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Sexual Discrimination (Theortical Question)

  • 22-05-2010 1:01pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,160 ✭✭✭✭


    Dear Feebackers,

    If, theoretically, I had a hosted forum and I didn't want women in it could I openly say "Women are not allowed".

    Does this come under the

    "Its a hosted forum and the person in charge of it can do what they like"?

    Or does the Host (boards.ie) have a responsibility that the users cannot be openly discriminatory on the basis of sex?


    Or is it similar to a womens gym refusing memberships from men because there is simply no suitable law regarding it.
    Post edited by Shield on


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 43,045 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    If you get a hosted private forum it's a private members only club and you give access to whom you want under any criteria you wish. I know of forums which are one gender only as part of the criteria set and even one which is cluchies only as part of the criteria set. I think if you make a big fuss over "NO Women Allowed" then there will be a big fuss.
    If it's select members only then it's select members only as laid out by the membership criteria which would be trashed out with the admins before the forum is granted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,160 ✭✭✭✭Berty


    How does this fit in?
    3) If you are a gentleman, I am afraid that we are not allowing you access at this time. Please remember that nobody likes whingers, but take it to helpdesk if you must

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=65606932&postcount=1


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 43,045 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    That is not a private or a hosted forum.
    It is a restricted public forum like ranting and raving with it's own critea for access.
    The admins would not have created the forum knowing it's remit if they tought the critea was in conflict with site policy.

    Do you know the reasons the critea was set up that way?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,160 ✭✭✭✭Berty


    Thaedydal wrote: »
    Do you know the reasons the critea was set up that way?

    The criteria for the Ladies Lounge Private Forum was surely to keep prowling men out.

    However, as my questions are theoretical, then what about if I requested a similar forum with the same criteria as the Ladies Lounge Private Forum(the name says private not restricted) and substituted the words Ladies for Muslim men, gay men or just men in general and restricted women for similar reasons then would that forum be created?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 43,045 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    Berty wrote: »
    The criteria for the Ladies Lounge Private Forum was surely to keep prowling men out.

    It was to stop the ladies lounge meet ups being swamped with men, the last 2 I was out the ladies were out numbered 3 to 1.
    Berty wrote: »
    However, as my questions are theoretical, then what about if I requested a similar forum with the same criteria as the Ladies Lounge Private Forum(the name says private not restricted) and substituted the words Ladies for Muslim men, gay men or just men in general and restricted women for similar reasons then would that forum be created?

    Each forum is created or not on it's own merits, siting the existence of another forum is not considered an argument for creating another forum.

    If a forum was requested for good reasons which happened to be a specific group of people and the person proposing it was in good stead with the site and wasn't going to abuse it I am sure the admins would look at the merits of it.

    There are also the social groups which a person can set up and invite whom they wish setting up their own criteria.

    If the private hosted forum is for a group of people with X in common to communicate and make arrangements I can't see it being a problem, if it's being set up to exclude people from a topic on purely a sexist bases, ie a no females allowed soccer private forum cos women don't know anything about soccer, then it could run into issues.


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  • Subscribers Posts: 32,864 ✭✭✭✭5starpool


    I love this bit from that private wimmins thread:
    the thinking behind this being that details of where a group of ladies will be at a given time and place should not be public for all to see

    Men shouldn't be allowed in pub then in case there is a group of women in there if you extrapolate a bit from that. IMO, for that forum idea not to just be 'wrong' in the context of normal boards operations, it should be a hosted forum totally seperate from TLL, and people could have sigs or whatever to create awareness like lots of others have for their own pet private hosted forums.

    Just in case, I think I should state I have no interest in TLL in general or going to one of their meet ups, but it just looks 'wrong'.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,160 ✭✭✭✭Berty


    LOL, Let them open their own Portmarnock Golf Club and see how far they get. :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,745 ✭✭✭Eliot Rosewater


    To be honest I don't see the issue with the Ladies Lounge having a womens only meet up ... it is the ladies lounge after all.

    What Thaedydal said ("the ladies were out numbered 3 to 1") does sound a little off putting. If I was a women I probably wouldn't go to a TLL beers out of a fear that many of those men were only going so as to pick up a lady. I could be completely wrong on that btw; I don't frequent TLL; but it doesn't sound relaxed on the face of it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,160 ✭✭✭✭Berty


    To be honest I don't see the issue with the Ladies Lounge having a womens only meet up ... it is the ladies lounge after all.

