Female-Friendly Forum...

[seienchin]

This thread arises out of a discussion we have been having between the moderators. It is a thread to explore a phenomenon we have been watching with a little bit of concern for about a year now - we seem to have had a big drop off in our women members. Now this might be because you are all too busy training, holding down a job, raising kids and winning tournaments. Or it might be that we have done something that offended you.

If you are female, a forum member, and have stopped being active in the forum for any reason other than your life's choices, we would like to know why, particularly if there is something that could be changed to make it a better place.

If you don't feel like posting a response in the public space, please PM any of Mods.

Men: For the first time , we are going to ask you to respect the "women's" part of this forum. If you have views about this, please post them in this separate thread (kindly started by Fred) (http://www.kyokushin4life.com/forums...042#post208042) (even if you are wearing a skirt).

[powerof0ne]

(even if you are wearing a skirt).
:sad: :(...I kid, I'll abide and perhaps even making a feature on the forum where only female members can access it? It might require new members to answer if they're male or female when they sign up (and create work of going back). I think that would help tremendously in keeping females only in that part of the forum but what do I know.
Osu!

[supergroup7]

I can tell you that I haven't been offended by anything that I've read on the forum.

I know that I haven't been posting much, but then, I've been extremely busy in my life right now. I do come, visit, and read the little bits that I can.

I don't mind if men read, or post in the women's part at all.. but then I guess that I'm not shy about that sort of thing. In a way, I think that it is a healthy thing for men to learn about the extra challenges that occur in women who train in Martial Arts. Every man that has posted on the women's section has done so with politeness. (At least in my opinion.)

[Jess_N]

I agree with Supergroup7.

Nothing on here has offended me. I dont post often but I do love just jumping on and having a look at the threads.

[seienchin]

thanks for the responses:
Therefore - strategy one - get some threads going where you "lurking" members just can't help yourselves, and get those fingers busy!

[KvW]

Totally agree with Supergroup7

I've certainly never been offended by anything anyone has said on here. I have to confess to being more of an occasional lurker than poster these days, but that's just because I'm really busy at the moment.

Osu!

[seienchin]

Thanks KvW - you are definitely one of the people we had noticed "lurking" but not posting - and that is great that you still visit even though you are busy. Appreciate you dropping by to let us know all is cool!
:cool:

[Minas]

I'm on here for a while now and I haven't felt offended yet. Very rare there is someone who has some disrespectful ideas about women (there was one at one point, I don't remember when or where at this forum anymore), but that person got put on his place by both men and women on here and I haven't seen him since then.

I can imagine that some things might offend some women, if they have got no sense of humor and are extremely feminists. But I don't want this to become a boring, serious place, humor is more then welcome here. Life shouldn't have to be too serious, neither does K4L has to be.

One of the ladies who left wasn't because someone has been offending her because she's a woman. But she did get some disrespectful treatment and I think she just didn't like the way of thinking and reacting of some people here. So that's why she left. I think you know who I am talking about :)

Osu!

[KvW]

Thanks KvW - you are definitely one of the people we had noticed "lurking" but not posting - and that is great that you still visit even though you are busy. Appreciate you dropping by to let us know all is cool!
:cool:

My browser automatically opens a K4L tab every time I boot up the computer so it's easy to pop in and have a nosy no matter what I'm doing. A much needed distraction from time to time :D


Osu!

[seienchin]

I'm on here for a while now and I haven't felt offended yet. Very rare there is someone who has some disrespectful ideas about women (there was one at one point, I don't remember when or where at this forum anymore), but that person got put on his place by both men and women on here and I haven't seen him since then.

I can imagine that some things might offend some women, if they have got no sense of humor and are extremely feminists. But I don't want this to become a boring, serious place, humor is more then welcome here. Life shouldn't have to be too serious, neither does K4L has to be.

One of the ladies who left wasn't because someone has been offending her because she's a woman. But she did get some disrespectful treatment and I think she just didn't like the way of thinking and reacting of some people here. So that's why she left. I think you know who I am talking about :)

Osu!

Thanks Minas - you are absolutely correct - we have recently lost both men and women members because of disrespectful, discourteous treatment. We all want K4L to be a friendly place, and fun too. Jokes are good, as long as they are not at someone's expense.

Thanks for taking the time to post - these are very useful perspectives.

[seienchin]

I can tell you that I haven't been offended by anything that I've read on the forum.

I know that I haven't been posting much, but then, I've been extremely busy in my life right now. I do come, visit, and read the little bits that I can.

I don't mind if men read, or post in the women's part at all.. but then I guess that I'm not shy about that sort of thing. In a way, I think that it is a healthy thing for men to learn about the extra challenges that occur in women who train in Martial Arts. Every man that has posted on the women's section has done so with politeness. (At least in my opinion.)

