h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Dear Icy North,

So this is what you have been up to whilst I have been straining to get my vascular system of my brain going again with your marvellous tranquilled sheep. !!

Do you realise, dear Sir, that every one of the words that you used are terms that are used for men? I was getting more and more bewildered, because I have always thought - it seems erroneously - that it was women who were snobbish. !!

Of course. Hyacinth "Bouquay" (Bucket) is the epitome of snobbery, but what other synonym could be possibly used except to call her a snob? I cannot for the mement think of any other word.

I am in wonderment that all the words depicting snobs applied to men. Why is this I wonder? This is definitely distracting me from my work.! Incidentally I have, I think finished a fairly good first draft which will probably be refused by the editors of the jouranl who asked for it. !!

Well, thanks for giving me something else to think about. In fact today has been a day off - I have been watching the Tour de France. The most wonderful Travelogue of France. what a beautfiul country.

Thanl you for making my brain work in "uzzer" directions.
Thursday 15th July, 2009 17.50 BST

Sincerely,

Christiane.

Hi Icy North,

I am obliged to reply to myself because my posting on your thought-provoking entry on Snobbery for some reason was not recorded although the posting is there.

No doubt someone will advise what the reason is.

off to do my brain"exercises".

I am hopeful that they could possibly improve my memory. Certainly the local medical fundis show no interest at all. !!

Friday 17th July 2009 7.00 BST

Christiane.

Kind regards

Christiand.

Hi Christiane

Yes, you're right that many of these terms imply descriptors for men.

I think, in noticing this, it tells us just how much of an advanced society our present generation has become in terms of equality. The language hasn't yet caught up with it, but no doubt in the future it will.

Ah, very interesting!

If I may go out on a limb here (and without the safety net of hard proof as well), could it be that women were generally an accessory rather than a person of note?

Before I get slapped for not providing sources; I base this on the fact that it took quite a while for women to be allowed to own land (other than through inheritance), vote etc.

So if you run with my perception that Victorian times were a bit harsh on women, it would make sense that there wasn't a word for snobbish women. Women should be seen and not heard!

I can think of a few things to call such women, but I doubt it'd get through the filters.

/Fae, who is most definately both seen and heard when ever she darn well likes to be.

well dear Fae,

Welcome to the discussion.

I went straight to your home page, and found that you had not yet had time to write about yourself. I hope you do soon, and you sound a very interesting person.

You have a great many points, and I would thoroughly agree with you that women have always drawn the short straw.

But it is quite incredible that all those very "snobbish" terms which Icy North found to emphasize his theme, all applied to men; they do not appear to have been applied to women. There are a few obvious ones, which describe a "certain" type of female, but on the whole not many for women. One would hardly call a a woman a "cad" or a "rotter."

Sadly I have a lot of work to do so do not have the time to explore this further. It just struck me that in Icy north's very well thought out posting, it was so glaringly apparent that men, probably because they were were men, had the right to be called all those names. Whereas women....

I am not sure that we have reached equality in the true sense of the word yet.
Friday 17th July, 2009 18.30 BST

go well,

Christiane.