    Bear in mind my question was a theoretical question and I simply used TLL as an example because of its sexual discrimination in the "Private" forum.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,252 ✭✭✭✭stovelid


    Does anybody know what the ratio of male/female attendees are at BGRH meets?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,745 ✭✭✭Eliot Rosewater


    Berty wrote: »
    Bear in mind my question was a theoretical question and I simply used TLL as an example because of its sexual discrimination in the "Private" forum.

    Yes! I suppose you could port the logic over to other forums though. If someone wants a private forum for Polish people in Ireland then I think it's okay to discriminate. Should the Republican and Nationalists forum be obliged to accept non-Nationalists for example? I don't think so.

    As someone else said here, advertising the fact that you discriminate is looking for trouble, but I can't see the problem with discriminating against people who don't fit the target audience of the forum.

    :)


  • Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47,359 ✭✭✭✭Zaph


    stovelid wrote: »
    Does anybody know what the ratio of male/female attendees are at BGRH meets?

    Mainly male, but always with a significant female representation. The Brotherettes are important to the BGRH ethos and it wouldn't be the same without them.


  • Subscribers Posts: 32,864 ✭✭✭✭5starpool


    To be honest I don't see the issue with the Ladies Lounge having a womens only meet up ... it is the ladies lounge after all.

    What Thaedydal said ("the ladies were out numbered 3 to 1") does sound a little off putting. If I was a women I probably wouldn't go to a TLL beers out of a fear that many of those men were only going so as to pick up a lady. I could be completely wrong on that btw; I don't frequent TLL; but it doesn't sound relaxed on the face of it.

    I don't see anything wrong with the idea in theory at all, but I think it should be done in a different fashion is all. On the other hand, I don't really know why I am even getting involved in this thread, so I'll stop now.


  • Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 14,556 Mod ✭✭✭✭johnnyskeleton


    stovelid wrote: »
    Does anybody know what the ratio of male/female attendees are at BGRH meets?

    Isn't the more pertinent question the ratio of BGs/RHs? Then there are those with the whole package.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Um.. how do you know what sex (if any) or Sexual Orientation (if any) a Internet Poster really is?

    There is no browser exposure of that (though stupidly nearly everything else).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,160 ✭✭✭✭Berty


    watty wrote: »
    Um.. how do you know what sex (if any) or Sexual Orientation (if any) a Internet Poster really is?

    There is no browser exposure of that (though stupidly nearly everything else).

    Im talking about creating a thread in theory where I could be allowed sexual discriminate against the other sex.

    It may only have one member which is me but still in theory my question is "Does Boards allow this discrimination?"

    Case in point: TLL


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    I know you are.

    I'm wondering how you *enforce* your alleged discrimination.

    There are things that are Men Only. Not many Women want to use Urinals. Probably more Men using lipstick.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,160 ✭✭✭✭Berty


    watty wrote: »
    I know you are.

    I'm wondering how you *enforce* your alleged discrimination.

    There are things that are Men Only. Not many Women want to use Urinals. Probably more Men using lipstick.

    We all know people discriminate.

    Employers discriminate by hiring people they know or what school they went to and they don't hire people who have certain accents or are disabled. They don't tell people they are doing this because they can make up any number of reasons as to why they are not hiring that person.

    Example of TLL who have been that they can discriminate against a persons sex all they like but not tell anybody but they should not be allowed put this information in their charter and tell people who complain to take their complaint to the Helpdesk.

    Consequently then boards.ie does not discourage this kind of behaviour so therefore I should be able to create my super forum whereby only men can enter and tell women to go cry their eyes out to the Helpdesk.

    Whether or not that be a forum where men wear lipstick or lederhosen who knows, but it will openly and publically exclude women.

    Ok Snickers bars say "Not for Girls" but they do not say "Not for girls but if you don't like it you can go to the NCA and complain to them" because they wont be brought in front of a court.

    So in theory I could argue that I should be able to have a forum whereby just men come to meet and talk in public outside of boards.ie

    There is a "Motors Offline" which is where members of boards can meet and discuss ANYTHING and it has women. Should our charter be allowed to say "No women and take your tears about not being allowed in to the helpdesk".

    We can change it right now but does that mean boards.ie will closed the forum saying we changed the rules.

