It's been flagged for removal already. There's nothing up to read.

Oh boo. It was a guy asking for pictures of women so he could decide who was pretty enough to do sexual favors for him in exchange for a Wii.

I'm not surprised. They don't exactly raise them well in Columbia. Or in the rest of rural Missouri for that matter.

Whoa whoa whoa, Destra...I'm a Missourian, and I have to object to your sweeping generalisation (and your lack of understanding of Columbia specifically). You can find a bad apple anywhere--let's not smear a whole city or region as a result.

The folks at the Peace Nook would certainly not agree about Columbia:

http://www.midmopeaceworks.org/peacenook.php

Nor would the fine folks at KBIA, one of the nation's largest and most active NPR stations...or Columbia's mayor, who rides his bike to work, which brings me to the other fine folks at Pednet:

http://www.pednet.org/news.html

who organise (with the mayor's help) the annual Hike, Bike, Wheel and Walk week which, along with the excellent system of bike trails, serve to make Columbia a very friendly city for "green" transit.

Then there's the city ordinance, passed by voter referendum, which decriminalised marijuana (not just for medical use, but for anyone possessing non-huge amounts), one of the most progressive in the nation.

Even up here in Adair County where I live, which is actually rural (Columbia and environs are not), last year I and other volunteers helped turn both the state House and Senate seats from red to blue with two wonderful, progressive "fighting Dem" candidates.

I didn't see the craigslist posting, as it was already flagged for removal (which in itself should tell you something since other users are in charge of that as you probably know), but again: just because there's some idiot posting ridiculous nonsense online does not say anything about the rest of the community.

You tell 'em, SlackerInc! I spent my happiest years living in Columbia (and worked with Mid-Mo Peaceworks), and it's anything but rural. In fact, I would prefer to live in Columbia over many other larger cities in this country.

Destra - shame on you for generalizing and stereotyping.

Thank you SlackerInc. I was going to respond to the Missouri crack, but you responded so much better.

yikes... uh, yeah-

I don't want to get on a bandwagon; but Destra, that was really offensive. I understand why people sneer (like UK friends) when they here I'm from Kansas. But, then, that means they know nothing about Lawrence, KS. Same as talking about Columbia, MO (where, yes, some of my close friends attended MU- while I attended KU in Lawrence, KS). You're also making a sweeping generalization that completely ignores the art scenes in Kansas City (with our esteemed Kansas City Art Institute). In addition, I would just like to point out that all of my friends that attended KCAI, are from other parts of the country.

That craigslisting was certainly not indicative of Missourians, in general.

Love,

a girl who grew up in the stifling Kansas 'burbs of Kansas City.

p.s. If you want to slam on Johnson County next, go ahead.

Hey slacker! I got my undergrad degree from Truman. And yeah, stupid sweeping generalizations about the Midwest get old. Missouri is a complex state--with some very conservative counties on the Arkansas border, but with large and very democratic cities. I laughed for quite a while when the 2000 conceal and carry law failed, despite passing every county except for St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Jackson County (Kansas City), and Boone (Columbia).

MO is the purplest of the purple states. Painting it as this rabid backwater is offensive.

I thought you were reminded they exist in about 100 daily, unsolicited e-mails.

It's safe to say misogynist men exist in every corner of the globe (unfortunately). They're in the American midwest, and they're also in NYC. The "sophisicated," "urban" woman-hater just goes about it in a different way.

I'm with ya'all. Kansas represent!

Shame on me for drawing conclusions from personal experience, Slant? I'm not talking out of the side of my mouth here. After growing up in Missouri I can tell you that I have never found a town (and I'm not talking the urban areas here) that is anywhere close to a bastion of feminism. I'm not saying the whole state's a wash, but on the whole it is not the most well educated and enlightened place in the world. When you're talking Columbia, it's a college town. You've got the whole range of students- from the misogynist frats to the righteous lefties. There are many well educated people there and many, many ignorant ones as well. Greek culture does have an unfortunate strong representation in the town. Those sane ones in Columbia have a lot of work uphill.

So, um, Destra? Where are you living now, that's so progressive? Oh, and you did specifically cite Columbia, MO. And now that town doesn't count as backwards? Did I miss something? Yeah, they may have a high Greek contingent- so do a lot of the schools. I hear it's worse *gasp* at those urban Chicago colleges (you know, from friends that grew up in Chicago). Oh, wait... that's still in the midwest.

Oh, and another thing? When Sister Spit came through last spring- they went to Columbia. Not Lawrence, St. Louis, not Kansas City.
But, as you said:

"They don't exactly raise them well in Columbia".

Holly, I spend a lot of my time in Lawrence these days, with my partner who is a KU grad student (and who introduced me to Feministing). Bittergradstudent, I went to Truman...small world (thread).

Alan

Another Missouri-dwelling Truman alum weighing in: Destra, there are assholes everywhere. But Columbia's about as liberal as you can get in the middle of the midwest.

noooo, i looove johnson county!

SlackerInc/Alan- yeah, I pay rent to The Replay Lounge and Love Garden- best.ever.

undermyskirt- I probably shouldn't have said "start picking on JOCO". It was meant to be tongue in cheek, but nobody would ever know that- as I did not explain my love of old, rambling foundation homes of northeastern JOCO. (I am not, however, really supporting the MH, with that). More like northern OP, Roeland Park, Prairie Village, Mission...
you probably see where I'm going with this.

JOCO gets a bad rap due to stereotypes. As all of the KC suburban areas do.

So, I don't know if you were defending JOCO, or being sarcastic; but either response is acceptable. :)

I should not egg people on to slam things they may not have adequate knowledge of.