Bullshit. It must be very comfortable to be able to just throw this out there as an excuse whenever something goes wrong in your life, but the days when it was true are over.
You have issues. Deal with them.
“Women like a man of action”? “Stoop to that level”? Man, this bit is even dumber than the stuff I read the first time. Decide which century you want to live in, little girl. You can live here where you can vote and don’t have to wear a corset, but you do have to actually do something for yourself every once in a while without having a man do it for you, or you can go to a place where you’ll never be expected (or, indeed, allowed) to pursue a man.
Ooo… I like that one
For heaven’s sake, cut that out. I’m a sweet delicate flower 
, but little annoys me more than a “special” ladies handshake. Shake my hand like a man!
Perhaps he knows that you, oh I don’t know, have a boyfriend? Mayhaps he doesn’t want to deal with barrage of pseudo-feminist crap you’ll spew about feeling like you’re in the middle of a gang rape when he asks you out and then all buses are in the station at the same time! (Or something. I can’t pretend to type shit as crazy as I’m sure you will).
You know, you seem to think you’re pretty damn hot and you appear to hate men. And you don’t like to be touched, you want money, and I can’t imagine you have great people skills. Ever think about getting a job at a titty bar? The men aren’t allowed to touch you, all the strippers I know hate men anyway, and the money’s great!
OP: does anybody like you at all?
If so, why?
does Roger Rabbit dance
Go Inky, go Inky, go, go, go Inky!
Eh. I’m a woman, and that type of handshake makes me kind of nuts. It feels… too soft and gives me the holy heebies. I want a direct handshake, dammit. I might be a short little thing, but I flatter myself that I have a pretty good grip and am not a delicate little flower.
Thirding the sentiment that it is absolute BS to shake hands only with other men in the business environment. Women, as a class, have worked for decades to be seen in the work place as coworkers and equal professionals first, not as females first. Please ignore any simpering primadonna declining to shake hands, insisting that doors be held open for her, or refusing to pay for stuff because she’s female.
Assuming this guy is your boss, or one of your bosses (a fair assumption if he hired you), he probably gets off right where he got on – he’s your boss.
Show him this e-mail and he won’t have to worry about falling – he’ll jump. Better yet, show it to the guy you’re dating too, and kill two birds with one stone.
Do you work in the magazine section of the library? 'Cause it sounds like you have issues.
Have to agree with Excalibre and others. If you consider shaking hands with a man to be some sort of validation of his horrible sexual desires to fornicate with you, it’s really easy to believe that the horrible sexual advances that every male in our “porn-obsessed society” is making to you is just you completely over-reacting.
Clever . . .
Well echidna, I think it’s prety clear you’ve undermined the rest of your arguements (some of which are actually valid) with this weird thing about not shaking hands. It’s pretty much the definition of “peer”. That’s what it’s for. And a man doing that to a woman is…well…treating here like a peer and not a wilting flower who needs protection from such violent assertions of male dominance as a male hand on our hand…my lord it might kill us! Or corrupt us rendering us unfit…what was your point again?
They evented handshaking as a symbol of equality. And non voilence. That we are now included in this little social ritual can only be a good thing*.
The ones who pat you on the ass you are free to strangle and dismember.
- Except that it alway has to be the right hand, when I’m left handed…I feel so oppressed!!!
Not to pile on, but:
I can give points on the work issues;
I can give points on being angry about the harassment issues;
No points on the bizarre, Victorian-cum-Angry-Feminist stance on handshakes as fasco-paternal-phallo-oppressive invasions;
Ditto on no points for the impossible conflicting double standard for your potential mates, who apparently offend you by showing you overt affection, physical contact, respectful deference as an equal, or by ignoring you. Any of these will appear to elicit the same rage-filled reaction.
Your misandric tendencies are being loudly telegraphed here. Perhaps somebody with an errant Y chromosome has primed you to respond this way.
The OP reminds me of a woman I used to work with who wore the same freaking outfit to work every day of the year–black leggings with a big, baggy sweater hanging down over her ass. One August, in the middle of a 100 degree plus heat wave, she complained to the office manager that her office was too hot. The manager asked her why she was wearing a sweater and she answered, “Well, I work with men,” as if those sweaters were the only thing saving her from being molested on a daily basis. Not enough :rolleyes: in the world.
Go, Go, Go, Inky
With apologies to Tim Rice
NARRATOR
Echidna’s rant was really off,
Her manners and bank account low.
