Being a woman in geek culture

[Recidiva]

I got us these:

Hard to see, but they're periodic table cupcakes

That is fantastic. I was watching a documentary, I don't remember where, about science, and there's a guy that has an interactive element table, with samples of every element, even the rare/dangerous/scary stuff.

I so much wanted to play with that table!

 

[KoPilot]

That is fantastic. I was watching a documentary, I don't remember where, about science, and there's a guy that has an interactive element table, with samples of every element, even the rare/dangerous/scary stuff.

I so much wanted to play with that table!

Ah yes, one of my favorite sequences in Cosmos, visually, is where Sagan has a periodic table on display, with each element (the non-radioactive ones, at least) in these gorgeous little glass vials. There are shots of them being tossed around in slow motion and stuff, super pretty.

Damn, I want cupcakes now.

Oh and: if anyone wants my GF cake recipe, it's a combo of these two:

http://buildingbuttercream.blogspot.com/2012/12/earl-grey-vanilla-bean-birthday-cake.html
http://www.iamgf.com/en/recipes/119-how-to-make-a-use-gluten-free-cake-flour

(I use white rice/tapioca flour mix for those ratios. But seriously, it is amazingly good. I refuse to make any other kind of cupcake now.)

 

[Recidiva]

Ah yes, one of my favorite sequences in Cosmos, visually, is where Sagan has a periodic table on display, with each element (the non-radioactive ones, at least) in these gorgeous little glass vials. There are shots of them being tossed around in slow motion and stuff, super pretty.

Damn, I want cupcakes now.

Oh and: if anyone wants my GF cake recipe, it's a combo of these two:

http://buildingbuttercream.blogspot.com/2012/12/earl-grey-vanilla-bean-birthday-cake.html
http://www.iamgf.com/en/recipes/119-how-to-make-a-use-gluten-free-cake-flour

(I use white rice/tapioca flour mix for those ratios. But seriously, it is amazingly good. I refuse to make any other kind of cupcake now.)

I will also listen to Oliver Sacks read "Uncle Tungsten" with raptures.

Those recipes look great and my daughter is exploring that she might be gluten intolerant, she's not Celiac but these would make her day.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

Someone posted this on YK's FB page:

​

There's a reason they call them "man"hours - a woman would have that shit done in 20 minutes.​

 

[Stella_Omega]

Someone posted this on YK's FB page:

​

There's a reason they call them "man"hours - a woman would have that shit done in 20 minutes.​

Or it would have taken her two hours, but it would have been done right.

 

[Noor]

Ah yes, one of my favorite sequences in Cosmos, visually, is where Sagan has a periodic table on display, with each element (the non-radioactive ones, at least) in these gorgeous little glass vials. There are shots of them being tossed around in slow motion and stuff, super pretty.

Damn, I want cupcakes now.

Oh and: if anyone wants my GF cake recipe, it's a combo of these two:

http://buildingbuttercream.blogspot.com/2012/12/earl-grey-vanilla-bean-birthday-cake.html
http://www.iamgf.com/en/recipes/119-how-to-make-a-use-gluten-free-cake-flour

(I use white rice/tapioca flour mix for those ratios. But seriously, it is amazingly good. I refuse to make any other kind of cupcake now.)

Thanks!

 

[Keroin]

I got us these:

Hard to see, but they're periodic table cupcakes

I you!


In other news, fish geek girl went fishing today. (And caught the biggest coho of her life!)

I am very excited about Worldcon! Reading through the schedule, one of the very first panels is "Convention Program Gender Parity". I think I will attend that one and take copious notes to share here.

 

[KoPilot]

Thanks Keroin, but you just made me realize how weird it would be to see any of you at a comic con. I'm going to be tabling at shows starting in the spring... I'll have no choice but to talk to people that stop by!

 

[Keroin]

Thanks Keroin, but you just made me realize how weird it would be to see any of you at a comic con. I'm going to be tabling at shows starting in the spring... I'll have no choice but to talk to people that stop by!

Are you kidding? I'd love to meet you, buy you a cupcake, see your work!

 

[Noor]

Don't worry KoPilot, we won't out you, we'll just watch your squirm a bit and then give you a cupcake

 

[Stella_Omega]

Thanks Keroin, but you just made me realize how weird it would be to see any of you at a comic con. I'm going to be tabling at shows starting in the spring... I'll have no choice but to talk to people that stop by!

it's rough on introverts. Make sure you can refuel in private when you need to.

meanwhile, from tumblr;

I’m not a misandrist, but I just don’t think boys are as interested in gaming as women are. I mean, women keep playing despite the vast majority of games being explicitly targeted towards boys and only boys, we’re obviously in it for the games themselves. However, I’ve heard boys complaining about how gaming has been ruined forever because a few games have women protagonists that have personalities beyond “tits.” If they were true gamers like us, they’d be able to look past that for the love of the game.