    If so then TLL Private forum should also go but in reality it should go right now.


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,976 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    Why are you getting so worked up about being excluded from a forum that you wouldn't even use? :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,160 ✭✭✭✭Berty


    Why are you getting so worked up about being excluded from a forum that you wouldn't even use? :confused:

    Im using that as an example only because their entry criteria states you cannot be a male.

    It's an example only. I don't want to be a member of that private forum as I have nothing to contribute but the example still remains valid.

    Should there be criteria set down by boards.ie to state forums members, hosted moderators cannot set criteria to exclude somebody on the basis of their gender?


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  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,976 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    Berty wrote: »
    Im using that as an example only because their entry criteria states you cannot be a male.

    It's an example only. I don't want to be a member of that private forum as I have nothing to contribute but the example still remains valid.

    Should there be criteria set down by boards.ie to state forums members, hosted moderators cannot set criteria to exclude somebody on the basis of their gender?

    Out of interest, have you found any other examples?

    [my opinion] If private forums are set up specifically for a certain community, and someone who is excluded by the criteria feels that they wouldn't contribute to that forum anyway, then it's not really a problem at all.

    As for your theoretical model, any forum with a purely discriminatory exclusion mandate would probably be vetoed under the general "no being a dick" rule. [/my opinion]


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,160 ✭✭✭✭Berty


    Out of interest, have you found any other examples?

    No I have not but I was looking to a certain extent to find another example to avoid my constant references to TLL. Other forums do not appear to have an exclusive/majority of sexual gender which is obvious from the outset.

    Soccer could be argued as being a male dominated forum but it is not a male orientated forum. I don't frequent this myself because I have little interest in the sport. However, they also have a privacy lock on this forum which forces people to read the charter. Again it does not suggest women cannot be members because its not orientated that way.

    In the EDU forum each college has its own area so each forum within the group forum is orientated that way but does not exclude members from boards.ie frequenting their forums.

    Also the non drinkers forum does not exclude alcoholics from this forum because of their name.

    The Ladies Lounge has threads on womens issues which is all good and well and there are men in the ladies lounge and I believe with some digging I could find the thread specifically for Men of the Ladies Lounge.
    [my opinion] If private forums are set up specifically for a certain community, and someone who is excluded by the criteria feels that they wouldn't contribute to that forum anyway, then it's not really a problem at all.

    Im not specifically speaking for my own agenda. The reason I use the word "theory" is that it can be applied as a general rule across the decision making of thread construction. I "may" not have anything to contribute but other men may feel they do. Some men may prefer the company of women and not exclusively in a sexual way. That's another argument completely.
    As for your theoretical model, any forum with a purely discriminatory exclusion mandate would probably be vetoed under the general "no being a dick" rule. [/my opinion]

    It should say "not being a dick rule" in that case rather than:
    3) If you are a gentleman, I am afraid that we are not allowing you access at this time. Please remember that nobody likes whingers, but take it to helpdesk if you must

    If somebody created a private forum for people with disabilities and said

    "If you are able bodied, I am afraid that we are not allowing you access at this time. Please remember that nobody likes whingers, but take it to helpdesk if you must"

    Acceptable?


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,698 Mod ✭✭✭✭Silverfish


    It's kinda this simple. If the ladies want a girls night out, it's arranged in that forum.

    If lads want a lads night out, I'm pretty sure they'd get annoyed if their girlfriend insisted on going on the basis of sexism, so it's sortof the same thing.

    Yes the ladies had some problems with some people who had a) never posted on the forum and b) didn't even have an account on boards showing up because they saw a thread detailing there'd be these women there on that date, with usernames etc.

    We are well aware that there will be men in the pub, but we would hope not men that would walk right up going 'Oh hello, I saw your pic in KYL and I saw you'd be here tonight so we thought we'd come along'.

    I'm sorry that you may not believe that this happens, because we do try delete all the sleazy comments and suggestions posted, and there are still public tLL meetups, but sometimes the girls just want to meet up themselves without all of boards being aware.

    Have you tried asking for a similar forum based for TGC or wherever?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,085 ✭✭✭Xiney


    +1 to Silverfish

    The private forum is more for smaller, impromptu get togethers.

    When the ladies started to organize smaller events, less than half a dozen women that sort of thing... we saw the potential for danger if details of these smaller meetups were public.

