Is this a womens forum?

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Since I joined this group I noticed that I'm rare being a man with

CFS/Fibro who happens to be a member. It also appears so far that the

tenor of the group is geared more towards women, almost as if CFS and

Fibro discriminates along gender lines and your sharings are limited

to one another on that basis.

It was my deep desire when I joined to try helping others if I could,

make new acquaintances, create a new support network, and be a part

of something positive with regard to this condition.

I try to respond to messages from members who ask for help, or seem

deeply distressed. I have intense experience in the medical field and

have tried to share relevant information with respect to scientific

research and new findings, disability, and social issues. On rare

occasion someone seems interested, but for the most part I feel as

though my attempts to be of help are not wanted in the group.

I'll be honest that I'm sometimes surprised by what people talk about

here in light of the difficulties living with a debilitating illness

like this can have on anyone with it. OK, now I know you guys will be

mad as hell with me but here it goes .... as a man, I've heard over &

over that women want to vent but don't necessarily want things fixed.

Is it possible that we are conditioned to think so differntly based

on gender? Men see problems and look for solutions, and women only

want to talk about the problems ? (generalization ok?).

Is it that men and women are better off in support groups segregated

based on sex? I'm confused so far with the way things go in this

group, but I do feel as if there is a difference in receptivity.

Be well,

Reggie