"Time to grow UP, ladies. You got married, not adopted, and it's likely you CHOSE to spit out those kids like watermelon seeds; you didn't just "find" yourself knocked-up (did I mention I never wanted kids?). "

So let me get this straight. Amy Benfer writes about a poll, which as others have pointed out, was a nonscientific online poll by AOL. And the ladies of the world are getting a lecture from you about their poor attitude? I realize that the Salon comments section tends to bring out the ire in people. But you are yelling at a phantom force. Assuming that the poll is in any way accurate, no one said they want to leave their 5 year-old to go gamble in Vegas. The poll as it was supposedly written said that they didn't like their job and it would be more rewarding to be home with their children. What the hell is wrong with that? You have no clue what factors brought that about. Your 8 paragraph monologue doesn't even have anything to do with the article. (A pity that your private university didn't teach you to stay on topic.)

What does this story (which will surely be dominating the headlines in place of greater issues) say that we don't already know? The Republican party is filled with stupid, short-sighted, manchildren.

While we're all busy prognosticating about Semanya's private parts, I think the larger point is STILL being missed: Very private information about this person is being leaked to the entire world.

Would you want the international community talking about you and your sex organs? The very idea is terrifying!

Give this person the respect they deserve. She trained for years in order to win, and deserves to be treated with the same dignity we give all successful athletes. We don't demand inspection of Lance Armstrong's one remaining testicle, or analyze the lower intestinal tract of Michael Phelps. So why are we having open, clinical conversations about Semanya's gender?

This is a private revelation, and one that's not meant for the judgment of the public.

Wow! This is the most I've seen the readers of Salon agree on a single topic: Republicans are amoral dicks. We can't agree on what the solution is, but we know we are at war with them.

I think it's important to have a balance between opposing (so-called) conservative ideology and understanding it. And when we as individuals hate something so intensely we cease to be able to understand it.

The chief rule of all strategy is Know Thy Enemy.

Seoigh and Creosote both pointed out that empathy is beside the point in conservative values. It's literally hardwired in their brains if you are to believe certain studies. It's not that they never sympathize, it's just that, for them, politics is about authority and power, which trumps morality.

So what's the anwer? How do we reach people who have different values? Conservative politicians have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. In fact, that's all they have going for them at the moment: We may not have a plan, but at least we're frightened of change (or their thinking seems to go). I think what they need is for liberals to do the thing that we're so loathe to do: Pull rank. Listen, you screwed up the country. Our nation is in shambles. Unemployment is at record levels. People are losing their homes. We've bailed out Wallstreet to the tune of billions. New Orleans is ruined. You had your chance and you've lost your authority to lead. We have a vision for the future and you have nothing. If there is one thing we've learned it's that Republicans, the party of business, doesn't even know how to manage business. So we'll be handling business from here on out.

I think you're committing Girl Hate with the pretense of reporting on it.

Honestly, it seems like you, Mary Elizabeth Williams, think Diablo Cody is a famewhore. Why not just say it and be done with it instead of saying, "All those bitches over there really think Diablo Cody is awful. But me, I'm just reporting about it"?

Why do women seem to hate other successful women? You know, Juno didn't rock my world either. But female success has to start somewhere.

Maybe it's because we're all so enchanted with the notion that we, as individuals, are fantastically constructed snowflakes. Unique. We can't give up our individuality in favor of the greater good.

I'm just so tired of seeing bold, independent females shit on within the public domain. Go down the list and, without exception, you will see that mean-spirited criticism follows. Oprah, Roseanne Arnold-Barr, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, Martha Stewart, Hillary Clinton, Katherine Heigl Mariah Carey, Michelle Obama, Diablo Cody, Jennifer Lopez, Janeane Garofalo, Kathy Griffin, Ellen DeGeneres. Ooh, and let's not forget the new inductee into the list, Caster Semanya, who committed the gravest sin of all: Not looking feminine enough. (And being black: the double crime.)

Who stays off the shit list? Women who keep their mouths shut and never get old or fat. So Jennifer Garner, Cameron Diaz, Farrah Fawcett, those kinds of women, they're allowed to be accepted within public approval.

(Speaking of which, I saw Cameron Diaz interviewed on the tv show Iconoclast, and never did I see a person talk so much while managing to not to say a damn thing. No wonder she is one of America's most successful actresses.)