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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

The Bluestocking - your local women's pub, warm, friendly, and not at all unusual in any way.

1000 replies

MarieDeGournay · 17/01/2026 14:46

Welcome to The Bluestocking, the welcome is warm, the conversation is wide-ranging, the food and drink are delicious but magically free from anything they need to be free from, and the bar staff are highly-trained, professional, efficient and very friendly gerbils.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
142
PastaAllaNorma · 17/01/2026 19:30

I'm desperately trying to remember which username I've posted under at the Bluestocking. I'd hate the bouncers to chuck me out.

(My Italian holiday in autumn was every wonderful thing I'd hoped)

ifIwerenotanandroid · 17/01/2026 19:33

Can't remember where I first saw this dog poem, but I love it...

Two Dogs Have I

For years we've had a little dog,
Last year we acquired a big dog;
He wasn't big when we got him,
He was littler than the dog we had.
We thought our little dog would love him,
Would help him to become a trig dog,
But the new little dog got bigger,
And the old little dog got mad.

Now the big dog loves the little dog,
But the little dog hates the big dog,
The little dog is eleven years old,
And the big dog only one;
The little dog calls him Schweinhund,
The little dog calls him Pig-dog,
She grumbles broken curses
As she dreams in the August sun.

The big dog's teeth are terrible,
But he wouldn't bite the little dog;
The little dog wants to grind his bones,
But the little dog has no teeth;
The big dog is acrobatic,
The little dog is a brittle dog;
She leaps to grip his jugular,
And passes underneath.

The big dog clings to the little dog
Like glue and cement and mortar;
The little dog is his own true love;
But the big dog is to her
Like a scarlet rag to a Longhorn,
Or a suitcase to a porter;
The day he sat on the hornet
I distinctly heard her purr.

Well, how can you blame the little dog,
Who was once the household darling?
He romps like a young Adonis,
She droops like an old mustache;
No wonder she steals his corner,
No wonder she comes out snarling,
No wonder she calls him Cochon
And even Espèce de vache.

Yet once I wanted a sandwich,
Either caviar or cucumber,
When the sun had not yet risen
And the moon had not yet sank;
As I tiptoed through the hallway
The big dog lay in slumber,
And the little dog slept by the big dog,
And her head was on his flank.

Ogden Nash

Deafnotdumb · 17/01/2026 19:34

Thank you {mention:MarieDeGournay}@MarieDeGournay. I've lurked in the past, but today the Bluestocking yelled at me.

I'm halfway reading Invisible Women and need another drink for each chapter. It's focused on data, but honestly describes men's attitude to women as a species. Fucking maddening.

Gerbils! Now Geminina is here, let's start the next song....

ErrolTheDragon · 17/01/2026 19:35

PastaAllaNorma · 17/01/2026 19:30

I'm desperately trying to remember which username I've posted under at the Bluestocking. I'd hate the bouncers to chuck me out.

(My Italian holiday in autumn was every wonderful thing I'd hoped)

I think you’ve been here under this name. It’s a dish (I’m fond of but never think to make myself ….good thing I’ve just had dinner….Grin)

ifIwerenotanandroid · 17/01/2026 19:43

PastaAllaNorma · 17/01/2026 19:30

I'm desperately trying to remember which username I've posted under at the Bluestocking. I'd hate the bouncers to chuck me out.

(My Italian holiday in autumn was every wonderful thing I'd hoped)

I think that was the name. I just looked for an AI pic of you in a pasta-inspired dress, with us around you on your hols, but I can't find it.

Looks like you're posting from the Staunch Ally - they really need to take that sign down, it's confusing. Nice tribute to their sister-pub, though. Anyway, just wander down the road, the capybouncers will be looking out for you.

The Bluestocking - your local women's pub, warm, friendly, and not at all unusual in any way.
ifIwerenotanandroid · 17/01/2026 19:46

Deafnotdumb · 17/01/2026 19:34

Thank you {mention:MarieDeGournay}@MarieDeGournay. I've lurked in the past, but today the Bluestocking yelled at me.

I'm halfway reading Invisible Women and need another drink for each chapter. It's focused on data, but honestly describes men's attitude to women as a species. Fucking maddening.

