I’d like you, BDBO readers to take a moment to look at the post below to gain some context. Then you as a reader take a moment to respond.
I’ve been thinking about the reality most comment sections are dominated by males on all kinds of blogs (including BDBO) and observing for quite sometime and I want to make this a blog where dialogue doesn’t tend to be one gender dominated.
- I’d like to ask bloggers that are interested in this issue going on in their comments sections to pick up on this and leave a link so I can see and learn from the responses you receive.
- I’m asking for males and female readers of all age groups and interests for your opinion and your thoughts about this concern without being influenced by other commenters that participate.
- What can BDBO (this blog) do to facilitate a healthier mix of male and female comment that gives you respect, safety and being heard? Your courtesy in taking a few minutes to participate will help me give readers a better blog experience, a better experience of participating - and may help other bloggers faced with gender imbalanced comments. Thank you. I’m looking forward to your opinions, thoughts and ideas.:^)
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Funny, I never saw myself as being dominated. I open my mouth whenever I wish. Inserting my foot is happening less and less. But I’m okay with the way you do things here.
Besides, I shout louder than most folks. So Blog On, Bene. I’ll keep dropping by.
I wonder what factors come into play with blog comments and whether they are measurable (or need to be). There are bloggers by the nature of their personality who have a remarkable ability to draw others out.
I wonder what factors we are dealing with for conversation online that extend beyond one issue or either/or.
And I wonder what the ‘none experts’ have to say.:^)
Though I am not a big-time blogger, I have been looking in on one particular blog for some time now that seems to have decent balance of male/female readers/commenters. You might want to take a look-see at this site: http://www.preachermike.com. God bless!
Not sure what measurement you use for big time blogger - thanks for the link. What would you attitribute a healthy comment section to?
It seems to me that “a healthy comment section” grows out of posts that touch on the core issues of life and / or the challenges of living in relationship with others.
I think I have more male commenters on my blog than female, but I also have another gender specific phenomenon which grows out of blogging. I have received a number of private emails from my blog - usually follow up questions or longer observations - which to date have been (as far as I can tell) almost entirely from females.
I’m not sure if this indicates a gender preference for style of communcation.
Given this is the net, I do wonder what cultural, age or other forces come into play. That’s interesting, I think my email is around 50-50 and receive email from females hesitant to speak publically in comments. Like many of us they indicate that they don’t feel like fighting in a comment thread over various topics.
The biggest difficulty I’ve faced as a blogger is anger on evangelical blogs in the US - I think some of that is cultural misunderstanding and some may reflect the topic. However, I don’t believe the anger reflects the norm on any reasonable level.