Why is atlas so male?

[YE]

If anything, Atlas seems to have more woman than most online communities I visit tbh.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

But you don't have the same problems with guys on Atlas?

not really

not the same everywhere else though in my experiences

Interesting, I guess the "nerdiness" of the forum means there is less opportunity for those situations to arise.

It's partially because another very weird quirk of this forum, even harder to explain, is the disproportionately high numbers of gay guys.

[Lechasseur]

Yes, politics forums tend to be more male than female, but not all politics forums are as male as this one.  There was another thread on this years ago that I can't find now, and I think it was Beet who made a good point there about how the Atlas forum is unusually isolated in cyberspace, and not tied to any particular personality or blog or whatever.  It's just something that you stumble across if you're looking for election results.  The hypothesis was that it being so isolated might result in the demographics here being different than they would be on another politics forum.

OK, but why would the isolation, in turn, make the forum more male.

Well, Wikipedia isn't isolated from cyberspace (among the top-ten visited websites), but about 85% of writers are men. Women use the internet to connect with people and men tend to write or discuss about specific issues they are interested in (politics, science, architecture etc.).

This sounds right to me

[IceSpear]

But you don't have the same problems with guys on Atlas?

not really

not the same everywhere else though in my experiences

Interesting, I guess the "nerdiness" of the forum means there is less opportunity for those situations to arise.

It's partially because another very weird quirk of this forum, even harder to explain, is the disproportionately high numbers of gay guys.

I've always found this quite peculiar as well. The fact that Atlas skews young and liberal certainly can explain some of it, but probably not the full extent.

[LimoLiberal]

But you don't have the same problems with guys on Atlas?

not really

not the same everywhere else though in my experiences

Interesting, I guess the "nerdiness" of the forum means there is less opportunity for those situations to arise.

It's partially because another very weird quirk of this forum, even harder to explain, is the disproportionately high numbers of gay guys.

I've always found this quite peculiar as well. The fact that Atlas skews young and liberal certainly can explain some of it, but probably not the full extent.

LGBT people are inherently more likely to be interested and involved in the political process because of their marginalized status.

[Sir Mohamed]

But you don't have the same problems with guys on Atlas?

not really

not the same everywhere else though in my experiences

Interesting, I guess the "nerdiness" of the forum means there is less opportunity for those situations to arise.

It's partially because another very weird quirk of this forum, even harder to explain, is the disproportionately high numbers of gay guys.

I've always found this quite peculiar as well. The fact that Atlas skews young and liberal certainly can explain some of it, but probably not the full extent.

LGBT people are inherently more likely to be interested and involved in the political process because of their marginalized status.

That doesn't seem to apply to African Americans though?

[Vega]

But you don't have the same problems with guys on Atlas?

not really

not the same everywhere else though in my experiences

Interesting, I guess the "nerdiness" of the forum means there is less opportunity for those situations to arise.

It's partially because another very weird quirk of this forum, even harder to explain, is the disproportionately high numbers of gay guys.

I've always found this quite peculiar as well. The fact that Atlas skews young and liberal certainly can explain some of it, but probably not the full extent.

LGBT people are inherently more likely to be interested and involved in the political process because of their marginalized status.

That doesn't seem to apply to African Americans though?

don't forget CLARENCE.

[Torie]

But you don't have the same problems with guys on Atlas?

not really

not the same everywhere else though in my experiences

Interesting, I guess the "nerdiness" of the forum means there is less opportunity for those situations to arise.

It's partially because another very weird quirk of this forum, even harder to explain, is the disproportionately high numbers of gay guys.

I've always found this quite peculiar as well. The fact that Atlas skews young and liberal certainly can explain some of it, but probably not the full extent.

LGBT people are inherently more likely to be interested and involved in the political process because of their marginalized status.

Hey, different stokes for different folks. I have never, ever felt marginalized (and my temperament is to not tolerate that sort of thing anyway, or fight back using the most effective means possible), and I have been a political junkie by about age 6 or so. By age 11 I could tell you the names of all 435 members of congress, and where their districts were (no, I can't do that now!). Peak Atlas there I think.

[Badger]

But you don't have the same problems with guys on Atlas?

not really

not the same everywhere else though in my experiences

Interesting, I guess the "nerdiness" of the forum means there is less opportunity for those situations to arise.

It's partially because another very weird quirk of this forum, even harder to explain, is the disproportionately high numbers of gay guys.

I've always found this quite peculiar as well. The fact that Atlas skews young and liberal certainly can explain some of it, but probably not the full extent.

LGBT people are inherently more likely to be interested and involved in the political process because of their marginalized status.