Gerbils! Now Geminina is here, let's start the next song....

Welcome! I could only manage Invisible Women in sections, too - couldn't deal with too much WTF at once. Brilliant book.

Any clues as to how to portray you in AI?

Boiledbeetle · 17/01/2026 19:49

Deafnotdumb · 17/01/2026 19:34

Thank you {mention:MarieDeGournay}@MarieDeGournay. I've lurked in the past, but today the Bluestocking yelled at me.

I'm halfway reading Invisible Women and need another drink for each chapter. It's focused on data, but honestly describes men's attitude to women as a species. Fucking maddening.

Gerbils! Now Geminina is here, let's start the next song....

The gerbils wish to show off their GSL.

I'm not sure how similar to BSL it is so apologies if they've just insulted you.

And next up Geminina will be singing it's a long way to Tipperary accompanied by Gubbins on triangle.

The Bluestocking - your local women's pub, warm, friendly, and not at all unusual in any way.
PastaAllaNorma · 17/01/2026 19:50

ifIwerenotanandroid · 17/01/2026 19:43

I think that was the name. I just looked for an AI pic of you in a pasta-inspired dress, with us around you on your hols, but I can't find it.

Looks like you're posting from the Staunch Ally - they really need to take that sign down, it's confusing. Nice tribute to their sister-pub, though. Anyway, just wander down the road, the capybouncers will be looking out for you.

If I looked like that image I'd be a happy Norma. As it is I'm coming to terms with some tricky (and depressing) physical shit, so I would rather welcome a capybara bouncer. They always look like they'd be up for a cuddle.

While farting, obviously. The capybaras at Yorkshire Wildlife Park are remarkably flatulent. Offspring nearly fell into the pond in fits of laughter when the capybaras all loudly let rip in unison as we entered the area. Highlight of the trip, apprently.

Igneococcus · 17/01/2026 19:52

ifIwerenotanandroid · 17/01/2026 19:46

Welcome! I could only manage Invisible Women in sections, too - couldn't deal with too much WTF at once. Brilliant book.

Any clues as to how to portray you in AI?

Caroline Criado-Perez was in this year's (or last year's technically) Christmas University Challenge. I can't remember which team now.
Are any massage/physio gerbils around? I planted a pear tree today and went on the first bike ride in about six weeks. I'm feeling a bit stiff.

Boiledbeetle · 17/01/2026 19:54

Igneococcus · 17/01/2026 19:52

Caroline Criado-Perez was in this year's (or last year's technically) Christmas University Challenge. I can't remember which team now.
Are any massage/physio gerbils around? I planted a pear tree today and went on the first bike ride in about six weeks. I'm feeling a bit stiff.

The capybaras are brilliant at physio. More weight behind them. Myrtle can vouch for them.

The Bluestocking - your local women's pub, warm, friendly, and not at all unusual in any way.
Igneococcus · 17/01/2026 19:55

PastaAllaNorma · 17/01/2026 19:50

If I looked like that image I'd be a happy Norma. As it is I'm coming to terms with some tricky (and depressing) physical shit, so I would rather welcome a capybara bouncer. They always look like they'd be up for a cuddle.

While farting, obviously. The capybaras at Yorkshire Wildlife Park are remarkably flatulent. Offspring nearly fell into the pond in fits of laughter when the capybaras all loudly let rip in unison as we entered the area. Highlight of the trip, apprently.

We arrived at the rhino enclosure at the Edinburgh Zoo when the children were still little just when the rhino did a mahoosive poo with the most heartfelt contented sigh. Even my youngest still remembers it and he was very little then.

Igneococcus · 17/01/2026 19:57

Boiledbeetle · 17/01/2026 19:54

The capybaras are brilliant at physio. More weight behind them. Myrtle can vouch for them.

Excellent! Could I have one for my neck and one for my lower back, please?

Deafnotdumb · 17/01/2026 20:01

@MarieDeGournay a witch flying on a giant feathered quill whilst holding rum. And serenading gerbils in one handed sign language.

Boiledbeetle · 17/01/2026 20:12

Igneococcus · 17/01/2026 19:57

Excellent! Could I have one for my neck and one for my lower back, please?

