"Men Must Be Needed Because We Can't Be Wanted"

[kn]

Powerful article, one I will have to re-read. The article really describes me, I hate to say.

I don't know what my role is. I don't have any particularly traditional manly skills such as fixing a boat. As someone who doesn't get the attention of women, I am thankful I have a career that I can bury myself in and keeps me intellectually challenged on a daily basis or I most likely would be looking for the nearest bridge. Beyond my work, I'm definitely not needed, and even there I could easily make the argument that while I think I'm valued by management and co-workers, I'm as replaceable as anyone else. That fact alone makes me work as hard as I possibly can because there is nothing else.

Life sucks, and then you die, but I'm glad I got that dynamic algorithm in place before the weekend. When is the Flames game on?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Here's a good one for gender equality: We needed some serious work done for our yard and garden. Had four outfits coming over to do an estimate. Two girls and two guys. Girl 1 quote - $3,000, Girl 2 quote - $2,500. Guy 1 quote - $1,200. Guy 2 quote - $800. Same work, same everything. Girl 1 said that it wouldn't be worth her time to do it for less. I found it quite funny. We went with Guy 2 and ended up paying $1,000 with some extras. He and his partner did a great job and I threw in $100 more for them to have dinner on me.

Conclusion: if men are not needed, we will be paying a lot more for landscaping!

If Girl 1 wins half as many jobs as Guy 2, she is still making more $, and working half as much.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by driveway

Your perception of men as being shown as being dumber or weaker is not borne out when you see what people are actually watching, it is most likely something you have become individually conscious of and are therefore more attuned to and more likely to notice or perceive. I understand where this comes from, I get pissed too when I see dad about to send his kids out into a snowstorm in a commercial for DayQuil or whatever the hell that one is. But it is simply not the major depiction of men that we are shown in the media. For further evidence, take a look at the list of Nielsen's "most liked" advertising from 2011 and 2012

There just isn't a lot of the "men are dumb and weak" portrayal going on here. It is something that happens, but it's nowhere near as ubiquitous as you seem to think it is.

On TV every sitcom and reality TV show stars the stupid male. The top dramas arent men are dumb but the rest of TV, The drivel that is pumped out all features this format. There is is reason the TV shows on the top time shifted list are considered ground breaking. Its because they break new ground in how charactors are portrayed.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by fotze

I have always been annoyed when it is widely accepted that large segments of the female race are made to feel inferior due to models and media and all that jazz when there is totally an equal amount of males going through that same "I am a loser" thing.

For every girl crying at night that her boobs aren't big or is too fat there is a guy who feels the same way.

While I agree, it seems to affect women in a more powerful way. The feelings of inadequacy are felt on both sides but the destructive power is not equally felt. How many make bulemics out there? How many male "cutters"? I'm not sure if the suicide issue, but my guess is more women attempt it (I think more men are successful if my memory serves correct)

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

While I agree, it seems to affect women in a more powerful way. The feelings of inadequacy are felt on both sides but the destructive power is not equally felt. How many make bulemics out there? How many male "cutters"? I'm not sure if the suicide issue, but my guess is more women attempt it (I think more men are successful if my memory serves correct)

Men have a higher rate of suicide by a margin of 3 to 1.

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tabl...lth66a-eng.htm

So some kind of destructive force is present in young mens lives.

[kn]

If I’ve learned anything in my 38 years on this planet, it’s that as long as I can perform and meet expectations, I can find acceptance. As soon as I am unable to perform or meet expectations, I’m worthless and disposable (i.e., "loser"). This is true in both the workplace and personal relationships.

[#22]

Originally Posted by kn

If I’ve learned anything in my 38 years on this planet, it’s that as long as I can perform and meet expectations, I can find acceptance. As soon as I am unable to perform or meet expectations, I’m worthless and disposable (i.e., "loser"). This is true in both the workplace and personal relationships.

Well, I'm going to assume you're male, but you can say the same thing about women. If a woman does not "perform or meet expectations", she becomes just as worthless and disposable, whether it be in the workplace or in a personal relationship.

Personally, at work, I perform to meet my own expectations. Fortunately, those are generally on par or higher than what the workplace expects, so I'm good there.

As far as personal relationships, again, that goes both ways. My wife and I both have certain expectations of each other, and if either one of us does not "perform or meet these expectations", problems arise. Obviously, there is always compromises in a relationship and these, in our case, come from both sides. If only one side is compromising all the time, the relationship is not healthy and probably won't last.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

P.S. Just out of curiosity, are you really living in Helsinki?

Yes.