Open Source B**bs

[bunsen_h]

When I first heard about the "Open Source Boob Project", my first reaction was that it might have been an April Fools joke that somehow got taken seriously and got out of hand.  So to speak.

But it quickly became clear that the "project" was serious from the start.  This boggled me; granted, I'm relatively naive/conservative, but who could have thought that this was a good idea, let alone "empowering" to women?  (I'm still trying to figure out if "boob" is referring to the subject or the originator of the "project".)  I'm sure there may be social environments in which this kind of thing might be appropriate, maybe even some particular events at some SF conventions (I wouldn't know, that's not my kind of game).  But... not in general space at a regular SF or computing convention.

My first coherent thought, coming out of the bogglement, was that it would probably only take me about an hour of design time to add a couple of huge tracts of tundra to the standard Tux plush toy pattern, and the usual six or seven hours to sew it.  I'm not sure what this says about me.  I'm also not sure that it would properly convey the intended "that's a totally silly idea, and not in a good way" message.

Comments

[beable]

I think you would need to give it the "yes you may" or "no you may not" buttons. Even then, it may be too subtle.

[con-girl.livejournal.com]

There are just so many ways that this is wrong headed:

That sexualized "boy bits" were not also on offer bothers me.
That its intent was sexual in a public event and thus completely non-consentual for everyone else at the event.
That women found it empowering - it would seem that being straight out asked was just such a relief from hamfisted oogling and drooling that it felt like they had more control over male behaviours.

I don't think naive/conservative has anything to do with it. Respectful of others, definitely. Filled with common sense, obviously.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

I think, as others suspect, that it may refer to both subject and originator. The former by design, the latter by self-inflicted accident.

By the by, I hope you'll forgive a spot of meme-tagging. I blame/credit fajrdrako, personally.

[ambiviolent.livejournal.com]

I get paid this week. And I honestly think that it would be a better world if you would accept my paycheque in exchange for patting me on the head and saying "I swear I made it up."
...except you wouldn't, because you're mentally balanced.
Here's a tip, unbalanced dudes: A) Socially-challenged men do not lack ways to express misogyny. No need to create new opportunities, nor clumsy justifications for them. Because B) Claiming copping a feel makes the world a better place does not, in fact, make the world a better place.