Sex in the palaeolithic period

[Barracuda]

Its not how large the group it, its that they are being disrespected.

Would those comments be allowed to stand if they were racist, instead of sexist? What's the difference?

[Beagle]

There is no question that there are more women on some boards than others. That is not in question.

But in all fairness, that link for ma'at was to the "coffee shop", and not to the archaeology section. The percentage of female post is very low there, even with Kat Reece posting. Even I'm on the first page.

I post there every once in a while, depending on the discussion. The only truly interesting stuff lately has come from Charlie Hatchett. I simply like this forum above all others. But I still wish there were more females here.

[Ishtar]

Good point, Barracuda.

[Digit]

I simply like this forum above all others. But I still wish there were more females here.

I [/i]do agree Beag, but as I said earlier we are a very small minority.

[Ishtar]

There is no question that there are more women on some boards than others. That is not in question.

Actually, it should be added that another thing that puts women off is 'flaming', which doesn't tend to happen here but I know from personal experience, does happen on the Hall of Ma'at, and other boards. You know the sort of thing. It's a bit like a piranha attack, a feeding frenzy, and it's very gladiatorial with people showing off by savaging others. Women usually find that very difficult to cope with, and I'm glad to say, I haven't noticed it much here.

[Digit]

I simply like this forum above all others. But I still wish there were more females here.

I [/i]do agree Beag, but as I said earlier we are a very small minority.

[Minimalist]

Women usually find that very difficult to cope with, and I'm glad to say, I haven't noticed it much here.

Never met Arch, huh?

[Ishtar]

No...but I thought we weren't going to name names....

[Minimalist]

Fortunately, Arch's name is not "Arch."

[Forum Monk]

Here's my vote then -
This board would be no less interesting if the sexual rhetoric was heavily moderated, and it is probably a small thing for the administrators to eliminate signatures and avatars although, again, a moderator can control abuses.

I will stand with Ishtar on this issue and am glad she had the fortitude to bring it to our attention. It is a tricky issue because every maligned group can claim they do not post because of the "tone" of the discussions but I think if it is unacceptable in a business environment, it is unacceptable on the board. Let that be a reasonable guideline for those who just don't get it.

Also, Digit, what are you on about? What does the percentage of women in archaeology have to do with Ishtar's opening post? What you are arguing is non-sequitor.

[MichelleH]

(First, I will apologize if this seems fractured, I am sending while traveling.)

Interesting debate people, with excellent, excellent points, I would like to make a few of my own.

My time here has been very limited as of late, due to my position and other commitments.

One of things that I have prided myself with in this board is that is a place where non-academia and academia could come, if they choose. I do not limit speech unless there is a personal attack. If the words or avatars of another are offensive and I receive a complaint, it will be dealt with. I believe my mods will back me up on that. One thing I won’t do is impose my sense of morals on another. I find that oppressive. HOWEVER, I will attempt to correct the problem if someone else is offended.

Even people like Marduk and Archie got their chances because they did have a contribution at times.

We have had people leave and oddly enough, not for reasons cited here.

I have never had the desire that this board be like the ‘others’. On the edge thinking always intrigues and stimulates more than the status quo.

The news website is done on my own time and out of my own pocket, without advertising.

This forum and it’s ‘tech support’ are gracious donations at no cost. Therefore, I apologize if it does not have all of the filtering bells and whistles, but I work with what I get.

Now, we can continue as we have and I will accept with and deal with all complaints or we can eliminate all avatars and signatures.

A poll will be set up and I encourage everyone to vote. That having been said, the final decision will rest with me, but I do value the opinions of those who contribute here.

Thanks to all for listening…...

[Frank Harrist]

First off, nice quotes Michelle! Secondly, I must apologize for not being around as much as before and not noticing things like this. But i must say that I didn't notice because no one PMed me to complain...probably because I ain't been around. My point is I'm here now so if you have any complaints let me or Michelle or Bob/Min know. We do take complaints seriously and we do discuss them. Marduk was the subject of a few discussions. I noticed the offending quote which Ishtar spoke of last night. Know this. I am not offended by anything short of personal attacks on myself or any of my friend/ members here, but I did think to myself that this quote might offend a few. I thought it was funny, but I knew someone would get a bit rankled by it. And here it is. I am the least PC person you will ever meet, but I do have manners and tact....most of the time. I won't walk on eggshells trying not to offend anyone, but I ain't stupid. I think we should all just try to mind our manners. If you wouldn't say it to your mother, don't say it here. If you talk to your mother like that then shame on you. Yeah I ramble sometimes. I'm done. Any problems just PM me or any of us.