Alone she typed, alone she moaned
Of events perverse and unfair.
SDMB MEMBER A
Hey, Echidna, cool the hell off!
SDMB MEMBER B
Don’t you know you could have it worse off?
CHORUS
Go, go, go, Inky, you know what they say:
Unthinking bitches just want it their way!
Sha la la, Echidna, the rant was quite long,
But not all touches are done in the wrong.
NARRATOR
Now will this girl ever see, through glasses tinted dark,
That her views paint the world in colors much too stark?
ECHIDNA
Please don’t touch me, you stupid man,
Can’t you see what I’ve got in my plan?
Old double standards I love them so,
To me society does everything owe.
(dance break)
NARRATOR & CHORUS
Oh, Echidna, shake his goddamned hand!
Grabbing your boob is not something he’s got planned!
INKY
You stupid anteater, did you ever think
That your actions make you into a dink?
It’s not that you’re empowered that drives guys off–
You’re just too bitchy to be chos’n for a boff.
MISS PURL (spoken)
There’s no need to overcompensate, either! We’re sure you’re attractive as hell, but, Jesus, lady, if you sexualize everything then no wonder you think society’s obsesed with porn. If you think about this rationally, then you’ll see you have some issues with touch and this will damage your chances of success in life, both professionally and personally. The world is not out to get you and undermine your chances at success and happiness. Most people probably don’t give a damn about you. You are not the center of the universe, the star of your own personal soap opera.
CHORUS
Go, go, go, Inky, you know what they say!
Inconsiderate bitches just want it their way.
Hang on now, Echidna, you’ll see the light,
Porn can be quite fun if you look at it right.
Go, go, go!
Rules of the Handshake for Men:
To Men: Give a nice firm handshake.
To Women: Give exactly as firm a handshake as you receive.
This seemed to be writ large over the entirety of her OP. There is an unhappy story there.
But does she have a nice rack?
I don’t know what else there is to say, as everyone has covered all the good stuff, but dammit, I read the OP just before leaving work and the combination of stooooopid, arrogant and psychotic has left chemtrails in my brain since this afternoon.
As far as our warrior princess’s unwanted male advances; I think she’s just pissed because they’re not coming from hot guys (like dodo man). Don’t hand me that sexual harassment crap in one breath and then lament that you are forced to dress like a prison matron (or whatever) in order to hide your sexy femininity to ward off unwanted male attention. Bullshit, sister. We’ve all been ogled, wolfwhistled at and unfortunately had brushes with Roman Hands. Or worse, some haven’t. If your words are a true indication of your ego, you’d be devestated if you got no atention. And you wouldn’t even be aware of your “sexy femininity” if you didn’t hope someone would notice it, much less complain about hiding it.
Your boyfriend’s ( I pity the fool) lack of outrage at the personal affronts you must suffer again and again? Can’t say if he’s a world class douchebag, or if you’re continually trying to make him jealous and he’s just not biting anymore. I know I stopped playing that game when I was, oh, sixteen or so. You refer to yourself as a warrior (pukey smiley) so fight your own battles, why dontcha.
There’s too much material to address at this late hour, but the one thing about your rant that irritated me above all else was whatever that quasi intellectual tough girl tone you were trying take. It strikes me as someone trying to write in the style of some of our formidable ladies here who really know how to stoke a fire, and is failing miserably. I also sense that you’re very young (at least emotionally), and that is why, even after having said the above, I would wish that you would not leave these boards, but sit back and read and maybe learn a little. There’s lots o’ wisdom here.
Based on what you’ve displayed here I can only hope you stay at the bottom of the corporate ladder. Og help anyone who ends up with you as a boss.
Excuse me, Ms. Echidna would you mind checking out my Johnson?
Beast! Oppressor! Pervert!
Er, Samuel Johnson. I have a copy of his Dictionary I’d like to borrow. Oh, and some Dick for you.
Filthy misogynist pig! Slavering baboon!
No, you misunderstand. Philip K. Dick. The writer. I have a copy of The Man In The High Castle here. Right here, next to my Longfellow.
Wretched monster! Ape! I spit in the eye of male hegemony! Spppt!
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, that is. My hands are full right now - could you hold my Longfellow while I lay my Balzac on your desk?
Toad! Lecher! Ogler! I loathe you! I LOATHE ALL MEN!
Perhaps this is a bad time for you. I’ll just get you to look at this Hardy for me, then, and I’ll be on my way…
OUT! GET OUT!