Letters to the Editor

"Revenge of the Nerds," Adam Cayton-Holland, August 23

I looked forward to reading about bar trivia, as a large group of us frequently attack the TFO and Buzzwordz locations here in Denver. We hadn't heard of Geeks Who Drink and were excited to give them a try.

After reading the article by the always excellent Adam Cayton-Holland, though...well...

Q: What activity am I less likely to perform?
A) Floss with barbed wire
B) Spend $6 on coffee at the DIA Starbucks
C) Play trivia at a Geeks Who Drink location

The Mike Jones inclusion as a trivia guest DJ wasn't funny, clever or witty in the least. Had I been there that night, I would have told the managers never to expect my business ever again.

(Oh, the answer was C.)
Greg Thow
Denver

"Civil Service," Off Limits, August 23

I am having a hard time trying to figure out why people are spending so much effort to fight giving women cheap or free booze so a bunch of stupid guys will pay a premium price for booze or high cover charges just to meet a drunken woman. We shouldn't stop stupid guys from spending too much for booze. We need to spend more time stopping them from voting for presidents.
Rodney Wallace
Denver

I am writing for the benefit of "Wayne," a letter writer who, like Madonna, does not need a last name. Wayne read Westword's piece on the crusade against ladies' night and reports that he "should of known" (sic) that a woman wrote this article. He is concerned (but most certainly not bitching or moaning) that every time he turns on the TV, all he sees or hears about are women.

I would recommend that Wayne contact his cable provider immediately, ask to speak to a male representative (Wayne says he is also tired of talking to women on the phone) and tell him he would like to order some other channels besides Lifetime. With 100-plus channels of primarily male-owned, male-produced programs to choose from, he'll be on the way to freedom from female domination in no time!
Kendra Wiig
Denver

I adamantly support any legislative action that would ban ladies' nights in Denver and anywhere else. That these events are even allowed to exist in today's politically correct society is absolutely unacceptable, considering all the changes that have been made to accommodate equal rights for women. But what motivates me to write is Westword'sconsistently smug, dismissive mockery of this issue, which is tantamount to condoning this blatant gender discrimination.

In last week's Westword, ladies' nights were (quite generously) referred to as a "business incentive." This sick euphemism is laughable, coming from a socialist-leaning publication that screams loudly about the slightest discrimination against the common person — mostly gays, women and minorities. When did the Marxist Westword begin defending capitalism? Does Westword'sstance on this issue have anything to do with the fact that bars that hold ladies' nights are also major advertisers? It's almost a cliche anymore to suggest what would be the case if women were prohibited from receiving the economic advantages of a men-only "business incentive." Westword would scream bloody murder in a front-page story. A female Steve Horner would be lauded as a champion of egalitarianism.

The irony is maddening. Imagine being a bartender at one of these local bars: a man and a woman order a drink, but because one of them possesses a certain chromosome, she is entitled to economic privileges that the other — the man — cannot enjoy as a result of his birth and gender. As a bartender, I'd hate to be forced into such complicity as a part of my job. Is this America? I wonder how many of these women have been date-raped as a result of drinking too many free drinks. Is that the intention of ladies' night? Get the women as drunk as possible? What a great "business incentive!" Ultimately, it's women who should speak out against ladies' night — or collectively lose any credibility in the discrimination conversation. It's hypocritical for women to suck down free Cosmopolitans at the local meat market on weekends, only to go back to work Monday morning and demand economic equality for themselves. The next step up from ladies' night discrimination is whites-only lunch counters and blacks at the back of the bus. When will it stop?
Kyle Gallagher
Denver