Who is the male homosexual? A computer-mediated exploratory study of gay male Bulletin Board System (BBS) users in New York City.

Using simple computer technology, 290 male homosexual Bulletin Board System (BBS) users in the greater New York City area participated in a study, the objective results of which are presented here as information of potential importance and/or interest to social workers, psychologists, and related mental health professionals. While, in general, members of the population studied tend to look like everyone else, some interesting differences with respect to (1) health-related concerns and behaviors, (2) educational attainment, and (3) socio-emotional characteristics (measured by computer administration and scoring of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) were identified and are presented and discussed. Further work relative to the latter is both urged and anticipated in the mental health professions' continuing efforts to operationalize their shared concerns about and values related to diversity.