h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I would guess it's because what I really should have titled this journal is "internet headcases" rather than Domestic Abuse
which is really what my post was about.

And the fact that internet headcasery isn't restricted to the comments section of the more lurid newspaper websites.

Yes, sorry. It was about Internet idiots on comments forums.. Sorry sho if this was derailing your thread on reflection probably was.

The fact is that every single time any "women's issue" is raised, it will be hijacked as quickly as possible with either "that happens to men too" or "you're accusing all men of being evil". It's the basic tactic used to stop women speaking in public. If it happened once or twice, meh, it would just be people mouthing off on the internet; but when you have such an established pattern of behaviour you begin to see the problems.

It's even been observed in discussions of FGM, which always immediately (and I mean immediately) turn into discussions on male circumcision, and how terrible it is, and blah blah blah. And yes, I disapprove of male circumcision too. It's true. And it is semi-sort-of-almost relevant to a discussion of FGM. So you can see how people might bring it up not entirely in bad faith. But now once again a discussion of women's problems has been shut down and turned into a discussion by and about men.

Always.

That's why you need websites like Shakesville, which enforce really really strict moderation. It's the only possible way to discuss these issues.

And yes, I like the rambly nature of hootoo, and I love how thread drift can work here, but it's not the perfect way of discussing everything.

TRiG.

don't apologise Z - I think it's really interesting to hear how otherwise intelligent and rational people can turn into complete idiots when there is a keyboard between them and whoever they are talking to.

I waver between the thought that it is a deliberate attempt by "da menz" (and sorry if that offends, it's intended to separate the idiots from the majority of men who are completely normal and lovely) to shut down women's discussion (as opposed to "wimmen" who can be to annoying) or if it is just pure and simple selfish inability to see that people can be horrified about, say, FGM and circumcision.

I suppose it is a continuum.

oh and yes
the rambly nature of hootoo makes it incredibly sticky.

re 21 and 22:

Okay, I get it - and am for not getting it in the first place

Carry on

no prob

When we (the newspaper I w*rk for) created an Internet-version we decided to be very open and let people comment on articles etc as much as they liked.

Big mistake! And we soon had a moderator trying to keep up with the gazillion of hateful, idiotic, moronic - and what have you - comments.

Over the years we had had our fair share of stupid letters to the editor, but nothing could compare with the avalanche on the net. We were deeply shocked.

Sure, sometimes we had had to return snail mail to readers asking them to moderate their language, but this only happened like once a month - tops!

It was then that I realized that at least right here the press is far better than what the people deserve.

"And the fact that internet headcasery isn't restricted to the comments section of the more lurid newspaper websites."

My thoughts exactly.

oh oh oh
found one where, as a friend of mine commented when I posted it elsewhere, the comments are really interesting and - gasp - informed and well thought out. It's on an article about the Park Hill estate in Sheffield (and don't all groan if you know the place, we Sheffielders of an optimistic nature have high hopes of this redevelopment)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/dec/30/park-hill-estate

read and don't weep!

and another article about rape culture where the first few comments are by men along the lines of "men get raped too" as though that means we should ignore it all

*weeps*

oops
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/sexual-violence-is-not-a-cultural-phenomenon-in-india--it-is-endemic-everywhere-8433445.html

blimey, what is it with male comentators on the internet
don't they get that the reason for all-female shortlists is to correct the current power imbalance?

the fact that the Costa shortlist are all women had passed me by until I read 3 articles about it... but oh my, da menz are out in force and all over it like a rash

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/9778413/Costa-Prize-women-rule-the-literary-world-so-why-the-focus-on-men.html#dsq-comments