Seriously, fake gamer boys, I’m not a misandrist, but perhaps you should stop trying to earn our attention via gaming and get back in the garage where you belong.

http://imnotamisandristbut.tumblr.com/

 

[satindesire]

Haha! OMG I never thought of it that way. But you know what? It's absolutely true. Even though our gender is constantly being designed to be a sexual object/prize to be won by The Hero, or a helpless victim, we still play. Even though we don't see female characters we can relate to, even when we feel alienated and uncomfortable sometimes. We still play.

If anything, the REAL gamers out there have been the women, all along.

Wow, mind=blown.

Edited to add: I'm actually really impressed that the thread has grown as much as it has and been populated by this really amazing evolving discussion. I'm humbled, and honored, that y'all have come by here to share pieces of yourself like this. Some people would try and punish you for that kind of vulnerability, as we've already seen, and would try and make you feel less than because of your gender. But that kind of bigotry won't be socially acceptable for much longer. The bravery each of you have to be openly geeky regardless of it's potential for harm is...well. I'm gushing. But it's really cool.

 

[BrightlyGo]

http://imnotamisandristbut.tumblr.com/

i'm not a misandrist, because, like, i'm a guy, so obviously i can't be, but things like this are funny because they're a little bit true. i wish more guys could appreciate this kind of humor without getting all upset and masculinazi over it.

 

[satindesire]

i'm not a misandrist, because, like, i'm a guy, so obviously i can't be, but things like this are funny because they're a little bit true. i wish more guys could appreciate this kind of humor without getting all upset and masculinazi over it.

I really should be sleeping right now, but I can't stop reading it.

"how many internet “egalitarians” that are totes not MRAs does it take to change a light bulb

none- they’ll just watch you try to change it, then complain that you’re only turning it one way, as opposed to taking one turn clockwise then one counterclockwise, which would be TRUE EQUALITY"

I'm Dyyyyyyying right now! I'm dying, dead. Dead on the floor. xDDDDDDD!~

 

[Primalex]

Haha! OMG I never thought of it that way. But you know what? It's absolutely true. Even though our gender is constantly being designed to be a sexual object/prize to be won by The Hero, or a helpless victim, we still play. Even though we don't see female characters we can relate to, even when we feel alienated and uncomfortable sometimes. We still play.

If anything, the REAL gamers out there have been the women, all along.

Wow, mind=blown.

So..all women are real gamers, because a few male gamers don't like strong female characters in games. Yeah, makes total sense.

Hm. Tomb Raider got a metacritic user score of 8.4.

Longest Journey - user score 9.0
Mirror's Edge - user score 8.2
Beyond Good & Evil - user score 8.8
Remember me - user score 7.2

Boy, we male gamers seriously hate strong female characters!


Isn't it funny how you want the geek community to be an unprejudiced community and in every second post you do your best to drive a wedge in there by prejudiced generalization? You don't focus on the commonalities and try to strengthen them, you focus on small irrelevant differences and blow them out of proportion. It's just not possible for you that there are some REAL female gamers and some REAL male gamers and some not so real female gamers and some not so real male gamers. Noooo...reality sucks if you can have your own biased point of view, right?

I mean, really:
BREAKING NEWS: Some gamers don't like some games.

What next? Some gamers don't like turn-based strategy games, this proves that all women are smarter than men, because some women like turn-based strategy games? Seriously.

 

[Recidiva]

Haha! OMG I never thought of it that way. But you know what? It's absolutely true. Even though our gender is constantly being designed to be a sexual object/prize to be won by The Hero, or a helpless victim, we still play. Even though we don't see female characters we can relate to, even when we feel alienated and uncomfortable sometimes. We still play.

If anything, the REAL gamers out there have been the women, all along.

Wow, mind=blown.

Edited to add: I'm actually really impressed that the thread has grown as much as it has and been populated by this really amazing evolving discussion. I'm humbled, and honored, that y'all have come by here to share pieces of yourself like this. Some people would try and punish you for that kind of vulnerability, as we've already seen, and would try and make you feel less than because of your gender. But that kind of bigotry won't be socially acceptable for much longer. The bravery each of you have to be openly geeky regardless of it's potential for harm is...well. I'm gushing. But it's really cool.

