Date: Fri, 7 May 1993 13:59 CDT From: Subject: File 2-- Response to Wes Morgan Wes Morgan wrote: > Can you >give an example of a free speech forum that does *NOT* have the po- >tential to cause this fear and/or reticence? No, I can't, Wes, and maybe that's the point? I think it's obvious that I'm not one of the women who feels "chilled" by verbal sparring. Among the points which I was trying to make is that *some* women (and some men) are. Just as a quick recap, my main points (apparently ill developed) were these: 1. There's nothing wrong with using a feminist perspective to conduct social science studies of computer mediated communication and computer technology issues. I did not, and do not intend to, suggest other perspectives should not also be used. 2. Several factors (accessibility and "harassing" posts among them) may be operating in such a way as to systematically exclude women from full participation in the net community. 3. I think the existing data are slim. We need more. I'll stop there, because even though there were some subpoints embedded in my first comments, I don't think I need to rehash them. I will say that since the post ran, I've received notes from folks whose opinions of what I wrote range from thinking I was "too obtuse" to thanking me for my "thoughtful response." But, to address Wes Morgan's concerns specifically, let me return to the line quoted at the top of this post. I cannot think of any existing "free speech forum" that doesn't include the potential for some chilling effect. I also believe other forums may also systematically exclude women from full participation. (Please note: I said *may* exclude. I have neither done, nor examined fully, existing research about those forums.) I'm interested, however, in the development of some kind of data base from which such hypotheses can be tested in an empirical manner. And I believe that is only one such hypothesis that needs testing. When people like Les Landwehr and others rail about "feminist dogma," I worry that the research necessary to come to some sort of reasonable conclusion about these hypotheses will be shunted aside for other, "easier" projects. OK, I'll admit that some folks will think this an imagined fear. Actually, I hope they're right. I agree with Wes that the problems which may exist in cyberspace are probably reflective, to a great extent, of problems within the larger society. I also agree that it's possible to ignore them in this medium, as it is to ignore them in other media. But I guess I don't really believe that ignoring a problem makes it go away. Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253