Where Are All the Women, or: Don't Girls Buy Blu-rays? Seriously! (1 Viewer)

[cwilli]

Aha! You've tipped your hand "Cheryl", if that is your real name. Only a middle-aged basement-dwelling male would know or care that Han Solo shot first. You had us going for a while, pretending to be a woman, but as I stated earlier in this thread, Rule #30 of the Internet is immutable: there are no girls on the Internet. Well played for getting this far, but the charade is over.

Hi Persianimmortal, Yes my real name is Cheryl and I'm really learning something about Home Theater in the sense that there really aren't a lot of women posters and I hope that changes. I've also been reading up on George Lucas on the internet and elsewhere where he wanted to make a lot more changes to Star Wars but was held back by the studios. I just saw a funny review at Plinkett's web site that reviews all three of the prequels and the mess George Lucas made of them.

 

[AnthonyClarke]

Well spotted, Koroush. Next thing we know there'll be 'women' claiming they enjoy a good Shiraz or Cab Sav instead of Sauvignon Blanc or even Chardonnay!

 

[cwilli]

Well spotted, Koroush. Next thing we know there'll be 'women' claiming they enjoy a good Shiraz or Cab Sav instead of Sauvignon Blanc or even Chardonnay!

Guilty. as far as the Sauvignon Blanc. But I do also enjoy Shiraz.

 

[FoxyMulder]

Technically speaking Han is the only one to shoot.

P.S. Let's be careful not to turn this into a Star Wars thread.

 

[schan1269]

What's wrong with Chardonnay?Currently sipping that with background music of Holly Cole, Neko Case and Vanessa Daou.

 

[Brent Reid]

Possibly the most tedious conversation in the world is a bunch of men discussing why there aren't women participating in their conversation

What are your thoughts on women's interest (or lack thereof) of participating in an HTF? Have you ever tried to invite a friend; and how'd that go? What are HTF's strengths that might be built on to interest women?

Thanks for your timely interjections Dave. I've really enjoyed some of the amusing posts here so far but would like this thread to stay more or less on topic. As the title says, the question is a serious one; reaching some sort of consensus and perhaps changing our modus operandi slightly could yield a positive effect on the size of HTF's membership.

Apart from the fact that as much as I love this forum and spend way too much time on here, it would be even better if the conversations herein were more evenly split between the sexes. I love the company of women and seldom socialise in all male environments generally, so why be forced to do so here?

I have a vested interest in this question too: I'm about to launch a site that I hope will become a major resource on silent film and early talkies. Though there is also a (somewhat lesser) gender imbalance in this area, there is the additional drawback of it being seen as largely the province of middle aged–elderly, university educated white males.

I want to help break this perception and make the site and the subject as accessible as possible to visitors of all races and all classes, young or old, male or female. Perhaps some serious, intelligent answers and even solutions here could help me too!

 

[TravisR]

I want to help break this perception and make the site and the subject as accessible as possible to visitors of all races and all classes, young or old, male or female. Perhaps some serious, intelligent answers and even solutions here could help me too!

[SOAPBOX]I'm not one for serious or intelligent answers but while understand how it's an issue, I think people should try to ignore people's gender (or race or sexual orientation). Society's goal should be to just think of everyone as a person regardless of what they are. That's not to say that people shouldn't have pride in or celebrate what they are but I think that can also create divisions and thinking of ourselves as one group is a better goal.[/SOAPBOX]

 

[AnthonyClarke]

There really is only one place where one should concentrate on what gender people are. That's not here .....

 

[Persianimmortal]

I want to help break this perception and make the site and the subject as accessible as possible to visitors of all races and all classes, young or old, male or female. Perhaps some serious, intelligent answers and even solutions here could help me too!

Being serious for a minute, this isn't a "perception" issue, there's just a plain lack of interest by most females in technically-oriented subjects like home theater. The same reason that, say, a forum dedicated to Barbie, Hello Kitty, or the Twilight saga, is predominantly female in audience. It's not just because men perceive these topics as being feminine, it's because most guys just aren't interested in them.

Now I'm not saying women shouldn't be interested in discussing home theater and Blu-rays, I'm saying that it's quite clear that most just aren't. I doubt they're being scared away by the big bad men on forums such as this one. Well perhaps the thought of Malcolm in heels is a contributing factor, we can't be sure.

Anyway, the only thing that will change the gender balance on certain topics is a societal shift in attitudes with regards to the traditional domains of men and women respectively. In short, there's nothing we can do about it here, other than being welcoming and treating everybody equally, as Travis has quite rightly pointed out.

It's also interesting to consider that if we want more women here so as to provide a different perspective, then we need to acknowledge that part of the reason women have a different perspective to men is precisely because they've been raised with different interests and expectations, and that creates a Catch 22 situation: we want people who are different from us to join our discussions, but their very difference means they're not interested in joining these discussions.

 

[FoxyMulder]

or the Twilight saga, is predominantly female in audience.

