The liberal dose of snideness, usually directed against men, is pretty off-putting, but I keep coming back because AIBU is so addictive.
Being overwhelmingly female doesn’t really do MN any favours (except as a ‘safe space’ for those suffering horrific abuse and coming here for advice). It is interesting to see how the majority treats the minority, much of it of a drip drip drip variety which is not always easy to spot when you’re not being the one being dripped on. For example, all the seemingly harmless stereotyping. Every time I read here how hopeless men are at [pick something women pride themselves on – say, multitasking], I think, OK, that’s not my experience; am I just an outlier? What good does it really do anyone to say this stuff, other than a little ego boost? Just one of the little drips.
A lot of the predominately male sites are bad, in their own way. I think that ideally a site should be around 50/50, like RL.
My wife is scathing about MN. I come here more often than she does, probably because I have higher tolerance for the pain that comes from so much eye-rolling (and can be bothered to post from time to time), though having said that, she actually laughed at the SWT thing when I mentioned it, having initially winced at it myself. Doubtless there are those here who would tell her she’s her own worst enemy. She has also wondered aloud just how many frequent posters are married or manage to stay very long in relationships. (Yes, I know that’s not every woman’s goal.)
As others have mentioned, there’s a lot of very black and white thinking on display. Nuance doesn’t tend to be rewarded. More’s the pity.