-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Wednesday, October 06, 1999 10:01 PM
Subject: Re: Engineers and their wives Re: [issues] Re: games for girls
>Blackjax wrote:
>>
>> It is not really
>> a male vs. female thing, it is a technical vs. non-technical, he has no
>> problems I've noticed with respecting women who tend to approach things
>> the same way he does.
>> Anyway, I'll also say that some people are predisposed to miss this kind
>> of behavior (as you pointed out) because I was not aware of it on a
>> conscious
>> level until it was pointed out to me the first time.
>
>It's definately not a male/female thing - my parents pointed out to me that
>*I* do it (and I'm female) to any non-tech. So now I make a conscious
effort
>not to - and sometimes wind up being patronising. SIGH. I don't MEAN to!
>
>Hell, I couldn't /possibly/ do sales work, or admin work.. I'm damn lucky
>I live in a time where I can be techie. I'd be lost otherwise. Everyone has
>their own skills and weaknesses!
>
>> It's a hobby of mine. (It would be nice if I could open source me, at
times
>> the patches from this single developer come pretty slow ;-) )
>
>I know the feeling.
In all fairness to those of us who do it though, I think this is a much
broader issue than just what we see here with tech vs. non-tech people.
For example, just try going to some sort of social event with people
who involved with or strongly interested in fashion while wearing white
socks with black shoes and see if you don't get treated in a very
condescending manner.
The bottom line is that any group with a strong identity and core of
knowledge
tends to judge others by the standards of this group. When you are around
people who share this knowledge, it raises your estimation of what the
minimum and average amount of knowledge on that topic should be.
This allows you to edge your way into arrogance and condescension without
even noticing it.
************
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