Why ARE there so many men here?

liah

This isn't meant to be exclusionary, I'm just genuinely curious.

Guys: what makes you post here so often? What makes you go to the Ladies Lounge beers?

I know the default answers are "good discussion" et al, but when you read the name of the forum, realize it's a forum for women, but come here in mass amounts anyway, what's your thought process?

To me, from the impression I've got from other posters, there seems to be 3 types:

1) Those who come here to flirt, banter, chat, etc. but claim they have no ulterior motives and "just enjoy the company of girls." Often the ones who give the most thanks to good-looking girls in the picture thread but cry out the loudest when accused.

2) Those who want to defend men in threads on rights (eg. the rights of men in matters of children) or misconceptions (eg. why are men so afraid of commitment) but have no legitimate interest on the views of the women themselves on the subject matter.

3) Those who genuinely believe there's good discussion.

Most guys are obviously going to say they fall into the 3rd group to avoid any fallout, but to be completely honest, overall I'd say the three groups are pretty balanced. Perhaps a lot less of the 1st group now that the rules have been modified a bit.

But honestly, men, what originally compelled you to establish yourselves in a forum that, in its entire nature, is exclusionary towards you-- not in any malicious way, mind, just insofar that it often covers topics that don't really apply to men-- and is based on women's thoughts and issues? Why did you read the title and description of "the Ladies Lounge" and think, "oh, yeah, this sounds like the place for me!"

Basically.. how'd you end up here? And what's your point of view on the amount of men who post here? Do you think it's a good thing or a bad thing? Do you think there's a reason for men outnumbering the women (both here and at the beers), and if so, what do you believe the reason to be?


/mods, I understand this is going to seem kind of offensive to the men, but please believe me when I say I'm genuinely curious and truly enjoy the male input. I just want to know what their own personal reasons were for joining us, and definitely do not intend to imply their presence is unwanted. I do understand if you feel it's pushing the limits and decide to delete it.

Blazer

Simply put..we're nosy
We like to know what women are talking about despite our claims not to care

Closed ac

I like women.

SteeveSmith

I don't think I fall into any of those categories as I never post here I just lurk. :P

I visit the other forums too though.

I don't know why I visit here to be quite honest, I just like to see the female side of life I guess. I'm also the only male in my workplace so you lot give me topics other than football!
I never post because I never see how my input would be of benefit being male and all.

As for the 'thanks' point, sure you're all beautiful! :P
I hope my presence doesn't offend lol.

biko

Girl on the Internet syndrome.
If you have girls congregating anywhere boys will show up, same here.

Joey the lips

Honestly good discussion and as I am married I am not looking for women but its nice to talk to you....+ because you will never meet me and dont know me you have not got a clue what I look like so I can innocently "Play" with you.

I know.... Your now saying take a hike.

TouchingVirus

I usually lurk around many boards, including this one. I don't believe I've posted here before.

However, this bit of the first post bothers me.

Those who want to defend men in threads on rights (eg. the rights of men in matters of children) or misconceptions (eg. why are men so afraid of commitment) but have no legitimate interest on the views of the women themselves on the subject matter.

It seems to tar all men who come in here to defend men on threads with the one brush - they are stubborn, ignorant and care not for the views of the ladies here in TLL. A rather offensive thing to say IMO, completely nullifying your claim to not want to be offensive at the end of your post tbh.

liah

TouchingVirus wrote: »

I usually lurk in here, don't believe I've do so before.

However, this bit of the first post bothers me.



It seems to tar all men who come in here to defend men on threads with the one brush - they are stubborn, ignorant and care not for the views of the ladies here in TLL. a rather offensive thing to say IMO, which is why I've posted.

I'm not saying all men who come here to defend men have no interest in the thoughts of the women here. I'm just saying there's certain posters who seem to fall into this group and have a pattern of diverting discussions into issues about men's rights when the thread originally was asking for the feelings of the women.

But by no means do all defenders of gender do that, not at all, so please don't take it up that way.

seanybiker

interesting topics make me post. Dont give a fiddlers which part of the forum its in. I already have my princess so its not to flirt.

TouchingVirus

liah wrote: »

I'm not saying all men who come here to defend men have no interest in the thoughts of the women here. I'm just saying there's certain posters who seem to fall into this group and have a pattern of diverting discussions into issues about men's rights when the thread originally was asking for the feelings of the women.

But by no means do all defenders of gender do that, not at all, so please don't take it up that way.

It just appeared to me that that is exactly what you were saying, after all there is no group 4 ("Men who come here to defend rights or misconceptions in a legitimate debate or exchange of views"). Maybe you implied group 3 meets the criteria of group 4 I mentioned above, but I missed the implication completely.

Thanks for the clarification though

*goes back to lurking*

liah

TouchingVirus wrote: »

It just appeared to me that that is exactly what you were saying, after all there is no group 4 ("Men who come here to defend rights or misconceptions in a legitimate debate or exchange of views"). Maybe you implied group 3 meets the criteria of group 4 I mentioned above, but I missed the implication completely.

Thanks for the clarification though

*goes back to lurking*

Nah, I know the groups are generalizations but I assumed most people would understand it doesn't apply to every single poster and that there's obviously crossover between groups, as most people understand about generalizations.

princess-lala

I quite like the male input here but then again there are the usual female only threads that some guys comment on!

