Women and the Internet -- What are your experiences

» sreich - Sue Reichard The Internet has changed my life drastically. I w

Sue Reichard
The Internet has changed my life drastically. I was trying to get started with my writing career and was floundering in a great dark abyss. Then I got a computer and immediately hooked up to the internet. I have learned SO MUCH about writing from the wonderful people I have met through the several writing lists I am on. I've been published on line, I am a contributing editor to Suite 101, I am the non-fiction editor of an on-line journal and have become a children's books reviewer online and also now have a monthly children's book review column in our local newspaper. I have also met many wonderful friends. I also belong to an online critique group. I don't think I could go very long without my Internet access. I live in a very rural area and feel it would have taken me years of stumbling in the dark regarding my writing career. Buying a computer was the BEST investment I ever made. The people I have met have given me such inspiration, motivation and practical help. Suite 101 is a wonderful community and I'm very happy to be part of it.

-- posted by sreich

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» Cottage_Garden - Immediacy is great here -- I liken an email from a (until now) s

Immediacy is great here -- I liken an email from a (until now) stranger saying "Thank you ! I loved your article -- it told me exactly what I needed to know!" right up there with a AAA class evaluation with a free comment "I loved it!!!"

For a writer or public speaker or lecturer, the internet provides a special opportunity. Those of us accustomed to the old ways need to learn and adapt with the new ways of communicating and teaching. I miss the eye contact and other cues available in real life, but I revel in the wide range we have here.

I would love to learn more about the immediacy factor as opposed to the lasting valaue of information sent "over the ether" as it were.

I doubt this is a "women only" question!

Barbara Martin
Eco-Gardens Editor

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Barbara - Julie, Can't wait to hear more of these stories! But, in the

Julie,

Can't wait to hear more of these stories! But, in the meantime, here's mine.

1. How did you get involved with the Internet?

In 1995, my husband & I bought a home computer. We both had many years of computer (design and graphics) experience from our professional lives, so the only real reason we got hooked up at home was for the Net.

2. Personal experiences while on the Net.

Within 6 months of going online, I had changed jobs so that I could involve the Internet in my work life. From "regular" marketing to Internet marketing and webmastering. Then I did the freelance gig for a few months and last fall I went to work for my biggest client. I'm an account mgr. now for the interactive division of an ad agency. (read: total web geek)

Other personal experiences would mostly include Suite 101, keeping up with my extended family, and taking classes online. In fact, we have two internet connections in our house now (one modem and one ISDN).

3. Why do you use the Net - to keep in touch with friends, to socialize, to find information. If you take on-line courses for example what sort of courses.

Two years ago, my family (kids and grandkids of four siblings) had a reunion in Florida. We hadn't really all been in the same place for fifteen years, but because of email we got together with lots to talk about and many things in common. We're having another reunion this year, and it will really be like getting together with old friends!

So email is critical. I've used it to plan lunch dates with friends who work nearby. And to plan vacations and tell jokes -- even laugh at the same joke I got the week before. I've asked and answered questions via email -- with people from around the world.

And right now, my biggest campaign is to get my dad online. He hasn't gotten a letter from me in 10 years -- won't he be surprised the first day we exchange 20 emails in rapid succession (something I regularly do with my mom!).

When I adopted a new kitten last year, I wrote an online diary about the joys and frustrations of "training" him. Never mind that he has now succeeded in training me! ;->

4. How much time do you spend on the Net

60+ hours a week -- except in the spring and summer when I'd rather be outside. Then it's just 40-50!

5. The Good and the Bad - your thoughts

The good part is communication without barriers. The bad part is that sometimes I have to get some sleep. (And that my husband needs less sleep than me!)

6. The future of the Net

We are all the future of the net!

7. The part Women play on the Net

I second the emotion that women are the communications backbone. We have turned the net into a place with heart -- and many of us have gained a great education in the meantime.

8. If you work on the Net, your experiences.

See above -- I love being in an industry where women are on an equal footing with men. We all started in this about the same time. And I can keep up just as much as the next guy! I sometimes find young men (often programmers) to be condescending about what they think I don't know. Boy, do I love to see the looks on their faces when they realize I'm following right along!

9. Where you go on the Net

Here, there and everywhere!

10. Net stories

See above. I've talked too much already!

Best,

Barbara Searles

Cats Editor

-- posted by Barbara

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» Cottage_Garden - When I stopped long enough to think about it, the actual majori

When I stopped long enough to think about it, the actual majority of people I communicate with online with regularity are in fact male. (I looked at my address book. And at who answers back.)

I never thought about it that way (by sex) until just now. WHY can't we all just be people at whatever random email address?

Barbara Martin
Eco-Gardens Editor

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Karin - Just a thought --- The Post office will file for bancrupcy and a

Just a thought --- The Post office will file for bancrupcy and all of us will where glasses.

-- posted by Karin

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» Cottage_Garden - Can you do something about the telephone company as long as you'

Can you do something about the telephone company as long as you're at it?

Barbara Martin
Eco-Gardens Editor

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Gay_Klok - I have several things to add to my rushed answer. First, I

I have several things to add to my rushed answer.

