guy keren <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:

> On 24 Sep 2002, Oleg Goldshmidt wrote:
> 
> > Orna Agmon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> > 
> > > the only person who talked to me was trying to hit on me. 
> > 
> > Orna, he just saw more in you than just a Linux user... ;-)
> 
> oleg, it is precisely these kinds of comments which drive people crazy.
> obviously, you did not get the clue...

Guy, 

a) You didn't get the smiley or the clue: it's "can't he see more
   in me than a Barbie doll" (or equivalent) turned inside out.

b) In addition, it was certainly meant as a compliment, and I am sure
   Orna got it.

c) Without knowing the circumstances of Orna's encounter at Haifux, I
   must admit that her comment struck _me_ as a little
   insensitive. This point often escapes the attention of men and
   women alike, but have you considered that if a person shows an
   interest it is already a compliment? And that it would take a bit
   more than vital stats for an intelligent guy to become interested?
   I have a feeling that Orna's problem was not that guy but all the
   rest present who paid no attention to her (as a linux user, which I
   assume is all she wanted).

Seriously, when a woman, especially an attractive one, walks into any
gathering with men present, even a geek one, she can, and should,
expect some attention. Whether that attention is annoying or pleasant
depends on the details, but it is unreasonable to expect anyone to
totally shut all the services down (pardon the jargon) just because
the setting is a technical lecture. On the contrary, if we both are
there we must have something in common... 

We men should strive to make the attention pleasant and not annoying
(or worse). Women should, however, give us some credit and assume that
we need something _more_ than a breathing Barbie to consider a woman
attractive. Obviously, it goes both ways in our liberated society, but
the gender asymmetry above is too stereotypical to ignore.

Please don't interpret this as approval of catcalls. I fervently hope
that at least the two ladies on this list who have met me personally
on a number of occasions think better than that of me.

I realize that a clumsy "hit" can be repulsive. In general though,
dear ladies, if you sense that I seek your company please consider it
a compliment. I promise I'll do my best not to annoy you in the
process...

With an extra big smiley,

-- 
Oleg Goldshmidt | [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
=================================================================
"... Of theoretical physics and programming, programming embodied 
the greater intellectual challenge." [E.W.Dijkstra, 1930 - 2002.]

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