Selma wrote: "Since I am the only woman left on Goanet, I am trying desperately to be the messenger of peace."
---------- Firstly... When I last checked Viviana was till one of the moderators of GoaNet. Christina runs the GoaNet cyber matrimonials. Melinda, Ana Maria, Helga, Jane, Bernice, Ruby, Arlette, Therese, Parvish, Joyce, Winnie are a few names that come to mind as occasional posters. These all are women. No? Secondly... Selma's statement reeks of sexism, "Since I am the only woman..." Implying that only women can be messengers of peace. I just checked through the Nobel Peace Prize list as well as other peace making endeavours and found that women do not enjoy a monopoly on the peace process. Therefore if just one statement contains two major factual errors. I wonder what else will be exposed if I analyse the rest of Selma's posting. For example whether a 'messenger of peace' brokering a deal between two posters, when there are many other posters and issues involved, is promoting peace or playing to the audience. But let it be. Selma does bring up an interesting topic. GoaNet has always been an arena not for the faint hearted. This is true of most cyberforums of this scale and complexity. Even then uptil some three years back we had quite a decent percentage of regular female posters who could take the heat and spar with the best. Then a singular female galdiator came along who dominated the bandwidth and browbeat most of the women posters into retreat, and flattered many of the major male posters into submission. Or maybe I'm reading it all wrong. The composition of women posters and subscribers on GoaNet, and the reasons for their participation, or lack of participation, is a worthy topic for discussion. If for nothing else than to take the heat away from the moderation issue. Will the other women on this forum speak up, or at least stand up to be counted? Cheers! Cecil Pinto Cyber Socio-Anthropologist ========
