Why a women's forum?

[alice]

1. I hadn't noticed until it was mentioned, but one reasons I've stuck around TE is because people use full sentences, actual words, and punctuation. I'm a fan of all of those things.

2. The reason I originally came to TE IS because it is a women-specific forum. I swore off bike forums after experience after experience of rude people. When reading posts on most forums, it becomes clear that if you're not an expert, you're not welcome. The last straw for me was when I posted asking for advice on potentially building/buying a fixie, and got told "you don't mean a fixie, you mean single speed." (I did mean a fixie; if I hadn't, I wouldn't have said it). The level of rudeness/pretentiousness in mixed fourums astounded and saddened me, so I decided I needed to stop spending time reading them. Then one day an internet search (for I don't even remember what), and a result from this forum came up. I read it, found it polite, and began to browse other threads, almost all of which featured people being polite, even when they disagreed. Until I have evidence otherwise, I attribute this to the mostly women aspect of the forum, and that's why I stick around.

[OakLeaf]

I know it's not a women-only space in the sense that men can't stalk us here (I feel for Silver!), but at least most men are discouraged from participation by the word "estrogen" and, if they didn't understand that, the page title "Women's Cycling Discussion Forums."

I agree with Grog, and I've said it before - this forum does remind me of the old days on CompuServe. Back when people had to use their real names, people took a little more care about what they wrote. I see that here - people mostly understand that words have actual meanings, and that the other people who participate in the forum are actual people.

I'm not sure that it being a women's forum is the only thing that makes TE what it is, but IMO it's certainly part of it. I'm not a scientist of any kind, but I've read enough neuroscience and biochemistry to believe that women are not little men, not physically and not emotionally either.

I wouldn't change a thing. Thanks to Susan and Jeff and Snap and everyone else who keeps this thing running - and thanks to everyone who participates.

[lph]

It's interesting that so many of you pick out literacy. While being literate doesn't need to mean being civil, a certain level of attention to what you're writing does tend to weed out the most spontaneous outbursts. I regularly read a Norwegian mixed bike forum, and many people there are really extraordinarily literate, thoughtful and insightful. BUT there's also a liberal helping of the standard muckslinging trolls, and you really don't need very many of those posts to wreck an otherwise good discussion, especially if the subject is a little personal or sensitive. The trust we show each other here is IMO rooted in the overwhelming amount of friendly civility we show each other on a day-to-day basis. I think that is partly due to being women, not that men aren't civil, but that we seem to almostly completely lack those yahoo-types who pop by just to make trouble.

We're really boring, in other words.

[TrekTheKaty]

I'm in a male dominated profession and prefer their company, for the most part. My girlfriends are the same--not what I'd call girly, girls. Why am I here? Because I'm afraid to post a question on the "other" bike forum, for fear of being made fun of. (Yes, apparently there are stupid questions)

I've also come to appreciate the unconditional support and everyone's sense of humor here.

I also believe women are inherently better teachers and more patient. I'm here to learn from others and offer a little of my own advice, if I can.

"1. I hadn't noticed until it was mentioned, but one reasons I've stuck around TE is because people use full sentences, actual words, and punctuation. I'm a fan of all of those things."

I was on AARP.com this morning (they have excellent investment advice) and an article was followed by a question posted in "text-speak?" Really?

[emily_in_nc]

I've found female cyclists to be among the most intelligent, sensitive people I know, and the sampling here has only reinforced that "stereotype".

[Cataboo]

I never really thought about the literacy aspect, but yeah, that has always been appealing about TE. And I've always been impressed by the amount of information you can get on anything, and the number of highly edcuated really smart women's cyclists there are on here.

It's also about talking to a group of women who will be supportive of even the smallest accomplishments that I know a group of men would disparage (oh, you biked 10 miles or changed your tire for the first time, big whoop)... It's about having the privacy to talk with "girlfriends" about what parts of you hurt, cause really... I'm not terribly comfortable with going into a bike shop and telling them my hoohaw hurts or got a boil, and what the heck do I do about it? I'm sure the poor bike shop guys would try to help, but I also don't ask the guys in the drug store what tampons or whatever to buy.

I know that men do get on here, and I know some of them get on to ask questions to try to help their gf's or get advice on what to do for their gf's or wives bikes... But I do find it creepy and voyeuristic when a guy hangs out here. I'm not going to tell them to leave, because it's a free country, but when you know that you're joining a forum that a large group of women have started and sought out so that they can have a female bike forum (because there are a lot of other bike forums), assuming that they want a guy around to read about their problems or whatever is a bit much... It's like the guy hanging out at the water cooler to eavesdrop when you're talking about girl stuff with a friend and trying to join in on the conversation uninvited.

I'm perfectly comfortable hanging out with men and do it a lot - and for years, I woulda said I prefer the company of males. But in the last few years, I've been making a lot more close friendships with females and it's been really nice.

[Espresso]

I'm not at all here because it's a women's forum. I'm here because in some forums you get polite, thoughtful conversation, while in others you get a bunch of rude or just plain unhelpful replies to pretty much anything you post. This is one of the former (and the only one I've come across so far for cycling), so I'm here

[pll]

I tend to come back to this forum not only because of the level of literacy (there is always something to read), but also because I enjoy the diversity: there are women of all ages, cyclists of all levels (from someone learning to ride to seriously competitive) and specific sub disciplines (cross, mountain bike, road cycling... to casual and everyday transportation).

I very much appreciate that general lack of aggression when one asks a question. I don't mind the occasional male point of view.

[jessmarimba]

I was on AARP.com this morning (they have excellent investment advice) and an article was followed by a question posted in "text-speak?" Really?

I can't read stuff like that without expecting my head to explode - every time I see someone shorten "you" to "u" I read it as "uhh." I type gibberish with my younger sister but that's a sister thing.

I also work in a male-dominated field, both for my paycheck-job and my fun-job, and it seems that the likelihood of mass immaturity goes up the more guys you have in one place at a time. I think it's an acceptance or competition thing among them, or something, but I'll never get it.

I just know that conversation here never deteriorates to name-calling, sexual jokes, or overly aggressive competition, and I very much appreciate that.

[WindingRoad]

I'm okay with being boring then.

This is a really good forum and I am happy that we can disagree and it doesn't turn into a name calling contest. Sure we may get edgy at times but there's nothing wrong with some good debate and new spins on our own personal perspectives. I have come to appreciate those that give those comments that are from an angle I maybe hadn't even considered. Trust me, I really appreciate some perspective at times.