I find some of the guys you can have a good banter with but then again there are the other p***ks that are just here to rile some women (No digs there either)

krudler

Discussion, lets be honest any thread that gets started in AH about...well anything to be honest descends into the usuall bollockology in about 5 posts, sometimes less. Here at least people can have a civilised discussion, heated sometimes, but civilised at least, and isnt that the entire point of a discussion board site? Its also nice to get womens viewpoints on things, likewise I'm sure theres women who post on here who like to get a mans perspective. Do more men really turn up to the nights out? kinda defeats the purpose I would imagine?

smokie2008

DKZ wrote: »

I like women.

hahaha Nuff Said!!!!

princess-lala

krudler wrote: »

Do more men really turn up to the nights out? kinda defeats the purpose I would imagine?

For sure! I was at a beers a few weeks back was nearly a ratio 3:1 :eek:

liah

krudler wrote: »

Do more men really turn up to the nights out? kinda defeats the purpose I would imagine?

Allegedly at the last beers there were quite a few more men than women, which made both genders feel quite awkward. I wasn't there, this is just what I've gathered from reading a few threads lately.

Perhaps someone who was there can offer up some insight.

princess-lala

liah wrote: »

Perhaps someone who was there can offer up some insight.

Already ahead of you

Handsome Bob

liah wrote: »

Basically.. how'd you end up here? And what's your point of view on the amount of men who post here? Do you think it's a good thing or a bad thing? Do you think there's a reason for men outnumbering the women (both here and at the beers), and if so, what do you believe the reason to be?

I wouldn't be a regular in this forum, not by a long shot. Never went to a beers, never posted in the pictures thread and to my recollection only ever thanked one picture (a picture of a fellow bloke :P).

I guess the only reason I would post in this forum is when I see a topic that I am heavily interested in, threads on weight loss and religion would be two examples. Also, I like reading general comments from women, it helps me construct more balanced opinions on certain subjects. For example, my view on abortion has been changed considerably by the arguments I have seen in this forum.

As for why men supposedly outnumbering women on here, I don't know, I wouldn't like to make any assumptions on the character and motives of people. Maybe some male posters see the place as a welcoming social forum, maybe others see it (like me) as a place that can have interesting and informed discussion, maybe some see it as a potential dating site.

testicle

There's no men here. I'm a girl...

Mr. Presentable

liah wrote: »

Allegedly at the last beers there were quite a few more men than women, .

If you had a LL "Babychams" instead of "beers" you'd solve a lot of that.

Also, boys on the internet think girls on the internet must be hot and lonely.

I only visit for the craic.

sorry I'll get my coat...........

Nevyn

krudler wrote: »

Discussion, lets be honest any thread that gets started in AH about...well anything to be honest descends into the usuall bollockology in about 5 posts, sometimes less. Here at least people can have a civilised discussion, heated sometimes, but civilised at least, and isnt that the entire point of a discussion board site?

Then complain to the AH mods about it and report posts in ah.

krudler

Thaedydal wrote: »

Then complain to the AH mods about it and report posts in ah.

Given the amount of "yore ma" replies someone could spend all day reporting posts on there

I get why AH is there, its for general chit chat and nothing is to be taken too seriously on there, we have specific forums for more mature discussion, but if you posted a thread on say, the porn issue that ran for a few dozen pages here a while back on AH it'd be nothing but smartarse replies, whereas here there were valid, rational points being posted, got a bit heated but at least it was an interesting discussion

Nevyn

Replying with yore ma will now get you banned from AH, shows how long from when you have last read there.

krudler

Earlier today? that was just an example though, I know people arent allowed do that anymore but it ruined so many threads for ages, like I said I get why its there, I post there plenty but its nice to have forums where an actual discussion can be carried out without internet comedians derailing the thread with responses that dont add anything to the discussion.

John Mason

should the question not be why do more woman not post here or go to beers

smellslikeshoes

Trying to figure out what makes you tick :pac:

Silverfish

irishbird wrote: »

should the question not be why do more woman not post here or go to beers

I'd say because boards.ie is 80% male posters, from a survey done in 2005.

I would say that while there may have been a slight shift in that in the last 5 years, its not by much, and the percentages may not be much different.

entropi

I would happily say that i'm a little from column A, and a little from column C...i like some of the chat that can happen in here, some of that can spill over into real life conversation too which makes for interesting debate at times but its all fun:) I also like a small bt of banter, as do most people but serious discussion topics that are posted in here i will comment on, but ONLY if i feel there is something that actually adds to the conversation, and not just for the sake of posting in the thread.

Through various beers i've met many of you, and am really happy to have done so. You girls are always up for a bit of chat without sleaze necessarily having to come into it and thats how i roll.

Ickle Magoo

I think it's partly because the majority of posters on boards are male and so even if a small proportion of them drop in to tLL from time to time they would still out-number the female posters but I think it's also a lot to do with the reason why we all post here, there's good chat, serious debate, some really interesting topics and perspectives given but with all the macho bravado and thanks whoring kept in check... :cool:

Pythia

Just look at the list of top posters on the Know your Loungers thread, it's all category 1 and it's weird tbh.

Galvasean

Scar_L wrote: »

Simply put..we're nosy
We like to know what women are talking about despite our claims not to care

This.

and for me a little of this:

1st post wrote:

Those who want to defend men in threads on rights (eg. the rights of men in matters of children) or misconceptions (eg. why are men so afraid of commitment) but have no legitimate interest on the views of the women themselves on the subject matter.

with a bit crossed out of course.

I actually hadn't posted here in AGES until I saw there was a feedback thread recently.So Indecided to lob a few ideas/musings in. Since then a few threads have piqued my interest (I'm like a moth to a flame when discussion of religion pops up).