>> when we’re at a business networking event, and we exchange cards
You're really stretching the definition of subtext if you're suggesting that a woman giving you her business card actually means she wants to get personal with you.
I can't speak to what actually happens when she's at one of these events since I'm not there. But given that her whole blog is a coy, disingenuous photo-shoot, I have to say I look askance at this woman in particular. It's not difficult to imagine her interpersonal style being similar. That's where the above comment was coming from.
Here's another site full of photoshoots of the writer. Think he's asking for personal contact if he hands out his business card? http://stallman.org/photos/rms-working/
False analogy. There's a world of difference between a tech nobody (in her own words) and a very well known, established programmer with decades of experience who is seen as an authority in the field. At that point you are, to some extent, a media personality as well, and that sort of behavior is a somewhat more understandable.
Her appearance suggests to me she's open to the suggestion of initiating a romantic relationship with someone suitable. If she acts in real life in a manner which reflects what her blog headline photos suggest about her, then I would expect her to get asked out a lot.
(That doesn't excuse any men from being douches about it, but if they're polite and take no for an answer then I don't see any problem)
>Her appearance suggests to me she's open to the suggestion of initiating a romantic relationship with someone suitable.
And there it is: Pure sexism.
Knew you couldn't hold it in.
Edit: Just to prove the point. Find a picture of a man that you think qualifies as "His appearance suggests to me he's open to the suggestion of initiating a romantic relationship with someone suitable."
The TOP BAR OF HER WEBSITE, that is to say, THE VERY FIRST THING YOU SEE when you go to her site, is a series of glamour shots of her smiling, laughing, nibbling on her glasses, staring into the camera, voguing all over the place - all while wearing what could very well be a black dress, with bright red crimson lipstick on.
And that's perfectly fine if she wants to trade on her appearance this way, but the minute someone suggests she may be doing so, suddenly they're "sexist." How does that work?
"Find a picture of a man that you think qualifies as "His appearance suggests to me he's open to the suggestion of initiating a romantic relationship with someone suitable."
I, for one, would not be terribly turned on by a guy wearing red lipstick, etc. That's just me, being straight and all. Men and women have different signals, that's just how it is. If the pictures where all of an aquiline Abercrombian staring off into the distance with his shirt off, casually slung over his shoulder, showing off rippling pecs and abs, well....what would YOU say he was doing?
Men and women are different when it comes to (at least, heterosexual) relationships, and signal their interest differently. If observing that makes me a sexist, then so be it.
As the old saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover...
Regardless of how goofy she wants to make her blog look, I think she still has a good point (although, granted, it was a rant and thus not exactly written in the most positive way possible)
>> when we’re at a business networking event, and we exchange cards
You're really stretching the definition of subtext if you're suggesting that a woman giving you her business card actually means she wants to get personal with you.