Ever been shown a new ‘game’ by someone. Preferably by someone of a competitive bent. And as you play the game, they kind’a invent rules that have but one purpose; to ensure that they win.

Ahh, no, if you hit the ball out on the RIGHT, like I did, you win the point, but on the left, like you did, you lose the point, so that’s… 7-0 to me so far. Ok?

Well, the jack normally beats the 3, but not on a tuesday, when 5s are wild. Except the 5 of hearts which is THE CARD OF DEATH. You see?

No, its not ok; I don’t see; you’re making up the fucking rules as you go along.

And so it is with feminism. There are strict rules and guidelines, but the rules change and shift and mutate fairly randomly, but ONLY can they be changed by women. Never by men. The poor males have to work out tomorrow’s rules today and if they guess wrongly, may the Lord have mercy…

We’re back to LinkedIn-Gate. Suave (so he thinks), smooth (like a snake), charming (Leslie Philips in Carry-on movies, springs to mind) Alexander flatters ‘young Charlotte’ (O.M.G. that’s condescending, patronising and insulting all in one go; lose three points) on a work context web directory. She goes crazy ape-shit and is reporting him to various legal standards people for misogynistic and sexist behaviour in a profession that is, like it or not, rife with such practice.

Ms Proudman has in the past (because it all comes out, eventually) commented on Facebook that various men are ‘HOT!!!!’ and ‘PHWOAR!!!!’ and stuff, but that was in no way objectification because 1. she’s a woman and invoked the rule that sexism can NEVER work both ways, and 2. because Facebook is a social media site and LinkedIn is a business site. And what is appropriate in a social context is not necessarily so in a work environment.

When I was called ‘hot’ by a young woman I would have been thrilled except the young woman was a nurse with a thermometer up my rectum.

And I can see that if a man ‘comes on’ to a woman in a business situation, there are power considerations, abuse thereof, to work out too.

Or are men simply never allowed to compliment any woman without taking vows or signing a pre-compliment document of intent first?

I think Charlotte should tell us, precisely, how, exactly, a lecherous old twit is supposed to make an honest play for a woman younger than his children, with evil in mind, without upsetting the feminist within? I think she owes us that, at least.

Happy Friday (can I say that? on a Friday???)

A xxxx