OSU-EN2 SG7 - it's great to hear from you in this thread -you are another one I was worried about. You used to be so prolific! I am glad that it is just life in the way.
OSU-EN2

[bobh]

It seems that by simply asking about "lost" members has brought some out of the woodwork! :-D

-- Roberta

[supergroup7]

I'm not lost, Seienchin.:)

I wish that I had more time to dedicate to posting, and reading on this forum.

The only reason that I can find time to post right now is that I'm unemployed for a little while. ( I've got a job interview coming up soon.. so that situation may change.)

My leisure time has been reserved for extra training to prepare for some important events in my Karate path. Even so, I still feel like there isn't enough time in a day, nor strength in my body to do what I would want to do.

[StarKodama]

As for me... It's nothing to do with this site. This site has always been great to me. :)

It's just that...... I quit karate. It's been months since I set foot in a dojo. To be honest I was just tired of it all and I wasn't enjoying it anymore. Karate had become a source of anxiety and stress in my life. It wasn't fun anymore, in fact it had become the exact opposite.

I quit in July of last year and honestly I haven't regretted it once. So don't worry about me! I'm doing great. :D Of course my husband still trains hard and I support him 100%. And he was 100% supportive to me when it came time to make the tough decision of whether to leave or stay, and continues to support me. I'm now actually a hot yoga junkie, and Ryuji thinks it's great because I'm a lot less stressed!

So! That's why I haven't been posting much. I do come on and read posts from time to time, but I just don't have much to add anymore. ^^;

[seienchin]

HI Star - I am stunned! But I am pleased that you are happy and settled in your decision.

If you are not enjoying it, stopping is definitely the right thing to do.

We have missed you tho'. You can still hang out - plenty of other keyboard budo practitioners here!

[kakatootoshi]

I quit in July of last year and honestly I haven't regretted it once. So don't worry about me! I'm doing great. :D Of course my husband still trains hard and I support him 100%. And he was 100% supportive to me when it came time to make the tough decision of whether to leave or stay, and continues to support me. I'm now actually a hot yoga junkie, and Ryuji thinks it's great because I'm a lot less stressed!

I have a great suggestion!
Why not invite him to post on his own or from now on you use this account to post for him.;)

[supergroup7]

Oh StarKodama, I have missed you. I'm sorry to hear about what happened, and I do remember how miserable you were. I'm glad that you have found peace, and happiness in a different activity.

[harukaze]

As for me... It's nothing to do with this site. This site has always been great to me. :)

It's just that...... I quit karate. It's been months since I set foot in a dojo. To be honest I was just tired of it all and I wasn't enjoying it anymore. Karate had become a source of anxiety and stress in my life. It wasn't fun anymore, in fact it had become the exact opposite.

I quit in July of last year and honestly I haven't regretted it once. So don't worry about me! I'm doing great. :D Of course my husband still trains hard and I support him 100%. And he was 100% supportive to me when it came time to make the tough decision of whether to leave or stay, and continues to support me. I'm now actually a hot yoga junkie, and Ryuji thinks it's great because I'm a lot less stressed!

So! That's why I haven't been posting much. I do come on and read posts from time to time, but I just don't have much to add anymore. ^^;
Sorry to hear that you decided to quit, but glad to hear that you're happier and healthier for it! :)

I have a great suggestion!
Why not invite him to post on his own or from now on you use this account to post for him.
I second this! It was always interesting to hear about developments in Japan with a personal touch. :D

[DharmaDesigns]

Starkodama! Wow, I am surprised you quit karate, but I am glad you are happier now. Some of the Zumba classes I teach now get so hot from all of the people dancing that I call it "Hot Zumba" sometimes. :D

I have been offended at times in the past, but I always confonted the offensive remarks head on. I tend to do that in life; I stand up for what's right, even to my own detriment. I'm just wired that way. :o

I love K4L. I just became so darn busy that I lost touch. Then I felt kind of left out and forgotten after being gone so long. By the time I checked back in, there were so many new members who were so involved. I guess that made me feel even more on the "outs". I missed K4L every day I was away, and I talked to you all in my head all the time. (I guess that makes me nuts!:eek:) I would always think, "I really want to talk to my K4Lers about this..." when different things would happen in my life.

I love this thread, seienchin. You are very sweet to be concerned about the women of K4L. XOXO

OSU-EN2

[supergroup7]

Oh.. I can understand where you are coming from, girlfriend, when you talk about feeling "out of touch".

Especially when I come back, and there are over a thousand new postings waiting for me. I just can't read them all.. so I have to pick and choose which ones I can read today. I do feel "out of the loop" when people mention specifics from another thread in their conversations assuming that everyone would be up to date with what's been happening lately.

I've missed you too DharmaDesigns. Big hugs.

[DharmaDesigns]

Big hugs back at ya, Supergroup7! :)

OSU-EN2

[seattle]

I occasionally look throught the female fighters threads. I have found some bits of information that has helped my approach for womens training.

If I come across a piece of information that seems important to female training, I will send them the link and encourage them to read and give me feedback.

[Dent]

Osu!

Sorry to hear it, StarKodama, although I do respect your decision.

Osu!