Late 20-something music obsessed girl

...someone who's laid down the Gauntlet. Anyone else...?

I have a fungal Rasputin and resplendant handlebar with upturned edges.

Oooops.. wrong thread.

Mostly lurking, occasionally contributing.

Women lurking, rarely/not contributing? It sounds like 'Carol' from 'Luton' (I couldn't possibly divulge her real identity) would fit right in here!

And sorry 'bout the double entendre possibilities, Gauntlet - you must believe me, it was not entendred... :-)

What abaht the 50 somethings? *weeps*

40-something lurker

Lack of participation down to too much other stuff on the internets and not enough time and you are all very knowledgeable and slightly obsessed, no?

I've never met a woman that liked the prog stuff. Do they exist? (I'm not a fan so beware, possible anti prog comment approaching)It always seemed like spotty 15 year old boy music to me. These boards are a little obsessed with the prog stuff.

(Not a woman. Or a prog fan. And no beard. Not even stubble.)

*Slows down with the weeping and preens self*

If I'm any judge, Kate Bush. What do I win?

Does that count?

...it's not a good thing. Hidden behind that apparent compliment are the following unarticulated thoughts:
1. But useless when it comes to something like building a fire or feeding a family.
2. Dresses in the dark.
3. Needs to get out more.
4. Not really impressive.

all you was tryin' to do was meet a few birds and all these bleedin' blokes keep turnin' up. What's the world comin' to eh, Col? And by the way, all that "my friend, let's call her Carol" caper. Nice one, my son! Hats off to you - must try that one myself..Anyway, I've 'ad enuff of The Word to be honest mate - I'm off to find another boozer. Might give that Sapphic Arms a try - wot do you mean 'barking up the wrong tree?'. Suit yerself.

Oh wot now? Oh no some 'erbert's only gone and put a bleedin' East of bleedin' Eden link. Prog twat. I'm 'avin it away on my toes, Col me old son. Be lucky

...that's ME you're talking about!

Still, to summarise where we're at - and stop me if I'm wrong here - that's THREE, yes THREE, bona fide women (no beard info available) plus a number of smart-alec geezers (some with beards), some elderly people mildly offended that they're no longer included in the '40-something music-obsessed bloke' category (in spite of having several extra years' worth of beard-growing advantage) and one chap who'll be holding forth in a radio presentation, no doubt very eruditely and knowledgeably, on the hidden history of The Bootleg Record this weekend. Instead of building fires or, er, getting out more.

Lads, it's not looking very convincing! 'Carol' from 'Luton' will still be thinking there's Too Many Impressively Knowledgeable Blokes Here For My Liking.

Should we ask Fraser, under Freedom of Information legislation (or just, well, 'ask' him), for some rigorous percentage-breakdowns or indeed a general hint, off the cuff, on the gender demographic of the Massive...?

Does that count?

...but every little helps. Oh come on ladies, don't be frightened off by the left-field volley of progressive rock - there MUST be more of you out there, surely?*

(* 'yes, but don't call me...' etc etc)

Music loving thirty-something girl lurking here amongst all the forty-something blokes... I buy The Word every month as well. :)

...and a half, counting HP's podcast partner.

I wonder if this is how Yule Brynner must have felt trying to get the Magnificent Seven together? Or, well, anybody trying to get a Northern Irish/Welsh/Faroese soccer team together....

I double checked. Just turned 34 and I like beards.

Oh and I had spaghetti for dinner.

Music obsessed thirty-something girl here. Have been lurking in the background until today but decided it was time to start posting.

I'm decidedly female. And I post quite a bit.

But fifty-something so maybe I don't count?

...and a half, of course. And the demographic spread is impressive too (I prefer it to margarine, personally - er, sorry...). I think the time has come to suggest to 'Carol' from 'Luton' that she has nothing to fear from throwing in her lot with the massive. In fact, were this individual to adopt the username CarolFromLuton, we'd all feel like we knew her already - not that that's her name, of course, or location. No, no, no - nothing like it... ;-)

...hello Katharine, and welcome...

once he's found us all?

