Weigh-in Week of January 8

[kelownagirl]

Well it was funny too. I had to read parts out loud to dh. Loved the comparison to a man walking into the ladies room and deciding to stay.

I guess I don't mind that Mr. Silver is here but I definitely do not want my dh wandering in.

[Trek420]

:::: Elvis voice "Thank you very much". ::::

[LBTC]

OMG, just looked at it....I did go on and on and on and....oopsie

Trek, I loved your post! I, for one, like Mr. Silver, and often enjoy his posts, but I, too, have mixed feelings....you said it best when you said

I have to be honest if this became a fully co-ed board I think I'd leave and that would be very very sad for me.

Hugs and butterflies to everyone!
~T~

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Personally, I don't mind Mr. Silver being here. The circumstances of his evolving participation were not puzzling to me. But I do agree that TE has a unique and wonderful specialness due in great part to it's predominantly female membership.
As we know, guys come here periodically and lurk and read, and sometimes they post, and their posts reveal their unpleasant motives and they are kicked off. (Bluetree, don't even THINK about bringing up those shorts again!) Others probably lurk and never post and are likely here reading anyway out of curiousity. As it is now anyone can join this public forum without a background OR a gender check.
Mr. Silver is respectful and thoughtful and was INVITED by more than one member to join here. Does he really "dishonor" us by his mere presence? He's not dishonoring me, my honor is quite intact and healthy, last time I checked. Is the health and wellbeing of TE actually threatened by having him here? I imagine some would say yes and some no.
But if he IS to be asked to leave only because he is male, it should be done in a kind and thoughtful way, perhaps through the administrators. If that be the case, then TE should then put into place specific and clear rules barring ALL men from being here, period. That would avoid having to argue unpleasantly about whether some individual "belongs" here or not, and would avoid hurt feelings in the future.

All the above are simply my personal opinions on the subject. I don't see it as an all-right or all-wrong kind of thing.

[Mr. Bloom]

{{{{{{{{{{{{LBTC & Lisa S.H.}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Thanks ya'll

[Pax]

So, several women here post long deeply insightful views on Mr. Silver being here and the only posts he bothers to acknowledge are the ones where he received positive feedback.

The more I think about it, the more I feel as though this is SO typical of our daily interactions with men. For some reason, in a huge room full of women, one man walks in and makes himself at home and the tone starts to change, we feel the need to make him comfortable and welcome...moreso than when a new woman shows up. Why does this happen in this society? Why is it happening here (and it definitely is, he is a focus of attention as commented on by many participants)? Some find it merely odd or unusual that he is so comfy here and others are somewhat concerned about what he could represent to TE.

[Trek420]

So, several women here post long deeply insightful views on Mr. Silver being here and the only posts he bothers to acknowledge are the ones where he received positive feedback.

yeah, you noticed that?

again, just speaking for myself.

I'm not wanting this to degenerate into a petition:

_ the guy stays
_ the guy goes

I was thinking, hoping maybe that this could be our usual humorous funny estrogen-laden insightful subtle polite empathetic discussion of:

* why is this board so great
* where do we want it to go?

I've been told not to think too much about what makes this board so great.

I used to think in part it was because some of us actually get to meet each other. But some of us only meet each other here.

Now I think it may be more that it's a "girl thang". But maybe we don't have that anymore and that's sad. Grieve...move on.

I look at it not so much as a guy/gal thing but it's also cultural to me.

It's like back in the 70's in San Francisco I was in a really nice bar/cafe (yes, I'm old).

This was before there was Ellen, or Will and Grace, or Olivia cycling tours, or Rosie and Donald or anything....you had the bar culture to meet and hang out in and that's it.

So anyway we're there and a few straght couples come in and the feeling is "hi, you're welcome here, but uhm uh why are you here? You have every other cafe. We've carved out this little community and have this. Why here?"

Well, like most women I'm much too busy to solve this issue in one thread or explain it all to any that "don't get it", I got things to do...Knott to talk to....groceries to get.....sometimes you either get it or don't.

[Mr. Bloom]

Queen, since you indicated that you had "Ignored" me...a response would not have mattered. If someone is supportive, it is polite to acknowledge and thank them. Notwithstanding that, I'm not going to engage in a flame with you.

I stand on what I have posted on this forum as evidence of my character and I will not be provoked into a battle with you or anyone else.

Can I debate? Sure I can and I'd enjoy it...but I choose not to and I won't.

Now, I'm sure you have good reason for feeling as strongly as you do ... BUT
I am not the stereotype that is the focus of your negative emotions on this issue.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

This issue should not degenerate into personal putdowns, everyone.

[Bluetree]

This is an important topic, so I started a new thread called "Should Men be allowed in a Women's Forum?" in the Open Topic Forum. Let's all take it over there so more people can chime in.

KelownaGirl, my apologies to the total and complete hijack of your topic!

[kelownagirl]

KelownaGirl, my apologies to the total and complete hijack of your topic!

LOL, no problem! I enjoy drifting threads and this is certainly an interesting topic of conversation. I will be starting a new week's thread tomorrow anyway. (If no one else does.)

[mimitabby]

OMG, just looked at it....I did go on and on and on and....oopsie

Trek, you were eloquent. I am most impressed!