Proud to be a Rocket Mom!

Last edited by NanLT (05/22/2009 11:06 am)

Yeah, it tweaked my interest when I saw a Rocket Mom template but nothing for guys. I think if the situation were reversed, you'd see more of a shout to arms. If Squidoo is going to reward lensmasters with a template just because of their sex, I don't think that's right. Sure, they may have earned it with their quality lenses, but it still smacks of exclusionism when males who have great lenses don't get the same benefits.

Such a sign of our culture.

Everybody's a victim

Purely from a debate standpoint; in no way do I want to start a flame war of any kind, but I do so love a good debate.

There are plenty of fathers who raise their kids. For example, when I split up from my ex when the kids were just little ones, I took custody and have raised them their entire lives. Sure, I didn’t physically give birth to them, but from every standpoint that counts, I was the mother and father to them.

Second, giving birth to a child doesn’t give anyone the right to practice reverse sexism. Yes, women were oppressed in the past, but that isn’t the case anymore. Special powers or templates should not be given to someone based on their gender, in my opinion.

Oh, and mysticmama, no one handed me off. LOL. My mother is an excellent woman, and taught me many things, but my father was just as instrumental in bringing me up as my mother. He taught me right from wrong, how to take responsibility for my actions and how to be a man. He is one of my role models, just as my mother was when I was growing up.

Let’s look at this from another standpoint. Well, two actually.

1) Apply the rules used in Rocket Moms to race. Would it not be racist to have a Rocket African template? After all, Africans or coloured people were oppressed for a very long time.

Probably not, right? If you apply the Rocket Mom’s criteria to one specific group of people, based on race or gender, its sexism/racism. 

2) If there was a male gender oriented template or special power, would women fight tooth and nail to have that decision reversed?
Yes, I think so. Why? Because giving out special powers to one group over another, no matter the reasons is a slippery slope. You’re not oppressed anymore, and once you have the same rights as everyone else, you can’t start giving them more special rights. Why? Because now you’re the oppressor. In essence, you’re then doing the exact same thing that was perpetrated on you for so many years. You didn’t like it, right?

What I’m trying to say is that it’s a two way street. Gender specific powers aren’t right in my opinion. If there’s a program for females, there should be one for males. And saying “We give birth"  or “Go have a sex change"  are not acceptable arguments to me. Actually, I find them mildly offensive. Just because I can’t give birth (through no fault of my own) doesn’t make me less of a person. I am a father, and I do work hard and have spent copious amounts of time raising my children from the time they were babes in diapers to the present.

Okay, I think I’m done. Pretty rambly, huh? Again, no offense is intended. Just wanted to share some of my views on the subject. I’d love to hear yours if it differs from mine.

Last edited by MikeMoore (05/22/2009 3:37 pm)

MikeMoore, you should create a lens on this! Looks like you have got a LOT to say... Then add poll, duel modules to get your readers interested... and then highlight important stuff... add more pictures...

Oh my God... think I have turned out to be a squidaholic! Yikes..

Anyway, Rocketmom lenses rock. I just read MiMi's fish fry lens today and it was simply awesome. If in case Rocketdad lenses are created, what would they write on? Sports ?

divacratus wrote:

MikeMoore, you should create a lens on this! Looks like you have got a LOT to say... Then add poll, duel modules to get your readers interested... and then highlight important stuff... add more pictures...

Oh my God... think I have turned out to be a squidaholic! Yikes..

Anyway, Rocketmom lenses rock. I just read MiMi's fish fry lens today and it was simply awesome. If in case Rocketdad lenses are created, what would they write on? Sports ?

I totally thought of this after I posted and left to pick up my step-son.

Thanks Mysticmama for not taking my comments too seriously. However, I still disagree about the racial thing. Black men were allowed to vote in 1870 in the US. Women were allowed in 1920. Both were denied rights because of their sex and race. Both things are essentially the same; one is a denial due to sex and the other colour. Both are prejudice. Both are wrong IMO.

