It means that you and 80% of your department are robbing boys of opportunities. And you're unnatural. Somewhere out there, there is a man waiting for you to bring him a potpie.

]]> By: AlphaGirl http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40271 AlphaGirl Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:44:34 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40271 The phrase is off-putting, but not an Alpha-Girl original. I don't know that America hates science so much as it hates smart people (many of whom are scientists). We must be the only country in the world where going to a really good university is bad for a prospective president! The phrase is off-putting, but not an Alpha-Girl original. I don't know that America hates science so much as it hates smart people (many of whom are scientists). We must be the only country in the world where going to a really good university is bad for a prospective president!

]]> By: TrinityVixen http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40268 TrinityVixen Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:12:21 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40268 I am confused now because I'm a female and I'm a scientist. Does that mean I'm automatically less good at my job? Because, wow, my whole department at the prestigious Ivy League school where I work must be really behind the curve then, seeing as it's roughly 80% female... I am confused now because I'm a female and I'm a scientist. Does that mean I'm automatically less good at my job? Because, wow, my whole department at the prestigious Ivy League school where I work must be really behind the curve then, seeing as it's roughly 80% female…

]]> By: jeffrey386 http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40264 jeffrey386 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:34:11 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40264 I must say the phrase, "female gay ghetto", is a bit weird and off-putting. As for women liking science fiction, I say keep it coming! What kind of straight male bemoans interaction and connection with women? Also female characters on TV are stuck in a time warp with exceptions of a few shows. For example, Gilmore Girls(RIP). I also agree that America has a massive problem, which I think will eventually be our downfall, WE HATE SCIENCE!!!!!!!! I wish their was a better word, maybe despise. WE DESPISE SCIENCE. We whine about evolution, we mock scientists and call them nerds, and most of the our DOCTORATE STUDENTS come from another hemisphere and we work them( all science doctorate students), like they're inhuman animals or serfs and then payout the fruits of their labors to corporations. "Who cares about global warming, it's just those cooky scientists talks." "What do they know?" I disagree that it has become "cool" to be a nerd. I think it's become cool to "call yourself a geek" because you like Harry Potter or Twilight, but hate Star Trek, Math, and science for no apparent reason. I'm not attacking either Twilight or Harry Potter. I'm just saying that saying that people still hate "nerds." Think about it this. They made a new Star Trek this year and the only way to get people to go see it was to load it with unnecessary action and remove anything that could be construed as thought provoking. I must say the phrase, "female gay ghetto", is a bit weird and off-putting. As for women liking science fiction, I say keep it coming! What kind of straight male bemoans interaction and connection with women? Also female characters on TV are stuck in a time warp with exceptions of a few shows. For example, Gilmore Girls(RIP). I also agree that America has a massive problem, which I think will eventually be our downfall, WE HATE SCIENCE!!!!!!!! I wish their was a better word, maybe despise. WE DESPISE SCIENCE. We whine about evolution, we mock scientists and call them nerds, and most of the our DOCTORATE STUDENTS come from another hemisphere and we work them( all science doctorate students), like they're inhuman animals or serfs and then payout the fruits of their labors to corporations. "Who cares about global warming, it's just those cooky scientists talks." "What do they know?" I disagree that it has become "cool" to be a nerd. I think it's become cool to "call yourself a geek" because you like Harry Potter or Twilight, but hate Star Trek, Math, and science for no apparent reason. I'm not attacking either Twilight or Harry Potter. I'm just saying that saying that people still hate "nerds." Think about it this. They made a new Star Trek this year and the only way to get people to go see it was to load it with unnecessary action and remove anything that could be construed as thought provoking.

