[SweetSunshine]

We've had some interest in a Woman's Only Support Chat. And in fairness, we'll also offer a Men's only chat.These will to be discuss any of those sensitive issues we need to talk about, mostly health. Providing we can get enough interested members. We are doing a poll to get votes to see how many are interested and we'll go from there. So please vote YES if you would like to see this happen!! OR vote NO if you dont.

[RozG]

I would definitely appreciate it for personal reasons. For starters there's some things i find hard to discuss in front of men, even husbands/ partners...and i'm sure sometimes men feel the same. In fact when i worked with abuse victims both men and women i found it was frequently harder for the men to open up in front of women.

IDK...i just think it would be helpful for some folks without meaning disrespect to either gender. So long as both genders have their own support and respect...sorry if i explain this badly.

[I_WMD]

I odd >> I Voted no to mens only ... Now if it said If you a Man >> I would have voted yes >> But I been a doormat to a woman for too long and I all along have been a man >> and took it >> so really ?? I odd >> or where do I fit in >> I think though woman do have a better controll on life >. so I would have voted yes there ..

Sorry >> But I personally feel hands tied >> so I must just scream from the inside >> and never let it out >> and except .... I just call it >> " Man Up " .

[pachyderm]

More segregation and isolation, less honest communication, it seems to me.

[Monty_girl]

I think a health chat with other women and men are a good idea. There are somethings you want to ask other women about health issues. And I'm sure men want to ask other men health questions as well. Think it's fair to have one chat for women and one for men. It wouldn't be a relationship chat there already is a chat for that. It would be just health issues. Just wanted to clear that up so there wouldn't be any confusion.

Hmmm.. I'm feeling like these issues fall under the umbrella of some of our other chats here... and I'm not sure why we should separate the men from the women. I feel like 90 percent of the chat members in most of the chats are women anyway... so if anything, maybe the men should get their own chat. Maybe the time slot could be better filled with a joint-gender psychosomatic chat-- a chat specific to the ways in which our mental health affects our physical being, and vice versa. It would probably be helpful for those with chronic pain, as well.

[SweetSunshine]

These chats are to help those who cant talk in front of the other gender about their health problems. Just like the forums we use for women's and men's only chats. This is something thats been asked for specifically by several members. If we need to include other health issues in specific chats we'll address that later on. It was in fairness that we are offering a men's only chat. We didnt want any gender to feel like they were being left out if they needed this too. That is why we are doing the poll to figure out all this. Whatever the poll tells us, we will be doing our best to fulfill those needs.

Thanks
Beth

I think this is a brilliant idea I personaly am ok talking in front of men however I know some people find it hard really really hard to talk in front of the oppersite sex ie men and woman only forum ! And it works too !

[Pseudonym]

I'm not interested in a women only or men only chat, but I don't see why we couldn't have one regardless of how this poll turns out. Is there something I'm missing?

So I think the question is phrased oddly. No, I wouldn't like one in the sense that I don't need it, but there's nothing objectionable about it.

[unpredictable]

I hate the men only, women only type chats because it makes me feel segregated. I understand that some people have issues with talking to the other sex but isn't it beneficial for those people to learn how to do so.

And even if they aren't ready for that yet there are always the private chat rooms available. I don't think we need to make a bunch of new chat rooms for every topic, that's what the forums are for.

So if a group of women or a group of guys want to talk alone they can simply open a private chat room. That's why they are there.

[50guy]

A men's chat would look just like the men's forum.

****chirp,chirp****

I kinda have to second what Guy said, there's a lot more (active?) women on the forums then men.

I've got nothing against women getting together and doing their own chat, though. I would feel slightly segregated but what's important is that people get their support, and if that's what members want, then that's what should happen, IMHO.

[SweetSunshine]

I think our objective is to provide a safe environment for women or men to talk in. We have no intentions of segregation here. And if there is a need to learn how to communicate better, I do have a support chat already set up for Relationships and Communication on Mondays @ 2pm. All our other special chats welcome both men and women and all teens too. Everyone is welcome to join these special chats.

[50guy]

OK, a clarification.... I would not oppose a women's only chat. I think they need privacy on some issues. I also think it would be wise to somehow make it secure and private for women only, no viewing by men.

I would not support a men's only chat, men just are not into a lot of talking, etc. One look at the men's forum and you know what I'm saying. We even put out a plea once to men to come post and that fell flat.

Is that because its still public and everyone can read it ? If it was a secure male only chat then maybe they would feel safer about opening up ......

To be completely honest, I guess I find the idea of not being able to talk about something "in front" of the opposite sex on an online forum/chat kinda weird.. only because ultimately, we can't always know if an online person is male or female. I would hope that if we did have separate male/female chats, that only the specified gender would come in... but what are you protecting yourself from if you can never really know?

[SweetSunshine]

That is something we will have to consider Pink, but I dont think it should stop us from helping others by doing this. Because for the most part, we know who the males and females are around here. So I dont see it as a huge problem and I still think it would be worth doing if the concensus feels this way too.

[SweetSunshine]

Well the results are up today... I will talk things over with Doc John to see if we will be persuing this. And will let you know as soon as possible. Thanks for participating!!