I'll try and strike the middle chord here: I read the responses to Kirsten as being quite defensive in nature and tone. I didn't perceive the responders as feeling intimidated, but I also thought their responses were stronger than annoyance.

Defensive posturing, and an immediate circling of the wagons in the presence of a forthright and assertive female newbie, who wishes to discuss music from her feminist and radical perspective.

I'm sure you all will come up with justifications to crucify her as anti-christ within a week, if she remains that long.

As to my presence here, it is pretty rare precisely because this is such a dull backwater of a place, and because I have been banned/had my access blocked by the forum moderators.

However, my timing was obviously good, as Kirsten is the first breath of fresh air (as opposed to the reeking stench of good ole boy intellctual and ethical rot when Martin Gibson was tolerated so long as the Mudcat anti-christ).