Are they hiding in the craft stores?

I came to the realization that I have very few CT female friends. Work is probably 85% male, Kung Fu 80% male, and Engineering classes 90-95% male. Climbing is slightly better with probably only 75% males, but I haven’t had time to climb much lately. Really, Roommate Liz is the only CT female friend that I see on a weekly/semi-weekly basis.

There are plenty of NON-CT females with whom I interact which leads me to believe that either Connecticut has a strangely disproportionate male to female ratio or CT women hide a lot. In China, selective abortion and the ‘one kid’ rule has resulted in a surplus of males nicknamed “bare branches.” This creates a huge bonus for women because they can be super-selective in their relationships. Really, I think China’s like a huge WPI.

And while CT is all about the dynasty and all about the engineering, I really don’t think that male surplus is the problem here. I think the real problem is that very few women seem to like fun. Let’s make a short list of fun activities:

1. Rocking out on guitar
2. Playing football
3. Fighting
4. Monster Trucks
5. Pretending to be Dinosaurs and/or Robots
6. Anything involving Jessica Alba

I just can’t imagine women being all about that list. Unfortunately, there’s nothing that can be done about this. It’s just the way it is.

17 thoughts on “Are they hiding in the craft stores?

  • 6/30/2006 at 11:19 am
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    My first pick of duty stations after school is Groton, CT. Hopefully I can add to your “female friends in CT” list!

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  • 6/30/2006 at 12:24 pm
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    It is unlikely that women dislike fun.

    It is more likely that your idea of “fun” is different from that of many women.

    Honestly, perhaps I’m not much fun either, since, of your list, I only really can sign up for 5 and 6.

    —— 1. “Rocking out on guitar”.
    After trying to learn guitar for 6 months, and bass guitar for a few months, it’s pretty clear that I either lack the will power or the talent to rock out on guitar. My attempts to rock out generally are embarrassing and/or frustrating – not fun. That’s not to say I don’t love OBSERVING or HELPING with a rock-out session, just that the actual rocking-out process for me personally is no fun.

    —— 2. “Playing football”.
    If, by playing football, you mean the kind where I get to throw the ball in a perfect spiral, only to have it degenerate into a half-assed wobble 5 feet from my hand, and then I get my face stepped on accidentally by my cousin, then I’ll vote “no fun for S. McQuaid” on this one.

    —— 3. “Fighting”.
    I’m okay with “not fighting”. I’ve never been in a fistfight, and I never intend to be. Wrestling with other guys – also not fun. Too much unintended groping. Plus, I might hurt someone, and then I’d feel bad (unless you deserved it, you spoony bard).

    —— 4. “Monster trucks”.
    Not fun! If I was a monster, and I could crush cars, that would be fun – but watching some guy with a cool machine driving over stuff is kind of…blase. Also, I don’t drink, which is an integral part of the monster truck experience, if I understand correctly…

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  • 6/30/2006 at 2:16 pm
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    Okay, I usually choose not to enter into these discussions, but a few things need to be addressed.

    1. Shaun! Dude, you wrote a half page about yourself and never said anything about CT women??? I think that you and Kurt need to step up and defend your CT women. Shauna and I may have been transported north, but I still consider myself a CT woman, and I’m guessing that she does too.

    2. Girls do love to fight. It might not always involve fists (although most of the fights I saw while teaching did, in fact, involve girls, not guys), but girls fight. I admit, sometimes this is in a very superficial way, which gives girls a bad reputation. But… fighting can also be very intellectual, I like that kind of fighting, I do it a lot and I’m good at it (which may, in fact, be why Shaun doesn’t really enjoy it) , which is why I plan to make a career out of it. And…many of the good intellectual fights/ debates that I have had, have been with girls who enjoy it just as much as I do.

    3. I wonder if the CT female/male ratio depends upon the area, b/c at my high school we had a severe shortage of guys, let alone tolerable ones. It was so bad that when they had to pick the scholar athelete award for my class, they had to pick a guy who ran Cross Country for 1 session, because he was the only male in the class who ever made the honor role and participated in a sport. (he later ended up at WPI). Luckily, the men in the neighboring town were much better.

    4. And finally, as a graduate of an all women’s college, I know lots of girls who very much enjoy everything on that list (with the exception of Monster Trucks, I’m not sure I’ve specifically discussed that with any other girls)

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  • 6/30/2006 at 2:31 pm
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    I feel like I must point out that both you and Shauna no longer live in CT.

    Perhaps all the women are leaving CT. this constant exodus is causing general cleanliness and craftiness within CT to take a dramatic fall. First Jen and Shaun next Governer Rell.

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  • 6/30/2006 at 3:28 pm
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    On your list of fun, you forgot 7) Beauty products and 8) Writing hilarious novels. I mean, DUH!

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  • 6/30/2006 at 3:45 pm
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    We’ve talked about this before, but I’ll throw it in the comment box, too.

