I generally agree with Oakleaf's point re: gender differences and my "real life" status is pretty much the same as hers. Actually, in real life I have noticed I tend to gravitate to socializing with the males when I am in large groups, social or work. I have never been a girly girl and several times I've told that I "think like a man," or that I have a "strange attitude" for a woman. And that's why I think I have gravitated to TE, and other woman cyclists in general; the women here are pragmatic and accepting and very smart. You guys accept me, even if I like wearing makeup and cooking and you know that those things are not incompatible with getting dirty or riding 100 miles.
I don't participate in any other forums. Heck, I spend too much time here on TE to do so! I did do Bike Journal for a few years and that started feeling too competitive, so I quit. Actually my DH found TE first, when he was looking to order me a pair of rain pants and then he started getting emails from TE. I joined the forums about 4 months after that. I still remember it was the dead of winter, but sunny and warmer (February), and I had gone out on my mountain bike for my first short ride of the season.
I have wondered about what might happen if I met someone in real life and they "knew" all about me from TE. I don't write stuff that is too personal, except maybe about my adult kids. It's mostly about cycling and work, and other interests. I've met and ridden with many TE members and all of them were nice people... no weirdos. Everyone is so interesting, in terms of their cycling and their lives outside of cycling. I've met and ridden with racers, tourers, new riders, bike instructors, mechanics. Where else would I have met these people?
I get uncomfortable restricting men from participating. My DH might be someone who would feel comfortable here, but he sees it as my thing; he doesn't really do any online social stuff, except once in awhile the Miyata owner forum. He is always amazed at the wealth of information I get from TE and has also met several of the TE members from around Boston. I think if someone is obviously inappropriate, it's a different story. I see plenty of trolls here, because I get up early in the AM and see those posts before they have been removed. For all I know, they could be women trolls.