During my little holiday from OLO, I availed myself of the opportunity to peruse other Australian sites. I noted that there were plenty of intelligent, articulate and opinionated women blogging and commenting out there.

I'm wondering why it is that OLO increasingly attracts so few "regular" women posters in the comment's section?

While I was away, it seemed that Lexi was the only regular female contributor.
It seems it's almost exclusively male opinion around here - I wonder why?

Dear Poirot,

There were many female posters when I first joined
this forum and you're right slowly but surely
they have been disappearing.

One of the reasons could be that the standard of
debate on this forum has possibly become far more
shall we say - "conservative" (for want of a better
word ) and or "predictable."
And people feel no longer challenged or interested
in contributing.

The same old, same old, ideas and ideologies abound.
And some of the postings seem to have gotten more
personal and nastier - and that makes enjoyment in
posting less enjoyable.
And the few females that do remain - may be entertaining
thoughts of leaving as well - (haven't heard from Pelican
for a while).
Don't forget that quite a few males who used to
provide a bit intelligently - have gone as well. And
well reasoned and logical posters like Pericles,
to just name one, are posting less and less regularly.

A pity. But what can you do. I wonder what it says about
the rest of us who continue to post? (determined not to
give in no matter how we're pushed - perservering regardless).

cont'd ...

BTW: Welcome back!

Poirot, that's nonsense. Check the articles section and there are many women posters, many of whom manage to post without claiming to be victims of male oppression every second sentence.

Antiseptic,

My point was about the dearth of women posting consistently and regularly in the comment's section on this forum....I don't recall raising the issue as an adjunct to claims by women of male domination.

In fact, I don't see it as an issue of male domination. I see it as females by and large choosing not to participate in OLO.

Poirot, I was actually referring to Lexi's comment in my remark about claiming male oppression.

Personally, I don;t bother with the general section much anymore because there's very little chance of a real meeting of minds and I rarely have my own views challenged or my knowledge expanded.

I can't see any point in preaching to the choir, although perhaps that's what some of those who choose other venues might be seeking.