Thanks for starting this thread, SendMoreChris - it's a good one.

I agree, it's a hostile posting / reading environment. To be fair, it's hostile to everyone, but hostile in a particular additional and unpleasant way towards women. I'm really pleased to see in the last few days that a good number of men have been willing to stick up for respectful behavior, and to participate in discussion about it that hasn't degenerated (too much) into name-calling and junior-high humor.

I haven't experienced nearly as much sexism in real life as I have on this forum.

I don't know if anything is going to change here in the 41 because of this post, but it makes me feel a little more welcome just to have it out in the open. Thanks guys.