# Dear Woman video - pretty amazing **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 8, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620 "2011-04-08T02:34:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/341 "2011-04-11T07:25:20Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Do you agree or disagree that this video under discussion is a male to female apology? Since this is in Great Debates can I not discuss the motives behind willing to accept such a cloying and meaningless apology? This thread isn’t in MPSIMS, you know… Knock it off or accept a Warning for ignoring Moderator instructions. Whatever the “apology” in the video might be, your effort to make it something about **stoid** ’s personal life is out of line. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/342 "2011-04-11T11:44:51Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > We do not “grok” one another in the remotest way, and for my own part I am completely exhausted by the attempt. “Grokking” is necessary when there are no words. Fortunately we have words and are therefore able to communicate without Martian telepathy. For example, watch this: **FinnAgain** , when I said “you got nothing” to her, actually I wasn’t talking about her love of the video. I was talking about her implication that it’s easier for men to end fgm than for women to do so. I find that implication highly suspect, and given the rather condescending way she made it, a little annoying. I wanted her to either back it up or back off from it. But I anticipated, correctly, that she’d do neither. What I didn’t anticipate it is that she’d do so with a sexist jibe. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/343 "2011-04-11T12:14:41Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > But I anticipated, correctly, that she’d do neither. What I didn’t anticipate it is that she’d do so with a sexist jibe. Oddly enough, I didn’t see that in the video, but maybe we can add it. > [@](#): > > Woman, I admire your ability to be sexist, and will strive to duplicate it. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/344 "2011-04-11T13:25:18Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > **FinnAgain** , when I said “you got nothing” to her, actually I wasn’t talking about her love of the video. Ah, I viewed it more as a global sort of comment. I guess I must have a bit of Sky God in me. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/345 "2011-04-11T14:18:56Z")
Women, I apologize for every vote I’ve ever cast and look longingly to a future where I may be permitted the honour of being an unworthy worker drone in your noble, benign and inevitable uterocracy. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/346 "2011-04-11T14:32:44Z")
…er, that’s ‘fallopidom’ **Bryan** … ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/347 "2011-04-11T16:54:44Z")
One thing I wanna know is, since women are all connected to the Earth and stuff, can they be used to root for truffles or is that phallocratic oppression ? And as an aside, that whole “I celebrate the way you listen to your body” bit is such hypocritical bullshit. Nobody ever celebrates the way \*I \*listen to my body when I scratch my balls in public. What’s up with that ? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/348 "2011-04-11T17:04:05Z")
> [@Meyer6](#): > > I agree that we do not ‘grok’ each other. Good. Have a nice day. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/349 "2011-04-11T17:27:42Z")
I’ve been trying to think why this video bothered me so much. I think it’s actually because I’m assuming these guys are sincere. Seriously, if the guys who are sincerely on the side of equality still believe in these bullshit stereotypes and spread them around, what hope do we have of ever dispelling them? As long as people still believe these stereotypes, we will still be judged by them, endlessly and relentlessly…and not just positively. These guys may think that being peacemakers and earth mothers and whatever is something to be celebrated, but not everyone will. Once those labels are out there, there are going to be people who say, look, men are tough and strong and smart and logical, but those just aren’t feminine traits. And feminine traits like gentleness and sensitivity, well, those traits just aren’t compatible with being CEO or being a General, or being President. People are already afraid that if there was a female President, she’d be holed up in the Oval Office bathroom, crying when she reads something bad about her in the press, or that she’ll have a nervous breakdown when she has to make a tough decision. Is that the stereotype of women we want to have out there? Seriously? ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/350 "2011-04-11T17:35:57Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > One thing I wanna know is, since women are all connected to the Earth and stuff, can they be used to root for truffles or is that phallocratic oppression ? > > And as an aside, that whole “I celebrate the way you listen to your body” bit is such hypocritical bullshit. Nobody ever celebrates the way \*I \*listen to my body when I scratch my balls in public. What’s up with that ? Hey, not only do I listen to my body, I fart loud enough for other people to listen to my body too. