sorry, that was meant to be 'right' not 'tight'!
Bike Forum
[closed]
Women's forum? We want your feedback
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Posted 3 years ago #
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Taking Sues 3rd point - I'd suggest that careful wording of a post could highlight the sort of responses required - e.g. if it's direct experience from the girls (and not hearsay) that's wanted, the OP should make that clear. However, that raises a whole other issue - the number of folk that can't seem to read the initial post anyway and end up answering a completely different question.
As for "highlighting in pink" - why not use the Tags intelligently? Just add a "for the girls" tag and they're easily found.
Posted 3 years ago # -
If I'm honest, reading this thread has highlighted the usual self-appointed moderators, the people that always want to say the right thing and suck up to the owners, and those that sing to the tune de jour.
Better that, that some people actually care about keeping the forum within the bounds of respect and decency. If those who think it acceptable to make offensive comments know they will be challenged, then maybe they'll think twice, before posting.
I like using this forum, and have made several friends off here. Hope to meet more. I'll certainly do me best to try and challenge offensive/disrespectful behaviour, when I encounter it, as I want the forum to carry on being an overall friendly and positive place. That takes effort not just on the part of the official moderators, but by all other users too. Just takes a little bit of effort, from each person, and things can be good.
Those that don't like such a situation, well, they don't have to use the forum.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Do we need a corner where the women and lecherous men congregate.
No, I don't want to be spending my time over there!! ;0
Posted 3 years ago # -
Better that, that some people actually care about keeping the forum within the bounds of respect and decency. If those who think it acceptable to make offensive comments know they will be challenged, then maybe they'll think twice, before posting.
I find that incredibly rich given the situation of former alteregos Fred.
Posted 3 years ago # -
PK; whatever personae I've had on here I've always strived to not resort to personal abuse, like that aimed at me on countless occasions. I'll have a bit of banter with people, but can you really say that I am deliberately nasty to anyone?
I think the issue here is that this forum can be dominated by certain individuals with strong personalities. Some people really resent this; possibly they would like to be more dominant themselves.
It's going to happen, as it would in any real-life social situation.
I believe that it is the responsibility of everyone that uses this forum, to try and ensure that everyone else is not made to feel unwelcome or threatened. That's a social responsibility. It might 'only be a forum', but it's stiull a social arena.
One particular recent member was particularly nasty and spiteful, and had a history of being like that. People like that seem to make others think nasty and anti-social behaviour is acceptable, and then things just descend into juvenile abuse and insults. Surely that's not what the vast majority of us want?
And sometimes, some people might not feel confident enough to challenge such behaviour, for fear of being labelled 'forum police', if nothing else.
Not everyone is an insecure, egotistical attention seeking self-publicist.
Fortunately.
Posted 3 years ago # -
My first thought was that, should there be a separate forum on STW for females, the top 20 posters on it would probably be pretty much the same top 20 posters as already post on the existing forums i.e. mostly male posters! Initially anyway.
I think once the 'novelty' wears off then the females will be able to discuss female specific kit, getting together for rides, and so on in more peace.
At the end of the day, it's would not be a separate site like shecycles was where some effort had to be made to access the site which meant that it was more female exclusive (and where Sue_W's points 1-4 are applicable); it would be just one click away from the existing STW forums and therefore much more accessible to males (making Sue_W's points less applicable).
Unneccessary and divisive idea IMO and probably wouldn't work - or at least until the novelty wears off with the 'lads'
Posted 3 years ago # -
Drac's alright though, he answered a thread the other day with some useful info for me.
Thank's trouble is with humour there's always someone who takes offence, if at such small things as my one back there on page 2. Forums generally do have a wide mix on and often jokes and comments can be taken the wrong way, I sill stick to the principle if you find it offensive a majority of the time then move on.
