Is there a similar forum to MN for men? And if not, why not?

[Multidimensionalbeing]

Because I think there should be.

I don't hate men though it will probably be suggested. I really don't. And I think the forum should be open to anyone who wants to use it for advice.

But....It's becoming increasingly strange around here. We've always had the 'what about the menz?' posters derailing threads talking about the harrassment or abuse of women by pointing out that women do it too..... Though it seems worse recently.

But now it seems that so many threads descend into accusations that men are treated differently on MN and often they are. But surely that's because it has a predominantly female membership? Who will see things from the female perspective?

It seems to me that it's causing division and bun-fighting among posters when I genuinely don't understand why there isn't a similar forum available for men?

Why not?

Why does a man join a predominantly female forum to then point out that they're not being treated like a woman? Or....just sit and watch as the women do it for them?

If there is no where else for them on-line then why not?

I'm sure it's possible.

What annoys me most is when the male poster presents their opinion as the opinion of all men.

I have encountered the EXACT opposite in reverse the past week. Females posting their opinion and professing to speak for all women.

MrsDustyBusty

There is nothing to stop you from starting a private women's only forum, its very easy to do.

To me, it's the equivalent of a man buying Woman's Own or Woman's Weekly or something. Then writing in with their male perspective to enlighten the womenz

The WATM male posters have been very noticeable on here in the past couple of weeks and I’m actually wondering if we’ve been targeted by another forum because it really is starting to feel like an invasion.

To me, it's the equivalent of a man buying Woman's Own or Woman's Weekly or something.

Woman's Own/Weekly is for males and females too. Men do write into so called "female magazines" and make the letters/opinion pages.
As a woman am I only supposed to read stuff about shoes or make up?
No, I can read about engineering etc. Just like men can read about shoes and make up.

Cue all the male posters piling on to tell me I have ishoos because I don't value their input......... sigh.

I prefer the input of fellow women.

Jaysis Christ Krytens next you'll be telling me sanitary towels are for men too.

KrytensNanobots: You are wilfully misunderstanding because you want Mumsnet HQ to come here and comment that all people are welcome.

We are not stupid, we get it. The rules say everyone is welcome BUT some of us personally would prefer if men were not on here. It does not mean we don't understand the rules.

Exactly trueheart1

Gosh Krytens what would the men do without you rushing in to defend their honour on any thread where women dare share their lived experience of men.

Jaysis Christ Krytens next you'll be telling me sanitary towels are for men too.

Erm.. ok, if you say so.

There is nothing to stop you from starting a private women's only forum, its very easy to do.

I know that, on both counts.

I don't want to be private, just to hear less from men and more from women.

I know that lots of people find that a shocking preference, but it's out there.

MrsDustyBusty

But if those that have this preference truly want a women only forum then that is what you/they would have to do.

what would the men do without you rushing in to defend their honour on any thread where women dare share their lived experience of men.

WTF are you on about? Nobody has shared their live experience of men on here.
Just said men aren't welcome. I said that doesn't speak for everyone.
Mumsnet will no doubt clear that point up.
I have experiences with men too. Why are my experiences and opinions not valid? Gets a bit tiring being shouted down if you don't tow the "preferred way of thinking."

No Boney because men will have to stick their noses in where it's not wanted.

The difference is that no man buys woman's weekly for make up and style advice (nor pops onto mumsnet for the same). They do it because think the little wimmins will be ever so grateful for their mainly advice and expertise, and lo, the editors (and the harems that develop around male posters on here) prove them right. Because as women we have been culturally expected to see the menz as the all-knowing, all-powerful and to be grateful for their wisdom.
Of course women can be interested in engineering and whatnot. But try explaining that to the men who see those women in their midst as inadequate and a threat to their own superiority. Weird huh? A woman in a stem context is shut down and minimized, but get a man on here and the flocks of adoring pigeons arrive.

And yes, it is of course perfectly possible to have ordinary conversation and debate between men and women, but both the men and women involved have to respect each other as equals. If they don't (which is so often the case on here) it just reinforces the usual patriarchal power relations. Oo powerful God-like man, minister to me, your weakling minion.
It's embarrassing to watch.
I have a bazillion male friends. I worked in a male dominated industry. I'm entirely capable. I find it really fucking creepy that men crawl about on here building up an army of worshippers just because they infiltrated a female space. Find me the equivalent of a woman with an adoring crowd of men on any male forum (where they aren't just admiring her tits).
I don't give a toss that men post on here for parenting advice. But it ain't the second coming when they start mansplaining about why all women are wrong.

Or at least that men should be welcome to join in any discussions about sanitary products, because they might have a valuable contribution to make so we musn't let the poor things feel unwanted.

Men being here is fine. Men making a point of their maleness with their manblokedadmaleboylad usernames and "as a man" comments are irritating. Men feeling that what a thread discussing violence against women really needs is a reminder that some men experience violence too are offensive.

I used to be in the ladies loos on lj. When the decision was taken to ensure it was a women only group, some male ljers threw their toys out of the pram to a ridiculous extent. The more tantrums they threw, the gladder I felt that they wouldn't be in tll any more. I remember reading a "this is offensive I am so pro women I am an ally and a feminist and all my friends are women and excluding me is terrible and sexist and just as bad as all the stuff you're complaining about" rant and thinking mate, if you genuinely do not get why some women want some women only communities you are no real ally. They started a male only community, the company of men, which died pretty quickly.

Many, many men do not understand why some women need some women only spaces. But we do. MN is not women only, or parent only, as is made very clear. But it has always been overwhelmingly female dominated, in a way few large online communities really are, and I do wonder why men feel a need to be part of it, and question why they want to change it to a less women focused environment.

BobtheFireman

Just out of interest, how long have you been on MN?

I can assure yo men have their own forums. They aren’t public like MN probably because they don’t want you to see what vile things they spew about women on them

But if those that have this preference truly want a women only forum then that is what you/they would have to do.

Yes, I know that.

It'd would just be nice, in a fantasy scenario that I already see doesn't exist, if there was a place where women could go and talk and men, all men, felt free to let us at it without their intervention and moderation without needing privacy settings or anything that would make it harder for women to just register and talk and for other women to read if they wanted to.

BobtheFireman
No Boney because men will have to stick their noses in where it's not wanted.

But MNHQ haven't said that men aren't wanted on here.

We get it Krytens. You like having the input of men. Judging by the responses on this thread, a vast majority of women are not so enthused about their input.

Vast majority? Read a bit closer. There are just as much out there that agree with me.

MrsDustyBusty

but again this isn't a woman only place. It has never (to my knowledge) been advertised as a women only space.