Should Men be allowed in a Women's Forum?

[lph]

I would point out, just for the sake of being that person who points out useless bits of trivia when people are arguing, that estrogen is not the exclusive property of women. Men and women have varying proportions of both estrogen and testosterone (a fact I learned recently when tests revealed that my testosterone levels were higher than they ought to be...). So it is not inappropriate for a man to be a member of Team Estrogen, since he actually does have some...

aaaah - so good to see someone else being a trivia geek... (Anyone else fascinated that thing about ring finger length and testosterone?)

My viewpoint has been stated more eloquently by many of you further up but anyhoo: there are many reasons that I was very happy to find this forum. I don't post a great deal, but I like having the chance. There are a few subjects that I'd prefer to discuss only with women, but they're fairly obvious sensitive subjects like saddle sores or other bodily issues and functions. There are other subjects that aren't equally sensitive but where I probably write in a different manner knowing that I'm addressing only women, things that touch onto our position in society or our social role. On this forum I know men could be reading it anyway, but the difference is in who I am "inviting to join the discussion".

That being said about the good points on having a forum for women, I have no problem with Mr. Silver being here, or with him being invited in the first place. He seems like a really sweet guy and a most excellent hubby :-), and he certainly doesn't seem the type to butt in with a male viewpoint on a sensitive issue for women.

I think TE is better for being that much more open, and it doesn't change the fact that TE is a forum for discussing cycling for women - and should stay so.

Lastly - while I respect that some of you are uncomfortable with his presence I find it a little sad that you seem to be questioning his motives for being here, or for posting x amount. I assume he just enjoys the company, like the rest of us, and from what I've seen he has been nothing but supportive and enthusiastic. "He ain't bad just cos he's a guy"

[LBTC]

(Anyone else fascinated that thing about ring finger length and testosterone?)

Trivia geek here: tell me what this thing with the ring finger length?

~T~

[Trek420]

Dang, the link doesn't work. Here's the story.


Finger length linked to female sporting potential Wed Sep 27, 8:35 PM ET


LONDON (Reuters) - The length of a girl's ring finger could be an indicator of her future sporting potential, researchers at King's College London said on Thursday.



In the largest study of its kind, hand measurements of 607 female twins aged 25-79 from the UK were compared with the women's lifetime sporting achievements.

The findings, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that women with ring fingers longer than their index fingers had performed better at running and associated running sports such as soccer and tennis.

In women the ring finger is commonly shorter or the same length as the index finger, while in men the ring finger is generally longer.

The report said detection of sporting potential by examining the ratio between the index and ring fingers "could help identify talented individuals at a pre-competitive stage."

The reasons for the findings were unclear, said one of the report's authors, Professor Tim Spector from the Twins Research Unit at King's College, who said he was originally sceptical about the link to sporting ability.

"Previous studies have suggested the change in finger length was due to changes in testosterone levels in the womb", he said.

But he said the unit had found in a separate study of twins that finger length was largely inherited, possibly explaining why sporting parents often have sporting children.

"We found that finger length was 70 percent heritable with little influence of the womb environment," he said.

"This suggests that genes are the main factor and that finger length is a marker of your genes."

He said no specific candidate genes had been identified for the link and that multiple genes were probably responsible.

Previous studies looking at the link between finger length and sporting ability have mainly focussed on men.

A study published in 2001 of 304 English professional soccer players found they had a significantly larger ring-to-index-finger ratio than a control group of 533 other men.

Other studies in men have shown the ratio of the ring finger to the index finger can be associated with varied traits such as sexuality, musical ability and vulnerability to certain diseases.

__________________

[Duck on Wheels]

In women the ring finger is commonly shorter or the same length as the index finger, while in men the ring finger is generally longer.

Which hand? On my left they're the same length, on my right the ring finger is longer (as measured against a ruler between the respective fingers and the middle finger -- is that the method?).

[rocknrollgirl]

Ok...just observations....

I have read this entire thread, and the original thread, and I have to agree with Queen, and her attempt to bring us back to her original idea, which was one of being puzzled.

I too am puzzled...not offended, or put out in any way...just puzzled.

I belong to several boards, all of which are co-ed...I have no problem with that at all, I don't want to see any discriminated against ever.

However, that being said, the original issue was just confusion, and I think that this discussion has moved away from that idea.


Ruth

[lph]

The findings, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that women with ring fingers longer than their index fingers had performed better at running and associated running sports such as soccer and tennis.

In women the ring finger is commonly shorter or the same length as the index finger, while in men the ring finger is generally longer.

On both hands my ring finger is a full cm longer than my index finger.

I'm just waiting for my running performance to kick in

So far it just correlates with some less-than-feminine behaviour...

[DebW]

Dang, the link doesn't work. Here's the story.


Finger length linked to female sporting potential Wed Sep 27, 8:35 PM ET


LONDON (Reuters) - The length of a girl's ring finger could be an indicator of her future sporting potential, researchers at King's College London said on Thursday.

Note that the finger length thing (ring longer than index) is only on the right hand (at least it is on me). And it has been linked to a whole host of things (handedness, autism, heart disease, sexual orientation) that may correlate with testosterone exposure in utero. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digit_r...t_ratio_effect

However, to be scientific about it, the bell curves for any traits you can link to finger length overlap so much that it means obsolutely nothing about a particular individual.

[lph]

However, to be scientific about it, the bell curves for any traits you can link to finger length overlap so much that it means obsolutely nothing about a particular individual.

Well, yeah, but it's still a fun thing to bring up over a beer

[kelownagirl]

Wow, maybe I AM athletic! Both ring fingers are longer. My whole life, I have never considered myself to be athletic in any way, so this biking thing has really surprised me. I need to stop saying I am no good at sports.

[kelownagirl]

However, to be scientific about it, the bell curves for any traits you can link to finger length overlap so much that it means obsolutely nothing about a particular individual.

Oh rats, just when I was getting excited about it. Ah well...

[SouthernBelle]

My ring finger is a good cm shorter on both hands. I guess I'm just doomed to be a klutz.

[Bluetree]

The length of a girl's ring finger could be an indicator of her future sporting potential, researchers at King's College London said on Thursday.

My middle finger is longer than my ring finger. I doubt it's genetic or even a measure of my potential... I think it just got that way by practice!

[mimitabby]

My middle finger is longer than my ring finger. I doubt it's genetic or even a measure of my potential... I think it just got that way by practice!

no, no Blue,
the comparison is between the index and the ring finger, and for some reason,
even if you're lefty, only the right hand counts.

I have long ring fingers and so does DH and my two sons. One day a few months ago, I had everyone in the bike club (at a dinner) show me their fingers. It was about 50-50 and some of the little ring fingers belonged to racers. so go figure.

[Kitsune06]

Wait, do we measure from the top or from the bottom? Er, I mean back of the hand or palm? Palmwise, I think my index looks longer...

Bluetree, I agree.... Wishful thinking and selective adaptation.

[Bikingmomof3]

Just checked my identical twins hands...index and ring finger are the same length on both hands. DH points out his are not. My index finger is longer on both hands. What the heck does that mean?