# What were you THINKING? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532 "2023-10-13T19:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 38
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/741 "2024-01-02T03:18:13Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > I accept your complaint about it as entirely appropriate for this thread. > > What was I thinking indeed. > > šŸ˜† šŸ˜€ and once again, the Pit is the home of pleasant tidings. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/742 "2024-01-02T04:05:04Z")
![](https://media1.tenor.com/m/YyatTqgEoz4AAAAC/ted-lasso-roy-kent.gif) Does that return us to the proper vibe? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/743 "2024-01-02T04:28:36Z")
Iā€™m not saying itā€™s a bad thing, but the thread has turned into a book review/discussion. They are all very interesting posts. Iā€™ve found some books I wanna read. But is this the thread for it? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/744 "2024-01-02T04:38:16Z")
Books have more spine than some of our posters ā€¦? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/745 "2024-01-02T04:40:36Z")
I suppose youā€™re rightā€¦? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/746 "2024-01-02T04:42:10Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Iā€™m not saying itā€™s a bad thing, but the thread has turned into a book review/discussion. Rename the thread: BOOK CLUB, MOTHERFUCKERS! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/747 "2024-01-02T05:35:56Z")
I agree. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/748 "2024-01-02T06:11:29Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Iā€™m not saying itā€™s a bad thing, but the thread has turned into a book review/discussion. > They are all very interesting posts. Iā€™ve found some books I wanna read. > But is this the thread for it? I linked upthread to a new thread on books _inspired_ by this discussion, so hopefully theyā€™ll move on. Hint hint. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/749 "2024-01-02T06:25:30Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > The haut-ladies bother me. Theyā€™re all supposed to be extraordinarily beautiful, as if that didnā€™t mean different things to different people; and ā€œbeautifulā€ also means ā€œtallā€ as theyā€™re all extremely tall and that keeps being commented on. I canā€™t think of any good genetic reasons to breed humans for unusual height ā€“ itā€™s as if they declared ā€˜there is one standard of beautyā€™ and then bred for that. They were breeding themselves as the ruling class of an interplanetary empire. They made themselves tall for the same reason that short men donā€™t get elected President of the United States - people associate height with strength and authority. As for why that made them beautiful in addition to authoritative, remember whose eyes we were seeing them through. Miles always had a thing for tall women. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/750 "2024-01-02T06:34:05Z")
Scalziā€™s Lock In books have an ungendered protagonist. IIRC, you can get audiobook versions with a male or female narrator. Wellsā€™s Murderbot isnā€™t gendered. Quite a lot of F&SF authors are matter of factly playing with charactersā€™ gender, culture, skin color, sexual orientation, ability, etc. and the cultures in which they live. Becky Chambers is a good example, and the aforementioned Ann Leckie. I saw a lovely performance of Left Hand of Darkness where Genly Ai and Estraven were played by female actors; Le Guin had been involved with the production. /book club ETA: [Wil Wheaton and Amber Benson on depicting gender in John Scalziā€™s next audiobook - The Verge](https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/29/17175904/audible-john-scalzi-head-on-wil-wheaton-amber-benson-science-fiction-gender) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/751 "2024-01-02T07:52:20Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > I linked upthread to a new thread on books _inspired_ by this discussion, so hopefully theyā€™ll move on. Sometimes when something falls into a pit, itā€™s hard to get it out. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/752 "2024-01-02T08:11:34Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > > > Iā€™m not saying itā€™s a bad thing, but the thread has turned into a book review/discussion. > > They are all very interesting posts. Iā€™ve found some books I wanna read. > > But is this the thread for it? > > I linked upthread to a new thread on books _inspired_ by this discussion, so hopefully theyā€™ll move on. > > Hint hint. If you want these motherfucking hijackers to take the hint, you canā€™t just vaguely reference some link somewhere upthread, **[you have to aggressively promote it!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-i-read-as-a-kid-should-i-revisit/995439)** šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/753 "2024-01-02T16:14:14Z")
I donā€™t think that thread is the appropriate place either, though. I didnā€™t read those books as a kid. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/754 "2024-01-02T17:51:03Z")
Itā€™s the Pit, most hijacks are free from moderation (according to a message from Miller) and itā€™s a fair assumption that while people (including good posters) will eventually make an ass of themselves, it wonā€™t be continuous. So I try to keep an even keel when it comes to: Motherfucking ~~SNAKES~~ HIJACKERS on this Motherfucking ~~PLANE~~ Thread! There, implementing @wolfpupā€™s techniques! Seriously though, Iā€™ll still direct posters to a dedicated Pit thread on a subject or specific poster when they exist. Of course, someone could and should start another Pit thread for no-holds-barred book reviews a la: > [@Atamasama](#): > > BOOK CLUB, MOTHERFUCKERS! [extremely NSFW [video on reading](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlKL_EpnSp8) by [Bomani Armah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomani_Armah) for something more Pit-worthy, and while it parodies racist stereotypes, I think itā€™s appropriate for all races and individuals, individual health concerns permitting ] ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/755 "2024-01-02T18:16:51Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Doesnā€™t stay there. Hey, you donā€™t gotta sell _me_ on Bujold. Iā€™ve been a fan for twenty years and change. Itā€™s my wife who didnā€™t like it. She also hated The Princess Bride for the same reason. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/756 "2024-01-02T18:20:43Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > [extremely NSFW [video on reading](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlKL_EpnSp8) by [Bomani Armah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomani_Armah) for something more Pit-worthy, and while it parodies racist stereotypes, I think itā€™s appropriate for all races and individuals, individual health concerns permitting ] That was fun! ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/757 "2024-01-02T19:16:38Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I donā€™t think that thread is the appropriate place either, though. I didnā€™t read those books as a kid Likewise. I was middle-aged before I discovered Bujold. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/758 "2024-01-02T20:01:43Z")
So what _is_ the right thread for > A Wide-ranging Discussion of the Depiction of Genders Both Real and Imaginary, Gender Politics, and Gendered Character Roles Across the History of Science Fiction / Fantasy ? Cuz it ainā€™t this thread and I wanna get back to some Pit-worthy ass-kickinā€™ of our bush league miscreants. I know Iā€™ve got nothing to add to that thread even as I wish it existed, so itā€™d be real junior-moddish of me to start it then bow out. I do think my proposed title above could also use some tightening. šŸ˜ A diligent Mod so inclined could probably prime that thread with at least a hundred posts from this one. Maybe 150. Not that I would ever expect that much Mod effort for something like this. Just pointing out how large this digression has become. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/759 "2024-01-02T20:14:57Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > So what _is_ the right thread for > > > A Wide-ranging Discussion of the Depiction of Genders Both Real and Imaginary, Gender Politics, and Gendered Character Roles Across the History of Science Fiction / Fantasy > > ? > > Cuz it ainā€™t this thread Yeah, but then some previously thought of as reasonable poster is going to end up right back in the pit when they get all twisted out of shape because a spaceship was allowed to change genders, and their childhood was ruined. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/760 "2024-01-02T20:28:48Z")
OK. Pit them here w a cite to their dumbassery there. Just like we do for other sorts of dumbassery. Hmmm. Is a ā€œdumbasseryā€ a kind of vertical conveyor for fish in a processing factory? šŸ¤Ŗ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=39)