    The private forum has also spun off from a thread which was dedicated to helping women find other female friends to do girly things with. Men are therefore excluded by definition.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 43,045 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    Berty wrote: »
    No I have not but I was looking to a certain extent to find another example to avoid my constant references to TLL. Other forums do not appear to have an exclusive/majority of sexual gender which is obvious from the outset.

    I know of two private hosted forums which are women only and 1 socail group.

    There are also forums for Clans which is members only and they don't have female members /shrug.
    Berty wrote: »


    Im not specifically speaking for my own agenda. The reason I use the word "theory" is that it can be applied as a general rule across the decision making of thread construction. I "may" not have anything to contribute but other men may feel they do. Some men may prefer the company of women and not exclusively in a sexual way. That's another argument completely.

    Yes they do and when a bigger forum beers are organised I am sure it will be for all that post in the forum but the smaller private forum are for informal unofficial meet up of the female posters. Dude being a out and acknowledged female on the internet can be hard and frankly a pain as you do get weridos and stalkers. To protect those who want to meet up privately there is a private forum where no one will stalk them or turn up unwanted.

    It's to keep people safe, if the tables were turned and there too many husband hunting or bunny boilers turning up at TGC beers then I'd be all for them having a private meet up for as well.
    Berty wrote: »
    It should say "not being a dick rule" in that case rather than:

    If somebody created a private forum for people with disabilities and said

    "If you are able bodied, I am afraid that we are not allowing you access at this time. Please remember that nobody likes whingers, but take it to helpdesk if you must"

    Acceptable?

    So you have a problem with the language used, why didn't you just say so?
    I don't think it's strong language and given the history of males attacking the forum and it's moderation in the forum consistantly they right to say take you issues and complaints to help desk, so fair enough the word whingers could be expressed a tad more diplomatically, but honestly I can understand the mods get fed up with the male posters who frankly cruise the forum and the issues with sleazy comments in the past and when they are called on they do actually whinge about it.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,662 Mod ✭✭✭✭Faith


    If the admins grant you a private forum, you can have whatever admissions criteria you like. You could only allow people with pink hair, or those with 11 toes, or exclusively people of one gender. The key is the term "private". Private forums are subject to slightly different rules then public forums, in that the moderators are free to discriminate on access for whatever reason they like. If everyone was invited, then it would just be a public forum.

    Silverfish has pretty clearly outlined the reasons for that specific private tLL subforum.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,399 ✭✭✭Bonito


    I know you've used TLL as an example but, the title is Sexual discrimination so, is there a 2nd example of where there's sexual discrimination on boards?

    To be completely fair, the ladies did need that forum. I know of one of the posters who were at a beers and was approached by a man who wasn't a boards.ie user. The man had been stalking her posts/pics/profile as a guest and because TLL is visible to all, he was able to see where they'd all be on a particular night.

    I get the whole double standards thing but, honestly, that sort of stuff would freak me out. If a girl were to come up to me at a beers and tell me she's not a user but she knows me from stalking my pics/profile/posts I'd be a bit weirded out!

    If you can't give another example then just leave the girls alone to have their fun nights out.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,905 ✭✭✭✭Handsome Bob


    Thaedydal wrote: »
    It was to stop the ladies lounge meet ups being swamped with men, the last 2 I was out the ladies were out numbered 3 to 1.

    The scary thing is that it doesn't surprise me one little bit.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,925 ✭✭✭Otis Driftwood


    Xiney wrote: »
    +1 to Silverfish

    The private forum is more for smaller, impromptu get togethers.

    When the ladies started to organize smaller events, less than half a dozen women that sort of thing... we saw the potential for danger if details of these smaller meetups were public.

    The private forum has also spun off from a thread which was dedicated to helping women find other female friends to do girly things with. Men are therefore excluded by definition.

    Jeez no need for the sensationilism.

    Pray tell,how would they be any more dangerous than going out on a regular night with their own circle of friends?


    And for the record I never have nor will I ever attend a LL beers nor do I give a fig whether there is a private forum or not.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,399 ✭✭✭Bonito


    nedtheshed wrote: »
    Jeez no need for the sensationilism.

    Pray tell,how would they be any more dangerous than going out on a regular night with their own circle of friends?


    And for the record I never have nor will I ever attend a LL beers nor do I give a fig whether there is a private forum or not.

