Have you guys noticed how all the new ones (by this I mean either the ones who don't post as much as 'us' or the newly-registered) always create a thread asking if they can meet someone or something? Either that or it's about love in some form relating to mostly them...?

And yes, I have found this to be an interesting factoid, but I can sympathize with those who are looking for love (which reminds me, this should be in Looking for Love), like myself. So I'll foolishly through out the question: anyone in Westchester, NY in the Purchase area (where I work & study)?

Edit/Append: Besides, I'm an Alpha Geek now, with 4 full color stars!

bottom line is: having a mate is only ONE part of life, not the sum total of it. so go read a book, take a trip, sing a song, anything.

sorry, been reading hagakure lately, so i feel slightly samurai-ish.

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Originally posted by ajax_r: I know that I prefer much more descriptive terms like... *gasp* "females" or "geekettes".

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Originally posted by ajax_r:
Geordie: I only said that I [b]preferred "geekettes" over "chicks".... I would much rather be a diminutive of the word geek than a small chicken. But maybe that's just me. [/B]

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And as for you, "Nayt"...obviousely you didn't understand my point. That's okay, you're entitled.

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Originally posted by ajax_r:
I only said that I preferred "geekettes" over "chicks".... I would much rather be a diminutive of the word geek than a small chicken. But maybe that's just me.

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Originally posted by RedHatDude:
Ever notice how offended people are over stupid crap?

I'm offended at this, I'm offended at that.... makes me think that these people have never REALLY been offended in their lives.

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and i'm sure you never get offended. leave the lady alone. she was expressing and opinion which by the way seems to have offended you or atleast annoyed enough to open you big redhat using mouth. grow up, use freebsd in the least.

You rock? The ninja turtles were the greatest...

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Originally posted by ajax_r:
[b]magebard says:
(Ok, so I watched ninja turtles when I was a kid. Your point?)
 
You rock? The ninja turtles were the greatest...
 
-ajax_r[/B]

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twink i could same something like that since i do have more stars than you. But i am not that type of person. Who cares about little stars. my question is why do guys call girls chicks? they are girls, women, females. Where do they get off thinking that they are "chicks"? if i was a girl i would find that highly offensive.
nayt

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Originally posted by RedHatDude:
Ever notice how offended people are over stupid crap?

I'm offended at this, I'm offended at that.... makes me think that these people have never REALLY been offended in their lives.

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What does "REALLY" offended mean?

LOL! Great post! I never typed that I don't get offended. I get offended if someone I respect insults me, for example. If a friend of mine called me a "jerk" I would be offended, I wouldn't be offended if you told me that I'm the most vile, nasty person to live (note that the actual insult doesn't matter, the first is obviously less insulting, but means more because of its source). I don't get offended if someone says "Red Hat sucks," or "Americans are stupid smelly people who drink beer all day", because those statements are firstly baseless, and secondly I don't associate myself too deeply with those groups (Red Hat, and being American).

As for calling women "chicks" I think we have to analyze how it was used, and how it is used today before we can determine whether or not you should feel offended if you or your friends are called it. And I would say that given its common usage, it does not refer to women literally as poultry, but instead refers to the cuteness of baby chickens.

I think people should step back and ask themselves "Am I REALLY offended by this, or am I only offended because that was how I was taught to feel by society?"

I mean, damn, one could be offened at the domain name of this site. There are many things demeaning about the word "geek". It implies anti-sociability among other things.

Oh, and I *do* use FreeBSD, and I was not "offended" by the original poster's remarks, I was just commenting on them.

Well, what is wrong with it is that the original poster was not commenting directly on the person who was offended, and unless you feel some particular bonding to the sex you were born with, I don't see how one could easily be offended by a term which is used positively (if you're even offended by insults by people to particular groups to which you belong of which you had no control over belonging to them) to refer to said sex as a whole.