]]> By: jeffrey386 http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40261 jeffrey386 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:14:45 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40261 I must say the phrase, "female gay ghetto", is a bit weird and off-putting. As for women liking science fiction, I say keep it coming! What kind of straight male bemoans interaction and connection with women? Also female characters on TV are stuck in a time warp with exceptions of a few shows. For example, Gilmore Girls(RIP). I also agree that America has a massive problem, which I think will eventually be our downfall, WE HATE SCIENCE!!!!!!!! I wish their was a better word, maybe despise. WE DESPISE SCIENCE. We whine about evolution, we mock scientists and call them nerds, and most of the our GRADUATE STUDENTS come from another hemisphere and we work them( all science graduate students), like they're inhuman animals or serfs and then payout the fruits of their labors to corporations. "Who cares about global warming, it's just those cooky scientists talks." "What do they know?" I disagree that it has become "cool" to be a nerd. I think it's become cool to "call yourself a geek" because you like Harry Potter or Twilight, but hate Star Trek, Math, and science for no apparent reason. I'm not attacking either Twilight or Harry Potter. I'm just saying that saying that people still hate "nerds." Think about it this. They made a new Star Trek this year and the only way to get people to go see it was to load it with unnecessary action and remove anything that could be construed as thought provoking. I must say the phrase, "female gay ghetto", is a bit weird and off-putting. As for women liking science fiction, I say keep it coming! What kind of straight male bemoans interaction and connection with women? Also female characters on TV are stuck in a time warp with exceptions of a few shows. For example, Gilmore Girls(RIP). I also agree that America has a massive problem, which I think will eventually be our downfall, WE HATE SCIENCE!!!!!!!! I wish their was a better word, maybe despise. WE DESPISE SCIENCE. We whine about evolution, we mock scientists and call them nerds, and most of the our GRADUATE STUDENTS come from another hemisphere and we work them( all science graduate students), like they're inhuman animals or serfs and then payout the fruits of their labors to corporations. "Who cares about global warming, it's just those cooky scientists talks." "What do they know?" I disagree that it has become "cool" to be a nerd. I think it's become cool to "call yourself a geek" because you like Harry Potter or Twilight, but hate Star Trek, Math, and science for no apparent reason. I'm not attacking either Twilight or Harry Potter. I'm just saying that saying that people still hate "nerds." Think about it this. They made a new Star Trek this year and the only way to get people to go see it was to load it with unnecessary action and remove anything that could be construed as thought provoking.

]]> By: AlphaGirl http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40254 AlphaGirl Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:19:34 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40254 It is, but they've got to get through middle school, first. That's where it all falls apart. It is, but they've got to get through middle school, first. That's where it all falls apart.

]]> By: AlphaGirl http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40253 AlphaGirl Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:15:58 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40253 Absolutely. But, to self-proclaimed anti-feminists ("misogynistus poopyheadicum" in scientific Latin) anything that separates girls from heating up that potpie is detrimental to boys and bad for society. Absolutely. But, to self-proclaimed anti-feminists ("misogynistus poopyheadicum" in scientific Latin) anything that separates girls from heating up that potpie is detrimental to boys and bad for society.

]]> By: worldofhiglet http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40249 worldofhiglet Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:28:32 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40249 So say we all! Grrrr, don't even get me started.... So say we all!

Grrrr, don't even get me started….

]]> By: Robin http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/10/14/my-vagina-killed-your-jetpack/comment-page-1/#comment-40248 Robin Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:20:23 +0000 http://www.pinkraygun.com/?p=12194#comment-40248 I'm sorry your math teachers were such sexist jerks, <b>Lisa</b>. While I was lucky to avoid that sort of treatment due to a facility with math that lasted me through most of calculus, a good friend of mine had a junior high experience frustratingly similar to yours. She managed to get a tutor and worked her butt off in order to be able to double-up on Algebra 2 and Trig during our junior year of high school, but it wasn't easy. The fact that it earned her early admission to the Biochemical Engineering program at Worcester Polytech made us that much more awed by and proud of her. As for what's-his-name bemoaning the "feminization" of sci-fi, I call shenanigans. If it's becoming girly-fied, that's the people making it, not the women watching. If he's upset at the fact that there are wimmins in the shows that aren't just eye-candy (and, jeebus-forefend, the gays), he can bite me. The fact that it's fiction doesn't mean that it shouldn't have an honest portrayal of the human population. And if his problem is that the writing has become better (i.e. drama, plot consistency, diverse character development), well, there's always the DVDs of his precious man-centric, woodenly acted sci-fi of years gone by. I'm sorry your math teachers were such sexist jerks, Lisa. While I was lucky to avoid that sort of treatment due to a facility with math that lasted me through most of calculus, a good friend of mine had a junior high experience frustratingly similar to yours. She managed to get a tutor and worked her butt off in order to be able to double-up on Algebra 2 and Trig during our junior year of high school, but it wasn't easy. The fact that it earned her early admission to the Biochemical Engineering program at Worcester Polytech made us that much more awed by and proud of her.

As for what's-his-name bemoaning the "feminization" of sci-fi, I call shenanigans. If it's becoming girly-fied, that's the people making it, not the women watching. If he's upset at the fact that there are wimmins in the shows that aren't just eye-candy (and, jeebus-forefend, the gays), he can bite me. The fact that it's fiction doesn't mean that it shouldn't have an honest portrayal of the human population. And if his problem is that the writing has become better (i.e. drama, plot consistency, diverse character development), well, there's always the DVDs of his precious man-centric, woodenly acted sci-fi of years gone by.

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