    Sensationalism? OK. At a big beers, a female poster was approached by someone who doesn't even use the site, I've stated it above in my other post. Imagine the greater risk to the girls if they're in an even smaller, all female group? At least at the beers there's some male posters. (maybe a bit too much but still they're there to deter outside stalkers).

    What is the problem with letting the ladies meet up while feeling safe? Seriously, just get over it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,638 ✭✭✭Iago


    Bonito wrote: »
    Sensationalism? OK. At a big beers, a female poster was approached by someone who doesn't even use the site, I've stated it above in my other post. Imagine the greater risk to the girls if they're in an even smaller, all female group?

    While I personally couldn't give a fiddlers and think that any group that wants a private forum and can satisfy the admins as to the reasoning should have an opportunity to have one and run it as they see fit the above point is spurious and ridiculous to be honest.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,399 ✭✭✭Bonito


    Iago wrote: »
    While I personally couldn't give a fiddlers and think that any group that wants a private forum and can satisfy the admins as to the reasoning should have an opportunity to have one and run it as they see fit the above point is spurious and ridiculous to be honest.
    How? You're basically saying that the ladies are safer in a smaller group on their own. That, is what's spurious and ridiculous.

    If it happened at a major event you can be damned sure some weirdo's would try it while they're out on their own in a smaller group.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,925 ✭✭✭Otis Driftwood


    Bonito wrote: »
    Sensationalism? OK. At a big beers, a female poster was approached by someone who doesn't even use the site, I've stated it above in my other post. Imagine the greater risk to the girls if they're in an even smaller, all female group? At least at the beers there's some male posters. (maybe a bit too much but still they're there to deter outside stalkers).

    What is the problem with letting the ladies meet up while feeling safe? Seriously, just get over it.


    So the member,or anyone for that matter,wouldnt get approached in a bar if they wernt boards members then?
    :confused:

    I know the reason for the private forum and agree it was neccessary as LL beers were been over ran with blokes,it makes sense that they (female posters) can organize stuff among themselves.I have no issue/complaint/gripe or anything of the sort with this,why would I?

    My previous post was because Xiney implied that by having public beers,female members were at some kind of risk/danger.That is sensationalist.

    My point is that no matter where women go on a night out they are probably going to be approached by blokes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,638 ✭✭✭Iago


    Bonito wrote: »
    How? You're basically saying that the ladies are safer in a smaller group on their own. That, is what's spurious and ridiculous.

    If it happened at a major event you can be damned sure some weirdo's would try it while they're out on their own in a smaller group.

    No, what I'm saying is that your original point which was "A lady was out with a group of people in a bar, and somebody that wasn't even in that group approached her" as a reason for having a private forum is spurious and ridiculous.

    I guarantee you that at any night that this private forum organises in any bar in Dublin at least one of the ladies present will be approached by at least one man that wasn't with the group.

    Have the private forum by all means, invite whoever you want into it, but safety is not the primary concern. The whole point of the private group, imo, is to avoid a situation where male posters outnumber female posters on a girls night out. I get that, but that won't stop them being approached and propositioned, it just means they don't start out with more men than women.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 15,914 ✭✭✭✭tbh


    nedtheshed wrote: »

    Pray tell,how would they be any more dangerous than going out on a regular night with their own circle of friends?
    .

    it's the difference between "Hi! I saw you from across the bar. Can i buy you a drink?"
    and

    "Hi! I've been reading your posts in TLL. I see you work for x and you recently broke up with your boyfriend, and you're on the pill and you always wear matching undies and I've seen your pic and you once had a disasterous sexual encounter with a farmer from Tipperary and kittens and pizza make you happy. Can i buy you your favourite drink?"


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,399 ✭✭✭Bonito


    Bonito wrote: »
    I know of one of the posters who were at a beers and was approached by a man who wasn't a boards.ie user. The man had been stalking her posts/pics/profile as a guest and because TLL is visible to all, he was able to see where they'd all be on a particular night.
    tbh wrote: »
    it's the difference between "Hi! I saw you from across the bar. Can i buy you a drink?"
    and

    "Hi! I've been reading your posts in TLL. I see you work for x and you recently broke up with your boyfriend, and you're on the pill and you always wear matching undies and I've seen your pic and you once had a disasterous sexual encounter with a farmer from Tipperary and kittens and pizza make you happy. Can i buy you your favourite drink?"

