Does technology accentuate gender differences?

Men flame, women catfight. Men fight wars and fly planes, women have sites devoted to recipes and relationships.

Internet is just another part of "real life" as are all tools and gadgets. We bring our gender learning and preferences to everything in our lives. IPOD was probably the one "tool" that was universally used the same way, but likely will change now that they are streaming video to it.

Does technology accentuate gender differences?

No.

I don't think it accentuates it anymore than any other outside force. Are there differences in how it's used? yes Is it different than other types of media? no

Your example doesn't really have to do with gender differences (I'm sure the same situation could apply if the genders were reversed), but more about technology's implications on relationships. Is that more what you're looking for?

Because if you are, then I think one of the biggest questions for people in relationships is where the line should be drawn when looking at naked people online. Is it all right to look at people you don't have personal contact with only? What if you comment on their blog? What about web camming with someone you never talk to? What about reading erotica or erotic blogs where you comment with the writer, but have no contact outside of that?

Women may think "No looking at naked people EVER!!!" and men may think "I want to look at naked people with as few rules as possible." but that, of course, is a BROAD generalization, so for most couples who spend a lot of time online, they have to work out the rules of contact with members of the opposite sex online.

I'll stop rambling now. :)

Indeed, I agree with the others - it doesn't accentuate gender differences, and I can say that as a hardcore IT-for-life geek. It all depends on the person, I may have several servers, including one thats supposed to go into a rack, sitting at the house, but I've been eclipsed by those far geekier then I, both men and women.

Does anyone here think it might accentuate age differences? Ethical differences? Identity differences?

Anonymity in online communities seems to be a hotpoint for some people.

Accentuate age differences? Quite the contrary, I feel that the internet by and large destroys them - I'm 30, and I've been employed for online jobs (Such as remote tech support) by people as young as 14 - and if they act 'adult' then I treat them as adult.

Anonymity can be a hotpoint, that's true - it used to be for me. I've been online since 1987 or so, using BBSes, ARPAnet (when I could) and other things - I fiercely guarded my real information, never divulging it to ANYONE - but around 1998 or so, I realized that it just doesn't matter, people can find who you are if they really want to, and so I started going by my own name.

I agree that it levels age differences rather than accentuates them. Ten years ago, I didn't have any friends who were more than 3 years older or younger than me. Now I have lots of people I know who are much older or younger. I can still feel the age difference, but it's easier to understand where they are coming from because you actually get to talk to them.

As for anonymity...I still never use my full name online. I realize people can find me if they want, but I don't have to make it easy for them!