Here’s the letter @HarvestMoon1 referenced:
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Oops, forgot to add this. In recent decades, it’s customary for U endowments to include words to the effect of “Or at the university’s best discretion” or “As the U best sees fit.” An out clause of sorts and, for older endowments, properly approved Again, we don’t know the wording, just the ensuing hubbub.
"We don’t need to mock those who notice the subtleties. Nor take this to an extreme where you seem to suggest if you can’t say whatever you want, what you think is fine or funny or your buds say all the time, no one can say anything.
Reductio ad absurdum.
My personal observation is that, chauvinism aside, women can be mighty unforgiving of other women, quick to lay fault at her feet. “She shouldn’t have done this,” dressed like that, taken Monday off, whatever. She should have done this or that- or had my attitude. Sometimes, it’s just b*itchy. Sometimes, self-aggrandizing. When we get to a place where all are more equally judged on our output, we won’t be as quick to do that.
Think about it."
I did think about it. And do you know what strikes me? Is that in this thread, that comes down to one word that was gender specific, that you put other women down with the ultimate female put down, you know, the b word.
Now maybe I’m just noticing subtleties here, but that’s pretty blatant. Maybe you could be “open to consideration”, or some self editing?
Ah, just joking. 
However, it is a little ironic.
We keep focusing on “vivacious” because that’s what the OP of the thread initially asked about. The reality is “young and vivacious” which is even worse, especially coming from a much younger male. Even if it was totally without malice, doesn’t it seem really Eddie Haskell-ish? It still floors me that a law student, someone who is typically good with words and public speaking, would choose that phrase to introduce a dean.
Ha! What mentally disturbed older woman doesn’t want to be called young? I would guess young and vivacious could be in comparison to all the crusty, boring old guys that came before her.
What an awful thing to say…
Well, we’re circling back to other points in this discussion but a lot of women don’t want to be called young in a BUSINESS setting by a STUDENT in front of a LARGE crowd. A lot of us women, older or not, don’t feel the need to be “flattered” by comments about our appearance, whether in the workplace or out. We are perfectly comfortable with our looks and don’t need any confirmation from men who aren’t our partners. Seriously.
I won’t even address the “mentally disturbed” comment. @bodangles has summed up my thoughts on it.
Oh my God, you people need to lighten up. Do I have to put after every obvious joke?
Sadly, I think this thread is humorless.
Not much of a joke.
Jokes are funny.
(I like how @busdriver11 can write: “Ah, just joking. However, it is a little ironic,” the old “joking/not joking” hedge, and then say that people who don’t like her “jokes” are “humorless.” As she’d put it, “cracks me up.”)
Well, Marvin, someone can be joking and think something is ironic at the same time. Even us pea brains can hold two thoughts in our heads at one time. In fact you can also be humorless, whether or not you like my jokes.
But I think this thread is too intense for me. I guess I’m not angry enough to add something useful, and any attempt at humor or positivity is not welcome. Let me go another 24 hours without good sleep, or if they forgot to put wine on this flight (don’t worry, I’m a passenger), and I’ll come back as humorless as can be.
Ah, yes, I too miss the good old days when we could joke about the mentally ill with no recourse.
It has nothing to do with having or not having a sense of humor. As I type, I am laughing at a YouTube video. This video is much funnier than anything masquerading as “humor” that’s been posted in the last few pages of this thread.
“ism” watchers and humor police…ya’ll must be a real hoot at parties.
Try decaf people…it’s just as tasty and you might not be wrapped quite so tight.
I’m great at parties, and lots of people find ways to be funny without putting down others. Try it sometime…it’s a lot funnier and you might not make so many other people feel quite so bad.
I didn’t mention any poster in particular, but it’s interesting you piped up. Hmmm…
Isn’t anything worse than group disapproval. Even if from people that passionately believe a gender specific compliment merits 27 pages, worrying as to whether their battle to scrub gender from the human condition is lost.
Like marvin claimed upthread, humor is subjective. Some can laugh with it, some are afraid someone might disapprove if they do.
I do hope Sax’s mea culpa was written with two fingers crossed, I really do.
Sneering individual disapproval is clearly far more becoming.
Call it what suits you, marvin.