Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!uwm.edu!ogicse!milton!hlab
From: debbie@IRIS.CLAREMONT.EDU (Debbie Hoekman)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: Where are the Women?
Message-ID: <1991Mar31.002458.445@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 29 Mar 91 06:41:54 GMT
References: <18995@milton.u.washington.edu>
Sender: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu (Human Int. Technology Lab)
Organization: Human Interface Technology Lab, Univ. of Wash., Seattle.
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Approved: cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu



>After nearly 2 megabytes of conversation on this newsgroup, I'm sorry to
>report that only two women have responded to the Roll Call...and as far as I
>can tell, NO women have participated, even once, in the online discussions.
 
  Well, darn it, *one* of us can't post from this machine. We still have 
  some sort of bug in the news setup, so I'm stuck using the "reply"
  function. 

>As moderator, I am quite distressed, and turn to you, the current partici-
>pants, to join with me in pondering this situation -- and perhaps, pro-
>posing a solution.  

  Well *I* wouldn't stew over it, but then, I'm probably not as 
  sensitive as you seem to be. (Note: that is intended as a complement).

  I don't intend to post much here, this isn't my field, only a side
  interest after all.  And being pretty weak on the spatial abilities
  side, it seems kind of humorous to me that I am as interested as I 
  am. But heck, I have a lot of ideas that I can't express, and with
  good virtual reality tools we novices might have a better chance to
  commuicate.

  I ran across a great quote in an RW Hamming book, Computers in 
  Society, unfortunately it is on my desk in another building across
  campus. I'll send it when I can, I thought of you as soon as I read
  it. Basically he was very positive about the idea of what I beleieve
  he called "synthetic realities" (I think the book was published in
  the late 50s or early 60s, but I'm not certain I remeber that 
  correctly.) He thought that although some people would find it
  escapist and regressive, that it would be enlightening instead.

  I'm going out of town for a week. If I remeber and have time I'll
  mail that tomorrow.

  Keep up the good work, you're a great moderator. If I get up 
  North this summer for the APL conference I'd love to visit your 
  lab.

--
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"It's not what you know, it's who you know to go ask..."
                                                  - Richard W. Hamming
           Debbie Hoekman        debbie@iris.claremont.edu
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