Women and the Internet -- What are your experiences

» Gay_Klok - Let's make it an even 50 *at least* - this has just arrived in m

Let's make it an even 50 *at least* - this has just arrived in my Home page guest book -
"Comments: Thanks for the pretty pictures! A more wrinkly at 84!"
Tasmanian Garden Journal

-- posted by Gay_Klok

Permalink Print Discussion

» Weddings - Julie, Are we going to see this speech? I'd love to see how

Julie,

Are we going to see this speech? I'd love to see how it turned out!

Jessica Hutson

Contributing Editor--Weddings

-- posted by Weddings

Permalink Print Discussion

» Julie - Gay, thx for pushing us on to the 50 mark ;-) Jessica, yes I hop

Gay, thx for pushing us on to the 50 mark ;-) Jessica, yes I hope to contributie a written version of my speech for the "Women In History" page that Nancy and team are/have creating/created.

Thx for the interest!

Julie

--

Julie Bradshaw

Managing Director -- Real World Relationships

i5ive communications inc.

-- posted by Julie

Permalink Print Discussion

» Cottage_Garden - Julie, et al: Any thoughts on how this thread ties in with <b><

Julie, et al: Any thoughts on how this thread ties in with this phenomenon?

Barbara Martin
Eco-Gardens (soon to be The Cottage Garden) Editor

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

Permalink Print Discussion

» Anita - Hi Julie! I just managed to read ALL my e-mail for the last s

Hi Julie!

I just managed to read ALL my e-mail for the last several weeks and found your note.

Well, I must say that the Internet has opened a lot of new opportunities for me. As one of the first female listowners (in Anthrology at least), I got my share of flames, weirdos, and even a stalker! ;-(

I began the historical archaeology list, HISTARCH, in 1995, and have become quite well-known by people in the field whom I have never even met face to face. I tend to meet these people at annual meetings, and I enjoy it when they come up and introduce themselves.

I have written an article on Anthropology on the Internet for a library journal. My co-author and I corresponded by e-mail, and to this day I have never met her in the flesh (so to speak).

I am also running the lists, SUB-ARCH (underwater archaeology), and SPANBORD (history and archaeology of the Spanish Borderlands). My experience with these discussion groups has mostly been cordial with some bumps in the road. Only a few guys have tried to talk down to me, and I tend to ignore them.

Hope that this helps!

Anita

-- posted by Anita

Permalink Print Discussion

» MorningStar - Hi Julie! Thank you for the invitation to contribute to this

Hi Julie!

Thank you for the invitation to contribute to this discussion. As for my experiences, being "connected" on the Internet has literally been a life saver for me. Up until the day I became connected in August of 1997, I had no idea what I would do with the rest of my life. I was in a serious state of depression up until that day, because I have had to live my life in somewhat of a bubble since 1983, due to serious health problems caused by the protocols used in 1970 for the treatment of Hodgkins disease -- a cancer of the immune system. I have been left with no immunity as a result of these protocols and a series of life-threatening illnesses, which I miraculously have survived up to this day.

In 1995, after the last near-fatal episode, the doctors informed me that I could no longer have any contact with people in general and children in particular -- period. This created a serious problem for a "people-person" like me! Up until 1983 I was a very active woman. I had a full-time job, I was a wife and mother, I was taking classes at our local college for a business degree, I played softball on a women's team for fun, I square danced, clogged, and even became the first female square dance caller in the United States. So as you can see I was very active. But then the major illnesses that started in November of 1983, robbed me of everything -- and I do mean everything.

I managed for a long time with the help of family and friends, but it was not the life I had envisioned for myself to be sure. I stuggled for years wondering what I would do with this life of mine -- that is until I became connected to the Internet. My life was drastically changed that day and it has not been the same since. One day it seemed I had no friends or life at all, then in one day, the world opened its arms out wide for me and I became alive again.

The Internet gave me hope once more -- in that, I could contribute to the world in which I live. I immediately saw the possibilities that were within my reach. This hope brought back the joy into my life. The Internet has given me back the ability to express myself and I no longer feel so isolated as I once did living here inside this bubble. I can communicate with the outside world without the fear of catching a cold which could kill me at any moment. The Internet has become my umbilical cord to say the least.

I know that there are others in similar circumstances who feel the same way about the Internet as I do. At times, this Internet thing is the rope we all hang on to for dear life. It is truly amazing to me how much I have learned in such a short period of time about computers, programs, html, etc., etc., etc., -- most of which I have learned on my own with very little help from anyone. And what this has done for my self-esteem, I believe, cannot be measured.

Suite 101 was truly the beginning for me too. Words will never adequately express how I feel about the Suite, the Internet, and all that has happened to me since the day I became connected.

I have to take one day at a time, but hopefully in the future, God willing, if there is one for me, I am looking forward to so many things with great joy, and an excitement that I have not had since I was a child. I have plans to begin writing a book about my experiences -- a book I have wanted to write for so many years, and I will be creating many CyberSpacePlaces on the WWW -- that is, as soon as I learn how to do a few more things in that department. And of course, I enjoy more than I can express, being able to share with others what I have learned, and continue to learn through my journey called Life, as the Health and Nutrition Editor here at the Suite.

