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Conference quark::mennotes-v1

Title:Topics Pertaining to Men
Notice:Archived V1 - Current file is QUARK::MENNOTES
Moderator:QUARK::LIONEL
Created:Fri Nov 07 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 26 1993
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:867
Total number of notes:32923

153.0. "Men thin skinned...?" by --UnknownUser-- () Tue Sep 22 1987 19:31

T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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153.1COLORS::MODICAThu Sep 24 1987 20:282
    
    Having read womannotes 479.70 I've changed my answer to no!
153.2VCQUAL::THOMPSONNoter at largeThu Sep 24 1987 20:513
    RE: .1 Could you elaborate please. What question are you answering?
    
    		Alfred
153.3RAINBO::MODICAFri Sep 25 1987 19:395
    
    Re. .2	I was answering the question about whether men are thin
    		skinned while reading entries such as the one I mentioned.
    		When I'm done, I'll enter something in the other topic
    		started about the oppression of women.
153.4HorsefeathersSTING::BARBERSkyking Tactical ServicesWed Sep 30 1987 20:2319
    
         Why ??? I tell you why...because its not done on a one to one 
         basis. I can understand and justify it when its directed and
         discussed pointing out the man or specific group of men that
         are responsible for the wrong. I get real sick and tried of
         the dumping on of all men for the sins of the few by comparison.
     
         When words are either written or spoken that encompass ALL
         men as being responsible for ALL the problems I become 
         sensitive to it. Everyone in one way shape or another has
         had bad things done to them. I get equally upset by any group
         automatically labeling me as bad because I'am a white male.
    
         I am tried of being the dumping ground for all the crap that
         been done to all the others. In virtually every case, YES
         they do have a legitimate bitch, but for crying out loud
         blame it on those responsible, not all of us.
    
                                         Bob B
153.5Why I'm sometimes "thinskinned"MMO01::CUNNINGHAMThu Oct 01 1987 15:5259
    re:-1
    	I agree with Bob 100%.  
    
    	If I were black, and someone was making generalized derogatory
    statements about blacks, it would be accepted for me to complain.
    	The same is true if I were Jewish, Spanish, or Polish.
    	The same is true if I were a woman.
    	But a white male better keep quiet.  After all, he is a member
    of that class of oppressors that is keeping everyone else from having
    a happy and fulfilled life, and if is not a part of the solution
    (which he won't be if he complains about generalize derogatory remarks)
    then he is a part of the problem.  By having identified yourself
    as part of the problem, you have become a target, and your the enemy
    everyone has been looking for.  
    	I have to confess that I have a hard time not feeling guilty
    for all the things that have been wrongly done to people by those
    who look just like me.  It has been suggested many times that I
    have received an unfair advantage, even if unintentional, by being
    born a white male.  If this is true, and I believe in equality,
    then what else is left but guilt.  So I try to do what I can to
    compensate.  Be a patient listener to other peoples pain.  Vote
    for those who believe in true equality.  Contribute money to worthwhile
    causes.  Encourage a belief in equality amoung my friends.  In
    conversations and meetings I try to ensure that women and minority
    voices are listened to and supported when appropriate.  I refuse
    to work for any company that doesn't support equal opportunity.
    I value differences in people, and look for ways to learn from others
    and try to be supportive.  So why do I still feel guilt?  Because
    I am continually told it is not enough.  Women are still getting
    raped, minorities are still not properly represented in upper
    management; change is occuring too slow; and the attitude that I
    shouldn't feel guilty because I am not doing these things is considered
    a cop-out.  After all, I am still in the "cat-birds seat" due to
    my race and gender.  I have sincerely asked for what more I can
    do, but few people have any useful suggestions.  
    	What I am told is not to be thin skinned when women make remarks
    like "Men are the enemy."  (See wommannotes 1.28)  If I feel this
    is somehow unfair, I should keep quiet about it because after all
    look how much others have suffered and continue to suffer.  It is
    only fair that I should have a taste of my own medicine.  I should
    feel guilty.  If I am contrite enough, I might even someday be 
    considered an "honorary woman", and of course that is what I should
    want to be.  The only trouble is, I don't know quite how to explain
    this to my ten year old son.
    	I appreciate that many women don't necessarily feel this way
    but many do.  I worry that I am somehow being blind or insensitive
    to their legitimate comments, so I read them and try to understand.
    But I'll be honest, I only read wommennotes on my strong days. 
    When I feel hostility and flames reaching new highs, I come running
    back to mennotes for a little comfort, and to know that I am not
    all alone out here with these feelings.  So lets allow women their
    space and the freedom to speak out in their pain without worrying
    about offending me, but in here, in mennotes, I feel we have the
    right to be, in as derogatory a term as I can think of it, 
    "thinskinned".  Lets remind each other here that "men are NOT the
    enemy" of women.  At least not all men.
    