    My life is the same way. Work is 85% male (with lots of older males). Orienteering is 80% male (with lots of older males). My softball league is 95% male, volleyball is 60% male. Lately, ultimate frisbee is 85% male.

    Living in Everett, WA, doesn’t help my chances, either. It’s a blue-collar town with three big industries: aerospace (mostly male), port-related activity (mostly male), and the US Navy (duh).

    So… I work with and live around mostly men. The only girls I know are those from work, most of them being engineers. And these girls are either already taken or swarmed over by other dudes, that they’re not really available to hang out, let alone do the above-mentioned fun activities.

    Things might be getting better in the female department soon, as I’ll be moving down to the Greenlake neighboorhood of Seattle and joining a coed soccer team with 50% girls on it.

    Oh yea, and it’s the middle of intern season here at Company F, which means things are interesting for a few months, too.

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  • 6/30/2006 at 4:39 pm
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    well i guess being the default CT female friend isn’t so bad… i’m glad you’re my friend!

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  • 6/30/2006 at 10:22 pm
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    If you mean that the girls are out hiding maybe its cause you are looking in the wrong places. Where does MikeD go on any particular day. I would say in no particular order: Work, Rock Climbing Gym, Kung Fu, Grocery store and gas station once a month.
    Now with that list now wonder you aren’t finding fun ladies. Or just plain ol normal ladies. I know that when Shauna was a CT girl she would go to Clubs, bars, concerts, Theater Performances and other SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. I also know several fun loving females who live in the New Haven area. Perhaps if you broke from your routine, GASP!, and went to something spontaneous or just because you would find a Woman who enjoys fun and having a good time. Maybe she’ll even pretend she is a Diplodocous with you one night.

    Things to do in New Haven
    Jazz Concert http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2817584-new_haven_jazz_festival_new_haven-i;_ylt=At4f3IDFsDFMur4C3MFyRYhNFmoL

    Clubs in New Haven
    Gotham Citi
    http://www.gothamciticafe.com/GCC.html
    Alchemy
    http://www.alchemynightclub.com/

    Museums
    Peabody Museum of natural History
    http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2817579-peabody_museum_of_natural_history_new_haven-i;_ylt=Aq4MgyLdzQejS52wpTn7bpFNFmoL
    Take special note of the first review.

    There are just a few fun things to do in New Haven. Hope that helps.

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  • 7/1/2006 at 9:42 am
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    I bet there’s at least one woman who’s into #6.

    My life does not lack women, so I have nothing to add to this… but I could tell you where i go:

    Book Stores
    Bars
    Coffee Shops
    Health Club
    Concerts
    Clubs
    Museums

    Try some of those out next weekend, bet you meet a couple! And a quick check of the US Census data says that Connecticut has more women than men… hm.

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  • 7/1/2006 at 6:10 pm
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    Dude!

    I participated in a Street Scramble today, and I wore my neon yellow knee-high socks. I had positive reactions from 5 different ladies. One of those instances was a car of two girls and they honked and smiled. But the best was near the end of the race, and this girl slowed down, stuck out her head, and said “nice socks” and gave me *that* look. Unfortunately, she was in a car, and I was on foot, and she drove away. What am I supposed to do about that?

    Anyway, my suggestion to you. Wear awesomely cool knee-high socks in public. Girls will notice.

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  • 7/2/2006 at 12:16 pm
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    I feel I should point out that with this post I’m specifically referring to female Friends, not amorous relationships. I hang out with a lot of guys, and the unique female perspective is missing from that.

    But, perhaps I’ll take up your suggestion anyway. Less for the ladies, more for the amazing style.

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  • 7/2/2006 at 12:22 pm
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    Ha ha, I love how the Peabody museum of natural history is especially awesome for dinosaur lovers.

    I guess I should have changed my complaint from “where are the fun women?” to “where are the women who like similar fun things?” Because I don’t get along as well with the type of person that loves clubs, bars, and theatrical performances. I get along with the climbing and surfing type. So my REAL complaint should have been:

    CT has very few climbing surfing women. I should move to SanDiego with James and Chad.

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  • 7/3/2006 at 3:05 pm
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    Whoops. My bad.

    I need female friends, too. I have Marcia… and that is all.

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  • 7/11/2006 at 7:04 am
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    While I wholeheartedly agree with S.McQuaid on points 1 – 3, I must ask. S.McQuaid, have you ever been to a monster truck show live? Ruth took me to one for Valentines Day, and it was by far one of the most fun experiences ever. Not only because crushing cars is totally sweet, but also because the place is crawling with rednecks soprting mullets, drinking Bud out of plastic cups, and singin’ patriotic songs about ‘mericuh. It is a beauty to behold.

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  • 7/11/2006 at 8:41 am
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    Dude, what’s with the implication that I am a woman from CT? :-)

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  • 7/11/2006 at 8:42 am
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    That is precisely why I’m not interested. I can get that at the local NH Wal-mart…

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