Posted 3 years ago # -
the people that always want to say the right thing and suck up to the owners
sfb:I don't think I can be accused of THAT :o)
That was exactly what I thought when I saw that comment!I probably suck up a bit more than you, but have also been banned under my previous persona - I'm certainly prepared to tell Mark et al they're wrong if that's what I believe. Meanwhile I'm with RudeBoy and sfb on how some comments are inappropriate and unnecessary - just because something is in common use doesn't mean it's acceptable.
Sue - it was other outdoor forums I was thinking of with my comments earlier. Climbing might be fairly mixed, but IME whitewater kayaking is almost if not as male dominated as mountain biking.
Posted 3 years ago # -
RudeBoyStuff like 'go out for a bike ride' is way ott.
...and yet it makes me laugh every time i read it.
Posted 3 years ago # -
and yet it makes me laugh every time i read it.
in between microwaving kittens and counting your Rohypnol supply ?
Posted 3 years ago # -
Well I loled at Drac's comment
Posted 3 years ago # -
Cheers MrsFlash like I say some will always be offended no matter what.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Nah! We should stick as we are. I also got into this because my kids were into it and now they are 30somethings I keep on going. It's great. I have chatted to blokes and girls on this site and got and given loads of advice. Also sold stuff to guys for their wives/girlfriends. It's all about getting out on the bike and I meet loads of both sexes out there. I don't just talk to the girls!
Posted 3 years ago # -
Why? Apart from sizing issues (and there are small blokes, like me) and clothing, what woman specific issues are there? I don't post a lot on many forums I read but I don't think this one is particularly intimidating in any area. If you want to create divisions then go for it, but generally, no point.
Posted 3 years ago # -
and yet it makes me laugh every time i read it.>in between microwaving kittens and counting your Rohypnol supply ?
I find the phrase in question amusing yet can't say I've ever found Rohypnol particularly funny and certainly not microwaving kittens.I'd be inclined to guess that Jamie feels the same way.
I'd never heard the phrase before this thread today though.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Opinion of a female lurker and occasional poster - I personally don't need a separate forum. I got into regular mountain biking through another forum (BM) and was introduced to this forum by mates I met on rides. I get hours of entertainment reading threads that I find interesting/amusing/enlightening/enraging etc.... Occasionally I am offended by what I read. I then look at the name of the poster and generally decide it is not worth rising to a reply. If I was really offended I would either post or raise the issue with the moderators.
I like the randomness of the forum, its been talked about as "paging the oracle" ask about anything and you shall receive a reply, although it may sometimes be abusive! I prefered it before the split, as I would learn things about bikes just because the thread title sounded like it was about something more interesting(..to me...)!
I was also introduced to Shecycles but did not find it as informative or interesting. Mountain biking is a male dominated sport. I am used to, and enjoy riding in male dominated groups. The females I have met through biking have had similar attitudes to my own. This forum just reflects the experience of real life. I don't know the circumstances of shecycles demise, but I imagine if there had been loads of traffic on there it would have continued.
I can't imagine you (the mods) could keep the irritating elements of this forum away from any area of these forums therefore I think a separate women's area would pointless.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Vey well put jennyh.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Jennyh has summed it up nicely.
Rudeboy, who made you the arbiter of taste, decency and correctness? It offends me more that you think you can tell everyone what's right and what's wrong, than any of the more near the knuckle comments on here.
Posted 3 years ago # -
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simonfbarnes:and yet it makes me laugh every time i read it.
in between microwaving kittens and counting your Rohypnol supply ?
Close, but its usually in between trying to decide whether your a **** or a complete ****.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Rudeboy, who made you the arbiter of taste, decency and correctness?
I don't think he was dictating, merely expressing his opinion
Posted 3 years ago # -
In response to Sue_W's post above, I think the Shecycles forum is a different beast to a women's forum on here. If you had a women's forum on here then it would just get mixed in with the other forums. However if it were necessary to register to the women's forum separately, and maybe brand it as separate you might recreate the Shecycles forum.
