May I suggest some comments don't need a response because (1) they are intended facetiously and/or (2) they are trolling.  In either case, it's best to take the high ground and let them pass into oblivion, especially in highly charged discussions. 

Carol

On Dec 8, 2012, at 9:40 AM, Mita Williams wrote:

> This is the framing that I resonate with as well.
> 
> I really appreciate all the conversations as of late on code4lib and I find
> that the poll on gender and community was incredibly illuminating. I'm
> currently reading 'Unlocking the clubhouse' and there are large swaths
> of relevant passages that apply that have to with the setting of model
> behaviour in a field that might explain the high numbers who don't feel the
> community that others do (An aside: when you are tempted to tell someone
> else what to *feel* please re-consider).
> 
> One aspect of community is the sense of shared experience. If you are a
> librarian, you don't have to explain the work that you do at in the same
> way you have to do when you among non-librarians. That's part of the joy of
> a community. In code4lib you can joke about text editors or what have you,
> knowing most folks will get and maybe even laugh at the joke. Again, I want
> to say that I appreciate the efforts of those who are taking the time to
> explain where women's experiences are not so shared with men. I've seen
> what I think is genuine reflection and re-thinking and that gladdens the
> heart. That being said, comments like this
> http://serials.infomotions.com/code4lib/archive/2012/201212/3988.htm<http://serials.infomotions.com/code4lib/archive/2012/201212/3988.html>l
> feel
> like trolling to me and the lack of response to such comments leaves me
> disappointed. Having to constantly explains one's self doesn't lend to a
> sense of community.
> 
> All that being said, I would hate the code4lib community to lose momentum
> on the matter of the anti-harassment policy. Sadly, it is much needed.
> 
> M
> 
> On Fri, Dec 7, 2012 at 6:17 PM, Bess Sadler <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
>> On Dec 7, 2012, at 12:59 PM, Joshua Gomez <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> 
>>> Others have mentioned they fear that a subgroup will only decrease the
>>> diversity within code4lib by pulling women away from it and into the new
>>> group.  This was my initial concern as well, but when I look at other
>> kinds
>>> of women in tech groups I realize that they don't decrease women's
>>> participation in mainstream groups. In fact they help boost women's
>>> profiles and skill sets, thus increasing their likelihood of
>> participating
>>> in mainstream groups.
>> 
>> Well said, Joshua. Any separate women in technology groups I've been
>> involved with (e.g., devchix, grrlswithmodems back in the day) have been
>> what you describe here. These groups are supplementary, and create a place
>> to get support if one needs help navigating mainstream (and yes,
>> male-dominated) communities.
>> 
>> Bess
>>