Comments on: Everyone is Welcome!

By: Laurie Ruettimann

Laurie Ruettimann — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 04:43:32 +0000

The men were busy rubbing my feet.

By: Neil

Neil — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 03:53:36 +0000

Eh, you know what — I’m changing my mind on this whole thing. I have NO problem at all with conventions of Hispanic bloggers, black bloggers, etc. I’m all for cultural and ethnic identity. Every group is important in helping others in the group to succeed. If I moved to a new locale, my first question would be “Where is the temple and the other Jews?” That’s what community is all about. I would love to go to a meeting of Jewish bloggers. So, why should it be any different for women?!

I appreciate BlogHer being an organization that empowers women. It is a good mission — to give women an opportunity to learn more about each other, to promote each other, and to create networking, work, and advertising opportunities — the same way men do for each other. I say, “go for it!” Whatever it takes to create a community. I have no real problem with Koreans helping other Koreans get jobs or businessmen making deals on the private golf course. That is a part of life. So, if women have special interests that are gender-specific and an organization exists that can help them advance their careers and money-making possibilities, they are smart to make it happen.

I guess I just need to figure out what my community is.

By: Bloggrrl

Bloggrrl — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 03:00:20 +0000

I’m glad you brought this up. I would be pissed as hell if there was a conference that was for men only, Hispanics only, etc. Wait, that happens all the time. Well, I still hate it. I have a hard time with the BlogHer thing for that reason. I would miss seeing all my hot guy blog friends!

By: Mocha

Mocha — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:06:14 +0000

My brain is fried today, Neil, so you’ll forgive this I’m sure.

The BlogHer concept, to me, is to support women online. That’s it. Pretty simple. To do that, therefore, all are welcome to participate in the conferences and forums, etc…

What I am trying to do is relate what I’ve learned to my life and find out where those two things meet. Sometimes, it’s a good meeting place and other times it’s painful.

Also, since I feel solidarity with Sophia I will admit to being a size 14 though a dress at an upscale shop I bought recently was a 10. Not sure what to do with that information.

Maybe I’ll post a pic of me in it. Because me and 10 haven’t been friends for a long time.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:00:34 +0000

Neil, I’m beginning to sense a pattern here. Does someone need a cookie?

By: Izzy

Izzy — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 23:25:33 +0000

If MommyCon (of which the name is actually supposed to be a joke, but apparently a very subtle one) was billed as “just for moms” then people would be grousing about that rather than the fact that anyone is welcome if they don’t mind being surrounded by a fair amount of mothers. We understand that not everyone wants to listen to us talk about poop 24 hours a day.

The fact is, mom bloggers and non-mom bloggers can be and are friends. I know it’s shocking that breeders and non-breeders sometimes fraternize but alas, it’s true.

The bottom line is that you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t. You can’t please everyone.

As for the conference, there were a lot of men there this year. Many more than in 2006, in my estimation anyway.

By: V-Grrrl

V-Grrrl — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 22:24:58 +0000

Some days I run with scissors. Some days I play well with others. But every day, I avoid joining women’s groups.

By: pam

pam — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 21:11:12 +0000

Mommycon. Not for a second would I consider going to that. BUT the idea underscores a question I have about BlogHer. If everyone is welcome, is it possible to offer something of value to everyone? (Ack. I said that out loud.)

Mommycon makes perfect sense, even though I’d rather gouge out my own eyes with a fork than go. FoodBloggerCon makes sense. SnarkyJewishGirlBloggerCon, ImaginaryFriendsOfNeilCon, TravelBloggerCon… everyone is welcome, but the population would self select because well, obviously if you’re not a SnarkyJewishGirl, why would you go to SnarkyJewishGirlBloggerCon? What’s the appeal, even if you ARE welcome. (Besides, duh, snarky Jewish girls. We rule.)

By: Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah

Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 20:44:59 +0000

I saw a lot of men there, but I certainly wouldn’t say 25%. Probably closer to 5%.

Either way, it was a lot of fun. Does the inclusion/exclsuion thing also apply to the L.A. Bloggers party? That looked like a lot of fun - I’d like to crash that one next year.

By: melanie

melanie — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 20:31:57 +0000

I spend most of the time hoping everyone isn’t laughing at me, so I don’t have time to worry about if I have been included or not.

And, if you drive up in a certain type of car with the word Malibu on your plates, you will definitely get the attention from the “hot trophy wives”. yes or no?