Is he plotting a heist? Forming a crime-fighting superheroine posse? Setting up a sports team so he can lead us to international glory?

Or is he perhaps a shadowy pop-svengali, preparing to oust Simon Cowell by forming a chart-topping all girl group: The Wordettes? Styled to resemble Claudia Cardinale, our musical offerings will of course be prog-rock, and for the difficult second album we will break out the accordions and a ukelele. And the Massive will bow before us...

Call me naive if you will, but what is Carol from Luton's problem?
She's not going down to a pub to stand among a gang of loud mouthed drunks; this is an internet forum. She can call herself anything she likes. There are many pseudonyms here that give nothing away about the sex of the author. Over time I can guess what many of them are. But for all I know Handsomepwonderful could be female, but I suspect not. She can express any opinion she likes. She may get contradicted but she won't get shouted down. It's open to say pretty much anything you like short of outright libel.
Carol, sign in. Let your opinions be heard.

My other half listens to the podcast in the car and thinks it's great but when she looks at our beloved mag, thinks it's "all men's stuff".

Then again I don't read her Heat Magazine.

As for the demographic on here, we're too busy typing about prog, spotify and dissing Andrew Collins to understand what might constitute a gurl (as Brooce would say)and what makes them tick.

Won't they start talking about Jade? Oops Heppers has!

Carl, you may rue the day.... (No, I'm joking! Honest 'Carol'!!)

But, no, it's a fair question and it deserves an answer. I can't speak for 'Carol' [cue Massive: 'Well, crikey, you could have fooled us, matey!'] but in general terms sometimes we can have a fear of something that's maybe a bit illogical or down to non-gender-specific nervousness or thinking, 'Oh, they're all too knowledgeable - I'd look silly if I said X or Y...'

Me, I don't contribute to any other forum: I've occasionally read and enjoyed stuff on this one, subscribed a couple of years back to the mag but only recently dived into Massivity. It's often thought-provoking, illuminating, amusing and comforting. It feels very comfortable and civilised to me - it's a pub I'd gladly walk into of an evening were it near where I lived (and were it not the case that almost every pub in East Belfast is a godawful terrorist hang-out you'd avoid like the plague) - and that's down to the team effort, everyone involved, including the light-touch fraser et al. I've noticed (passively) other forums gradually descend into chaos, rancour and a kind of inbred irrelevance that repels all but a core of crazies - and I suspect the reason in all cases is the lack of any kind of moderation (in both of the pertinent senses).

But getting back to 'Carol' - I hope she WILL choose to get on board. Albeit that she doesn't currently have the freedom of PC access that a lot of contributors do. If she DOES - like the mercurial, near-apocryphal Goatgirl (who popped up halfway through World War Andrew Collins to confirm both her existence and the veracity of Goatboy's reporting of her views about AC in the apocalyptic first posting in said thread) - I can assure you that one of the finest minds in Beatle-ology, Zeppelin-ology and Cat Stevens-ology will be amongst us. So, a beard apologist, then. And she doesn't mind a bit of prog either, as long as its some kind of Diet Prog, Prog Lite or Sugar Free Prog...

I'll nudge her gently when workplace activities/communications resume on Monday...

And hopefully, fingers crossed, we shall have our Nonette. But if shyness prevails, we must respect that too - and 'Carol' from 'Luton' will drift back into the shadows. Where she's taking over from Bruce Welch on rhythm guitar...

how about the Word editorial team send a free subscription to Susan Boyle and ask her the head up our very own Girl Band. Tell you what on current performance it would greatly increase your circulation figures.

I'm a girl, in my thirties and post here.

Although only sporadically and not about Springsteen or Steely bloody Dan.

I love the Wire though. And XTC.

I'm slightly concerned that now us girls have come out, we'll be herded together and made to listen to Robbie Williams while you lot fiddle about with technology.

Are any of the ladies going to see Mott The Hoople? Thought not.

Excuse me while I play air fiddle to East of Eden. Marvellous!

