Explain this to me.

[IndigoChild5559]

I looked in vain for a forum called women's issues. None exist. Can someone explain to me why there is a special forum for men's issues but not a similar forum for women's issues?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Feminist Only

This is for Feminist discussion and ideas only. This is not for debate.

www.religiousforums.com

 

[Debater Slayer]

I looked in vain for a forum called women's issues. None exist. Can someone explain to me why there is a special forum for men's issues but not a similar forum for women's issues?

More than a decade ago, some members suggested adding a "Feminist Only" forum, and after the staff had gauged that many members would be interested in one, the staff created it. Then some members asked for a forum for discussion of men's issues, and there was also considerable interest in one, so the staff created it.

The political landscape in many parts of the world (including the US, where most of the membership is) has changed in some noticeable ways since then, though, and there's also the fact that many people care about or are interested in women's issues but don't identify as feminists. I think it may be a good idea to have a poll to gauge the level of interest in a "Women's Issues" forum.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

More than a decade ago, some members suggested adding a "Feminist Only" forum, and after the staff had gauged that many members would be interested in one, the staff created it. Then some members asked for a forum for discussion of men's issues, and there was also considerable interest in one, so the staff created it.

The political landscape in many parts of the world (including the US, where most of the membership is) has changed in some noticeable ways since then, though, and there's also the fact that many people care about or are interested in women's issues but don't identify as feminists. I think it may be a good idea to have a poll to gauge the level of interest in a "Women's Issues" forum.

Although I personally identify as a feminist, I would think a "women's issues" forum would appeal to a much wider audience. I'm sure there would be as many debates about bottle versus breast as working mom versus sahm

FWIW I never saw a "feminist forum" either. Was it shut down?

I also think part of the problem is there seems to be different definitions of feminist. My son tells me I'm a "first wave" feminist, whatever the heck that is, but apparently today's feminists are different. I can't imagine how. All feminism is, is the idea that women have equal worth, and deserve the same respect, autonomy, and opportunities as men. For the life of me, I can't understand why anyone would be opposed to things like "equal pay for equal work."

 

[Debater Slayer]

Although I personally identify as a feminist, I would think a "women's issues" forum would appeal to a much wider audience. I'm sure there would be as many debates about bottle versus breast as working mom versus sahm

Agreed.

FWIW I never saw a "feminist forum" either. Was it shut down?

It's still there:

Feminist Only

This is for Feminist discussion and ideas only. This is not for debate.

www.religiousforums.com

To be able to post there, though, members need to opt in to it, as with all "Only" sections and DIRs.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I also think part of the problem is there seems to be different definitions of feminist. My son tells me I'm a "first wave" feminist, whatever the heck that is, but apparently today's feminists are different. I can't imagine how. All feminism is, is the idea that women have equal worth, and deserve the same respect, autonomy, and opportunities as men. For the life of me, I can't understand why anyone would be opposed to things like "equal pay for equal work."

Just saw this edit.

Yeah, I think some people may be less inclined to identify as feminists due to the wide variation in the types of feminism, as they may not want to be associated with specific types despite agreeing with other ones. I have found that this applies to a lot of labels associated with various social and political movements.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

Agreed.



It's still there:

Feminist Only

This is for Feminist discussion and ideas only. This is not for debate.

www.religiousforums.com

To be able to post there, though, members need to opt in to it, as with all "Only" sections and DIRs.

OMG. So this forum treats feminism as if it's a POLITICAL movement????
But not men's issues. That's somehow different.

You've managed to sour my evening.

Sorry, but I can't make heads or tails about how things are run in here. SMH.

Can you please explain what you mean by "To be able to post there, though, members need to opt in to it, as with all "Only" sections and DIRs."?? I saw Rival's warning not to attack or name call, but it sounds like you are talking about more than that.

 

[Debater Slayer]

OMG. So this forum treats feminism as if it's a POLITICAL movement????
But not men's issues. That's somehow different.

The people who proposed making a feminist section as one of the "Only" forums identified as feminists, and most of them saw it as a sociopolitical movement. The "Men's Issues" forum was different in that it wasn't meant to represent a movement or set of movements but a general subject.

There were suggestions for a "Masculinist Only" section at some point, but they were few and didn't get much support or interest from members. A "Masculinist Only" section would have also been under the same parent forum as the "Feminist Only" section, since it would have represented a movement or set of movements.

You've managed to sour my evening.

I'm merely telling you about the history of the forum sections you asked about, not making value judgments or giving my personal opinions about them or about the subjects they focus on. If that sours your evening, I don't think that's something I can do anything about.

Sorry, but I can't make heads or tails about how things are run in here. SMH.

Feel free to ask any questions you want if you would like more clarification. I would be happy to answer to the best of my ability.

Can you please explain what you mean by "To be able to post there, though, members need to opt in to it, as with all "Only" sections and DIRs."?? I saw Rival's warning not to attack or name call, but it sounds like you are talking about more than that.

Members can only post in a DIR or "Only" section by going to the "Account details" page and checking the box of said DIR or section. The software may take about an hour to update their settings, after which they should be able to post there. That's what I meant by "opt in to it."

The sticky thread that you mentioned contains information that is now outdated, so we should unsticky it. I will go do that now; thanks for bringing that to my attention.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

Members can only post in a DIR or "Only" section by going to the "Account details" page and checking the box of said DIR or section. The software may take about an hour to update their settings, after which they should be able to post there. That's what I meant by "opt in to it."

So you are saying that if I upload a new thread into the Feminist forum, but have no clicked some kind of box on my profile, that my post can be removed?

There is not notification in the feminist forum itself that indicates this. I'm not sure why they would expect people to know.

Anyhow, I'll now take time out to take care of this.

 

[Debater Slayer]

So you are saying that if I upload a new thread into the Feminist forum, but have no clicked some kind of box on my profile, that my post can be removed?

No, a member is software-locked out of posting in "Only" sections unless they check the box of the one or ones whose worldview they subscribe to. The "Only" sections function like DIRs in that regard to prevent accidental posting from outsiders (which, before the software was first changed in 2014, was a recurring issue).

There is not notification in the feminist forum itself that indicates this. I'm not sure why they would expect people to know.

The "Only" forums and DIRs themselves don't have sticky threads about the opting in. Rule 10 clarifies the rules for both, though:

10. Debating in Non-debate Forums or Posting in DIR/ONLY Forums
Religious forums is structured to provide spaces for many different kinds of conversations. Different kinds of conversations belong in different areas of the forum:

1) Debates should be kept to the debate areas of the forums, including Religious Debates, General Debates, and Political Debates. Debating anywhere other than these forums may result in moderation. Same Faith Debates is governed by special rules described here. Only members of the specified groups(s) can participate in these threads.

2) All DIR (Discuss Individual Religions) forums are for the use of members who identify with those groups or practices. Debating is not permitted in DIRs; debates between members of specified groups should be posted in Same Faith Debates. A member may select up to a maximum of three (3) DIRs with which they identify. A member may change their selection of DIRs at any time, but the total number of DIRs selected must never exceed three (3). Members who do not identify with a DIR group may not post in that DIR section; we recommend creating a thread in the Religions Q&A instead where there is more freedom to comment. DIR forums are not to be used as a cover to bash others outside of the DIR group.

3) The Political World forum has several "only" subforums that are for the use of members who identify with those political leanings. Members who do not identify with those political leanings are not allowed to post there. "Only" subforums are not to be used as a cover to bash others outside of the "Only" group.