I certainly did. "I realize that, by overstating their abilities, the student has probably gotten the best letter out of me they could have gotten" sounded like the sort of social-engineering-unbeknownst-to-the-manipulated at which women are stereotypically adept.

I did. I think it's because the post's titled "A Rant About Women", and starts with a description of what's probably supposed to be a typical case of something or other. This connection, even if tenuous, was strong enough to build an image of a female student in my mind, and it didn't get overridden by the supposedly masculine behavior.

This reminds me a story from my childhood. I was brought up by my mother, who is a very smart, independent and strong woman (and a hacker!). One day, when I was about 9, she asked me who, in my opinion, is usually more intelligent, man or woman. Without hesitation I answered that women are. It was the first time I learned that most of the world probably doesn't think like me. We're all biased, there's nothing to do about that, but publishing and broadcasting your bias is dangerous because it helps make it real.

I thought it was entirely inconclusive and I thought the author's implication that it should be obvious ought to have been slightly offensive to whichever gender was being stereotyped.

I did - guess I met the one or other self-aggrandizing woman before. Perhaps Shirky gets to meet a special selection in his course.