What if the original poster said "Where do female geeks hang out?" This implies that it is difficult to find geeks "hanging out," which implies that they are anti-social and friendless and hacking away at code in their basements (well, maybe it doesn't imply all that, but to some of the more sensitive types, it could

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Originally posted by littlefish:
Interesting point, but one that seems invalidated to me. Using the word girls to describe women implies a level of immaturity, and is in itself patronising.
But then, you can't say anything without offending someone. Some people like being called chicks- makes them feel cute and sassy. Others feel that being called by anything other than women is demeaning. People are complicated and (sometimes) beautiful things. The variety is one aspect of that.

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Originally posted by RedHatDude:

Well, what is wrong with it is that the original poster was not commenting directly on the person who was offended, and unless you feel some particular bonding to the sex you were born with, I don't see how one could easily be offended by a term which is used positively (if you're even offended by insults by people to particular groups to which you belong of which you had no control over belonging to them) to refer to said sex as a whole.

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I don't know if you noticed but my original reply was not actually directed to Timmy334 who started this thread, but as a general question to the females who hang out around here. There are a couple of reasons for this.
First of all I assumed that he didn't mean to offend us, so I didn't actually get "offended" at what he said. I simply wanted to find out if other people felt this way.
The second reason is that I was trying to hint that maybe some girls (particularly those that hang around here) might be offended at the term and that maybe that would prevent him from achieving his goal of attracting a girl, i.e. I was trying to help (I suppose I could have just said that outright, but I figured he was smart enough to figure it out on his own depending on the responses posted).
To tell you the truth I'm completely indifferent to this particular thread because as most of the people on these boards know mephisto and I are happily married (hence why he attacked you like that, he's my knight in shining armor with has a rather short temper ). I just saw it as a good opportunity to ask what girls thought on the subject.
As to why I am offended at guys' use of the term "chick" has nothing to do with society. I only started living in an English-speaking country 10 years ago and I would like to think that because of that I did not have many "society imposed views" on such terms. The reason why I dislike the term is because of the way it's used. Most guys (notice I'm not saying all so don't anybody get offended ) who use it don't tend to have much respect for girls, and the tone with which they say it also speaks of disrespect.
As for the term "girl" I personally don't get offended when I'm called that, in fact I often use it myself and I honestly don't know anyone who gets offended by it, so I don't even know why that got brought up in this convesation at all.

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What if the original poster said "Where do female geeks hang out?" This implies that it is difficult to find geeks "hanging out," which implies that they are anti-social and friendless and hacking away at code in their basements (well, maybe it doesn't imply all that, but to some of the more sensitive types, it could

I guess what I'm trying to say is that one can usually tell when something is being said in an offensive manner, and he should reserve feeling offended for those situations, otherwise he will go through his life being offended and angry at everything. It's just too easy to be offended if you're LOOKING for something to be offended at.

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No, I'm not LOOKING to be offended. I know there are people like that (they are the reasons why "feminist" has become a bad word, which is too bad), but I am not one of them.
There are also a different kind of people, who without knowing someone, when they see that someone get offended jump to the conclusion that it must not be because the thing itself is offensive but because the person gets easily offended.

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Originally posted by annie:
Most guys (notice I'm not saying all so don't anybody get offended ) who use it don't tend to have much respect for girls, and the tone with which they say it also speaks of disrespect.

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Chick is a word for girls/women/females/ladies just like any other. The only illusion that it's disrespectful is in your head. It's more of the tone and context that matters. Believe me, one can use the word "girls" in a very negative way just as all the others. So if you choose to let it offend you and rack your brain over any and all mention of it then that's your problem and your time you're wasting thinking about it.

I hope that helps you get over it for your sake.

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Originally posted by AlfaWolph:
Chick is a word for girls/women/females/ladies just like any other. The only illusion that it's disrespectful is in your head. It's more of the tone and context that matters. Believe me, one can use the word "girls" in a very negative way just as all the others. So if you choose to let it offend you and rack your brain over any and all mention of it then that's your problem and your time you're wasting thinking about it.

I hope that helps you get over it for your sake.

