quote:

Originally posted by Yocheved Broscova-Guerra:
"... I (unlike yourself) refuse to "cherry-pick" those that best suit my argument and ignore all the other things they say which indicate a completely different perspective on the same subject--or at least down play eight other observations made by them, curiously favoring a select two."

Yocheved,

I expostulated never so warmly with you and others upon this subject - showing how that, both, positive and negative traits have been singled out with women by our ancients. Yet, when I met with some resistance about "lightmindedness" in women, particularly empty words and idle protestations which are but used to hide the obduracy of resentment, this particular habit (lightmindedness), if it might be so called, required our special attention.

We need not look beyond this forum to hear of examples of "lightmindedness." First, women can more easily be swayed to a certain opinion than men. Second, Miriam of the Midwest, here, on this very forum, has written: "...probably therein (i.e. in the womb) lies the hormone, illogical, emotional issue -which is true, to a certain degree, and I should know because I am a woman!"

We have not said more than what has either been shown or admitted by our worthy consorts, here, on this forum.

Yocheved, I am sixteen years your senior, perhaps not quite old enough to be your father. But I have seen many "lightminded" women in my days. This is not to take-away from their many other outstanding traits, as well! I'm sorry if I have been misunderstood.

Keep up the good work, and your quest for knowledge!

Sincerely,
David

DV'D,
You are right, the woman you quoted must meet the criterion you suggest. I am sure that they do exist, and that lightminded men exist as well. Neither of these points do I dispute. Neither with your age, (as I have far more respect for the amount of years you have had to dedicate to Torah than I, rather than for your physical age alone--as my husband is 23 years my senior and I have FORGOTTEN more Torah/Talmud than he has ever READ). He would readily agree with me, and often comes to me to remind him of the location of a passage, and so forth.

As to the traits themselves, I suppose I need only to thank G-D that I am not thus enclined and that it has pleased Him to grant me a curious and incisive mind. Regardless of the seeming "prevalence" of the opposite natures out there.

Be that a it may, I do wish to apologize to you for not having caught the post wherein you actually DO describe other fine traits as demonstrated by your female counterparts, and before I saw that last posting, it was my impression that you completely believed that those were tiny anomalous exceptions, rather than a fairly common occurance, unrecognized by Torah. So, for my misunderstanding of what you have said, I extend my apology.