6 Replies to “Men (Can) Condescend”

  1. Pat, I’d like to buy a qualifier: CAN?

    Oddly, the linked article takes a moment to mention that men aren’t a single unified block of people, that condescension is a male trait, but it is not universal among them (and perhaps not even common in the majority).

    But misandry’s cool, I guess.

  2. It doesn’t say “men always condescend” or “it’s in the nature of men to condescend” or anything like that. *That* would be misandry.

    Just being a writer, Leah, sorry.

    But when I write “People walk dogs” it doesn’t mean all people do, or that all dogs are walked by people, or anything else of the kind.

  3. People walking dogs isn’t controversial. When people say “Women are irrational,” it doesn’t go over well with most women. When people say “Blacks are ignorant,” black people are pissed. When people say “Religious people are bigots,” religious people spek up.

    I realize that a qualifier would ruin the sound of the headline. Once for an english comp paper, I referred to riding the back of a motorcycle as “Riding Bitch,” not because I like the term, but because “riding in back” lacked the same rhythm. When I read this back to my mom, the journalism major, she suggested I remove it. Nor did my girlfriend appreciate the poetry of this phrasing. Most importantly, my (female) teacher gave me a red mark for it. Lesson learned: Good writing doesn’t excuse ill tact.

  5. :O

    Wow, I didn’t actually think I actually could persuade you to change THIS headline. I was just hoping to make you think twice when you thought to do it next time. I don’t know that you’re entirely conceding the point, but this took more humility than most people would show. You’re AWESOME!

    And yes, I’m happy. And I suggested “can” for just that reason 🙂 I asked Pat for a SOMETIMES first, but he gave me a stern look and I realized that I probably wouldn’t say “Men Sometimes Condescend” either. That’s a shitty headline. But thank you 🙂

  6. LOL – you guys should take that shit on the ROAD.

    ok, that first story, the asshole talking about HER BOOK – that is pure gold.

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