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btw, read my post, particularly this part:

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The reason why I dislike the term is because of the way it's used. Most guys (notice I'm not saying all so don't anybody get offended ) who use it don't tend to have much respect for girls, and the tone with which they say it also speaks of disrespect.

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where on earth did I say that I was racking my brain over it? I said I was "curious" - last time I checked that didn't mean that I'm racking my brain over it.

Funny, I was of the impression that people were allowed their own opinions on this board. So AlfaWolph, who died and made you God?

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btw, read my post, particularly this part:

[QUOTE]The reason why I dislike the term is because of the way it's used. Most guys (notice I'm not saying all so don't anybody get offended ) who use it don't tend to have much respect for girls, and the tone with which they say it also speaks of disrespect.

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where on earth did I say that I was racking my brain over it? I said I was "curious" - last time I checked that didn't mean that I'm racking my brain over it.

[/QUOTE]

Maybe you weren't racking your brain over it but it sure sounded like it bothered you in your post. And in the case it was used in this thread, there was no demeaning connotation in it so your rant was kind of out of left field. If it really bugs you that much, start a thread and let people chime in, but this guy was asking where geek chix hang out not to be lectured on his already perfectly acceptable terminology.

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Funny, I was of the impression that people were allowed their own opinions on this board. So AlfaWolph, who died and made you God?

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Not surprising since you read the word "chix" the wrong way and now took my response the wrong way, too. Sounds like you thought I was being condencending. I hate to break it to you but no, I was indeed not. (But, I just might be now though! lol) All I meant in my post was to deal my opinion on what you said about chix without making a mockery of what I think is otherwise a great thread.

Seriously, go back and read it. Where did I say you weren't entitled to your opinion, missy? Hm? All I said is that if you want to let it bother you in every instance that it is used, then that's your choice, honey. Need I repeat myself?

Just in case it slipped by you, all you got back from me was opinion as well. "Funny, I was under the impression people were allowed their own opinions on this board." Hm, I'm sorry mine don't agree with your views, "Ms. God".

Gotta love hypocrisy... NOT! lol But hey, that's okay if it's your opinon that you like double standards; but that doesn't mean it makes sense and I wouldn't expect many people to take you seriously. :P

Oh and of course...

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And finally, the words "girl", "woman", "lady", "female" and "chick" are not necessarily equivalent.

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Granted, they are not neccesarily the same, but he could have used any of them (yes that means "chix", too) and they would have meant the same damn thing. Ya dig?

P.S. Seems like someone missed the smiley face at the end of my post. Well here's two this time for those that may have missed the last one. Yay.

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There is only one Alfa.

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And finally, the words "girl", "woman", "lady", "female" and "chick" are not necessarily equivalent.

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Originally posted by annie:

I don't know if you noticed but my original reply was not actually directed to Timmy334 who started this thread, but as a general question to the females who hang out around here. There are a couple of reasons for this.
First of all I assumed that he didn't mean to offend us, so I didn't actually get "offended" at what he said. I simply wanted to find out if other people felt this way.
.
.
.
No, I'm not LOOKING to be offended. I know there are people like that (they are the reasons why "feminist" has become a bad word, which is too bad), but I am not one of them.

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Good God, people, read the post before you get offended.

And btw, the thread had gone off topic way before I chimed in.

I think you guys are the ones wasting energy getting mad about this, partially cause I was never angry or offended (as I stated many times but obviously people have forgotten how to read so I've had to resort to quoting myself).

did it ever occur to you that you might be um... wrong about that?

And in the case it was used in this thread, there was no demeaning connotation in it so your rant was kind of out of left field.

That was a rant according to you?

All I meant in my post was to deal my opinion on what you said about chix without making a mockery of what I think is otherwise a great thread.

If you meant it as an opinion, you should have stated it as an opinion, and not as a fact. Usually when a person wants to express something as an opinion the words "I think" or "in my opinion" (or something similar) are attached to it.

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Originally posted by AlfaWolph:
honey.

