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Of course, it's Misogyny

First, let me state this...I am not ranting at either John Martellaro or the iPod Observer. They just happened to get hit, in their story on how too-long fingernails make using the iPod a "challenge", with a money shot of a quote. Right in the fucking eye, and it burns, like only stupidity can burn, it burns.

Of course, the quote I refer to is by Erica Watson-Currie of Newport Beach, CA:

She told the L.A. Times about her problems typing on her iPhone.
"Considering ergonomics and user studies indicating men and women use their fingers and nails differently, why does Apple persist in this misogyny?" Ms. Watson-Currie wrote.

MISOGYNY??

REALLY??

What...The...Fuck?

First, let's look at what that word is supposed to mean, hmm?

So now I want to be very clear on this. In Ms. Watson-Currie's world, the fact that she might have to change her manicure to use a PHONE is a sign that Apple has an INSTITUTIONAL-LEVEL HATRED OF WOMEN.

Holy Fucking Mongoose Tits, George is barely cold, and some self-righteous bint is comparing a minor problem, easily solved by a new manicure, with hatred of women. What, if she breaks a heel on a sewer grate, the water department is misogynistic? But Erica Watson-Currie is not alone.

The tenor of the situation was summarized by another woman reader: "Why are they still discriminating against those of us with fingernails? ... Guess it's a Blackberry for me :("

<Old Southern Woman>Well bless your heart</Old Southern Woman>

Honey, it's not discrimination against people with fingernails. Everyone has fingernails. It's part of your DNA. It just means that to do certain things, like play guitar, climb rocks, or use an iPhone, you have to keep them trimmed short. It's not misogyny, it's just that some things don't work well with long fingernails. Now you just run along, and let the adults talk a bit more here on the porch.

Too many stupid people, not enough tasers. That's what's wrong with the world.

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Posted by John C. Welch at 10:31 | Permalink

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There are a few things that I think the world is just racing away from.

The way we address people is a big one. Even though we're complete strangers, you'd think I was insane if I'm over the age of 18 and addressed you as Mr. Welch or Mr. John Welch, for instance.

Long fingernails on women being considered sexy is another big one. We're only used to it being sexy because it's rammed down our throats. Not only is it vaguely disgusting but a person with long nails is less effective at some things. A woman being stupid enough to limit her own effectiveness over some sort of misplaced pride is not sexy, it's stupid.

Posted by: sdf | June 25, 2008 10:54 AM

Just to clarify, I don't feel quite the same way for professionals, at least when I'm in their office. But the honorific "Mr." really means "You have a penis," and I don't really think that needs one; especially considering "Ms." means "you don't have a penis" and "Mrs." means "you don't have a penis, but you have access to one."

(This rant has been building up inside of me for years. No idea why it came out when I was reading your post.)

Posted by: sdf | June 25, 2008 10:56 AM

Actually, the historical purpose of long nails were class identifiers. The longer your nails, the less manual labor you were able to do, up to and including feeding yourself. So, the longer the nails, the higher a class you were a part of.

I find it more than ironic that someone would claim not working with long nails to be misogynistic, given the history of long nails.

Posted by: John C. Welch | June 25, 2008 11:07 AM

So the intent actually was to prove they weren't effective at labour. And now, when women with long nails have trouble doing something, they blame everyone else.

I wish this kind of stupidity was rare!

Posted by: sdf | June 25, 2008 11:58 AM

For classical guitar, you want to keep the nails on your plucking fingers long, as the nail produces a nicer sound on the strings. That’s what my high school guitar teacher told me, anyhoo.

Posted by: pauldwaite | June 25, 2008 12:59 PM

I really hate over the top comments like this made from any sex. And I really hate that women allow themselves to be seen as these poor creatures that are so mistreated and abused.

This same woman would also probably call AAA to come change a tire for her rather than break a precious nail. Does she think that car makers hate her because in order to change her oil or her tire, shorter nails are a plus.

Blech. I hate when women like this try to speak for the whole gender. They make us all sound like petty, ridiculous, whiners.

