Beagle wrote:It seems lines of decorum are always crossed, or remarks are made that someone finds offensive. It's hard telling how many viewers/potential members are put off by political, religious, sexist/sexual remarks and many others.
Beagle, I know you always like to try to smooth things over and find the middle ground, and usually I agree that that's the best course.
But I don't here. Some of these posts and sign offs are beyond what it is decently acceptable and wouldn't be tolerated on other similar boards. It is only the "nature of cyberspace" on sex chat rooms. You don't fnd it on any other archaeology forums that I've been on. The moderators there would not tolerate it.
And you don't have to look far to find the proof for what I'm saying. I ask the question again: How many women have you got contributing to this forum on a regular basis?
Ishtar, your point is well taken. I was only suggesting that there are many things that offend people. Probably the only boards that don't have these problems are ones that don't use signatures or avatars, or where the moderation has little or no tolerance.
I wish we had more women, but I also really value the ones we do have.
And like I asked Ishtar, how many women show an interest in archaeology?
How many female archaeologists are there compared with male archaeologists?
I do agree that some comments may offend, (I hope none of mine) and if that is a cause of the shortage of female participants, let's hear from them.
First people deny a thing, then they belittle it, then they say it was known all along! Von Humboldt
Beagle wrote:Probably the only boards that don't have these problems are ones that don't use signatures or avatars, or where the moderation has little or no tolerance.
Have to disagree with you on that, Beags. I've been on Alternative Archaeology (now defunct), Sumeria Rising, Graham Hancock's, Hall of Ma'at and a couple of others (Schoch's various), and I have never encountered such a high level of explicit sexual content or so few women contributors as I have on this forum. There's a reason for the latter, and I'm finding it difficult to understand why you can't see it.
Digit wrote:And like I asked Ishtar, how many women show an interest in archaeology?
How many female archaeologists are there compared with male archaeologists?
Digit - I would back away right now from the whole thing about women not being interested in archaeology, unless you want to make yourself look foolish. You just haven't come across any, maybe because you spend your whole time on this male dominated forum.
Digit wrote:
I do agree that some comments may offend, (I hope none of mine) and if that is a cause of the shortage of female participants, let's hear from them.
I'm finding it difficult to understand why you can't see it.
I guess because I've never posted at any of those sights. Once again, I'm not disagreeing with you. I do see that we don't have enough women and I wish we had more.
However, as I said originally, I think it's better to take it to the mods rather than bashing any member publicly. I wouldn't want it done to me. I don't think any of us would want that.
That's the only thing that I differ with you about.
Beagle wrote:[ think it's better to take it to the mods rather than bashing any member publicly. I wouldn't want it done to me. I don't think any of us would want that.
OK, I'll stay away from naming and shaming, and just talk about it generally. But I would like to have this discussion right here on the board, so that we can hear others' views and see what level of support there is for a more cleaned up approach.
Agreed Ishtar. I feel a survey coming on. I was delighted when I found this forum 'cos in some 60yrs I had never met anybody, male or female, with a similar interest.
The population of the States and Europe must be around some 700 million souls, how many post on any forum I wonder? Let's face it Ishtar, we are all outsiders here and if your view is correct I would have thought that Michelle would have stepped in, and how many forums elsewhere on archaeology have a large female input? How many women share my other interests, climate and astronomy?Damn few!
So fellahs, let's have a head count. Those of you with wives, partners or girl friends, how many of them share your interest?
I declare my own position thus, my wife has no interest at all as the subject has no practical value.
And Ishtar, if you have a husband etc, does he share your interest? We are a minority, a very small one.
PS. Yes it is male dominated so why don't you recruit all the female enthusiasts you know to joiin us? If that question makes me look foolish I'll have to put up with it.
Last edited by Digit on Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
First people deny a thing, then they belittle it, then they say it was known all along! Von Humboldt
I already answered that question. I would be embarrassed to invite other women on to this forum.
One of the most popular forums is the Hall of Ma'at which is run by a highly regarded female, Katherine Reece. Just at random, I clicked on a page of their discussion board and found three females, just on that page, and there may be more as some of the names are ambiguous.
Husbands and wives rarely have the same interests. Just because your wives are not interested in archaeology does not prove that women are not interested in archaeology, per se. That's not logical. There are probably plenty of women archaeologists, or women with an interest in the subject, whose husbands are more into baseball or basket weaving!
Last edited by Ishtar on Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Digit wrote:Three out of a total of how many Ishtar? How do the percentages compare?
Digit, it was just a random page - how ever the percentages compare, it's higher than here. You'll also find that there's little to no sexual content. Neither will you find it on any other comparable forums. But on these forums, you will find more women.
In any case, what is your point? Say you were right, and women were not so interested in archaeology as men. So do you then talk as dirty as you like when discussing it, to keep them even less interested? I don't follow your logic here.
Husbands and wives rarely have the same interests. Just because your wives are not interested in archaeology does not prove that women are not interested in archaeology, per se. That's not logical. There are probably plenty of women archaeologists, or women with an interest in the subject, whose husbands are more into baseball or basket weaving!
Granted! I've only got one wife by the way!
I was once a foreman with 60 plus ladies working under me and not one had any academic interests, I note you are a writer and editor which would perhaps infer that you move in academic circles, lucky you, but like it or not female archaeologists are still pretty thin on the ground, unfortunately.
First people deny a thing, then they belittle it, then they say it was known all along! Von Humboldt
You don't have to follow my logic Ishtar 'cos I'm not suggesting anyone should talk dirty. If you check some of my posts you will find I have complained on occasion as well. And the percentages do matter if you wish to compare like with like.
First people deny a thing, then they belittle it, then they say it was known all along! Von Humboldt
Digit wrote:You don't have to follow my logic Ishtar 'cos I'm not suggesting anyone should talk dirty. If you check some of my posts you will find I have complained on occasion as well. And the percentages do matter if you wish to compare like with like.
Well, it seems that we are in agreement then! Good.
