http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=990441


in reply to Re^8: 20 most important Perl Best Practices
in thread 20 most important Perl Best Practices

I believe that oversensitivity to gender issues is as, if not more, offensive -- patronising -- to women, than the lack of sensitivity. I also think that men are the butt of the joke in that cartoon.

But, in an attempt to settle the matter, I have sent the following email to 3 different Professors of Women's Studies to elicit an authoritative opinion. One has auto-reponded saying she is out until the September, 16th. Nothing yet from the others.

I'm suspending my further interactions on this subject until I get something to report. 

Hi [...],
 
This is a kind of off-the-wall request. 

I've picked you out from an internet search for:

  "professor of women's studies university"
 
I wonder if you would consider looking at a cartoon:
 
    <redacted>
 
And briefly offering your opinion on whether it is offensive to women?
 
This comes about from an on-line discussion amongst (mostly) male prog
+rammers, some of whom think it might be.
 
My personal conclusion -- white anglo-saxon male atheist 30 years marr
+ied to a muslim women -- is that it is not offensive to women, but ra
+ther makes men's innate, stereotypical reactions, the butt of the jok
+e.
 
But I would like a second opinion.
 
Many thanks for your time, regardless of your decision,
 
[...]
 
Ps. for reference: 

    Perl is a computer programming language; 
    Moose is a new, hyped, but very heavyweight add-on library for tha
+t language. 
    Mouse is another add-on library providing similar functionality, b
+ut in a much lighter form.

[download]
With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

RIP Neil Armstrong

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^10: 20 most important Perl Best Practices
by runrig (Abbot) on Aug 31, 2012 at 05:11 UTC

    I conducted my own survey, and here's what I found (**):

    • Wolowitz thought it was hilarious.
    • Sheldon, as intelligent as he is, didn't get it.
    • Leonard couldn't decide if it was funny or not, but said he would have at least had the good sense to not post it publicly.
    • Raj had absolutely nothing to say about it (but that may have been because Penny was in the room).
    • Penny thought it had something to do with Star Trek.

    I'm still waiting to hear from Amy and Bernadette.

    (**) I didn't really ask them. If you wanted to know what they really thought about it, you would probably have to ask Chuck.

[reply]
      Wolowitz thought it was hilarious.

      If there were ever a clear sign not to post something....

[reply]
Re^10: 20 most important Perl Best Practices
by Aristotle (Chancellor) on Aug 29, 2012 at 11:50 UTC
    I believe that oversensitivity to gender issues is as, if not more, offensive – patronising – to women, than the lack of sensitivity.

    Honestly? Try the same thing with s/gender/racial/ and s/women/blacks/. Maybe that will give you an idea of how you are sounding right about now.

    I also think that men are the butt of the joke in that cartoon.

    On a meta level they are, but how does that make it any less creepy?

    But, in an attempt to settle the matter, I have sent the following email to 3 different Professors of Women's Studies to elicit an authoritative opinion.

    And if three authorities say X, what does that change? Or seventeen of them for that matter. Does the strip get any less creepy if they said it ain’t so? This is a matter of developing some empathy, which is about as far removed from what appeals to authority can accomplish as I can imagine.

    Makeshifts last the longest.

[reply]

      On a meta level they are, but how does that make it any less creepy?

      I'm pretty sure his position is that it isn't creepy at all

[reply]

In Section Meditations