Oh my, I just noticed that you had some questions for us to use as a guideline for the information you needed as I surfed on up to the top and starting reading all of the messages here in this discussion. Let me see what I can do to keep my answers short. I will answer a few of them since I have already written a book here, plus I get tired very easy. So here it goes!

1. How did you get involved with the Internet?

My man Bob had my son-in-law to put together a system for me to use, so that I could put all of our business in the computer to make things easier for me. We needed a way to keep up with all of our clients like the "big companies" do and we wanted to be "computer literate." I had heard so much bad stuff about the Internet that I did not want to get online -- that is until my sister got connected and I saw how much fun she was having, and I did not want to be left out!;-)

3. Why do you use the Net - to keep in touch with friends, to socialize, to find information?

I use the Internet for all these reasons and for the ones I mentioned above in the book I just wrote to you!

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

Probably too much time! ;-) This computer is on from the time I get up, until I go to bed. I first wake up in the morning, make the coffee, grab my cereal, vitamins, and medications, and then CONNECT!!! I use ICQ - the chat program too, to stay in touch with all of the friends I have made -- many who suffer with illnesses too. I met most of them through a support group I found my way to on the Internet. I have made some very close friendships that I hold dear to my heart. Many of us are making plans to meet each other this summer, so that should be a hoot! I am really looking forward to this event!

5. The Good and the Bad - your thoughts.

Here I will just say what I do not like about the Internet, which is all of the advertising that is done on so many of the websites. Personally, it makes my eyes hurt! I know that it is a necessary thing and I will be doing it too if and when I get my businesses online, but all that flashing and beeping, etc., really does bother me. Also, when you go to many of the search engines and try to find certain things, at times it is a real pain in the rear to get what you need!!! Oh, I do hate knowing that there are porno sites on the Internet. I am all for our rights and freedoms, but I still hate all the exploitation of women, children, etc., etc., -- just makes me sick to my stomach knowing it is out there.

9. Where you go on the Net?

I usually hang out and look for great Health and Nutrition websites. I also like to find great graphics by designers who are really doing some fantastic work on the Internet. This has given me some neat ideas of my own which I hope one day to design and publish on the Internet. I also spend most of my time at the Suite. Oh, I also love to download new programs, but this practice needs to stop soon, for I am running out of room. My birthday wish list is getting very long, however, the wish at the top of my list is to have more hardrive space!!!

Thanks again Julie for giving me another opportunity to express myself - my thoughts and feelings. It is time for me to sign off and take a nap! Please get back to us as soon as you can, to tell us all about your experiences at this dinner. Go Girl!

Until we *meet* again ........

In Friendship <*)))><

Desra Dawn Morning Star

Health and Nutrition Editor

-- posted by MorningStar

Permalink Print Discussion

» Ecwrite - Well Julie, I'm late in contributing anything to tomorrow nig

Well Julie,

I'm late in contributing anything to tomorrow night's big event for you, but I am delighted that you are speaking.

For me the Internet provided a bona fide excuse for why my nails are never "done" (can't type articles with nails)(becoming a gardener, which happened because of the fabulous Gardening dept at Suite 101, especially Barbara Martin, formerly of Eco-Garden, now of Cottage Gardening (I think)...))))

Anyway, the Internet provides me with a way of communicating with others, more than half of them women, who share, either briefly or for a long time (... we'll see!) the same interests, or humor, or ideas or even just plain no-reason-for-it DELIGHT!!!

Real life is harder.

Also, playing on the Internet makes me stay aware of what is NEW in computer technology and my current means of supporting myself is by being a software "expert," so this is verrrrry useful!

I have developed much of my expertise by playing on the web and trying all kinds of downloaded programs, and blowing out my various hard drives and fixing things, and trouble shooting things, and helping other people....

OK. Julie, thanks for Suite 101, and have a wonderful time with your speech.

Elise Caitlin

**ecwrite Contributing Editor: Web Women

-- posted by Ecwrite

Permalink Print Discussion

» Cottage_Garden - Julie -- "Break a leg and speak for us!" All the best, Barbara

Julie -- "Break a leg and speak for us!" All the best, Barbara

Barbara Martin
The Cottage Garden Editor

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

Permalink Print Discussion

» Julie - (posted by Julie for Sasha) Julie, As a single women in a

(posted by Julie for Sasha)

Julie,

As a single women in a very rural community I'm finding that the inter-net
is a great way to stay in touch, make new friends and even find a little
romance. All in the safty of my own home.

second, suite101 and other programs offer me a very important creative
outlet. I love to see what otehrs are writing and I enjoy seeing my
writing on-line almsot as much as I do in print.

good luck and have fun at the Wired Women talk .

-Sasha

-- posted by Julie

Permalink Print Discussion

» Julie - Thx for all the NetStories and support! It is greatly appreciate

Thx for all the NetStories and support! It is greatly appreciated :-) I am off to the *talk* now -- speech in hand :-)

I will tell you all about it tomorrow.

Julie

--

Julie Bradshaw

Managing Director -- Real World Relationships

i5ive communications inc.

-- posted by Julie

Permalink Print Discussion