Lurking.

I used to read the Hand mirror and other feminist blogs on a semi-regular basis, without ever considering commenting. Then I read regularly. Then I made a few comments, most of which were bitch slapped into place by someone more informed, or evolved, or just more opinionated than me.
99% of the time, I was incorrect about something, or didn’t frame my point clearly enough for people to fully grasp what I was saying. Sometimes people just jumped on me because I was an unknown factor, and it is easier to assume that someone is deliberately wrong rather than just ignorant.
In spite of several moments where I stomped away from the keyboard in tears I continued. And now, I write for the hand mirror. It is still 50/50 whether I think it is worth it. The rapport of my fellow writers, regardless of whether we agree on points, is wonderful. I have met fabulous women in the real world who have changed my life for the better. Other days, I am in a tricky battle to maintain my own positivity while moderating.

I had coffee with a friend this morning who reminded me of all the lurkers out there. The people who read regularly, and irregularly. They talk about issues over coffee with friends, debate topics with family. They work in amazing jobs, and participate in developing amazing families. They may write themselves in other forums, or blogs.

I have no idea how many of you are out there but I wanted to say Hi, and thank you.

My friend this morning said that she wouldn’t be commenting on the hand mirror any time soon because it is too intimidating.
She was concerned about saying something wrong.
Not even a morally wrong concept, or a wrong understanding of someone else’s idea, but just simply WORDING it wrong. She didn’t want to be criticised or misunderstood, and it made me realise that not everyone bounces back stubbornly when smacked down.
There is a lot of talk about who is and isn’t a “101” space and I actually have no idea whether the hand mirror officially is or isn’t. I know my own personal blog, and anything I write always will be, because when I was new, and didn’t know what spoons were, or why the fuck strangers kept all caps-ing “PRIVILEGE” at me, my friend Julie was there for me to email and ask, on top of my google-fu, and other bloggers.
It really upset me to think that we are being robbed of a brilliant young woman’s opinion, ideas and thoughts. She contributes so much in her community, and yet we are missing out.

So how’s about we start here?
Any lurkers, feel free to say Hi, introduce yourself and talk about feministic things…
If anyone isn’t happy, I can pick this up in my own space.

NB: The usual moderating rules apply, so please use a consistent handle, even if you keep it an anonymous one.

Introducing ScubaNurse

Hi there hand mirror readers,

In the same vein as Anthea and LudditeJourno, I will step up and introduce myself.
For those of you who have read me over in my own space you already know I am passionate about human rights, effective holistic healthcare, morals without an imaginary friend required, and living a life without fear.
There is plenty of ranting over there, so for THIS intro I’m going to go a little more random.
Enjoy.

Random skills of which I am proud: I make kick ass balloon animals and used to be able to roll a kayak without a paddle.

Stuff of which I am less proud: I drink diet coke straight out of the bottle to save having to wash a glass and I used to sing along to the album “hotcakes” on LP when I was 7.*

The best thing I can cook: I make a lovely dish with chicken and parmesan - it smells like vomit and tastes like heaven.

Best reason for taking a day off work: I chipped my knee cap sliding down a marble ramp in a mall while in a wetsuit.

Best day at work: Barring Mandy Moore from backstage when acting as a bouncer, because I
A) Didn’t recognise her and
B) didn’t realise she was with Zack Braff and not just a rabid fan-girl.

Aspirations in life: I want to buy a house big enough that I can purchase a toaster.

I hope this gives you a bit of and insight and a good laugh. Now we know each other, call me Scube'.

*10 points to anyone who can name the artist without google-fu needed.

NZ women writing blogs

We try to maintain a blog roll of New Zealand women and women in New Zealand writing blogs, which you can check out in the side bar. If you've started a blog recently, or a long time ago, or sometime in between, and you would like to be in the blog roll, leave a comment, and I'll add you to the roll. Any type of blog is welcome - feminist, political, craft, mummy, life, cooking, books, gardening, academic, writing, fashion, fitness, all or none of the above.

On that note, may I introduce Anna Caro's new blog - Anna Caro - which she started on New Years Day.

People writing about the earthquake

Posts from women in our blogroll about the earthquake and its aftermath


Women who are in Canterbury:

Amanda at Pickled Think: Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Stories

Ruth's Reflections: Sleepless in Seismicland. Ruth has a series of posts about the quake, and photos of her neighbourhood.


Women elsewhere in New Zealand:

Megan at Craft is the New Black: Shaken

Ele at Homepaddock: Miracle it's only a disaster

In the Gateaux: The economic value of earthquakes

Maidennz: The image that sticks in her mind from the Christchurch earthquake

Aotearoa: a wider perspective: Wow, my first earthquake and thank god my sister in law’s OK.

Another new laydee

Welcome to the NZ and worldwide feminist blogosphere, ScubaNurse, who blogs at Well behaved women rarely make history . She has a fantastic post up about the police officers have talked about a recent missing person case: Missing woman "opens herself up". Police officer "opens themselves up" to my wrath.

As ever, if you would like to be included in our blogroll, drop a note in comments, and we'll add you. Our blogroll celebrates New Zealand women blogging about... anything. So don't be shy!

New laydee in blogland

Another new blogger to read:

steph is doing some feminist blogging at LadyNews. She's got some great posts up already, including an excellent deconstruction of Kerre Woodham's victim blaming column, and a thoughtful analysis of issue of consent and secret filming.

Any other new women blogging? Let us know in comments, and I'll add you to this post, and put your blog in our blogroll. You don't have to be a feminist blogger: we want to support all women blogging in New Zealand, whether you are blogging parenting, or craft, or politics, or feminism, or shoes, or cooking, or gardening, or whatever.

Update:

Padgp writes La Vita è Bella - a blog of thanks. In her own words, "It's not religious, or even spiritual. Just a way for me to express to cyberspace the things I am thankful for."

Another new laydee

Another new NZ blogger: Pickled Think. Pickled Think has been up and running since March, and she has some fantastic posts about writing, and gender, and movies, and names, and...

I particularly commend to your attention: Gender and Pseudonyms: What I've Chosen To Do, and Tim Burton's Alice is a feminist heroine, and a beauty from Friday, So, just how IS a woman supposed to write?.

New laydeez in blogland

Well... new to our blogroll:

Pip's Squeaks - a runner, cyclist and triathelete who lives in Wellington. Pip has been blogging since 2006. I'm sorry that we haven't found you and gotten you onto our roll before now, Pip.

The Little House by the Sea - crafty goodness from a Londoner who moved to NZ with her partner, and now lives in a little house by the sea.

We try to keep a blog roll of NZ women blogging. Any sort of blogging - craft, sport, political, parenting, school, cooking, gardening, home decorating, studying, conservation, feminist, conservative, green, libertarian, whatever. Leave a note in comments if you would like us to add your blog to the list.

Update: From comments, Cesca's blogs:
On the garden wall, subtitled, "Confessions of a bad housewife"
Lush gardening

And another writer I found through the usual circuitous links and comments on other people's blogs:
Sum in horto, who has an exceedingly delicious post on tiramisu on her front page at present.