Running out the door, but as I've been following this thread all day, I felt like I should at least say something - as one of the women who follow the site religiously, but rarely participate.
For me, the post that summarizes things the best was EasternGirl's (
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpos...&postcount=109) - I completely resonate with this section in particular:
Quote:
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As for the thread, I looked in the thread when it was first started out of curiosity and that curiosity quickly turned to disgust and discomfort so I no longer look in it. It's easy to just avoid the thread. The problem is that those pictures/comments don't stay in that thread. They are in a lot of different threads that have nothing to do with sexuality or women that end up just being pics or comments about women. I don't think men realize how uncomfortable it can be for women and how difficult it is to just "not look at it." It's everywhere. It's absolutely everywhere.
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In the end, I voted for 'shut it down' - not because every picture in the thread was 'bad' or a problem, but because on the whole, it sets a tone and a sends a message that this sort of thing (by which I mean, the objectification of women in general) is okay. Maybe more heavy moderation would help; I don't know. I know that the existing rules already specify that content 'tasteful' images of men/women may be posted in threads designated for such - but I'm not sure that those pictures are all tasteful. Much of the commentary certainly is not.
Finally, I say all of this this not only as a woman, but as one who is in a same-sex relationship. Trust me, I don't mind looking at an attractive woman; that's not the issue at all. The problem is as many of the other gals have stated far so much more eloquently than I - it would be one thing if all it were was tasteful images restricted to one thread. But it's not; the crass sentiments in particular - which aren't just limited to that thread - can make it feel incredibly unwelcoming.