I have noted on such forums that there is a lot of venom directed towards Kristen Stewart, an actress i actually like, is this a jealousy thing because she dated Robert Pattinson, everytime they have an article on her on IMDB there is a lot of hateful comments, people should check her out in The Runaways or Adventureland, she isn't just a pretty face, she can act.

I don't think anything at HTF needs to change, this site is one of the most welcoming on the net, people just need to be themselves and if women wish to take part then they will, i think many probably already read the forum but perhaps don't wish to take part, the same is true of men, i just wonder why there aren't more cats into home theater, not seeing all the colours is no excuse.

 

[cineMANIAC]

As mentioned above, i have only seen two women posting here, you are one of them.

How do we know there aren't hundreds of female members posting - 98% of posters use gender-neutral aliases

I have to say I don't believe many women are actually interested in home theater equipment or presentation at all. I have 3 sisters and they all have appallingly-bad setups and couldn't care less about it. For starters most of what they watch on their crappy 32 inch LCDs are reality shows - movies are just things to pass the time while they sort out their differences on facebook. And when they do watch movies, unless I lend them a DVD or Blu-ray they're perfectly OK watching a bootlegged DVD. And this is the same EVERYWHERE I go

 

[Mike Frezon]

Apart from the fact that as much as I love this forum and spend way too much time on here, it would be even better if the conversations herein were more evenly split between the sexes. I love the company of women and seldom socialise in all male environments generally, so why be forced to do so here?

I have a vested interest in this question too: I'm about to launch a site that I hope will become a major resource on silent film and early talkies. Though there is also a (somewhat lesser) gender imbalance in this area, there is the additional drawback of it being seen as largely the province of middle aged–elderly, university educated white males.

I want to help break this perception and make the site and the subject as accessible as possible to visitors of all races and all classes, young or old, male or female. Perhaps some serious, intelligent answers and even solutions here could help me too!

Being serious for a minute, this isn't a "perception" issue, there's just a plain lack of interest by most females in technically-oriented subjects like home theater. The same reason that, say, a forum dedicated to Barbie, Hello Kitty, or the Twilight saga, is predominantly female in audience. It's not just because men perceive these topics as being feminine, it's because most guys just aren't interested in them.

I don't think anything at HTF needs to change, this site is one of the most welcoming on the net, people just need to be themselves and if women wish to take part then they will, i think many probably already read the forum but perhaps don't wish to take part, the same is true of men, i just wonder why there aren't more cats into home theater, not seeing all the colours is no excuse.

Brent: My advice would be to just have a friendly, well-moderated site. If women are interested in the topic, they'll come. And whoever comes to take part, treat them well and they will return. That's one of the basic tenets here. And it's one of the reasons our rules are structured the way they are (real first names, civil discourse, etc.).

We HAVE, admittedly, been having fun in this thread. it's what we do here. It's a fun topic.

But as Koroush points out, women is women and men is men and you can't force a change in gender realities.

And thanks to Malcolm for the props. As I noted above, it is important for the HTF that people feel welcome here and besides the occasional "hello" to a new member, that can mean a general feeling of being amongst friends learning about the latest technology or home video release...or having a passionate, but friendly, debate on the latest film.

 

[Dr Griffin]

I have noted on such forums that there is a lot of venom directed towards Kristen Stewart, an actress i actually like, is this a jealousy thing because she dated Robert Pattinson, everytime they have an article on her on IMDB there is a lot of hateful comments, people should check her out in The Runaways or Adventureland, she isn't just a pretty face, she can act.

I don't think anything at HTF needs to change, this site is one of the most welcoming on the net, people just need to be themselves and if women wish to take part then they will, i think many probably already read the forum but perhaps don't wish to take part, the same is true of men, i just wonder why there aren't more cats into home theater, not seeing all the colours is no excuse.

Stewart's good! She would be perfect as Ripley in an Alien reboot, in fact I would have rather seen her in Prometheus as Shaw. I also enjoyed The Runaways.

 

[schan1269]

The Cake Eaters. Nobody else fit the role.

 

[CraigF]

^ It would be nice if she didn't always look so grumpy. She's got little to make her look that way, all things considered. But yes, she can act.

Hmm, since some people brought it up, I really didn't remark until now that the rule about having a username that included your real name (first or last or both) was no longer in force. It's bloody obvious, just never thought about it. Many sites still require it, mostly those that have been around for almost 20 years.

 

[Mike Frezon]

It would still be required here, Craig...but we ran out of combinations for people. Hence the reason we still require the "real name" field in the user bit to the left of the posts.

You may stumble across some people who don't have a "real name" in place. And that's the result of transitioning from one host platform to another. Some data (believe it or not) is still in recovery mode and is still being worked on.

 

[FoxyMulder]

How do we know there aren't hundreds of female members posting - 98% of posters use gender-neutral aliases

You could be right

The Cake Eaters. Nobody else fit the role.