....increasingly, 'Carol' from 'Luton' is running out of excuses.

the old girls v the Dan syndrome - see below

http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/why-dont-girls-steely-dan#comments

However, whilst I am nurturing, teasing, my admiration for all things Dan into a fully functioning near obsession, I refute, frankly resent, the implication of a concomitant commitment to the fuzz toned hues of Prog.

King sodding Crimson - presisely

Okay - so I do a little East of Eden now and then

likes King Crimson. Well that Greg Lake anyway.

Just dip your toe in and post a reply to some long thread (the next - or current - Randomizer is a good start). I've found the Massive to be nothing but supportive to us gurlies - no flaming or sneering so far, even if you admit to loving jazz or a hidden track by The Feeling.

You do get the odd thread which reminds us that we are seen as "other" but it's just the Massive's endearing obsession with classification: Where should I file "women"? - under "Don't get Steely Dan" or "Don't like prog"?

In my case, I just roll my eyes and put on The Very Best of Steely Dan (available in 4 formats in my household, all mine), or stick on that video of Genesis Live (where the pink lights on "Afterglow" still give me shivers up my spine, reminding me of the first gig my little sister & I ever went to) - and think, "bless".

As a bunch of (mainly) lovely blokes, they're nice and straightforward (and frankly a bit of a relief from my predominantly female work colleagues), and every so often another thread like this one pops up to reassure us that "us girls" are welcome round here.

PS. Love to your friend, ColinH

...from the cut of your jib it sounds like you ARE 'Carol' from 'Luton'! Is this some elaborate twist in the tale? Did the butler do it? Was it all a dream? Is the Walrus Paul...?

Of course, if you're not 'Carol' that means we have 10. And if 'Carol' succumbs we'll have a women's soccer team.*

(* And then, no doubt, the insults and the scoffing will really start. Not from me, of course.)

If we do start a women's team, I'd like to play in the hole, please...fnarr, fnarr.

I'm a twenty something girl...

In my experience (all 2 weeks of it) this is the first forum I've felt able to write my opinions without being subject to comments such as: 'your mom' and 'OMG that's so lame'

Does this mean I'm getting more grown up?!!!

32 year old, just a lurker, although i did post on the first 5 songs on your Ipod thing. I'm so glad I discovered the magazine, so much more interesting than articles about how to make your skin glow etc.

...we not only have a women's soccer team now, but a substitute too. 'Carol' from 'Luton' better get her skates on or she'll be lucky to be a linesman, er, lineswoman...

44. Non-lurker.

Been a reader and subscriber since 1st ish, Mr Em (also a poster here) is the holder of the house subscription at the moment.

I've loved RT since Pour Down Like Silver, the Steely Dan, Genesis and Floyd are all mine, I tweet, facebook, spotify, and download.

Must dash, I have to go and listen to my vinyl of Four Bridges by The Nice (really, I do have it!).

But I am, most assuredly, a gurl.

Was ever a more drab picture of a woman conjured up? Couldn't she have been called Lola from Hampstead or something?

No offence Carol, but you'd better get on here sharpish to dispel the myth you have become.

In my early 40s and can't really call myself a 'girl' can I ? Post reasonably regularly, but avoid the posts where things get a bit anoracky. I like this board as people are generally friendly and the topics of discussions very broad, as opposed to some artist based websites. I've only occasionally had an opinion slapped down and once even got into an exchange of opinions with Mr Hepworth which made me feel like I'd arrived (I don't lead a very exciting life !)

Musical likes include the Bonzos, Sparks, Ukrainians and Ian McNabb. I would have liked to go to the Mott gigs but my other half didn't feel like the journey to London, but we've seen Ian Hunter many times solo. Can't stand Steely Dan.

Come on Carol, let's be having you !

...that 'Carol' from 'Luton' (alright - I'll admit it: she IS called Carol and she IS from Luton. I know, I know - you're all shocked and stunned, but I can't keep the lies up any longer!) WILL indeed be joining the massive sometime soon, but (a) will use a cunningly concealing non-gender-specific user name and (b) will debut on some other thread. Verily, ye shall know her by her words and deeds. So... it'll be a bit like 'where's Wally', I suppose, as you all scour people's postings for tinges of femininity and careless references to life in Luton!