Claudette and Colette have just arrived

The Bluestocking - your local women's pub, warm, friendly, and not at all unusual in any way.
Igneococcus · 17/01/2026 20:20

Boiledbeetle · 17/01/2026 20:12

Claudette and Colette have just arrived

They look very capable.
I hope that bench folds out, I'm nearly 6 foot tall.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 17/01/2026 20:21

Deafnotdumb · 17/01/2026 20:01

@MarieDeGournay a witch flying on a giant feathered quill whilst holding rum. And serenading gerbils in one handed sign language.

I used that as an AI prompt & it was over-generous with arms.

The Bluestocking - your local women's pub, warm, friendly, and not at all unusual in any way.
Hedgehogforshort · 17/01/2026 20:22

I feel sad nobody wants to give me a massage i cannot understand it 😪

PastaAllaNorma · 17/01/2026 20:34

As for @Deafnotdumb and @Igneococcus - my purchase count of Invisible Women is in the double figures. I've bought it for every civil engineering student, healthcare practitioner, budding young feminist and wannabe politician I've ever known.

I also got the audio book for my parents, brother and godchildren because I know prefer to listen rather than read, the crazies.

Magpiecomplex · 17/01/2026 20:36

Hedgehogforshort · 17/01/2026 20:22

I feel sad nobody wants to give me a massage i cannot understand it 😪

Errol might oblige?

MarieDeGournay · 17/01/2026 20:36

Deafnotdumb · 17/01/2026 20:01

@MarieDeGournay a witch flying on a giant feathered quill whilst holding rum. And serenading gerbils in one handed sign language.

Android has done the flying witch job - I wouldn't complain about the extra arm, it looks useful for carrying bottles of wine😄

One-handed signing, eh? Would that be ASL? or I[Irish]SL which uses one-handed alphabet signs?

OP posts:
Magpiecomplex · 17/01/2026 20:40

My Gemini was generous with hands for @Deafnotdumb. And seems to think rum is synonymous with pirates. Are you maybe related to @Swashbuckled?

The Bluestocking - your local women's pub, warm, friendly, and not at all unusual in any way.
MarieDeGournay · 17/01/2026 20:42

PastaAllaNorma · 17/01/2026 19:30

I'm desperately trying to remember which username I've posted under at the Bluestocking. I'd hate the bouncers to chuck me out.

(My Italian holiday in autumn was every wonderful thing I'd hoped)

The worst thing that would happen if you turned up under a new and unknown name at the Bluestocking is that I would bound up in a Tigger-like manner to shower you with willkommen bienvenue welcome céad míle fáilte etc., which ends up being embarrassing for both when it turns out you've been here before, lots😒
I'm more circumspect now, I make sure to say 'if you are new and not a name changer' - a scalded Tigger fears cold water, as they say in France. Well, it's 'cat' not 'Tigger', as you may have guessed!

Anyway, you're here now, and very welcome, Pasta.Smile

OP posts:
AuntieMsDamsonCrumble · 17/01/2026 20:52

I have a cold. It's been creeping up on me all day, while I have been trying to ignore it, but I'm well into the sneezing, nose-running and eye-watering stage now.

This is very annoying. It's in my contract that I only have one cold per winter season and I had one in November!

I am now going to take myself off to bed in a huff, with a hot-water bottle and various remedies and tomorrow I shall be writing a letter of complaint!

ErrolTheDragon · 17/01/2026 21:11

Magpiecomplex · 17/01/2026 20:36

Errol might oblige?

That could be a mutually beneficial arrangement - a hedgehog would be just the job when i get an itch between my wings.

ErrolTheDragon · 17/01/2026 21:11

AuntieMsDamsonCrumble · 17/01/2026 20:52

I have a cold. It's been creeping up on me all day, while I have been trying to ignore it, but I'm well into the sneezing, nose-running and eye-watering stage now.

This is very annoying. It's in my contract that I only have one cold per winter season and I had one in November!

I am now going to take myself off to bed in a huff, with a hot-water bottle and various remedies and tomorrow I shall be writing a letter of complaint!

Do you want the gerbils to bring you a hot toddy?

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