[john]

(First, I will apologize if this seems fractured, I am sending while traveling.)

Interesting debate people, with excellent, excellent points, I would like to make a few of my own.

My time here has been very limited as of late, due to my position and other commitments.

One of things that I have prided myself with in this board is that is a place where non-academia and academia could come, if they choose. I do not limit speech unless there is a personal attack. If the words or avatars of another are offensive and I receive a complaint, it will be dealt with. I believe my mods will back me up on that. One thing I won’t do is impose my sense of morals on another. I find that oppressive. HOWEVER, I will attempt to correct the problem if someone else is offended.

Even people like Marduk and Archie got their chances because they did have a contribution at times.

We have had people leave and oddly enough, not for reasons cited here.

I have never had the desire that this board be like the ‘others’. On the edge thinking always intrigues and stimulates more than the status quo.

The news website is done on my own time and out of my own pocket, without advertising.

This forum and it’s ‘tech support’ are gracious donations at no cost. Therefore, I apologize if it does not have all of the filtering bells and whistles, but I work with what I get.

Now, we can continue as we have and I will accept with and deal with all complaints or we can eliminate all avatars and signatures.

A poll will be set up and I encourage everyone to vote. That having been said, the final decision will rest with me, but I do value the opinions of those who contribute here.

Thanks to all for listening…...

All -


First of all, I'm answering from my wife's machine, because my Mac's keyboard went kaput a couple days ago.

As far as avatars and signatures go, gimme a break.

To be blunt, we have one apparent offender.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Not enough to curse the entire forum.

On a larger scale, I agree with your principle, Michelle, and I suggest you stick with it.

HST always went for the truth, no matter how twisted the path was.

I vote against, for two reasons.

1. Ishtar, in her political path, is running as much of a political/sexist number as the men she accuses. And, by the way, Ishtar, I partially agree with you. However, every man and every woman has free access to this forum. My question to you is why is there not more participation from women? Your insinuation - to me - is that they are somehow denied. Talk to me.

2. Without free opinion, and free thinking, and free speech this forum is of no use to me.

john

[Ishtar]

1. Ishtar, in her political path, is running as much of a political/sexist number as the men she accuses. And, by the way, Ishtar, I partially agree with you. However, every man and every woman has free access to this forum. My question to you is why is there not more participation from women? Your insinuation - to me - is that they are somehow denied. Talk to me.

john

Hi John

I'm talking to you.

My view is that this is nothing to do with politics or some sort of misplaced feminism. I'm talking about commonly agreed standards which communities observe to make each other feel comfortable enough to participate. When segments within a community don't observe those standards, it's perceived as a hostile and aggressive act by those most affected.

For instance, we have a commonly held standard that we don't steal from one another. So if someone steals your car, you feel violated and affronted by that person and their act.

Similarly, the sexually explicit content on some (OK, mainly one, but we've agreed to talk in general terms) of the posts falls way below commonly held standards. So if the moderators uphold this, it is perceived (in this case, by women) as a hostile attack. The underlying (possibly even subliminal) message to women is that they are not welcome in this arena.

Now you can say that women shouldn't think like that. But would you similarly say to the car owner that 'all property is theft' and that he should hand over his keys to the car thief?

Life isn't a free-for-all. Even Nature isn't free - she has rules. If she didn't, we'd all be in chaos, in fact, we wouldn't exist because the conditions for us to do so could not have been created and sustained.

Similarly, in order for this forum, this community to be sustained, there has to be commonly agreed and observed rules.

Like someone else said earlier, if you wouldn't say it to your mother, why would you say it here? And as another said, if you wouldn't say it in a business communication, why would say it here?

[Ishtar]

Now, we can continue as we have and I will accept with and deal with all complaints or we can eliminate all avatars and signatures.

A poll will be set up and I encourage everyone to vote. That having been said, the final decision will rest with me, but I do value the opinions of those who contribute here.

Thanks to all for listening…...

Many thanks for this contribution to the debate, Michelle.

I think it would be a shame to do away with avatars and tags. That would be like banning all magazines because some are porn or incite racial hatred.

Why I wanted to stimulate this debate was so that we could all reach a consensus on what sort of content (whether in post, avatar or tag) was socially acceptable to us as a community, and then ask the moderators to enforce that standard on an individual basis. At the moment, that standard seems to fall below the norm, and it is my view that that is a factor in why there are so few women contributors.