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I'm sure there are people of feminine heritage who find the term "chick" or "chix" offensive.

Then again there are some who do not.

If you look at the world's most enduring and longest-running (please excuse me while I use the word to describe the man in proper terms) "chick magnet," Mick Jagger, you'll notice he uses the word and it doesn't hurt his magnetism at all, does it? In fact at the end of the song, "Where the boys go" he uses terms for women that I would assume offend many more women. So go figger.

I suppose if a man were looking for some women who would find the term "chix" offensive, he might say something like, "Excuse me, can you tell me where to find some geeks who do not posses a Y chromosome?" Of course, with that definition, he might find some true geeks like an XO, or something more exotic.

But then, if he were looking for geeks of ovarianess who were not offended by the word "chicks" or "chix" or what have you, then indeed it would be best to ask directly, "Where can I find some geek chix?"

I don't think it is right that some have attacked you for your sensitivity to this word. We all have our sensitivities and folks should accept that. In that spirit I am sensitive to:

Grass pollen, dog dander, tree pollen, dust mites, cat hair, cat urine, mold, mildew, unsightly rust spots on porcelain fixtures, people with small cars and extremely loud woofers in them, people who tailgate but refuse to pass, people who go slow in the fast lane and refuse to allow me to pass, guys with bow ties except Pat Oliphant, and the following words:

Wheat Chex, Oreo, the "n" word, the other "n" word, the other word that starts with an "n" that I can't mention but most people would question as to why it is offensive, splinth, potatoe (the Dan Quayle spelling) the initials MS when not reffering specifically to the disease Multiple Sclerosis, the brand name Pepsi (say it over 2,000 times quickly and you'll see what I mean).

Finally one more word, phrase actually, that sends me into orbit without the use of rockets or ramjets, "Personal Computer correctness!" Arrrrrrrrgghhhhhhhh!

Oh, one more thing that offends me, that note in the warranty letter you get when you buy a product that say, "Congratulations! You just bought the very best (whatever I bought) ... that offends me too.

If you weren't so easily offended, I might ask you out and we could discuss the potential offensiveness of the word, smegma.

Sincerely

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Originally posted by Colonel Panic:
If you weren't so easily offended, I might ask you out and we could discuss the potential offensiveness of the word, smegma.

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you should try, but from where i stand i don't see you having any luck but then what do i know....ask the lady, nothing tried nothing gained, as they say.......best of luck by the way.......
but i must warn you, she likes big jocks with extremely high iq's.....

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Originally posted by Colonel Panic:

If you weren't so easily offended, I might ask you out and we could discuss the potential offensiveness of the word, smegma.

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Originally posted by mephisto:
Honey?????
you have a death wish, BOY?
i'll make you a deal, you say that to her again and I will make your position as "alfa" "wolph", just a figure head thing, mmmkay?
and no, i'm not taking offense to you calling my wife, honey. You're just pissing the fuck outta me with your condescending attitude.....
the only reason i answered this post is because i noticed that, or else i woulda stayed out of it......

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(note: there is *no* finger pointing intended in this post)

I don't find the word "chick" offensive in and of itself. I have several friends that call me "chick" or "chickie" and it doesn't bother me in the least. I tend to use it myself when referring to female friends. "Girls" are my little sisters or baby cousins or friend's children, "women" are people my mom's age, "female" sounds too clinical to me.

It is the attitude that makes it offensive. If some guy half in the bag is leering at you going "hey chick..." that would be offensive to me. Context matters, folks.

Would I recommend calling a "female" stuff like "chick" or "babe" when you first meet her? Absolutely not. Call her by name and treat her with respect. After you get to know her better, you will know if it offends her or not. If you treat her with the same respect you would treat a male friend I doubt very much that terminology matters.

Just my two cents.

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Originally posted by mephisto:
you have a death wish, BOY? i'll make you a deal, you say that to her again and I will make your position as "alfa" "wolph", just a figure head thing, mmmkay?

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