The women in this thread are the reason I joined the conversation (satin, I think and have always thought that you're wonderful)

I don't think I've ever seriously pissed off satin, but I know I've seriously pissed off Stella, Nezatch and Keroin (even before this thread) and they are all three generous of spirit and still willing to engage even though I know they'd all three have liked to, at various points in time, if not do me harm, at least make me go away for an unspecified amount of time.

Conversations with these ladies have mattered to me more than your average drive-by conversation, and there is wisdom and content and vulnerability and humor. Even though I know these wonderful women would have liked me to go away...I just think they're cool and would prefer to be talking to them on most subjects than most other people. I stubbornly do not go or change even if the group thinks I should. Shocker. I can't say I belong in your company or in your conversations, but I can say I wanna. Big time.

So cupcakes to you guys, thank you for being here and presenting yourself with grace and passion. And in my case, forgiveness.

KoPilot, it's been a pleasure to meet you and get to know your viewpoint and have to Google some words in the articles you post.

BiBunny, it's wonderful to meet a separated-from-birth twin.

Noor, I'm grateful to have made a new friend, one that could be sharp enough and flattering enough to track me down on Facebook based on crumbs dropped on Lit.

Whatever you guys think I think about you, I've got nothing but love. Love for who you are and how you live, which has no reflection on what you think compared to what I think.

 

[Recidiva]

i'm not a misandrist, because, like, i'm a guy, so obviously i can't be, but things like this are funny because they're a little bit true. i wish more guys could appreciate this kind of humor without getting all upset and masculinazi over it.

*clears throat from giggling* Funny.

"I’m not a misandrist, but men just don’t know have the right mindset or temperament for MMORPGs. Just like in real life, they’re too focused on getting shiny new tools and hardware to understand the real point of these games, which is role-playing in a virtual world. That’s why, if you see a male character attempting to role-play, it’s probably just a girl trying to get free stuff from other players."

 

[Keroin]

Edited to add: I'm actually really impressed that the thread has grown as much as it has and been populated by this really amazing evolving discussion. I'm humbled, and honored, that y'all have come by here to share pieces of yourself like this. Some people would try and punish you for that kind of vulnerability, as we've already seen, and would try and make you feel less than because of your gender. But that kind of bigotry won't be socially acceptable for much longer. The bravery each of you have to be openly geeky regardless of it's potential for harm is...well. I'm gushing. But it's really cool.

The women in this thread are the reason I joined the conversation (satin, I think and have always thought that you're wonderful)

I don't think I've ever seriously pissed off satin, but I know I've seriously pissed off Stella, Nezatch and Keroin (even before this thread) and they are all three generous of spirit and still willing to engage even though I know they'd all three have liked to, at various points in time, if not do me harm, at least make me go away for an unspecified amount of time.

Conversations with these ladies have mattered to me more than your average drive-by conversation, and there is wisdom and content and vulnerability and humor. Even though I know these wonderful women would have liked me to go away...I just think they're cool and would prefer to be talking to them on most subjects than most other people. I stubbornly do not go or change even if the group thinks I should. Shocker. I can't say I belong in your company or in your conversations, but I can say I wanna. Big time.

So cupcakes to you guys, thank you for being here and presenting yourself with grace and passion. And in my case, forgiveness.

KoPilot, it's been a pleasure to meet you and get to know your viewpoint and have to Google some words in the articles you post.

BiBunny, it's wonderful to meet a separated-from-birth twin.

Noor, I'm grateful to have made a new friend, one that could be sharp enough and flattering enough to track me down on Facebook based on crumbs dropped on Lit.

Whatever you guys think I think about you, I've got nothing but love. Love for who you are and how you live, which has no reflection on what you think compared to what I think.

The best thing I've taken away from my time on Lit is that you can debate a subject passionately with people who hold opposing and equally passionate positions, and not have to dislike those people at the end of it all. In other words, the argument and the person are two separate entities. It may sound cheesy, but that little epiphany has helped me in all areas of my life.

Recidiva, it's true you and I have butted heads over issues. Sometimes you've changed my mind, sometimes you haven't, but I have always respected you and looked forward to your appearances in this corner of Lit. I think you're just swell. The world could use more outspoken and unapologetic women like you.

It is very rare that I come across an individual on Lit whose behaviour, philosophy, or personality I find so reprehensible that I cannot find some point of common ground. But there are a couple, and that's another good lesson I've learned here--sometimes the best thing you can do is disengage completely. Forever.

In general, though, I like to be challenged. I've often walked away from conversations here and rolled over the thoughts and ideas expressed for days or weeks afterward. Came for the kink, stayed for the think.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I really should be sleeping right now, but I can't stop reading it.

