Auteur : Martine

blogsquatter: a person (with or without his/her own blog) who uses somebody else’s blog to express his/her opinions. Can often be found writing long entries in the comment section of a popular blog. Could also be called a siteparasite.

Thanks to A.J., a self-proclaimed blogsquatter (who makes very interesting comments though!) who came up with the term in an e-mail exchange.

The term blogsquatter can be found in a couple of places on the Web but it does not seem to be used with the above definition in mind.
See: Karen McCombas blog squatter
The Diddly Squatter Blog

La pigiste et la f�te du travail

Une longue fin de semaine devant soi. Quatre jours libres, toute une �ternit� pour compl�ter ses projets. On verra tous ces films qu’on n’a pas eu le temps de voir, on finira son roman, on ira au march�, on fera de la sauce tomate en grande quantit�, on jouera avec les neveux et on aura enfin le temps de peinturer la derni�re pi�ce � compl�ter dans l’appartement. On terminera aussi la r�daction d’un article, et puis quelque part, entre deux t�ches m�nag�res, on prendra le temps d’envoyer son c.v. � ces gens qu’on s’�tait promis de contacter.

Puis le jour 3 de cette longue fin de semaine arrive. On jette un coup d’oeil rapide � son horaire surcharg� des semaines � venir, question de rayer les quelques t�ches accomplies, et le coeur s’arr�te un moment. « Mais qu’est-ce que je croyais? »

Les pens�es se bousculent, le souffle se fait court. Petit moment de panique. C’est trop, trop vite. Ces 4 jours sont partis en fum�e, une fum�e qu’on n’a pas eu le temps de bien inhaler. L’�t� aussi s’est �chapp�, probablement par la porte de derri�re qu’on oublie toujours de refermer.

Justement, le balcon nous appelle. Il y a une belle brise qui fait de la musique dans les arbres. Les rayons de soleil ont r�ussi � percer la couche de nuage pour venir frapper la chaise o� il fait si bon lire, et c’est le chat du voisin qui s’y pr�lasse et en profite. Insoucieux du temps qui passe. Inconscient. Heureux. Et combien sage.

Ne plus �tre pigiste. Ne plus �tre un humain avec sa liste de choses � faire. �tre un chat. Un chat qui ne f�te jamais la f�te du travail.

On her blog today, Lisa is telling us about taking care of her car at the gas station, putting air in the tires and looking under the hood when a male customer of the station asked her if she needed any help. He promptly added that he didn’t ask because she was a woman. She didn’t need help so she thanked him nicely and he left.

I consider myself to be an independent person and most people would say I am a feminist. I hate it when men assume I can’t do things outside of the usual « feminine » realm, yet like Lisa, I can’t help being nice to men who offer their help. I always thank men who open doors for me but I also open doors for them (and for other women as well) and I expect to be thanked! Men hardly ever thank me though. They either don’t notice, or they look at me funny. Still, I continue to be courteous. I believe in random acts of kindness (yep, that clich�!) and since this is the kind of world I want to live in, I figured I better start working at it, one gesture at a time.

I suggested a little experiment to Lisa. Next time she’s at the gas station and she sees a guy looking under his hood, I think she should ask him if he needs any help. I am really curious to see how most men would react if a woman did something like that. Would they laugh at her or snob her? Would they say no and feel offended? Would they look around to find the hidden camera? Would they think she’s coming on to them? Would they say yes just to see what a woman is able to do with a car and/or stare at her body while she gets the work done? Or would they just be grateful not to get their hands dirty and let her do the work?

I would do the experiment if I knew anything about cars and if I didn’t look so suspicious on my scooter…