    Thank you tbh. I don't know how that wasn't picked up from my post above. Selective reading and all that.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,883 ✭✭✭shellyboo


    nedtheshed wrote: »

    My point is that no matter where women go on a night out they are probably going to be approached by blokes.


    Blokes who've been following their posts and pictures online without signing up to the site at all. That is massively different to any old random bloke, it's threatening and scary, and anyone who genuinely can't see how it would be is seriously lacking in empathy towards women and their personal safety.


    As for the "whingers" part of the post... way to prove a point, everyone. Are you seriously getting annoyed about women trying to stay safe online? That's both scary and pathetic.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,925 ✭✭✭Otis Driftwood


    tbh wrote: »
    it's the difference between "Hi! I saw you from across the bar. Can i buy you a drink?"
    and

    "Hi! I've been reading your posts in TLL. I see you work for x and you recently broke up with your boyfriend, and you're on the pill and you always wear matching undies and I've seen your pic and you once had a disasterous sexual encounter with a farmer from Tipperary and kittens and pizza make you happy. Can i buy you your favourite drink?"

    Point taken,Im obviously having a slow day.:o

    I genuinely didnt even think of it that way,my bad.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,399 ✭✭✭Bonito


    You're forgiven. :p

    To summarise tbh's post.

    "Hi, can I get you a drink"

    Does not equal.

    "Hi, I stalk you on boards, it's OK no need to tell me what drink you would like I already have it here, 2 roofies, yes? I see your bra is black, so your nickers must be too."

    *shudder*


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 37,214 ✭✭✭✭Dudess


    shellyboo wrote: »
    As for the "whingers" part of the post... way to prove a point, everyone. Are you seriously getting annoyed about women trying to stay safe online? That's both scary and pathetic.
    Actually Shellyboo, I don't think it's taking issue with ensuring women's safety, I think it's more an objection to the way a forum with a heavy anti gender discrimination ethos... has a sub forum with a gender discrimination ethos.
    Whatever the ins and outs are, that's what it is, and it doesn't sit well with me personally. That's just my opinion.
    It comes down to: a tiny few guys act the perv and it's decided "Well they have a penis, so let's prohibit all with penises".


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,905 ✭✭✭✭Handsome Bob


    tbh wrote: »
    it's the difference between "Hi! I saw you from across the bar. Can i buy you a drink?"
    and

    "Hi! I've been reading your posts in TLL. I see you work for x and you recently broke up with your boyfriend, and you're on the pill and you always wear matching undies and I've seen your pic and you once had a disasterous sexual encounter with a farmer from Tipperary and kittens and pizza make you happy. Can i buy you your favourite drink?"

    You would rightfully describe the bloke as a bit of a nutter, but I would also say to his victim TMI to be putting on the internet. ;)


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,698 Mod ✭✭✭✭Silverfish


    Dudess wrote: »
    Actually Shellyboo, I don't think it's taking issue with ensuring women's safety, I think it's more an objection to the way a forum with a heavy anti gender discrimination ethos... has a sub forum with a gender discrimination ethos.
    Whatever the ins and outs are, that's what it is, and it doesn't sit well with me personally. That's just my opinion.
    It comes down to: a tiny few guys act the perv and it's decided "Well they have a penis, so let's prohibit all with penises".

    Do you or have you ever obeyed the rules of a lads night out? Or do you go along anyway on the basis that they cannot discriminate?

    Look, some girls wanted to make new female friends, they want to meet up and go shopping or go for coffee without all of boards a) knowing about it or b) showing up.

    If it helps, we can rename the private forum, to something unrelated to the ladies lounge, but I think the issue is more with the 'Ladies Lounge' part of that rather than what the forum is for, am I correct?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,883 ✭✭✭shellyboo


    Dudess wrote: »
    Actually Shellyboo, I don't think it's taking issue with ensuring women's safety, I think it's more an objection to the way a forum with a heavy anti gender discrimination ethos... has a sub forum with a gender discrimination ethos.
    Whatever the ins and outs are, that's what it is, and it doesn't sit well with me personally. That's just my opinion.
    It comes down to: a tiny few guys act the perv and it's decided "Well they have a penis, so let's prohibit all with penises".


    I take your point, but I also think that objecting to having a space where the women of tLL can organise girls' nights out (as some forum members simply will not attend mixed nights out for various reasons, as is their perogative) is, at this stage, entirely necessary.