"how many internet “egalitarians” that are totes not MRAs does it take to change a light bulb

none- they’ll just watch you try to change it, then complain that you’re only turning it one way, as opposed to taking one turn clockwise then one counterclockwise, which would be TRUE EQUALITY"

I'm Dyyyyyyying right now! I'm dying, dead. Dead on the floor. xDDDDDDD!~

wasn't there some guy in this or the other thread bitching about tumblr social justice types and how mean they are and it just proves that there's no such thing or something like that? I have a feeling this is what they were upset about.

 

[Stella_Omega]

So..all women are real gamers, because a few male gamers don't like strong female characters in games. Yeah, makes total sense.

Hm. Tomb Raider got a metacritic user score of 8.4.

Longest Journey - user score 9.0
Mirror's Edge - user score 8.2
Beyond Good & Evil - user score 8.8
Remember me - user score 7.2

Boy, we male gamers seriously hate strong female characters!


Isn't it funny how you want the geek community to be an unprejudiced community and in every second post you do your best to drive a wedge in there by prejudiced generalization? You don't focus on the commonalities and try to strengthen them, you focus on small irrelevant differences and blow them out of proportion. It's just not possible for you that there are some REAL female gamers and some REAL male gamers and some not so real female gamers and some not so real male gamers. Noooo...reality sucks if you can have your own biased point of view, right?

I mean, really:
BREAKING NEWS: Some gamers don't like some games.

What next? Some gamers don't like turn-based strategy games, this proves that all women are smarter than men, because some women like turn-based strategy games? Seriously.

4) #No misandrist but men just can’t take a fucking joke. They shit their pants when you make the tiniest misandry joke. Pathetic.
http://imnotamisandristbut.tumblr.com

I love tumblr!

 

[Loverskitten]

That is fantastic. I was watching a documentary, I don't remember where, about science, and there's a guy that has an interactive element table, with samples of every element, even the rare/dangerous/scary stuff.

I so much wanted to play with that table!

I've seen that too PBS or NOVA, I think. Super cool.

 

[Primalex]

4) #No misandrist but men just can’t take a fucking joke. They shit their pants when you make the tiniest misandry joke. Pathetic.
http://imnotamisandristbut.tumblr.com

I love tumblr!

Ad hominem fallacy.

 

[KoPilot]

I’m not a misandrist, but, men are incredibly boring conversationalists. They pick the driest, most emotionally flat subjects to pretend to be experts about. They don’t really talk to other people so much as they try really hard to prove in any conversation that they know the most about the topic. It’s the worst when they’re talking to women. They either make women do all the work in keeping the conversation lively, talk too much, or they don’t even notice the words that are being said at all. I once had a conversation with a man where I just spouted off random words like a bot and he still responded and didn’t seem to notice anything was wrong. You could tell a man “rubber pants” and he would hear whatever he wants to hear, because men don’t converse, they just treat everyone in the world like sounding boards in their solipsistic fantasyland. They could learn a thing or two about conversation skills from women. Or just let women do all the talking since they have nothing worthwhile to add anyway. No offense.

Ok but this is basically true y/y

 

[Recidiva]

Ad hominem fallacy.

For educational purposes:

An ad hominem (Latin for "to the man" or "to the person", short for argumentum ad hominem, is an argument made personally against an opponent instead of against their argument. Ad hominem reasoning is normally described as an informal fallacy, more precisely an irrelevance.

What we're dealing with is stereotypes, and although stereotype doesn't have it's own logical fallacy, we can apply:

Hasty Generalization (Dicto Simpliciter, also called “Jumping to Conclusions,” "Converse Accident"): Mistaken use of inductive reasoning when there are too few samples to prove a point. Example: "Susan failed Biology 101. Herman failed Biology 101. Egbert failed Biology 101. I therefore conclude that most students who take Biology 101 will fail it." In understanding and characterizing general situations, a logician cannot normally examine every single example. However, the examples used in inductive reasoning should be typical of the problem or situation at hand. Maybe Susan, Herman, and Egbert are exceptionally poor students. Maybe they were sick and missed too many lectures that term to pass. If a logician wants to make the case that most students will fail Biology 101, she should (a) get a very large sample--at least one larger than three--or (b) if that isn't possible, she will need to go out of his way to prove to the reader that her three samples are somehow representative of the norm. If a logician considers only exceptional or dramatic cases and generalizes a rule that fits these alone, the author commits the fallacy of hasty generalization.

Brought to you by: Know Your Fallacies and the chromosome X

 

[Recidiva]

I've seen that too PBS or NOVA, I think. Super cool.

Best toy ever. If only I had the budget and security clearance.