Slinky Bender
12-14-2000, 06:08 AM
I had an extended debate with two wizened posters on the many boards of this hobby. They both postulated that this board "will never work", because the format of having "both sides of the ewuation" on the same board is untenable.
While there were many facets to their arguments, the kernal was:
1) On the hobbyist side, they will both be unable to avoid simply "trading fluffballs" with the ladies, as well as feeling the need to "play Sir Gallahad" and "come to the rescue" of some lady who has had an idea criticised. The result will be a "piling on" to the poster, with discussions degenerating into name calling, etc.
2) On the lady's side, a) they will take every comment as a personal criticsim, and will get emotional, answer real questions with nasty, personal comments rather than take up the issue, and dilute the discussion, and b) they won't be able to "keep up with" some of the advanced writing skills/philosphical arguments/sarcastic wit of some of the hobbyist poster.
My conteraguments were not as clear or erudite, but included:
1) When the ladies ( or anyone ) get "trained" to expect only fluffballs, real questions seem out of place. On a board where reall issues are always discussed the ladies will rise to the occasion and show us what they are really made of.
2) I will not allow any of the guys to bash another poster because of their ideas ( obviously, this goes for the ladies as well ! ). "Piling on" post will be deleted. This will not become a "Flame Board". However, I will not delete real opinions, whether I or the majority agree with them or not.
3) One of the best ways for a lady to get business is to make an intelligent post. The majority of hobbyists who I have seen on these boards spend more time talking to the ladies than anything else, so why wouldn't seeing someone who made some interesting point here be an important factor ? I made the point that I fealt that if someone made one ( that's right, just one ) amzingly intelligent post, they would be getting new business rom it for a year ( they both disagreed.....we'll see ).
SO, the challenge is: can we make this work ? Can the guys refrain from throwing fluffballs and playing Sir Gallahad ? Refrain from attacking those who ask hard but reasonable questions of the ladies ?
Can the ladies take the questions as questions and not personal attacks ? Can they dazzle with brilliance in their replies ?
CAN THIS BOARD WORK ????????
[Edited by slinkybender on 12-14-2000 at 10:10 AM]
While there were many facets to their arguments, the kernal was:
1) On the hobbyist side, they will both be unable to avoid simply "trading fluffballs" with the ladies, as well as feeling the need to "play Sir Gallahad" and "come to the rescue" of some lady who has had an idea criticised. The result will be a "piling on" to the poster, with discussions degenerating into name calling, etc.
2) On the lady's side, a) they will take every comment as a personal criticsim, and will get emotional, answer real questions with nasty, personal comments rather than take up the issue, and dilute the discussion, and b) they won't be able to "keep up with" some of the advanced writing skills/philosphical arguments/sarcastic wit of some of the hobbyist poster.
My conteraguments were not as clear or erudite, but included:
1) When the ladies ( or anyone ) get "trained" to expect only fluffballs, real questions seem out of place. On a board where reall issues are always discussed the ladies will rise to the occasion and show us what they are really made of.
2) I will not allow any of the guys to bash another poster because of their ideas ( obviously, this goes for the ladies as well ! ). "Piling on" post will be deleted. This will not become a "Flame Board". However, I will not delete real opinions, whether I or the majority agree with them or not.
3) One of the best ways for a lady to get business is to make an intelligent post. The majority of hobbyists who I have seen on these boards spend more time talking to the ladies than anything else, so why wouldn't seeing someone who made some interesting point here be an important factor ? I made the point that I fealt that if someone made one ( that's right, just one ) amzingly intelligent post, they would be getting new business rom it for a year ( they both disagreed.....we'll see ).
SO, the challenge is: can we make this work ? Can the guys refrain from throwing fluffballs and playing Sir Gallahad ? Refrain from attacking those who ask hard but reasonable questions of the ladies ?
Can the ladies take the questions as questions and not personal attacks ? Can they dazzle with brilliance in their replies ?
CAN THIS BOARD WORK ????????
[Edited by slinkybender on 12-14-2000 at 10:10 AM]