Women only: Regarding the use of the term 'girls' to describe women.

[Mc Mike]

357. Para 5 - 10:

Nobody on DU ever picked a fight with me or told me what to say or think, re gender politics. We're reading and posting on different subjects, up to now. Usually I get amused toleration, or 'follow your bliss, pal.' I never heard anything about asking a co-worker out as 'coercion', but I never discussed it, because my wife wouldn't approve, in spades. But nothing wrong with two equals that work together going out on a date, or having any kind of consensual good time, in my opinion. It only hurts to ask if the other person is subordinate at the job. I never heard sex with a virgin is 'creepy', 'rape', or a 'sexual assault' on this site, either. I disagree with the sentiments, but they have never been brought up on any thread I've read or posted on. Between 2 consenting equal adults, it's none of my business. Saying 'girl' to your best friend is obviously none of my business, but that wasn't the point of the OP poll.

You feel they accuse you of condescension and belittlement, and you feel they have been condescending and belittling. The only way to achieve a cease-fire is to stop firing. There's no reason to keep up the destructive cycle of interaction, and nobody is reaching for the 'ignore' button, but there's nothing enjoyable to me about the type of post interactions I've seen. Nobody here pushed their morals on me, ever. As allies, we go our own way and mind our own business. By your writing, you don't come off as dumb, so I disagree with that part. The 'you don't get it' part, is you don't get that they want to be left alone to say and think what they want. Post your own OP, see if they follow you to be mean. I'll read what you have to say in your o post, if I see it in our neighborhood, and I'll contribute my 2 cents. I have a big mouth, and don't mind agreeing or disagreeing with others' opinions.

I missed the 'seriously lacking in self respect' post, but you'll admit it is a monster of a thread at this point. I disagree with the statement, but I remember Paul Mooney doing a bit where he said the n word 50 times a day, to keep his teeth white. After the Seinfeld guy melted down on stage in his stand up, Mooney quit using the word. Chris Rock used to use the word, and Whoopi convinced him to quit. Wanda never used it, and she's one of the funniest people out there. They all had their own opinion about the use of a derogatory term, and a white looking person like me has no business telling them what to do. But none of them is using the word anymore. The way those men and women used the n word or not, is the same way women can self-appelate as 'girl', or not. It's none of my business, and they didn't ask for my opinion.

No woman here ever (told me they) looked down on me, told me what to think, pushed their morals on me, insulted me. If I saw it happen to another person, I'd say it was wrong. I'm glad you're still an ally against the swinish repugs and their war on women. I don't believe all men are potential rapists, so we agree there. I audited Bettina Aptheker's Women's Studies at UC Santa Cruz, and took Marsha Millman's Soc. of Love there. And I could see a real separation between those two genius women and men. They were always ready for an attack to come from men, because they were attacked by men so much. Both classes were very worthwhile, though.

Lastly, you can't force someone to kow tow if you're not in power. We're all allies against the repugs, in a lot of issues, in this case it's the 'War on Women' issue. The bigger person will cease fire first, and declare Armistice. That's about all I have on post 298, and I bet Red and you could agree on at least one thing, that you both wish she didn't give me the go ahead to type this book onto the thread. Har Har.