Why a women's forum?

[Veronica]

Ditto.



Yup. A thread with a general question to the women here about why they choose to post on a women's cycling forum.

I left TE for a while, partly because of physical issues that stopped me from riding but partly because of Mr. Silver. The overwhelming paternalistic tone of his posts irks me to no end. I get enough of that IRL, I don't need it when I come to a forum by and for WOMEN. Fortunately the ignore feature works well here and I don't have to be subjected to his "father knows best" tone.

I suspect men in a typical men's forum would not put up with that tone and would respond unkindly. If we were men, we'd tell him to hightail it out of our forum using some crude language. Because we're mainly women, we find better ways to deal with an unpleasant (for some) situation, thus making it a "safe" place to be.

I have wondered if the mods ever check on who is the most ignored poster. OMG, what if it's me?

Veronica

[Pax]

I suspect men in a typical men's forum would not put up with that tone and would respond unkindly. If we were men, we'd tell him to hightail it out of our forum using some crude language. Because we're mainly women, we find better ways to deal with an unpleasant (for some) situation, thus making it a "safe" place to be.

I have wondered if the mods ever check on who is the most ignored poster. OMG, what if it's me?

Veronica

I spend a lot of time on motorcycling forums and you are 100% correct. And anytime someone presents themselves as "the voice" or expert about a given topic, 100 other men will be along shortly to question/probe/debunk/argue the points made all the while using language that is almost poetic in it's depth of profanity. Then, if there were any doubt cast on the posters expertise, they would hound the guy every single time he tries to "share his expertise" in the future.

I LOVE TE!

[jobob]

Indysteel, I am very sorry that my comment caused you distress. That was not at all my intention.

And after many rounds of editing, I'll leave it at that.

[indysteel]

Indysteel, I am very sorry that my comment caused you distress. That was not at all my intention.

And after many rounds of editing, I'll leave it at that.

Jo, you didn't cause me distress, dear. Like I said, I just wanted to emphasize my neutrality--for Silver's sake as much as anybody else.

[jobob]

Ah, I misunderstood, nevermind.

You now have me thinking of Switzerland.
Mmm, chocolate.
Mmmmm, very attractive time trialists.

[PamNY]

When I found this forum, I wasn't looking for or thinking about a women's group. I have certainly benefited tremendously from the guidance and emotional support; how much the gender of participants has to do with that, I can't say for sure.

I do enjoy the literate and civil atmosphere, and I like getting advice from intelligent and thoughtful people.

I like Mr. Bloom, too. Issues with his ex-wife (if there are any) are none of my business. I enjoyed posts from both of them on this forum.

[goldfinch]

I am very new to this forum, and I had never heard of Bloom or Silver before this thread. I probably should butt out but it isn't my nature. My spouse and I used to post on a particular forum. I had posted on the forum a couple of years before he started there. I was a founder and a moderator/administrator. My spouse and I split. He graciously left the forum. In return, I never talk about him at all on that forum. (For all I know he reads it, but he no longer posts there.) Awkwardness avoided.

As I understand it, Mr. Bloom remains as a forum participant and Silver is uncomfortable, rarely posting as she feels that she lost the forum in their divorce. Given that this forum is primarily for women, Bloom should do the gracious thing and leave. Silver has better rights to the place than he does.

As far as most ignored posters, in the forum I moderated we would sometimes send messages to posters that were ignored by a large number of users and suggest that they might want to change their style. We also would take into consideration the ignore list when deciding whether to ban someone.

[owlice]

What an ugly thread this has become.

[salsabike]

I don't think it is in the least ugly.

[Pax]

I don't think it is in the least ugly.

Agreed. Sometimes topics need to be discussed, even when they're not about happy or light subjects.

[maillotpois]

I have wondered if the mods ever check on who is the most ignored poster. OMG, what if it's me?

Veronica

We didn't want to tell you.....