Posted 3 years ago # -
excellent post Jennyh, you've summed up my thoughts more eloquently than I could
Posted 3 years ago # -
Sorry I'm late . . . only just spotted the thread
aracer - Member
What I want to know is why is this thread in the bike forum, when it's quite clearly OT?
I guess because women are more likely to use the forum for cycle-related questions rather than chit-chat and general stuff (we have 'real' friends for that
). No, joking aside, I reckon that if you were to take a look at the chat forum you'd find more blokes threads . . . my 'friend' has a problem, etc, etc, than women's.Fair play to the STW folks for making this a sticky and getting peoples' opinions. I'm not sure there is a specific need for a women's forum - each time I take a look at the Dirt Rag or old Shecycles sites they seemed pretty quiet compared to here and I think there are enough regular female posters on here so that no-one need feel in a minority. Sure, there are some unpleasant comments/threads that have me reaching for the log-out button but I'm never away for long and I'd like to think that most folks on here are genuine.
Oh and Brant . . . consider yourself lambasted . . . again
Posted 3 years ago # -
My 2 p worth - I haven't read the whole thread so forgive me if its been said before - a womans forum on here would be continually invaded by testosterone laden boys being a nuisance. I can only see a womans only forum working if its a totally separate site.
I am not fond of ghettoisation anyway. an over 40's forum?
Posted 3 years ago # -
and a catholic's forum!!"
Posted 3 years ago # -
I agree with Jennyh. MTBing is one of the few sports (like snowboarding) where all your mates can go out together and thats part of the appeal. I dont expect the guys I ride with to change my flats or get my bike out of the car for me, I'd like to think I was there on equal terms with any one of our mates, I hope I'm not dreaming!
no ladies forum needed
Posted 3 years ago # -
Actually, if we can talk about hair straighteners, fashion, shoes and skin products in there, then I'd probably qualify as a woman.
Posted 3 years ago # -
another body agreeing with what jacksta said.
my (now ex, bitch) would never want me to treat her any differently from the rest of the guys i ride with, and if she did she wouldnt get it anyway, its not what its about i dont think.
if the laaaadies want a "girls only" area, then great, but i doubt any questions they had would get as good a range of answers, advice and suggestions?
if a woman has a question for women specifically, like something to do with saddles, or whatever it is that makes them any different from blokes :s, then whats wrong with titling the post "question for the ladies"
though they might miss out on passed down useful information from WAGs of frequent posters?Posted 3 years ago # -
I don't think we need a seperate forum for women - my first thought being how many joke opportunities we would present for the blokes !
Seriously very often I am laughing rather than being offended and have found most people helpful, I like that there are not divisions on the forum.
There are a lot more blokes into biking and I found I have got much more detailed responses to requests for advice than on shecycles - geeks maybe but helpful ones with lots of opinions!!
Brant - I see your point about wifes and girlfriends but I doubt many of them are on here - its just the women who have loved biking all their lives like me !Posted 3 years ago # -
I can accept that some women find an all-female environment more supportive and a forum that caters for that need is fine by me. Whether STW is the best place for it, I don't really know. I suspect it'd sit slightly uneasily with the rest of the forum. There's a lot of sexist drivel on here, but then that's because the place is mostly populated by retarded internet nerds who haven't quite grasped that women are just people with minor biological differences. Perhaps it's time for them, the retarded nerds to have a dedicated forum of their own. We could call it Singletrackworld. Oh...
Posted 3 years ago # -
Thanks for the input everyone. For now we are going to hold off introducing a womens' forum after reading the views here and on email. I'm going to unsticky this thread now but feel free to continue the discussion
Posted 3 years ago # -
Well to be honest due to my size/shape weight, it's more useful for me to have ladies' opinions than blokes one...
Posted 3 years ago # -
10% of all posts should be from women on here
How do you know which posts are from women and which are from men? Often, you can tell from the name, but there are probably more women posting here than you think.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Well to be honest due to my size/shape weight, it's more useful for me to have ladies' opinions than blokes one...
yeah, we always new you were a big girl
Posted 3 years ago #
Topic Closed
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