Posted by: Anna | June 25, 2008 1:17 PM

I still maintain that the new white option for the iPhone 3g is Jobs' way of keeping the brothers down.

Posted by: Angry Drunk | June 25, 2008 2:03 PM

You fucking RULE, Bynks.

Posted by: Jeff Barbose | June 25, 2008 8:14 PM

"Old southern woman"? Dude, you just called Lesa an old woman? Can I be there when she give you the beating you so richly deserve? :)

Posted by: Michael Harvey | June 26, 2008 12:31 AM

Yeah, I'm really feeling the burn now! Or maybe it's just global warming. So, about that update: Paul Saffo feels I don't have Stockholm Syndrome.

Climate change will doubtless soon solve those whining glove-wearers problems, so they won't need a stylus-option come next winter. Or perhaps those of you who persist in siding with your captors would say they should move to warmer climates to use their iPhones?

As for denotations vs. connotations of misogyny, let's just say that "The extreme always seems to make an impression!"

Quote this post ↓
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/06/the-iphone-fing.html

http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0012882/quotes

Posted by: Dr.Erica | June 27, 2008 1:16 PM

@Dr. Erica:
Jeebus lady, just cut your gods damned fingernails.

Posted by: Angry Drunk | June 27, 2008 2:17 PM

Oh lord, now all of a sudden she's justifying it.

Look Doc, it's really simple. You cried "misogyny" because you knew the reaction you'd get. You don't get away with claiming you didn't know the connotations, or that it was also a completely bullshit thing to say. No one with a doctorate in Communication Theory gets a pass on that.

You wanted attention. You got it.

Of course, it's of the "What a whiney fucking retard" brand.

But that's what you wanted, isn't it. A bunch of attention, which would of course, translate into hits, because anyone with three functional brain cells knows that all you have to do is say something fucking stupid about the iPhone, and you'll get hits. Congratulations, you're Rob Enderle with bigger boobs. Or Dvorak with smaller boobs. Either way, *stellar* company you have there Doc. You should write for ZDvorakNet, you'd be in good company.

Congratulations on manipulating people so that you can then make fun of them on your blog in the comments. What a remarkably...assholish thing to do. I'm enough of an expert in assholerly that I can almost call that a professional statement.

Actually, let me be more direct. You're a dick.

You deliberately said the stupidest, most outrageous statement you could on this, made sure it contained a lovely trigger word, and did it so a) you could get attention which might translate into people paying your overpriced ass to come speak and consult for them, and b) so you could make fun of them on your site. What's next, making fun of the fat kid in your son's class? I mean, you've shown that amoral attentionhounding is all you care about, so yelling "HEY FATTY" doesn't seem out of reach for you.

Note: Spare us the fucking pity party about OMGNEWPORTBEACH is EXPENSIVE. You want the nails and life of a dilettante, suck it up and do the work princess.

You're also, in many ways a liar. You know, because you don't get doctorates in Communications Theory without knowing the language *more* than well, that there is nothing misogynistic about the design of the iPhone. Misogyny is a morally specific word, not far from "nigger" in the reaction it evokes.

You knew, from the moment you chose to use it that charging misogyny was false, yet you said it anyway.

Deliberately making false statements with knowledge, and one might say, malice aforethought? That's lying. Even in Newport Beach, amongst the other plastic stepfords you undoubtedly think yourself better than, it's lying.

So, you're a lying dick of a bullshit artist.

Do you have anything you believe in other than "Anything that makes bling for Dr. Erica is morally acceptable"? I mean, you (supposedly) have a family. Is that the lesson you really want to teach? "Lying and bullshitting is okay as long as it gets you some money and attention"?

Really?

Posted by: John C. Welch | June 27, 2008 2:20 PM

Oh yeah, I yanked the URL out of Dr. Erica's comment. Sorry lady, but you want hits from here beyond the ones I gave you reading your "blog", (Here's a professional tip: If your blog & "professional" site is on a .Mac site, you look like John McCain. Only without all the Internet Smarts. Spend some money on a real fucking domain and site.), you have to do better than being a lying dick.

Posted by: John C. Welch | June 27, 2008 2:27 PM

Of course, it's Misogyny

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