First, I thoroughly agree with the sentiment that women have added "heart" to the net

My husband is a computer nerd too and sometimes I worry about the time and money [he pays the phone bills] I am spending solo but on Feb.15th we celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary so things aren't too bad!

One son lives in Indonesia and email and chat is a great help, especially now, he may be going on 38 but from this distance he is still a "mother's worry" :-].

Have just downloaded an Anniversary card from a computer connected nephew of my husband's in the Netherlands [Kees is Dutch-Australian] which also says that he is arranging a Klok reunion in the Netherlands in September this year and really wants us to attend. Immediately, I am thinking, "How can I fit that in, with my commitments with the Internet?" And the two gardens, which will be opening to the public, this year. But we will.

I have had an article [generated by a email group] printed in the American Annual Rose Book, [the last thing I am as a gardener is a Rosarian!] but the down on that is that I haven't seen it!

Tasmanian Garden Journal

-- posted by Gay_Klok

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» Barb_Dorsett - We joined the Net a couple of years ago, when local access came

We joined the Net a couple of years ago, when local access came to town. We had been borrowing one of our son's IU email accounts, mainly to keep track of and help encourage hubby's former students. With local access, contact with those students would be much cheaper and the idea of online playtime seemed like a bonus. It's more than just a bonus.

A world of information awaits my beckoning fingers.

Distance collapses, bringing the thoughts of like minded souls to my screen.

It's addictive; I spend waaay too much time playing around in those electrons.

The Net allows freedom from physical stereotypes. What you see as 'Barb Dorsett' is only my online persona. Who am I, really? Can you know? That same freedom is true for all, and allows uncertainty to flourish. I can't know how much of someone else's persona is real. Prejudice exists online, too...it's not that easy to escape. Ahhh, but that's one of the loveliest uses for the delete key...plunk those ideas right into the trash bin with a flourish.

The Net is very close to pure democracy. Everyone with Web access has the freedom to type what they think and those thoughts have equal access to netspace. There are tyrannical alcoves, but most areas allow oratorical equality.

Is this just about women on the Net? Maybe. It seems to be a issue of humanity on the Net and how individuals interact with each other, too.

Barb in Southern Indiana Midwest Gardener

-- posted by Barb_Dorsett

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» Cottage_Garden - Thank you Barb. That last point is important and I think the he

Thank you Barb. That last point is important and I think the heart of it. We are all individual people making our way through. I can't separate out an experience here for "women" as a group. Just as surely as any one individual is influenced there will be corresponding effects on all of the people around that individual. The sphere of influence is now virtual as well as real, so it is perhaps broader than it would have been before. But it is still based on the interaction of individuals.

Barbara Martin
Eco-Gardens Editor

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Katie - What a cool discussion! I've listed some of the questions like

What a cool discussion! I've listed some of the questions like others did so I don't forget anything I want to say. There is just so much to talk about.

1. How did you get involved with the Internet?

In 1993 my high school friends introduced me to a BBS, where I could chat with people from around the world -- even Antartica. Then a year later my boyfriend's friend introduced us to the World Wide Web. The first time we saw it was using Lynx text browser. We thought it was okay. Then we found out about Mosaic graphical browser and we were much more impressed, so we started up our homepages. Now to me it's amazing how far the Web has come!

2. Personal experiences while on the Net.

I met my boyfriend on the Internet. The Internet is not just for meeting people who are far away, because my boyfriend was in the dorm across the street from me. Unlike others we didn't chat a lot before meeting, so the Net was just a starting point for us.

3. Why do you use the Net - to keep in touch with friends, to socialize, to find information. If you take on-line courses for example what sort of courses.

I think I keep in touch with my friends a lot better using the Net than I would using the Post Office. I'm horrible about writing letters, -- e-mail is just easier for me. I don't have to get out the pen and paper and envelope and stamp and put it in the mailbox -- I can just sit at my computer and type away. I do a little less socializing than I used to because the novelty of chatting on the computer has worn off a bit for me. The Net is great for finding information about anything! It's interesting that you mentioned on-line courses. I work for a program at Iowa State University that is putting biology courses on the Net.

4. How much time do you spend on the Net.

With my work, my homepages, my boyfriend's homepages, and just surfing I spend quite a bit of time on the Net -- possibly 5 hours a day.

5. The Good and the Bad - your thoughts

The aninimity (I think that's the word) of the Net is both Good and Bad. Like others have said no one knows what you look like over the computer, so it's easier to talk to people on the Net than face to face. The instructors who teach on-line courses say they get more questions from students on the Net than regular lectures. But there also problems. People say things they normally wouldn't face to face. I've gotten some strange comments from people during chats, often as their first message to me, or after talking for a long time. Women have to be careful on the Net.

6. The future of the Net

So many people think the Net is ruining society. I don't believe that. For the most part the Net is making life better, for many of the reasons people have already mentioned. Of course there will be problems like most things in the life. I think the future of the Net will be great and we'll have the Net for years to come.

7. The part Women play on the Net

One of the goals of the woman's movement or feminism is giving women a voice -- giving women a voice in society, in their own lives, in history... I think the Net gives women a voice. The Net is not just a place of information, but also a place of ideas and women play a big part in that.

Katie Abendroth, Editor of Women in Science

-- posted by Katie

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