Adventures in OKCupid

I’ve seen many things come in through my message box on OKC.  It’s been quite a ride, featuring the sweet, sour, and down right WTF moments.  I’ve always kept this blog rather focused on my love of bugs but I thought I might open it up to a bit more about myself.  No one is reading this anyway, so what does it matter.

Upon waking this morning, I noticed an email alert on my phone.  I had a new OKCupid message.  The pic looked good but, as I was still a little groggy, it took me a short time to be able to see the words clearly. : “You seriously think a size 18 is “average” body type? Are you off you’re fucking meds?”

As someone who has been overweight for significant portion of her life these sorts of comments are not rare.  For the most part, I have become quite accustomed to them and typically let them wash over me.  Besides, I have better things to do with my life than stress about the idiots of the world.  I have grad school to deal with…which brings with it a whole new set of idiots to stress over.

But I did decide to reply.  After all, this kindly fellow took the time out of his busy evening to write me, the least I could do was take time out of mine and reply.  That, and I just figured who gives a shit?

My reply:

“1) I’m not quite sure where my profile states I am a size 18. If it does, that would be from over 6 years ago when I first created it.

2) You would be correct that an 18 is not “average”, though I doubt for the same reasons that you decided to message me. Statistically speaking the average modern woman is approximately 5’4″, weighs around 145 lbs and is a size 12-14. If this is the average of which we are discussing, then I would be average, to slightly below (dress size) or above (height). Depending upon which metric we are using.

3) A brief glimpse of your profile shows me that you are rather slender and could be considered underweight, again, depending upon the metric we’re using. As someone who has run in/trained for marathons and a triathlon, I can tell you “average” and “fit” are quite variable terms. But I do know that ass hole is a term I’d apply to you. I’m certainly glad you took the time out of your oh so busy night to tell a random person on the internet she is fat. I hope you feel like a better human being. Good “Christian” values you have there.

Best Wishes
BIK “

Congrats to Bambi…I mean May Berenbaum

I would like to offer my congratulations to Dr. May Berenbaum on her recent election of the Entomological Society of America!  She will be the fifth female president of our organization.

Dr. May Berenbaum was recently elected to the position of Vice President of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) and upon completing that post she will enter the position of President.  She will preside over one of the biggest events for North American Entomologists in recent memory, the join ESA-ICE (International Congress of Entomology) meeting in Orlando, Florida!  No pressure or anything May!   In addition to these duties she is also faculty and head of the Department of Entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

Dr. Berenbaum has been a prolific writer and proponent of entomological engagement and education.  She even had a shout out by none other than bug-fan Chris Carter in an episode of The X-Files (one of my favorite shows) by naming the entomologist on screen Bambi Berenbaum.  Quite the cheeky bugger he is.

Though I can’t say for sure, I do think this election reflects a growing change in the organization as well as within the sciences in general.  Recently I attended a small entomology conference and noted that a large number of attendees were female.  When you look at the incoming graduate students I see more and more women occupying desks.  I first noted this during my forensic anthropology classes and field schools I attended/taught a few years ago.  The dynamics are changing.  Women are gaining in numbers within these fields and it’s about time this is recognized.  The sciences have long been thought of as a boy’s club; and unfortunately many within still feel this way.

Slowly, but surely, this attitude is changing and the election of our fifth female president demonstrates this.  Dr. Berenbaum is an amazing scientist, has been an exemplary figure within the entomological community for many years and will continue to be for many years to come.  Congratulations Dr. Berenbaum!!!  And congratulations to the people of the Entomological Society of America.

**To clarify how the electoral system works within the ESA, an individual is elected as VP-elect and they serve in that position for a year.  Following that year, they assume the post of VP while the previous VP becomes President.  The following year the VP assumes the Presidency and the former President becomes the Past-President.  So, Dr. Berenbaum will begin her term as VP-elect at the 2014 meeting, will progress to VP in 2015, etc.   Confused?  Good…that’s how we roll…dung.  Bug jokes!  No one gets them but me…***