.
Here's what I took Konkvistador's point to be:
Regardless of whether it is true, people treat positive emotions directed at others (like welcomingness) as zero-sum. Given that principle of construction, making special reference to women in the invitation is decreasing the positive emotion directed towards men. That is, men are being less welcomed compared to an invitation with no reference to sex or gender at all. Thus, the welcome that references women invokes anti-male sexism.
Don't underestimate the mental/social barrier between lurking and posting, which is approximately as strong as the mental/social barrier between posting and writing Discussion posts or Main posts.
In another thread, we have been discussing how people (especially female people) have come to find out about LessWrong. Instead of just guessing, I figured I would make a poll.
I remember in recent history there was a thread on the subject, but the answers were mainly "I got here from HPMoR" or "I've been here since OB". However, the question I want answered is:
How did you find HPMoR or OB in the first place?
Were you referred by a friend? Were you searching the internet for keywords like "rationality"? Were you linked from some other site you read?
Please answer! Even if you are a lurker; ESPECIALLY if you are a female reader! (There is a question where you can say you are a lurker, if you like!)
Click here to take the poll!
ETA- female *reader* and female *people*