I’m a C++ programmer and although I like my job, I am yet to encounter a female programmer at a job or even a job interview. When you’re in that kind of situation, it makes it very difficult to be entirely comfortable and to feel like you fit in, and to be honest, it can be quite intimidating. In addition, when I look up programming problems on the internet, the boards are filled with men who discuss everything in a very “manly” matter and they always automatically assume that all other posters are men. You can notice this from the language, i.e. thanks man, good job dude, etc. Sometimes they even get off topic and make comments about “chicks”.

Maybe this shouldn’t be a big deal but females are more sensitive after all and it somehow just bothers me. Plus it’s just another reminder that I’m “alone” in this industry. Having a board where you can discuss your technical issues, knowing that it’s primarily other women answering your questions is kind of nice and a lot less intimidating. At first, i thought it sounded a bit strange but now that I think of it, I would love to have a C++ for women site.

Hope this clarifies it a bit for you…

wow you wrote a book, don’t get me started on all the issues women have. There are just too many to discuss lol. I am kidding of course

I see the point but if you are not going to segregate why call the community phpwomen. If men can join that defeats the naming of the site.

I am the same Joseph Crawford from OINK-PUG (surprised you remember me) but I do not post on there often anymore. I am not local to the UG so you wont see me at meetings (good thing for me I guess lol)

Haha, just kidding of course. I do understand your thoughts, and unfortunately I don’t think you’re the only one who thinks that.

The way I see it, though, as any demographic, women have certain issues, thoughts, feelings, and experiences that are unique to them. Just as there may be commonalities between African-American programmers, programmers in Iowa, or programmers over 50. There are unique topics of discussion that only those in the demographic would understand. Think about it - if we had instead started a support group for programmers over 50, would this be an issue with anyone? Would younger programmers see this as older programmers segregating themselves from the rest of the them? Would they think all the senior programmers did was to bash all the younger ones? No, of course not. That would be silly. But you can certainly see the benefits that those in the group could enjoy - surely there are topics and issues that those programmers over 50 would uniquely experience. Thoughts about old programming languages, the difficulties in finding employment, what to do about retirement, even what it’s like to be a grandparent. Certainly these topics are all things that those unique to the demographic can share amongst themselves.

Likewise, we started OINK-PUG as a local users group because there are issues and topics that we here in the Greater Cincinnati area can uniquely share. But we certainly aren’t trying to segregate ourselves from the rest of the world. Anyone is welcome to join, and many times the topics of discussion are not limited to happenings in just our area.

I’d venture to say that the PHPWomen group is very similar to my previous 2 examples. Of course we have issues and discussions that mostly women can relate to. But we also have open topics that benefit all programmers, which is why we do openly encourage anyone who wants to, to join in. In fact, we’ve had men who like coming to our site because they feel like they are less likely to be flamed for asking a stupid question.

I hope this helps explain our position a little better - it’s all about the love, not the segregation. So come, unite with us!

Talking about today’s society I think you should restudy history, where gilds were a way to bring same-thinking people together. It didn’t matter if it were women, professional workers or elite members of society. So, why is it so strange to accept that we’re not different in this time and age. We have user-groups, memberships and so much more… so leave the phpwomen alone and get on with life.

name one TV show that has ONLY white people in the cast.

Right.

too funny on your comment about you in a shirt

@all

I really was not trying to start a flame war but people either want to be equal or they do not. It’s not just the phpw group that bothers me it’s everything in society today. There is way too much feminism and racism in today’s society.

How does poking fun at the practice of having beautiful women in your booth just to attract the male conference attendees by dressing guys that look like me up in T-Shirts and calling us booth babes make this a sexist site? (Have you seen me in a T-Shirt? It’s a joke…I say a joke, boy.)

=C=

proud to be a charter phpwBB!