As a leftist, I'm going to weigh in here, especially with regard to the last post.
Okay, so first thing. Language is powerful. It sculpts not only what we say and the meaning we get across, but also how we think.
"boy" is to "girl" what "man" is to "woman". So if you call a group of guys "men" but you call a group of women "girls", you risk bothering them. Is it a huge, earth-shattering deal? In my opinion, no. But it treads thin ice because men have been generally viewing women as second-class citizens for...well, forever, really, and it's only been during the last century or so that gender roles are being deconstructed and often dismantled. This means that your intentions may be totally harmless, but a woman who's had to deal with a lot of misogynist bullshit, hearing you call her a girl, may get upset. And guess what? That's at least partially your fault. You'd be safer just referring to her as a woman, or, how about this? A person.
Also, the "they call themselves x so I can do the same thing" argument is busted. People say words are just words in cases like this, but if you call a black person the n word just because you know that person has friends who do the same, prepare to get a whole lot of anger or outrage tossed your way. You'll have earned it, too. Likewise, I personally don't know too many females who refer to themselves as "girls", but I know they're out there. It doesn't automatically mean it's okay for you to call them this. Again, is it a huge, huge deal? No. But it's something you can avoid.
I know full well that many right-leaning people actually have decent ideas about certain things. My stepfather is probably a bit right of center, and while we absolutely do not agree on some things, he treats my mother extremely well and generally respects women. He's a little loose with his language, has some views that are borderline racist and is a bit religious (but not pushy, thank goodness), so while I don't agree with him all the way down to the ground, I can generally respect him. Also, he's nearly sixty, and he's willing to listen. If I call him out on something - I try and do this respectfully, as that's the best way if you really want someone to hear you - he won't always agree but he usually comes away with something to think about.
Point being, no, not all conservatives believe women belong in the home. But a lot of conservatives would rather strengthen the power dynamics which already exist, as opposed to knocking them nown. Not all, but many, are in support of the status quo, and said status quo puts women more in a caring role than a working one.
I also agree with the point about religious zeal. Come on too strong and you're going to drive people off.
I find something interesting though. In the first post in this thread, you are conveying, at least to me, an attitude of "what did I do wrong?" combined with "why did she get mad?". It smacks a bit of self-righteous injury, at least to me. If I were in your position, and came on strong as a leftist and drove someone off - I try to be gentler when I can, by the way - I wouldn't really bat an eye. People should take me or leave me. Again, I don't intend to be overly rough, but I also don't want to hurt people. And the way I see it, the left is really big on making sure everyone is treated well and all needs are met; we differ on how we're gonna get there, mind you. If I offend someone, it's likely a conservative who, in my opinion at least, is standing in the way of progress; if I ruffle feathers, maybe I'll get them to think. Call this arrogance if you want, but there it is.
You, on the other hand, lean right, and don't have that same moral high ground, as I see it. Your platform lends itself, at least in the minds of many, toward limitation, toward inequality, toward leaving unbalanced power structures more or less in place. So when this woman you were speaking to started talking about female empowerment, and you seem to have taken it personally, it tells me a lot, and most of it's not pretty. Mainly, you're looking for romantic connection of some kind, which implies some sort of mutual respect; if you dropped your conservative views into that conversation like a sack of bricks - remember, perception is important - then you probably put this woman off, and you don't even have the sense to realize how and why. More, you seem injured by it, as if it's somehow her fault for doing you wrong. Then the tattoo thing sealed the deal; a lot of tattoos are artistic expression, done for aesthetic and very personal reasons, and to assume anything about them without context is just foolish. Based on the information I have, I neither blame the woman for getting upset nor can find a ton of sympathy for you either. Before you try again, I suggest a lot more introspection and considerable social skills practice; being blind is not an excuse.
Check out my Manamon text walkthrough at the following link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/z8ls3rc3f4mkb … n.txt?dl=1