    The alternative is to state at the start of every meetup thread - this is a women-only event/a mixed event. Which descends very quickly into this discussion we're having right now, every. single. time. That's not fair on the mods or the users, and especially not on the people who want to make new friends through the forum, as they're being put off by all the sniping and infighting that goes on the whole time. I see why people have an issue with it, I really do... but what's the better alternative? I'd love to hear some.

    You could argue that women who want to meet other women off boards get eachothers' numbers and do it off-site, but personally I think the private meetup forum is a fantastic gesture from the admins in allowing tLL to function as a space *for women*, as it was intended to be.

    Is it sexist? Yes. So are many private fora across the site. Is it hypocritical? Probably. But then, complaining about being called a "whinger" and then coming on and having a good old whinge (simply on point of principle) is pretty hypocritical too.

    I genuinely think that people think this is a way to "get back" at the men on that forum or shut them out, or exclude them. It's not. It's simply an attempt to create some sort of female community on what's supposed to be a female-oriented forum. But yet again, as happens every single time tLL tries to do something positive for its female posters, it's decried as sexist and unfair.

    It's getting really, really tiring.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,811 ✭✭✭✭billy the squid


    Berty wrote: »

    point (3) in that link is a little condesending, and is unnecessary, particularly as the reasoning behind why men are not allowed has already been mentioned further up the post.

    the desire to have female only access to a forum for meetups is perfectly reasonable, however the afformentioned point comes accross as a little snotty.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,523 ✭✭✭✭Nerin


    Hardly a big deal. It's actually a pretty clever idea, since its simple and keeps all the hassle thats supposedly happenening to a minimum.
    From Bonitos post, it looks pretty serious too. Wow.
    Beers can be a pain in the hole when people show up that are pervy or creepy.

    No need for the whinger comment though, it's just inviting a ****storm. Seems like a really silly comment to leave there.
    Its more of that crap thats really tiring.

    To sum up, grand idea, no big deal, snotty comment is sad and not needed.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,239 ✭✭✭✭WindSock


    If The Gentlemens Club had the similar problems with women meeting up to hit on the guys in the same fashion that men do for LL events, to a point where they were put off or deterred from organising events publicly then I would see no problem with them having a private forum to do that in. The demographic for each forum is gender specific. In order to organise a lads/girls night out online, you really have to do it privately, don't you?

    I mean, that's all the private forum is for. It is not as if it is something men would have been included in in the first place, or even wanted to have been, unless to cause annoyance.

    I do agree though that it could perhaps be worded a little differently.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,698 Mod ✭✭✭✭Silverfish


    Okay, so if the 'whingers' comment (which was presumably a joke :)) is removed, will that help?


  • Hosted Moderators Posts: 10,661 ✭✭✭✭John Mason


    so, say if a/many male boardies just happens to be in the same venue as the meet up will he still be publicly named and shamed in the TLL and perma banned ? as this was stated previously as to what would happen - which IMHO was an absolute disgrace.


    i am not a member of the restricted forum nor do i have any interest in being a member but i hear about things that are said and organised, so if i hear, i am pretty sure male boardies hear too.

    boards is a small world, you would be amazed at who is related to who or friends with who:)

    it just doesnt sit well on me but then i was never afraid of men


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,905 ✭✭✭✭Handsome Bob


    irishbird wrote: »
    so, say if a/many male boardies just happens to be in the same venue as the meet up will he still be publicly named and shamed in the TLL and perma banned ? as this was stated previously as to what would happen - which IMHO was an absolute disgrace.

    I'd say it'd be looked at like this: If the guy stays away and among his own crowd, maybe saying a brief hello, then he's fine. But if he makes himself at home among the TLLers, or in other words if he gatecrashes the party, then that might be worth some reprimand.


  • Hosted Moderators Posts: 10,661 ✭✭✭✭John Mason


    LZ5by5 wrote: »
    I'd say it'd be looked at like this: If the guy stays away and among his own crowd, maybe saying a brief hello, then he's fine. But if he makes himself at home among the TLLers, or in other words if he gatecrashes the party, then that might be worth some reprimand.

    see, this makes me feel uncomfortable :( what it if happens to be other female boardies not in the private forum? should the lesbians be stopped as well just in case they hit on one of the girls.

    exclusion worries me because once it starts where does it stop


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