Well Pete a couple weeks ago I went into the womens rest room with BabyDuck to help her with a very nasty diaper change on JKE. I was greatly relieved to see that the separate but equal doctrine has been successfully maintained and that the facilities did not include massage tables, hot tubs, wet bars or any of the other ammenities I always suspected given how much time some women seem to spend in there.
The perceived need for separate sex bathrooms to maintain a certain standard of modesty however has absolutely nothing to do with discrimination on the board. A callous, even if mildly humorous, diismissal of the issue sends a message you probably do not want to send. And it conveys an attitude that you clearly would not want to have to try to defend in court. It is simply put, a somewhat thoughtless response that you may want to reconsider.
You need to read up on Lester Maddox and his restaurant and what transpired in 1964. Neither the Civil rights act of 1964, as ammended nor the supreme court agree with you. In this country at least, the owner of a restaurant, or an internet board cannot arbitrarily decide to limit access based on sex, race, religion, etc.
I have posted in the womens forum on numerous occasions and to date have not been asked to leave so that is not my motive at all. The issue is bigger and more impprtant than just my personal treatment. I guess, like the Jewish lawyer who defended the **** party's right to protest in America, I feel it is important that even guys who are jerks have the right to post in the "Womens" forums. I'd also defend the rights of any women who may also happen to be sexist pigs to post in a "Mens" forum. I just won't defend the right of of a "Mens Only" or "Womens Only" forumn to exist.
As you point out, if a man posts something innapproapriate in the "Womens" forum that violates the TOS, any member can report the post and I and many others will gladly remove it if needed. That is a far better approach than banning men from participation.
What is the big deal? Why do you care what women are posting among themselves? I look at it this way: There are times I am at the bar sipping my beer and discussing the ways of the world with a friend. He and I share some commonality and I believe he will understand and can relate. I may even have a few things to say about my wife, kids, mother, mother-in-law, or certain politicians. That conversation would be different, and his answers would be different if any or all of those people were sitting next to me listening or commenting. It doesn't mean I can't or won't have that same conversation with them, but at least I don't have to.
I agree that it is a slippery slope btween being open and non-discriminatory versus individual rights. I just don't see this big deal for an internet forum.