Harry Connolly | November 5, 2006 11:57 AM

All those guys are actually female writers, just like Mitch Albom.

Chang who is naturally defoliating | November 5, 2006 12:06 PM

Do I have to say it aloud?

Fine. They all secretly have vaginas. Isn't it obvious? Damn.

Josh Jasper | November 5, 2006 03:42 PM

In that case, Chang, should nominate them all for Tiptree awards.

John Scalzi | November 5, 2006 03:45 PM

The Tiptree award, won this year by a man.

Jonathan Strahan | November 5, 2006 04:48 PM

No, don't you realise? We're simply learning to do what we're told.

John Scalzi | November 5, 2006 04:52 PM

Heh. For some reason that reminds me of my wife's favorite construction for telling me she wants me to do something:

"Honey, do you want to [thing she wants me to do}?"

i.e., "Honey, do you want to take out the trash?" or "Honey, do you want to fold this load of laundry?" or "Honey, do you want to go downstairs and get a bowl of ice cream?"

See, that way I'm not being told to do it; I'm an active participant in the decision-making process!

mythago | November 5, 2006 05:05 PM

I assume you've already had the conversation where you say "No, not really, thanks" and then realize that was not quite the answer she was looking for.

(Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to marry lawyers.)

John Scalzi | November 5, 2006 05:08 PM

Indeed I have! That was fun, I'll tell you.

Chang, at the control of women | November 5, 2006 05:17 PM

Yeah, I'd answer No and then get t hear about it for months. Mrs. Chang is a good solid heckler.

Steve Buchheit | November 5, 2006 06:06 PM

"So, are you ready to rake the leaves?" That was today's conversation. As the comedian says, "I said no. Then while I was out raking leaves..."

Jon H | November 5, 2006 08:15 PM

"The Tiptree award, won this year by a man."

Ah, that's what you think.

Anne KG Murphy | November 6, 2006 07:54 AM

And given out by the male administrators of the award (though two out of five of the judges were women) on an evening where the Master of Ceremonies was (a very funny) guy and the con only had one female guest.

Robin Hobb and the lady who helped report on the British Fantasy Awards would have been the only women to take the stage Saturday night except that not very many of the award winners showed, so their editors and publishers accepted for them, some of which were women.

Kit | November 6, 2006 10:13 AM

You see? -Robin- Hobb! If some public-spirited man hadn't outed her for the woman she is, she would have been fooling us all with the name 'Robin' for years to come. The cabal breaks down thanks to the power of Truthtosterone.

Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little | November 6, 2006 05:44 PM

Yeah, we've had that conversation: "Honey, do you want to [do random household chore]?" "Well, no." Believe it or not, in this household the wife actually learned to stop using that construction at her husband. Not only did he complain it was dishonest (I was asking him a question but not seriously willing to take no for an answer), but I realized I was only using the construction out of a misplaced "politeness" habit.

We women do learn! Sometimes.

Kit | November 7, 2006 04:31 AM

Yeah. It took me a while to figure out that 'would you please do such-and-such' is a perfectly polite construction. My mother was right: 'please' and 'thank you' work fine. Where do we get confused about that?

sdn | November 7, 2006 08:43 AM

the lady who helped report on the British Fantasy Awards

that would be jo fletcher.

as for other comments, i've never understood women who say that they are "training" their partners. terrific relationship dynamic, she says dryly.