I think your approach was well-intentioned but flawed, much like Drmies’ initial post.

Unfortunately, your admonition came off like the stereotypical “that’s so sexist to comment on a woman’s body” approach, which triggered defenses that focused on the fact that it was just a joke, Drmies and LoS are friends, why don’t you people have a sense of humor?

If, instead, you’d acknowledged the humor (rather than just an attempt at humor), acknowledged that LoS herself likely would not find it offensive, nor that Drmies intended it as such… and then explained that your concern was for other editors who might come across the comment and, not knowing the relationships involved, tick Wikipedia down yet another mental notch in “welcomingness”.

Instead you came across as humorless and scolding, which rarely garners productive responses.

                        Powers  &8^]

-----Original Message-----
From: Katherine Casey [mailto:fluffernutter.wiki@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday 17 July 2013 14:24
To: Increasing female participation in Wikimedia projects
Subject: [Gendergap] Casual sexism on en.wp

Another day, another example of casual sexism exhibited by en.wikipedia editors who mean absolutely no harm, but simply don't understand how they could cause harm while meaning none. I seem to have caused significant alarm and offense to a number of male editors be publicly pointing out that I found the comment inappropriate. 

Was there a better way to handle this? I can't help feeling that saying nothing or hatting the section would have been supporting the notion that it's either not a problem or not remarkable for male editors to make comments encouraging others to comment on female editors' bodies.

-Fluff