Feminist Pub XX - may the summer rains wash the patriarchy down the plughole

[NoTechnologicalBreakdown]

Ooh ooh! Do I get to start it?

Wine and cake all round. And a celebratory burst on the patriarchy-blasting cannon!

Old pub here

Interesting article Ebear.

Researchers at Princeton University's Web Transparency and Accountability Project, for example, have created software robots that surf the Web in patterns designed to make them appear to be human users who are rich or poor, male or female, or suffering from mental-health issues

But.. but.. so they've stereotyped surfing habits, to see if adverts notice stereotypical surfing habits.... isn't that a bit circular?

Yes. And it will just reinforce stereotypes.

I'm not impressed with these sorts of algorithms so far. Mostly, I use an adblocker, but on occasions I don't I would like to give it feedback that I don't actually have an interest in nappies, even if I have been on Mumsnet. Although I don't want to give it feedback, because that's just giving it more information.

Whisky please. Large.

I shouldn't read threads about possible pregnancy discrimination, they're bad for my blood pressure.

Visitors all day. Tired now.

My head blocks ads for me these days, but I do wish they'd be useful, rather than just showing me exactly what I'd just been looking at.

I think I'm saying I want more competition - if I've been looking at sheds on Wickes, rather than stalk me around the web showing me those same sheds, I would actually find it useful to see the sheds sheds4u or B&Q or SummerhutsRUs have.. but no.. it's the same, boring sheds I had already looked at.

The more I think about that research, the more it annoys me. What the hell do they think they're even researching? Google's adword algorithms? What are they hoping to get out of it?

What are they hoping to get out of it?

Money.

Hey, Buffy, you around anywhere? Following that thread of yours about men not sticking up for women you might want to look at this www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/2454270-Why-ARE-some-men-so-horrible-to-women?pg=9

Bottom of pg 9 a man actually says we shouldn't have to put up with it. Another is describing the difficulties of male involvement too.

It is just so jolly nice to have a man publicly agreeing with women on this.

Are we back in business?

Good question. I hope so, because I just read something that made me go . Apparently we're not allowed to talk about autogyn- shit, how is it spelled? -aephilia? Because it's hateful and offensive or something. Which is a bugger, because I've been meaning to start a thread about it for a while so I can pick everyone's brains about what an uneasy bedfellow my feminism finds it. And now I'm worried if I do start such a thread, with such a recent namechange, people will think I'm trolling or something. Bugger!

I don't know what that is, but lots of people have namechanged and so on recently...

You're here! I lost you for a while, you disappeared from threads I'm on. I'm so glad I found you again.

This isn't really a feminist grumble but I'm feeling sad and frustrated about dd2 being so incredibly shy. Nobody seems to let her just be her, there's always someone telling her she's not shy, when actually she's working really, really hard just to be able to stand still and not cry when anybody speaks to her. It's only going to get worse as well, because it's cute for a 5yo to be shy, not so cute for a 10yo or a teenager to be so shy she can barely speak to people she doesn't know.

Just been reading various stuff about the Hugo award debacle this year (very brief and no doubt highly inaccurate summary: bunch of people decide that the big problem with modern science fiction is that there's just too much diversity involved, and then decided to try to swamp this particular award to push out all those nasty ethnic minority or female writers. Upshot: results announced on Saturday, not a single one of their preferred nominees won.)

But anyway, during that I came across various great blogs/articles such as this one, talking about how comedy characters default to male:
boringoldraphael.tumblr.com/post/107481385794/rewatching-s1-for-like-the-100th-time-at-what

Cryptic clue: I used to be turbulent weather over a north eastern seaside town.

Autogynewhatsit is basically where you're turned on by yourself as a woman. Unless you actually are one, in which case it would be, er, narcissism? I was a good little fanficcer back in the internet's earlier days, when the mantra was "Your kink is not my kink. And that's okay!" - I am pretty open-minded. And the sight of DD's father in pretty knickers is one that unexpectedly ceases all coherent brain function. And then my inner feminist (who tends to be quite vocal these days) goes hang on, what exactly is it we're getting off on here? This is a bit fucked up. But I struggle to articulate to myself why.

ROFL - that's an awesome last sentence, this feminism lark really does get everywhere doesn't it :)

I just had my first negative reaction to our choice of having one child with DP's surname, and one with mine - coming back to the UK, passport control frowned and asked why (not in that 'how was the weather' way they do at first, but in a 'what are you trying to get past me'). We both grinned - I said 'we each have one', and DP said something about the names sounding nice that way (they alliterate - which I know the names board hates, they would really hate my kids names!) - the passport control officer made a comment about it being unusual with a stern look on her face, took one more flick through then let us past.

I foresee issues if I ever travel alone with them....

Marks place. Fallen off mumsnet lately due to new job, and name change. Back after a very disturbing conversation in a fb group (that I love). I've got many gins, little tonic.

Hi, marking place. I lost you after hackergate as can't get on the app. and had no free wifi at our last hotel.

Now home for a blessed 12 hours before driving 4 hours to Chicago for a show for DD's birthday, then 4 hours back again!

Will catch up later.

The exact same thing happened to me too yesterday. By people I like and who's opinion I usually respect. I've felt a bit shellshocked all day, but you know what, they're just people on the internet. I'm secure in my views and that basically GTF if they can't listen to a different idea with sneering and calling names.
Plus I've been at the beach all day and that has helped loads!

Is anyone else going back and forth on their Labour leader vote? They tried calling me today but I just can't seem to get all my questions in a line.

it's the bank holiday, so many gins are allowed.

Checking in and marking place for me, too. We have a tropical storm/possible hurricane headed our way (Florida); I'm on my way out to re-stock the Hurricane Kit.

Why goes in a hurricane kit?

I hope you're OK Seneca. I'd be terrified but interested in a hurricane. What do you need for your hurricane kit? Is it torches, food supplies, batteries, etc or do you need more specialist equipment?