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/351 "2011-04-11T17:39:26Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > I’ve been trying to think why this video bothered me so much. I think it’s actually because I’m assuming these guys are sincere. Seriously, if the guys who are sincerely on the side of equality still believe in these bullshit stereotypes and spread them around, what hope do we have of ever dispelling them? > > As long as people still believe these stereotypes, we will still be judged by them, endlessly and relentlessly…and not just positively. These guys may think that being peacemakers and earth mothers and whatever is something to be celebrated, but not everyone will. Once those labels are out there, there are going to be people who say, look, men are tough and strong and smart and logical, but those just aren’t feminine traits. And feminine traits like gentleness and sensitivity, well, those traits just aren’t compatible with being CEO or being a General, or being President. People are already afraid that if there was a female President, she’d be holed up in the Oval Office bathroom, crying when she reads something bad about her in the press, or that she’ll have a nervous breakdown when she has to make a tough decision. Is that the stereotype of women we want to have out there? Seriously? Right. There really isn’t any difference for me between: “Women are so in touch with their emotions and are kind and nurturing and that’s why they make such great parents!” and “Women are so in touch with their emotions and are kind and nurturing and that’s why they make such terrible soldiers!” ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/352 "2011-04-11T17:42:25Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Is that the stereotype of women we want to have out there? Yeah, if we’re sexists. We aren’t? Hrm… ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Jacquelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Le\_Jacquelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Jacquelope)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/353 "2011-04-11T17:46:20Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I take gender equality as a given, I feel insulted and patronised that anyone tries to apologise on my behalf. I have done nothing wrong. This should be etched across the side of the moon for the world to read. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/354 "2011-04-11T17:47:28Z")
The guys in the video cared more about showing themselves off as understanding men than about any of the meaningless stereotypic tripe they were spewing. It was all self congratulations. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/355 "2011-04-11T17:48:33Z")
> [@Le\_Jacquelope](#): > > This should be etched across the side of the moon for the world to read. Can’t happen, we already have CHA etched into the moon. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Jacquelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Le\_Jacquelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Jacquelope)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/356 "2011-04-11T17:54:44Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > This is untrue though. I have read true, personal accounts of women who have begun stopping the practice by refusing to allow their daughters to undergo FGM. That actually, really happens. Women use their agency to stop FGM. Despite the fact that you, as a western woman, believe they have no agency and can only be victims of male oppression, they have a different view. In a nutshell, this is the problem with your version of “feminism”. Is this the same FGM that happens among the Maasai, by any chance? Males go through the same thing over there. (Matter of fact, boys get circumcised around much of the world.) When do people start opposing genital mutilation of boys, too? ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Jacquelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Le\_Jacquelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Jacquelope)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/357 "2011-04-11T17:56:36Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Can’t happen, we already have CHA etched into the moon. CHA? That’s that? BTW you have done something wrong by claiming you’ve done nothing wrong. All men have done something wrong. Even when all alone in the forest, we’re wrong. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/358 "2011-04-11T17:59:39Z")
> [@Le\_Jacquelope](#): > > When do people start opposing genital mutilation of boys, too? (Before this particular topic gets too heated) Good news, it’s [already well under way](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/17/health/research/17circ.html?_r=1&ref=health). ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/359 "2011-04-11T18:02:21Z")
> [@Le\_Jacquelope](#): > > CHA? That’s that? Duh dweeee, duh duh duh dweeeee daaaw! ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620/360 "2011-04-11T18:03:13Z")
> [@Le\_Jacquelope](#): > > Is this the same FGM that happens among the Maasai, by any chance? > > Males go through the same thing over there. (Matter of fact, boys get circumcised around much of the world.) > > When do people start opposing genital mutilation of boys, too? This is not a discussion of FGM. This is an example given of women who used their agency in an undeniably oppressive culture to stop their mistreatment; something **Stoid** seemed to imply was impossible. If you want to discuss FGM or male circumcision, feel free to open a thread. But, personally, I would allude the example given above and say that if you believe male circumcision is wrong you have the agency, even more so than women, to bring an end to it. In other words: when will YOU start opposing the genital mutilation of boys? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-woman-video-pretty-amazing/577620.md?page=19)