Let's see, the excuses seem to fall into several categories:
1. Everyone does it
2. It's part of gaming (a variant on #1)
3. No one takes offense at it
4. It isn't offensive, it's just degrading (a variant on #3)
5. We don't say "bitch," we say "beeyotch"
Taking these one at a time, #1 would seem to have lost its appeal as an excuse even before "I was ordered to do it" fell from acceptability; most of the children I know are aware that it's not a valid excuse. It is no more an excuse when "everyone" is exchanged for "some women," for reasons which should be obvious with little thought. Its variant, #2, fails the acceptability test for the same reason. When I was in high school, it was part of being a jock to beat up on suspected gays; this expectation affects the legitimacy of the action not at all, as the Marines found out with their "traditional" hazing a few years ago.
As far as #3 goes, I was under the distinct impression that I'd indicated that <i>I</i> take offense at it; or are you arguing that having driven off all those who are offended by an activity somehow renders that activity acceptable? The variant of this one, #4, merely replaces "offensive" with "degrading" and assumes the second is reasonable whien the first is not; this is really beneath comment, I think.
The last excuse is similarly beneath comment: it might make a convincing argument to a first-grader, but is hardly adequate as an argument among supposed adults.
I don't think it's stupid. I was honestly wondering if any women peruse this site because in my *limited* experience, i have noticed that females tend to be less interested (or perhaps pressured to be less interested) in technology.
There are probably two questions here; in any event, there will be two answers. First, your curiosity is reasonable; my primary objection was to how it was phrased ("gal" is a variant on "girl," which many women regard as demeaning; and as for "chick," I think commentary is unnecessary). It is somewhat akin to my asking, "Are there any little boys here?" - and I suspect you would sneer instead of raise your hand in response to that.
Secondly, it is true that fewer females than males are drawn to technological fields. I will even admit that there may be innate biological reasons which are responsible for some of this bias, although I doubt they are the only reasons. I know many female engineers, scientists and technicians, and more than one woman who builds her own computers. That you don't routinely notice them on websites like this one gives no data on their relative abundance, though; and I think some of the reasons for women keeping their heads down have been dramatically revealed in this thread.
Speed, cRock and Polare, you have all hit nails on the head; thank you.
As to the "political correctness" charge: I don't recall ever saying you couldn't talk smack in your LAN parties; I just expressed a strong opionion about it, and noted that it might be one of the reasons 0oALio0 didn't notice any women around. We <i>do</i> usually "stay out of the kitchen" - and are apparently missed, from some of the comments. You have no one but yourselves to blame.
IMHO if you can't countenance smack-talk or taunting that is not vulgar or profane, then you are probably over-sensitive.
I'm perfectly capable of being at least as vulgar and profane as you are, I'm sure; you've just not seen me in action. When it's necessary, I can (and do) manage quite well, thank you. My point is that it's hardly "necessary" while gaming (as Polare among others has demonstrated); it is simply crude and juvenile behavior that a number of you are defending, and in an outraged fashion at that.
To which I am tempted to reply, if you can't countenance the charges of inexcusably crude and juvenile behavior, then you are probably over-sensitive. (I detest smiley-faces, but I'll make an exception just this one time:
)