I find the whole discussion really interesting. You’re right, in that people are interpreting it as a defense of one person, rather than a broadly based criticism. That’s a tough thing, and (I think) a risk you run whenever you use a single specific example to illustrate a larger behavior pattern. I find it interesting because I have a habit of jumping to the defense of people who are attacked, even when they don’t deserve it (although, as I said, I don’t think that’s exactly what E was doing, here).
What’s sad is that any site that allows pictures like that is bound to degenerate into sexism by virtue of the net. It’s a mathematical truth: everything is eventually reduced to the lowest common denominator. All the same, I’m glad people like you and E exist – it keeps me from giving up on the internet altogether and moving to a cabin in Fiji. Damn you.
;-)
]]>