I’m not sure enough to state it categorically, as you have, but his choice of sexist implication to withdraw seemed strange to me as well. The obvious problem to my eyes is that it assumes that the entire possible audience is attracted solely to women.
That one, and not the indication that women are all pretty much alike if you aren’t deluded by an emotional illusion, is the one that jumps out at you?
One can reject the “One True Love” idea without thinking that the members of the relevant sex(es) are pretty much all alike. cf. the excellent Tim Minchin.
I’m not sure enough to state it categorically, as you have, but his choice of sexist implication to withdraw seemed strange to me as well. The obvious problem to my eyes is that it assumes that the entire possible audience is attracted solely to women.
That one, and not the indication that women are all pretty much alike if you aren’t deluded by an emotional illusion, is the one that jumps out at you?
I read the remark as a cynical retort against the idea of the One True Love, which would make the implication you point out hyperbole, not misogyny.
Barring that interpretation, though, I’ll grant that’s the worse one.
One can reject the “One True Love” idea without thinking that the members of the relevant sex(es) are pretty much all alike. cf. the excellent Tim Minchin.
That I’ll grant you. Minchin > Shaw, here.