Hey, different stokes for different folks. I have never, ever felt marginalized (and my temperament is to not tolerate that sort of thing anyway, or fight back using the most effective means possible)

You say you've never ever "felt marginalized". However, I vaguely seem to recall that you remained closeted during much of your adulthood, coming out only relatively late in life. Or am I mistaken?

[Torie]

But you don't have the same problems with guys on Atlas?

not really

not the same everywhere else though in my experiences

Interesting, I guess the "nerdiness" of the forum means there is less opportunity for those situations to arise.

It's partially because another very weird quirk of this forum, even harder to explain, is the disproportionately high numbers of gay guys.

I've always found this quite peculiar as well. The fact that Atlas skews young and liberal certainly can explain some of it, but probably not the full extent.

LGBT people are inherently more likely to be interested and involved in the political process because of their marginalized status.

Hey, different stokes for different folks. I have never, ever felt marginalized (and my temperament is to not tolerate that sort of thing anyway, or fight back using the most effective means possible)

You say you've never ever "felt marginalized". However, I vaguely seem to recall that you remained closeted during much of your adulthood, coming out only relatively late in life. Or am I mistaken?

True, although not so much closeted as uncertain, and insecure about it. And then the Aids crisis hit, and I just shut down sexually. So my issues were more from within, rather than pressures from without. Anyway, after I got through all of that, I was "born again" as it were, and became a much happier, and I think kinder person.

[Pouring Rain and Blairing Music]

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=308485.0

[Badger]

But you don't have the same problems with guys on Atlas?

not really

not the same everywhere else though in my experiences

Interesting, I guess the "nerdiness" of the forum means there is less opportunity for those situations to arise.

It's partially because another very weird quirk of this forum, even harder to explain, is the disproportionately high numbers of gay guys.

I've always found this quite peculiar as well. The fact that Atlas skews young and liberal certainly can explain some of it, but probably not the full extent.

LGBT people are inherently more likely to be interested and involved in the political process because of their marginalized status.

Hey, different stokes for different folks. I have never, ever felt marginalized (and my temperament is to not tolerate that sort of thing anyway, or fight back using the most effective means possible)

You say you've never ever "felt marginalized". However, I vaguely seem to recall that you remained closeted during much of your adulthood, coming out only relatively late in life. Or am I mistaken?

True, although not so much closeted as uncertain, and insecure about it. And then the Aids crisis hit, and I just shut down sexually. So my issues were more from within, rather than pressures from without. Anyway, after I got through all of that, I was "born again" as it were, and became a much happier, and I think kinder person.

Not to debate semantics on such an important and personal part of your life, but wouldn't you say that was being marginalized? I mean, if what was basically homophobia, even if it wasn't the throwing a brick through your house window level variety, kept you from coming out and openly expressing yourself as a gay man, it seems like you may have been a bit more marginalized by society, and that's inherently by the political system as well, than you realize.

[Torie]

But you don't have the same problems with guys on Atlas?

not really

not the same everywhere else though in my experiences

Interesting, I guess the "nerdiness" of the forum means there is less opportunity for those situations to arise.

It's partially because another very weird quirk of this forum, even harder to explain, is the disproportionately high numbers of gay guys.

I've always found this quite peculiar as well. The fact that Atlas skews young and liberal certainly can explain some of it, but probably not the full extent.

LGBT people are inherently more likely to be interested and involved in the political process because of their marginalized status.

Hey, different stokes for different folks. I have never, ever felt marginalized (and my temperament is to not tolerate that sort of thing anyway, or fight back using the most effective means possible)

You say you've never ever "felt marginalized". However, I vaguely seem to recall that you remained closeted during much of your adulthood, coming out only relatively late in life. Or am I mistaken?

True, although not so much closeted as uncertain, and insecure about it. And then the Aids crisis hit, and I just shut down sexually. So my issues were more from within, rather than pressures from without. Anyway, after I got through all of that, I was "born again" as it were, and became a much happier, and I think kinder person.

Not to debate semantics on such an important and personal part of your life, but wouldn't you say that was being marginalized? I mean, if what was basically homophobia, even if it wasn't the throwing a brick through your house window level variety, kept you from coming out and openly expressing yourself as a gay man, it seems like you may have been a bit more marginalized by society, and that's inherently by the political system as well, than you realize.

Well if I knew I was gay and hard wired about it, outside public pressure would not have slowed me down. I am not wired like that. Although perhaps not so apparent here, I am a fighter. I am willing to confront - and pay the price. And I hate injustice, whomever it might be meted out to. I suspect I would have been on the streets, and in courts litigating, and very determined about it. Perseverance has carried me a long way in my life.

