to her that type of story is generally annoying and at best silly.

While it's certainly far more prevalent as a literary trope than it has ever been as an actual phenomenon, the fact remains that throughout the ages this has happened. Not frequently, no, but it's not some cracktastic invention. There's plenty of documentation. We're not talking MPreg here.

Brava, though, with the courteous response. It has to be said that the list doesn't sound like the most positive of environments - what are the good points about it?

Well, the rest of her post said her issue is that she thinks it feeds into the idea that it's better to be a boy--that all girls must deep down fantasize about living a boy's life. And the rest of my reply was that in my upbringing in a deeply conservative, traditional area, I'd grown up with pressure to be hyper-feminine, and that was never a comfortable fit for me, because I always loved things girls weren't "supposed" to like sports, science, and even military history. (I was deeply into military history as a child, and then managed to suppress it from adolescence until a few years ago.) So I liked books where girls and women did things I was interested in.

It has to be said that the list doesn't sound like the most positive of environments - what are the good points about it?

The fact that it's devoted to historical fiction, mostly, and as such can offer advice and feedback in areas I can't necessarily get from a romance group. But the advice hasn't been as helpful as I'd hoped, largely because the regulars seem more interested in pedantry than telling good stories that readers will enjoy. (And when I find a group too pedantic, that's saying something!) Really, what I'd like to find is a good fantasy group, since even a non-magical alternate history like mine fits under that part of the publishing umbrella. SFWA doesn't accept unpublished members, but maybe I could find a good online group with a more open policy.

Hmm - I didn't realise it was Alternate History you were working on.

Perhaps you could ask Delia Sherman and/or Ellen Kushner for suggestions? They've both got Live Journals, and they seem lovely. (I realise that Swordspoint et al have the emphasis more on the 'Alternate' than on the History, but I think Delia's pretty much a History Geek herself.) They're also all over the notion of blending genres and supporting artists who don't want to be pigeonholed.

(Plus, hey, The Privelege of the Sword is ALL over the notion of how gender impacts upon freedom, complete with swashbuckling, crossdressing and hot sex.)

I think I may have broken a testicle while opening spaghetti sauce.

!!!

Um. PC, you should seriously think about using your hands next time.

My left arm isn't strong enough.

Well, okay.

...

...

it's about this point in the conversation that somebody ought to be bandying around the phrase 'clever dick', yes?

And here I was thinking that after a year and a bit in Bangkok I was past being surprised by the impressive things people can apparently do with their genitals.

Well, the rest of her post said her issue is that she thinks it feeds into the idea that it's better to be a boy

During many periods of history, it was.

I'm sorry, P-C. I also wish there was video.

I couldn't hold it steady with my left hand, so I put it between my legs and had to squeeze really hard while I turned the lid with my right hand. Apparently, I need stronger groin muscles.

During many periods of history, it was.

Word; hell, right now in much, if not most, of the world, that's still true.

eta

Apparently, I need stronger groin muscles.

Um.