I haven't seen that one but looking it up on IMDB i see Mary Stuart Masterson directed it, that's a real blast from the past for me, i remember her from At Close Range, Fried Green Tomatoes and Benny & Joon and the guilty pleasure that is Bad Girls, an all female western with an absolutely fantastic Jerry Goldsmith music score, the BD of that one is riddled with edge enhancement and looks very dated, shame as i like the movie, maybe one day they will do a fresh new 4K scan but the current BD is unwatchable.

You may stumble across some people who don't have a "real name" in place. And that's the result of transitioning from one host platform to another.

Sure have.

 

[PaulaJ]

I read about CDs in Stereo Review (remember Stereo Review) two years before they became commercially available and couldn't wait for them (sorry vinyl/analog fans). I didn't buy many VHS tapes back in the 1980s and early 90s not only because of the frequently insanely high prices but because so many of them were pan and scan or open matte and VHS just looked bad anyway. It was fine for recording DALLAS when I went out on Friday nights but I didn't want to base a home library around VHS. Nowadays I buy lots and lots and lots of blu-rays and before that I bought lots and lots of DVDs and before that I bought lots and lots of laser discs. I knew the second I laid eyes on the Rodgers and Hammerstein Blu-ray box set versions of THE KING AND I and CAROUSEL that someone had screwed up royally and I am NOT happy about those transfers. I am in ecstasy over the Todd-AO Blu-ray of OKLAHOMA! I am constantly yammering on to hubby (who doesn't care much) about this transfer and that transfer. I often base purchases on the aspect ratio (i.e, did not buy the Blu-rays of JOHNNY GUITAR or MARTY and I think was the first person to raise here the issue of SHANE being released in 1:66 which created a firestorm) and I pay close attention to the Blu-ray reviews here, at DVDBeaver, DVDTalk and Blu-ray.com. I'm the one who makes the decisions about which TV or Blu-ray player to buy. I wish I had the kind of house and budget where I could buy and set up a gorgeous projection system but that will have to wait for another life. Meanwhile I'm really happy with the television we have -- the one I told my husband we were buying because that was the one -- and only one -- I wanted. P.S. "I enjoy being a girl."

 

[Dr Griffin]

I read about CDs in Stereo Review (remember Stereo Review) two years before they became commercially available and couldn't wait for them (sorry vinyl/analog fans). I didn't buy many VHS tapes back in the 1980s and early 90s not only because of the frequently insanely high prices but because so many of them were pan and scan or open matte and VHS just looked bad anyway. It was fine for recording DALLAS when I went out on Friday nights but I didn't want to base a home library around VHS. Nowadays I buy lots and lots and lots of blu-rays and before that I bought lots and lots of DVDs and before that I bought lots and lots of laser discs. I knew the second I laid eyes on the Rodgers and Hammerstein Blu-ray box set versions of THE KING AND I and CAROUSEL that someone had screwed up royally and I am NOT happy about those transfers. I am in ecstasy over the Todd-AO Blu-ray of OKLAHOMA! I am constantly yammering on to hubby (who doesn't care much) about this transfer and that transfer. I often base purchases on the aspect ratio (i.e, did not buy the Blu-rays of JOHNNY GUITAR or MARTY and I think was the first person to raise here the issue of SHANE being released in 1:66 which created a firestorm) and I pay close attention to the Blu-ray reviews here, at DVDBeaver, DVDTalk and Blu-ray.com. I'm the one who makes the decisions about which TV or Blu-ray player to buy. I wish I had the kind of house and budget where I could buy and set up a gorgeous projection system but that will have to wait for another life. Meanwhile I'm really happy with the television we have -- the one I told my husband we were buying because that was the one -- and only one -- I wanted. P.S. "I enjoy being a girl."

Wow, your husband doesn't care much about the subject, that's pretty funny, considering this topic. When I bring it up to my wife, she will let me go on for a bit, but it is met with a blank stare.

 

[Elizabeth S]

I have never had a female friend who was into A/V equipment. They usually ask me questions when they have an issue, but they are content to have it resolved and do not need to know how or why. I would be happy to explain, but they just are not interested. I personally want to be able to hook everything up and choose equipment myself without relying on anyone. (And I once kicked a guy out of my apartment for fiddling with my cables.)

While my female friends go to see movies, they do not have imdb in their brain like I do. (Funny thing is that I can remember some movie trivia better than things in my own life. Oddly, my other love, UH basketball does not stay in my brain at all -- can't remember stats and the names of long ago players sometimes.)

There are certainly women who are avid about these topics -- I just don't know any personally. Within my circle of female friends, I actually don't know anybody who posts on forums on any topic. A few might post and communicate with others about their day on their facebook page (which I find to be tmi most of the time).

I remember commenting to a friend a long time ago about posting on this forum. While I know more about A/V and movies amongst my friends, I said that much of the technical talk here is above my head. Even in movie talk, I know my knowledge of films pre-1960's is weak. While I may have strong opinions and some movies resonate with me so much, it's not always easy to analyze in writing. I think that the posters here are very articulate and knowledgeable. It can be a bit intimidating for the more casual A/V and entertainment fan.

But I think I enjoy forums like this because it Is a means of discussing topics I'm interested in with people who understand.