No, the major obstacle to the extent there was one, was my Dad, whom I adored, and think is perhaps the finest person I have ever met. We both loved each other very much, and admired each other, and trusted each other (me with managing his money at a very early age), and he was very uncomfortable with gays. He didn't hate them but they made him anxious. In this day and age, I am sure he would not be that way. In any event, if I told him I was gay, I have absolutely no doubt he would have loved me just as much, but it would have been a bit rough for him. I probably in that context would have fundamentally changed his opinions about homosexuality, including of course all the silly stereotypes. Gays are just about as diverse as straights. How knew?

Not sure the above is entirely coherent and makes total sense, but it is the best I can do
at the moment.

Oh one other thing, my younger brother told me a few weeks ago, that our Dad told him way back when that he hoped that I would "knock up" some woman, and then get married. How well, primitive. . Yeah, that one shocked me a bit.

[Badger]

But you don't have the same problems with guys on Atlas?

not really

not the same everywhere else though in my experiences

Interesting, I guess the "nerdiness" of the forum means there is less opportunity for those situations to arise.

It's partially because another very weird quirk of this forum, even harder to explain, is the disproportionately high numbers of gay guys.

I've always found this quite peculiar as well. The fact that Atlas skews young and liberal certainly can explain some of it, but probably not the full extent.

LGBT people are inherently more likely to be interested and involved in the political process because of their marginalized status.

Hey, different stokes for different folks. I have never, ever felt marginalized (and my temperament is to not tolerate that sort of thing anyway, or fight back using the most effective means possible)

You say you've never ever "felt marginalized". However, I vaguely seem to recall that you remained closeted during much of your adulthood, coming out only relatively late in life. Or am I mistaken?

True, although not so much closeted as uncertain, and insecure about it. And then the Aids crisis hit, and I just shut down sexually. So my issues were more from within, rather than pressures from without. Anyway, after I got through all of that, I was "born again" as it were, and became a much happier, and I think kinder person.

Not to debate semantics on such an important and personal part of your life, but wouldn't you say that was being marginalized? I mean, if what was basically homophobia, even if it wasn't the throwing a brick through your house window level variety, kept you from coming out and openly expressing yourself as a gay man, it seems like you may have been a bit more marginalized by society, and that's inherently by the political system as well, than you realize.

Well if I knew I was gay and hard wired about it, outside public pressure would not have slowed me down. I am not wired like that. Although perhaps not so apparent here, I am a fighter. I am willing to confront - and pay the price. And I hate injustice, whomever it might be meted out to. I suspect I would have been on the streets, and in courts litigating, and very determined about it. Perseverance has carried me a long way in my life.

No, the major obstacle to the extent there was one, was my Dad, whom I adored, and think is perhaps the finest person I have ever met. We both loved each other very much, and admired each other, and trusted each other (me with managing his money at a very early age), and he was very uncomfortable with gays. He didn't hate them but they made him anxious. In this day and age, I am sure he would not be that way. In any event, if I told him I was gay, I have absolutely no doubt he would have loved me just as much, but it would have been a bit rough for him. I probably in that context would have fundamentally changed his opinions about homosexuality, including of course all the silly stereotypes. Gays are just about as diverse as straights. How knew?

Not sure the above is entirely coherent and makes total sense, but it is the best I can do
at the moment.

Oh one other thing, my younger brother told me a few weeks ago, that our Dad told him way back when that he hoped that I would "knock up" some woman, and then get married. How well, primitive. . Yeah, that one shocked me a bit.

It sounds like your dad may have had some suspicions.

Nevertheless, Steve, I'm truly glad you had such a close relationship with your dad. I do as well, and it means a ton.

[Anna Komnene]

It might have something to do with Dave's Election Atlas being mostly data driven. I'm probably projecting, but I think politically active women tend to be more interested in case studies, profiles, and community activism and less interested in statistical/graphical analysis.

Forum demographics kind of self-reinforce themselves when people invite their friends to join the community too. If there aren't many women on the forum already, women are less likely to find out about it from their friends. For me personally, I found out about it from one of my friends who told me about Cathcon's interactive presidential election alt. history series and I thought that sounded really fun to interact with everyone and come up with our favorite presidents. 0.01% chance I would have ever come here if he didn't tell me about that.

If you want more women on the forum, you should invite your female friends who like politics to join.

And just for fun, you might want to get your solar eclipse glasses ready for this hot take but... this forum's layout is REALLY UGLY, has a terrible avatar system, and before Virginia upgraded the emojis, they were nothing to write home about. Women like to be creative and for things to look nice.