EN World Women's Forum?

[Morrus]

The big problem with that is that it would involve an area of EN World where I can't go... and I'm so very not comfortable with that idea! In addition, at present at least, all the mods are male, and I'm not comfortable with them all not having access to a forum.

 

[DaveStebbins]

-Shake head in a speechless pause-

A sense of humor is a wonderful thing...

-Dave

 

[reveal]

The big problem with that is that it would involve an area of EN World where I can't go... and I'm so very not comfortable with that idea! In addition, at present at least, all the mods are male, and I'm not comfortable with them all not having access to a forum.

Maybe you could promote some female users to mod.

 

[Mark CMG]

The big problem with that is that it would involve an area of EN World where I can't go... and I'm so very not comfortable with that idea! In addition, at present at least, all the mods are male, and I'm not comfortable with them all not having access to a forum.

Are there no women Moderators and Admins? I remember Ashtal was one but how about currently?

 

[Eternalknight]

I'll be a mod for it

 

[fusangite]

I figured the admin/mod thing would be the main obstacle.

 

[diaglo]

i'd like to nominate Buttercup.

 

[Mark CMG]

i'd like to nominate Buttercup.

She and Queen D would both make good moderators, IMO, but their most difficult task would not preserving order within the forum but keeping the males out. I'm not sure there is any ironclad way to definitely identify the gender of someone online if they are determined to confuse the issue. The biggest shame of it all is that, given that everyone has limited time, each post in a segregated forum means one less post is likely to be made in the general forum, and the general community will have a lower ratio of posts by female gamers. It's a perspective I would be disappointed in losing access to regularly reading.

 

[fusangite]

She and Queen D would both make good moderators, IMO, but their most difficult task would not preserving order within the forum but keeping the males out. I'm not sure there is any ironclad way to definitely identify the gender of someone online if they are determined to confuse the issue. The biggest shame of it all is that, given that everyone has limited time, each post in a segregated forum means one less post is likely to be made in the general forum,

Do you have anything to back that up? If I thought this was going to be a zero-sum thing, I would be much much less likely to support this. I'm supporting this, largely, because I think the forum might get some female lurkers or infrequent posters to post more frequently and that this will habituate them to making ENWorld posts, increasing the likelihood that they will posts to other forums.

I personally doubt that this will lead to a net reduction in posts to other forums. It's not like we decide, at the beginning of the day/week how much time we are going to waste on internet forums. What happens, at least with me, is that we get into a posting mood and see if there are any interesting conversations to post in. The more such conversations there are, the more posting we do.

and the general community will have a lower ratio of posts by female gamers.

I'd be prepared to wager actual money that the opposite will happen.

 

[Mark CMG]

Do you have anything to back that up?

Nothing except my opinion based on my own observations and the logic I've put forth above and below.

I personally doubt that this will lead to a net reduction in posts to other forums. It's not like we decide, at the beginning of the day/week how much time we are going to waste on internet forums. What happens, at least with me, is that we get into a posting mood and see if there are any interesting conversations to post in. The more such conversations there are, the more posting we do.

Only to a point, IMO. Time devoted to one thing necessarily takes time from some other pursuit. Creation of a new forum doesn't increase someone's available time. It will be even more of a strain for those who volunteer or are chosen to moderate. IMO, there's simply no way around it, though you are also entitled to your opinion, of course, and whatever wagers people are willing to make with you. It simply stands to reason, as far as I can see, but I appreciate your optimism. Perhaps the women who would post in an EN World Women's Forum have a great deal of time in other areas of their day that they will devote to posting both in an EN World Women's Forum and in other EN World Forums simply because they are spending more time here. That would both surprise and delight me.