But Carol is chuffed, amused and only mildly embarrassed (I think!) by the attention - concluding the following things:
(a) Gauntlet is rather witty
(b) there are indeed still more blokes than women around here
(c) most of said blokes are, from the evidence of the Careers Advice bureau herein, 'media types'
(d) many of the above have beards

so, a little bit of stereotype-busting and a little bit of stereotype-affirming... and a venn diagram in the mind containing the three interlocking circles 'blokes', 'media types' and 'beards'. And a probably separate circle for women off to one side. (unless, of course, there are any bearded women media types involved here).

A useful and civilised excercise, I reckon - and a nice opportunity, clearly, for one or two lurking individuals to take the plunge. :-)

...she's definitely not drab! No, no, no, no, nooooooooooo!

but I will be changing my name to Joni Mitchell.

As we now have the full compliment for a football team, I'd like to hope that as a girl posting late on this topic I'd get a shot at coming on as Super Sub during the second half with fresh legs and a commanding free-kick.

...and we'll have a women's rugby team! (I'm guessing there's 15 on a rugby team - not being a typical bloke I have no idea about soccer, rugby, team sport of any kind etc)

that we'll be trained up as a crime-fighting, ass-kicking superheroine posse.

Maybe we could also take on The Word's rivals? Swoop noiselessly into their offices, steal their files, de-alphabetise their CDs and leave them broken and wretched. Oh they'll ask, as they lie sobbing amongst the fractured remains of their Steely Dan albums, 'who are these masked yet attractively costumed ladies, and why are they picking on us?'. And then they'll turn and see the 'W' carved into the wall behind them, and know they have incurred the wrath of the great Hepworth and the mighty Ellen, and their fearsome 'Wordettes'.

...both of you!

(Though you've forgotten to mention the ironing, haven't you Bisto?) :-D

for a combined rugby/superheroine posse - long time lurker - first time poster

...to suggest The Word is the place for the superheroine? We'd end up with a load of unreconstructed 50s jazzers, 'baggy' unwashed Madchester types, Pete Doherty and Davy Graham's backstreet cronies.*

(* apologies if indeed that turns out to be an accurate description of the existing massive... one should never judge a book by its online wit and literacy etc etc)

My silhouette suggests definitely female, so does the cut of my underwear and the fact that I'm a mood-swinging lunatic once a month... Hi, I'm Shan.

Long time reader of the bendy version of WORD that comes to Australia via airfreight (replete with large orange sticker that says so), recently I have been found trolling these fine virtuals and will soon commence contributing, this is certain.

Knowledgable enough to be interesting, curious enough to know there is far more out there... oh, and I dig prog now and then... it has a delicate flavour for a developed palate, I feel.

http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/people/QueenNahs/#pubPortfolio
currently the Brisbane editor for this site and enjoying it immensely... chat soon.

A fellow FasterLouder contrib!

I'm a Sydney based writer....

http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/people/NickHallworth#pubPortfolio

What are the chances, eh?

A Word cyber-dating forum...?

Nahs: shapely, mood-swinging troll, GSOH, tolerates prog (see: GSOH), lives in Oz

Nick: lives in Oz, not fussy

Otherwise I'm beginning to suspect she's a figment of Colin H's imagination ;-)

...but she may only tell me a few days after the debut, so that I don't start an instant Carol-hunt among the massed ranks of the massive (a stampede no doubt similar to a convocation of ornithologists suddenly informed that there may well be an Ivory-Billed Woodpecker in the next tree)... I know there are one or two usernames under consideration.... but I don't know what they are... I did suggest RockallLighthouseKeeper was up for grabs... but all I can say for sure is that it won't (alas!) be CarolFromLuton...

Incidentally, spooky as this may seem, the emoticon you signed off with ;-) is one of her faves - so I'm beginning to wonder, Hannah, are YOU CarolFromLuton!!!

...clearing that up, then! says ColinFromRockall (or so you'd think, the length of time it takes a subscriber issue to reach whichever godforsaken edge of the known world I live in)

But on Fridays, I'm Fred Astaire.