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bob
Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 04:58 pm:   

Is it just me or is this message board the retreat of a mainly male variety. With the honourable exception of Lindy who posts regularly its mainly a mans world in GB universe by the looks of all the posts on this board.
Now why is that then -open up the dicussion to the floor -take it away ladies (if there are any out there :-)) and gentlemen
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Gareth
Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 05:12 pm:   

I agree with you Bob. Put it this way - I certainly wouldn't come here to pull. I think if the GB's were a new band there'd be more of a mix here but bands such as this who have a more 'selective' audience tend to attract the trainspotter more than those who are regularly top of the charts and the trainspotter tends to be predominatly male. Dunno. On an unrelated note, heard 'Spring Rain' playing in the Gap the other day. Bought some socks to celebrate.
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Jeff Whiteaker
Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 07:10 pm:   

I think there are a few things at work here. First of all, I've come across more male Go-Betweens fans than female. There are certainly some serious Go-Betweens fans who are women; in fact an ex-girlfriend of mine from many years ago was as obsessed with the Go-Betweens as I am. Which is a lot. But in general, I've only met a handful of women who are genuinely obsessed with the band, compared with countless males. I don't know why that is, but there really does seem to be something in that stereotype of the 30-40-something record geek male.

My second point is that it seems to me that women tend to be less inclined to take part in these "trainspotter"-esque, music-related message boards. In fact, all the message boards I participate in are glaringly lacking in feminine presence (Tape Op, Cathal Coughlan, Prefab Sprout, etc..). It seems that for whatever reasons, cultural or whatever, males tend to be more drawn to this type of thing. Maybe this is similar to what Gareth is saying, to an extent.
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Michelle
Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 11:17 pm:   

Simple really. We are far too busy with housework, helping with homework and completing the quarterly GST return. And then we go out to paid work which is casual or part time and end up working longer unpaid hours. Intro mournful violin.

This observation is not new. I had a whinge about this place being too blokey a while ago.
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Craig Davis
Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 02:50 am:   

I agree with Jeff. All the music appreciation activities at the geeky end of the spectrum - obsessive record collecting like band or label completists, discography compilation, bootlegging, djing, obscure radio shows, band related chat rooms, etc - always attract more males than females. Go to a record fair and it's obvious. Certainly there are many women just as into as anyone but they are oustripped in numbers by men. Now, whether women don't feel welcome and are put off or just aren't as interested is harder to say. There's definitely something in the social conditions that sanctions, re-inforces and supports the desire of men to collect certain items, music being only one of them. There are others to, notably trains. 'Trainspotting' is a term lifted from another, mainly male, collecting phenomenon.

One thing for certain is the imbalance is not due to women in general having no time for anything except the dishes, chasing the kids and work. Michelle if you have other interests change your life. If the activities you mention are consuming interests in your life don't be a martyr about it.
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Michael
Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 03:33 am:   

It's also worth pointing out that Go-Betweens shows are a mostly male domain with the exception of the few female fans and girlfriends of Go-Betweens obsessed guys. Heck I'm one of them.
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Michael
Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 03:36 am:   

Go-Betweens obsessed fan that is, not girlfriend.
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Pete Azzopardi
Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 04:05 am:   

Don't know what the big fuss is - male Go-Bs fans are generally a pack of girls anyway. Name me one bloke who hasn't been inspired by Robert Forster to put on a dress.
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Craig Davis
Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 04:12 am:   

LOL!
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Randy Adams
Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 03:46 pm:   

A long time ago a woman told me that men never grow up and remain little boys who like to play with their toys. I guess that's just how it is and this board reflects it.

I leave the dresses to Robert, btw. He has better hair.
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Mark Ilsley
Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 03:56 pm:   

T'is because they can't squeeze in-between our big fat male egos and I'm as guilty as the next man.

Gender considerations count for little on the internet. It's every man for himself and that's the way it's always been. Perhaps it can be changed but I live to see the day.

The anonymity of the net suits most men and disturbs most women. Male identities would be a large majority in almost every meeting place on the net. This has absolutely nothing to do with the demographics of the GB fan base.

However, I can't say that I know what the demographics of the GB fan base is. It's probably older than most. It might be largely male but I doubt it. Probably closer to 50/50. Probability has a way of dealing with these things. I don't see any reason to assume that men find their music more appealing than women.

Now, if you'd been talking about Korn or Limp Bizkit...
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julia
Posted on Thursday, April 22, 2004 - 12:25 pm:   

well that's an interesting discussion about gender roles...
I had to ask myself why is it that I only read all the new entries but almost never respond to them or write my own ones. Certainly it isn't that I wouldn't have to say something, though you are right that I'm really not so much interested in the 'technical stuff' like what kind of guitar was played at which concert (gender distribution, hello!). But that's simply because I'm not a musician myself.
I guess it's - and now I'm speaking only about myself - the fear of being dismissed as a mere groupie...

guys are the collectors, the nerdy geeks, but I often feel that when women are really into music, it isn't taken as serious. it's ok for the men on this board to comment on the pic of Rob Forster in his underpants in David's book, but it would have a different connotation/ sound to it coming from a woman!

well, I dunno... we cannot all be the silent majority, there really seem to be less women around here. But a few are! :)
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Anonymous
Posted on Thursday, April 22, 2004 - 12:40 pm:   

I've got my tickets for the Dublin gig even though I'm due my third kid a week later. Wouldn't miss it! Make room up the front for me please.
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Michael
Posted on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 08:19 pm:   

Great! I'll be able to rest my Guinness on your bump!

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