EDIT: Oh, and my DAD taught me that! LOL.

Last edited by MikeMoore (05/22/2009 7:13 pm)

Oh my Gosh,
What an interesting topic. I do agree with alot of what you say mysticmama, but you see, I seem to be on the 'outside'.........So I agree with the males.

Just this morning I found a thread about those "Rocket Moms".

I did also notice that Janet21, Margaret Schaut, or I was not either included or invited. One of the lenses stated that there were 60 'Rocket Moms', and the group was comprised of the top female lensmasters........hummmmmm.

Another attempt from HQ to 'socialize us' (by targeting certain groups of people) and get us to make more lenses? Like the Purple Star Program?
Hummmm......wonder if the 'Rocket Moms' get a 'boost' in their lenses somehow.

I am not a happy flowergardener.

GrannyNan wrote:

Ok the Rocket mom squid page??  does it ask ya to swear that you are a Mom of the female persuasion??

I mean why can a gut that thinks he is a Momma with a rocket    just go ahead and type their stuff??

Is it cause ya don't want no one to call ya momma??
Or is it because with the boys that do it will be a whole new my rockets is bigger then your rocket thing??!!

MEN!! LOL

LOL. Well, according to the blog, you have to be invited. I don't think that any guy was invited, big rocket or not. I did email BDKZ and ask about a Rocket Dad template, and offered to help in any way possible. We shall see what happens.

I think even Rocket People would be better than gender exclusion. Although that sounds like PC'ism. But whatever.

EDIT: It doesn't ask you to swear that you're a female mom, but it does say: "Rocketmoms is an invite-only gathering of the smartest women on the web, working together to make Squidoo lenses and a whole lot more."

Note the 'smartest women' part. Sounds pretty gender specific to me.

Last edited by MikeMoore (05/22/2009 9:12 pm)

I'm not a mom or a man. I think the composite beasts like me--ramkittens, jackalopes, etc.--are the real victims here.   We wanna be rockets, too!

Some would say Smartest an Women in the same sentence a contradiction in terms! LOL

Ramkitten wrote:

I'm not a mom or a man. I think the composite beasts like me--ramkittens, jackalopes, etc.--are the real victims here.   We wanna be rockets, too!

Hey, Ramkitten. I thought for a bit on your argument of not being able to join because you’re not a man or a mother. In a way you have a point, but I think I agree with Squidoo management in this case and here’s why.

Rocket Moms is an organization of like-minded people. It’s kind of like the best pet owner lensmasters getting together and creating lenses together with a fresh template. What you’re talking about, which is every great lensmaster having use of this template is already a reality in a way. The Giant program consists of the best lensmasters, and as far as I can discern, your lenses would have to be reviewed in order to be accepted into the group. They get a special template and other privileges, much like the Rocket Moms.

If the group were Rocket Parent People, then there’d be no complaint from me. It would include all parents or like-minded people. The problem for me lies in the fact that not only does the Rocket Mom program discriminate based on gender, but by its very existence, seems to minimize the value of the father when raising a child. Maybe not outright, but in a way it does.

See what I mean?

If there were a dog group, the equivalent would be Women Dog Owner Rockets or something like that. It would exclude the participation of men based on their gender.

I agree they're trying to get like minded people together. And that's working, isn't it? I think it has something to do with that 'tribe' thing Seth keeps talking about.

But hey, who wants to make lenses according to some set rulebook anyhow? I've got my niches going and really am not interested in extra assignments anyhow I do love the template though.

It's not about opportunity. Anyone can make lenses. It's not like they're being payed more or anything like that. Anyone can make the kind of lenses rocketmoms are making. Nothing excluded about it. It's not too different from the giant squid teams program, except the template. Same opportunity for links and lens ideas. And the kind of lenses they are stimulating people to make are really targeted for moms anyhow. I don't cook enough to make cooking lenses for instance.