I will first start by saying that I can only speak about my experiences (which are very limited in scope and do not match the author's at all).

- Gun culture in the US is weird. I grew up with people carrying rifles on their back to almost every place. The main difference is the concealed carry aspect. The entire concept just makes everything suspect, you do not know where it will come from. It seems to me like the scene from Dr. Strangelove - what is the point of having a doomsday device if no one knows about it. The idea that you are safe because everyone around you might have a gun is just odd to me - I am not saying there is more danger, but I am sure as hell don't feel safer.

- As for food and gender, I don't see it as a "trying too hard" more as claiming that this is the way things are. The restaurant with its meat culture is masculine, the women's bathroom is feminine. This is the way things are and that should not be changed. Anything that might call that into question is not allowed. And I don't think you need to think of food of masculine or feminine, however the marketing departments still view food as a very gendered subject. This is vegan cookbook image search - most of the people on covers are women. On the other hand this is BBQ cookbook image search women became slightly harder to find. And I admit that for me BBQ won't go to the American Southern family gathering, since I am not one.

And as for inclusivity, I agree that inclusivity is not the be-all and end-all. I think that the idea for something for everybody comes along a lot of times with nothing for anybody. I agree that that he doesn't need to be all-inclusive, but that is the way he tells it. And Again talking from my own experience, passing as white, lead me to encounters where I look like I am included, but in actuality I am terrified for my life. I am not saying that it all needs to be balance out, but being in the wrong place is panic inducing.

Edit: I spend most of my time in academia, so I wouldn't worry about thinking it too much. Most people I meet do that on as a living. Everything deserve to be over-thought.