From: foy@aero.org (Richard Foy)
Subject: Re: Recycling Costs and Libertarian Candidates
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA
Distribution: usa
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1992 16:57:24 GMT

In article <1992Jul26.152616.12501@morrow.stanford.edu> GA.JRG@forsythe.stanford.edu (June Genis) writes:
>In article <1992Jul26.021825.14405@aero.org>,
>foy@aero.org (Richard Foy) writes:
>>In article <1992Jul24.225331.15756@morrow.stanford.edu> GA.JRG@forsythe.stanford.edu (June Genis) writes:
>
>>for women for the US Senate. Many women are more concerned about the
>>environment than are the men, in particular one running for the long seat.
>
>I hate to have to tell you this, Richard, but this is a grossly
>sexist remark.  I know women who could care less about the
>environment and men who care a whole lot.  This is a gross
>generalization that ranks up their with idea like blacks are all
>better basketball players all asians are brains.  I way be the way I
>am partly because I'm a woman, but I expect people to vote for me
>because I am what *I* am, not because I'm a woman.
>
>>Richard Foy
>
>/June

Of course my comments on women for the US Senate are sexist. I didn't know,
however, that Libertarians were proponents of PC speech (or net talk).

Of course I am sexist. Every one is sexist wether they admit it or not.
Sexist means making judgements about persons based on their sex. Everyone makes
judgements on who they want for their intimate partners based on sex. 
Everyone makes judgements about persons characteristics based on sex. 

Judgements about individuals based solely on sex are not likely to be the 
most accurate judgements one can make.

For example, if I were going to make a judgement about wether a man or a
woman is likely physically stronger, without knowing the individuals involved,
I, as would most people, would guess that the man would be the stronger. 
However, in particular cases one would be wise to consider the particular
person involved. Some time ago I had a large boat, that I was living on, hauled
out of the water. A wife and husband owned and operated the company I used. She
was far more capable in throwing large timbers around than almost any man I
know. This does not invalidate the general statement that men are physically 
stronger than women.

Another example one might give is that women live longer than men. The fact
that a woman close to me died much younger than I will, does not invalidate 
that general statement.

Now to the case of US Senators. I do not have the opportunity of knowing
in great detail the persons who are candidates for the US Senate. Though, I
have corresponded with all four of the majro party candidates I really know
very little about them. Sure I can guess how they might vote on some issues
based on their record. But it is extremely hard to guess how they will vote
on new issues that don't fit standard patterns. Remember, of course, that
campaign rhetoric tells one almost nothing.

I can make educated guesses about how people might respond to certain issues
based on gender. 

For example I am quite certain that a woman would be more likely to 
be concerned about issues of sexual harrassment that would a man. Most people
believe, as do I, that, if the Senate Judicairy committee had been gender
balanced, the Thomas confirmation hearings would have been very different.
Not all would agree that that would have been a good thing. I do.

So yes, I am sexist. I do my best not to let that fact interfere with making
valid decisions based on ALL of the information I have at hand.

The situation regarding blacks and basketball is entirely different. It is my
believe that when a basketball team manager selects a player, he has almost 
total access to information about the individual candidates about the player
he is considering. Therefor, whatever the merits if any, of the argument that
blacks are better players that whites, he would be stupid to base his selection
on player color rather than his personal knowledge about the individuals' 
ability.

In the case of baseball, however, in the past managers did make selections
based on color. They excluded blacks. After Jackie Robinson broke the
color barrier, managers learned to base their decisions more on a basis
of ability than on a bases of color.

Richard Foy                       Standard Disclaimer





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