Helen thank you for taking the trouble to address some of the points made. Being looked upon as a both a guardian of political correctness and being accused of being sexist must say something about the strange nature of this thread?

1. My wife's view is the same as yours but I think the perception of other people being more confident, in sessions and in life, is a myth, whatever their sex. You would probably see me and think that I was confident but you would be very wrong. Sessions are a minefield for everyone. I do see men in sessions being more considerate to women musicians they would to other men. I would be surprised if that was not the case on HearMe but maybe the fact that you can only see a name and hear a voice makes this more difficult?…………There are many problems in sessions. These 'cybersessions' are a new thing so there are bound to be initial problems. Maybe a thread to discuss some solutions to the problems would be a good idea and maybe better than starting a bad precedent?

2 I do see the need. It is not however the same for all of us. Single sex groupings are a 'horror' for some. What you are describing is an indulgence, like eating a fresh cream cake or ice cream. This kind of self-indulgence does little harm to anyone but yourself.

If your indulgence is to be surrounded by only the people you want, then invite those people. Who would you hurt? You would not place a public notice in the local paper so that everyone else would know that they were not required. You would not use the same venue where you were used to having open sessions and have to explain to those turning up expecting to play, that they could not.

The Mudcat has been through some storms since the 'Song Circle Thread'. It may explain the different reception to this suggestion and maybe there were other reasons too?

If my indulgence were to surround myself with racists and have a thread devoted to these people, exclude everyone else from posting and wanted to have an HearMe session to sing inflammatory songs and excluded anyone else from participating. How could you voice an objection to this, if these exclusive female only threads and sessions were generally accepted?

I know I am exaggerating and playing 'devil's advocate. All I ask is to think it through.