You’d have thought that by now, mansplaining had gone mainstream enough for the vast majority of men to realize what they were doing and stop themselves before they started. But it appears there’s always one man who is still willing to say “hold my beer” (men love drinking beer) and explain away very, very basic topics to women.
Like how books work.
Today it’s Twitter user Erik Spiekermann reminding author Laura Kalbag, who just wrote a book, that she didn’t write a book.
If you missed it:
— Laura Kalbag laura@mastodon.laurakalbag.com (@LauraKalbag) August 18, 2017
I’ve written a book! It’s coming out very soon, sign up to get it firsthttps://t.co/y0sMW97Xyjhttps://t.co/sWWrIFzQub
https://twitter.com/espiekermann/status/898665856749641728
Not only does it literally include “Actually,” the surest signpost of mansplaining… she wrote a dang book. Let her have the dang book.
Kalbag was unnecessarily apologetic to the man…
Sorry, I’m so new, I’m still learning the correct language. Nothing I wrote, let alone the book, would be worthwhile without other people.
— Laura Kalbag laura@mastodon.laurakalbag.com (@LauraKalbag) August 18, 2017
But literally no one else online was.
Why? Just, why?
— Jacques (@betaorbust) August 19, 2017
Literally *zero* people read that & thought she was including any book making tasks beyond the colloquial use of authorship.
https://twitter.com/mekosoff/status/898980304563523585
https://twitter.com/MikeOdenthal/status/898985808345956352
Imagine hating women so much you use your massive platform to shit on their success with a faux-pedantic take on what "wrote a book" means. https://t.co/HaPWnLjqH4
— Sara Wachter-Boettcher (@sara_ann_marie) August 19, 2017
Best of all, Spiekermann managed to own himself while defending his comments.
Happy to help. You’d be surprised how little most other people know about it. I write, design, set & print books, so I know.
— Prof. Erik Spiekermann (@espiekermann) August 19, 2017
Erik, you've literally just listed writing books as one of the things you do.
— Paul Annett (@PaulAnnett) August 19, 2017
Laura has done it too! Congrats Laura, can't wait to read it👍
Lol.
His tweet drew so much attention that even noted Twitter user and celebrity author J.K. Rowling chimed in to support Kalbag.
Congratulations on writing your first book, Laura. Other people edited, copyedited, proofread, printed and bound it. You wrote. Be proud x
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 19, 2017
Anyway, Spiekermann finally issued an apology.
Laura (@laurakalbag): sorry that this went out of control. Irony obviously is not for Twitter, and certainly not in a foreign language … 1/3
— Prof. Erik Spiekermann (@espiekermann) August 19, 2017
… of course you “wrote” a book, we all call it that. My ironic “actually” (which actually did not work) simply meant to draw attention … 2/3
— Prof. Erik Spiekermann (@espiekermann) August 19, 2017
… to the fact that many readers are not aware of what it takes to make books. You are, obviously, & you picked the best publisher for it.
— Prof. Erik Spiekermann (@espiekermann) August 19, 2017
Nice, but…
While my language seems pedantic on hindsight; i can't understand the charge of misogyny. I’ve written the same 2 male authors @laurakalbag
— Prof. Erik Spiekermann (@espiekermann) August 19, 2017
Buddy.