2006-12-04 Why I Am Not Polite

2006-12-04 Suzanne E Franks ScienceBlogs \gender inequity\diplomacy vs. results http://scienceblogs.com/thusspakezuska/2006/12/why_i_am_not_polite.php Why I Am Not Polite &ldquo;Occasionally one of my (usually male) readers will take me to task for what he considers to be my unwarranted angry - dare I say, strident? - tone of voice. Can I not be more polite? More reasonable? Would I not catch more flies with honey? ... Well, as someone I knew once said, I don't want to catch flies. I want to kill them.&rdquo;  Occasionally one of my (usually male) readers will take me to task for what he considers to be my unwarranted angry - dare I say, strident? - tone of voice. Can I not be more polite? More reasonable? Would I not catch more flies with honey? Only speak sweet reason, dear crazy bitch Zuska, they plead, and we will assuredly attend to the substance of your message. But not while you rant and rave so. No indeed. That can only turn us off.

Well, as someone I knew once said, I don't want to catch flies. I want to kill them.

I told the story of the origins of the "Puke On His Shoes" phrase which gives one set of reasons why I am not polite.

Another reason, as I have mentioned before, is that I speak on behalf of women who feel silenced, who are not able to speak the rage within their hearts because of the careers they must protect.   