Revenge of the Nerds

Facebook is so much fun. Had a series of messages with an old friend who used to be a managing editor at a major, major SF magazine, arguably the leader in the field. She asked if I'd had any problems with the magazine, and I said that we'd been frustrated that we couldn't get reviews for GREAT SKY WOMAN and SHADOW VALLEY. She said that she had recently attended an SF convention, and ran into a staffer on the magazine, and in conversation, the topic of the Publisher's "enemy list" came up...and I was on it.

Seems that years back, the former editor and the Publisher had a difficulty, and he was...hmmm. Let's say ungentlemanly about it. He was rude to her in front of me, and much like Hannibal Lector, I abhor discourtesy. Standing up for her was apparently the wrong move career-wise, and he refused to review my books from that point. My my. I won't say more, 'cause I can't without revealing identities, which is not my intent. Besides: most of you who are "in the loop" can probably guess the names anyway.

That's messed up, but human beings do crap like that, always have, and that's just the way it is. Pick your enemies carefully, children.

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I got email from a man and his wife who complained that my proposal for the self-improvement project for men (still no title. "The Man Project"? 'Manhood: A Beginner's Guide"? Several interesting ones, but I want to make sure that they really fit both the project and my own personality.) included techniques to help Betas deal with Alphas. They maintained that such a thing isn't possible. I find that a little limited in thinking, but am actually happy to hear it: that means I know interesting stuff that some potential purchasers don't know. Money lies down those paths. Specialized knowledge is often valuable.

I won't comment now on the perspectives and techniques such Betas need, but there was another comment that I did want to put out. It was the comment that Alpha males can't marry Beta females. Not only do I disagree with this, but am of the opinion that much of "traditional" marriage was designed to create structures in which just this could happen. I'm not suggesting it at a model--I much prefer relationships between equals, "Soul Mate" unions. But I've simply seen too many long-lasting relationships between dominators and submissives, where at least from the outside, the situation seemed satisfactory to both partners. Not ecstatic, perhaps, but satisfactory.

And this is important, I think. If I'm right, and Alpha males have been able to marry Beta females, then we also have a need for Alpha females to find Beta males attractive. How to accomplish or increase this? I have no idea. But as more women fight their way to the workplace and up the power ladder, if Beta males sense that they will have LESS access to sex if women advance, they will fight like hell, back-stabbing every step of the way. I've seen it, and don't know what the answer is. Both Beta and Alpha females are attracted to Alpha males. Watch those Betas. Don't frighten them. If you do, they might not review your books.

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ﾠAny opinions?