    DRC
    
153.6WOW, I'm not alone in my consternationMOSAIC::MODICAThu Oct 01 1987 16:279
    RE: .4 & .5		Thats exactly how I feel but couldn't seem to
    			find the words to express it. So thanks to you
    			both. I'm really getting tired of all the guilt
    			assigned to me because I'm a white male. Hell,
    			sometimes I wish I had a group or a "class"
    			that I could hold responsible for all of the
    			problems and setbacks that I encounter. But
    			I don't feel that that would help solve much.
    
153.8exSTING::BARBERSkyking Tactical ServicesFri Oct 02 1987 21:08115
    	RE:  .7
    

    >	In reality, it's almost impossible to discuss the difficulties
    >	that women and minorities have without comparing our lot to
    >	that of white men.  It is by comparison that we see the proof
    >	of how disadvantaged we are in certain ways (and we badly need
    >	to be armed with this proof so that we can work towards equitable
    >	treatment and set goals for what that might mean for us.)
    
        How are you as a woman and other minorities being held back ??
        There are now laws and company polices that are in place that 
        now places you as a minority in precedence over and above 
        white men. It makes no difference wither you are a man or woman,
        black or white, there will always be the "haves" vs the "have nots".
        My contention is that in todays world anyone can accomplish their
        goals with working for them. Most every barrier you protest about
        is gone. You of all people should be aware of that.

    >	No matter how it appears, I know very, very, very few women
    >	(including ones in WOMANNOTES) who resent white males for the 
    >	advantage that they seem to have over us.  

        Then why do the continue to write anti man statements ????

    >   My son is a white male, and believe me when I tell you that
    >	I do not resent him (and would challenge ANYONE who tried to
    >	blame him for the problems that minorities have.)
    
        Then why do you so strongly defend those and their words that do 
        just that  ?????


    >	The insidious thing about the way women are treated in our 
    >	culture is that we are born and trained to question our own
    >	worth and abilities.
 
        And (to repeat some previous notes) just who did this to you ??
        Your mother and your female teachers thats who. You admit that
        these people "brainwashed" you that you couldn't do math, yet
        you can to find you could not only do it but were good at it.
        So since it was women that set you wrong, why are you blaming men ???

    >   What you sometimes see when women get
    >	together is a sharing of strength and self-determination.
    >	Stepping into the middle of that kind of scenario can be
    >	hazardous to your health.  :-)  Some women are incredibly
    >	strong and have the ability to inspire other women to share
    >	in that strength.

        Why ??? because today your smarter that your mother and your teachers
        and all the other females of the past that told you, you couldn't
        do these things. Today you know you can and are passing that word
        on to the younger generations of women. This is a part of what
        I'am talking about when I say that we all woke up in the 70's.

    >	What you think you might see (but it isn't really there) is
    >	a fierce anger towards white males.  It is one of the great
    >	misunderstandings of the file.

        Horsefeathers !!!! If this is so WHY is there so much anger 
        expressed and written at men as a class of people.  
        Not a man as an individual or the person named, but men as a 
        plural and a class.

    > 	The anger is there, but it is aimed at a nameless, faceless
    >	force that we struggle with to attain equality (and it surfaces
    >	most often when that anger is MISTAKEN for anger at all men.)
    >	We have repeatedly stated that we don't hate all men, so we
    >	tend to get annoyed when some folks tell us that we really
    >	*DO* hate men.  Honestly, we don't.
    
        Thats strange, each time you people call that enity men, so just
        how are we suppose to know the difference ??? because you say so ??
        thats funny ... your one of the most strongest defenders of those
        words condemning that "enity" called men.

    >	So we are all caught up in a gross misunderstanding.  When
    >	men go into WOMANNOTES, we sometimes get angry at the WORDS
    >	that are written (and some men mistake that anger for the kind
    >	that includes all men.)  That makes some of us even angrier.

        Has it occurred to even one of you, that we, who protest what is
        written about us has a valid point and that you women should stop
        generalizing about us ???

    >	The harder we try to explain it, the less plausible it sounds
    >	("HEY, YOU DOPE!!!  WE DON'T HATE YOU!  HAVE YOU GOT THAT
    >	STRAIGHT???")  It doesn't work out too well, but we've said
    >	it so many times already that it keeps coming out louder and
    >	louder (from some of us.)  It's a losing battle in terms of
    >	trying to communicate.

        Then why don't you read all of the note and digest it over a
        few minutes rather than picking out some thing and coming back
        and blasting the author ??? Not one of us said anything about 
        you or anyone else "hating" men. That is something you created
        and came back with in your defense of what was written. What was 
        objected to was the lumping of all men into a bad person category 
        for a number of reasons, when most of us don't deserve it. What we
        object to is constant anger directed at all of, guilty or innocent.

        I neither attacked the file, nor you nor anyone, yet was accused 
        of this and more. You couldn't have read all of what was written,
        since your replys show that you missed my words around exactly
        what your saying that I don't say. For that and the consistent anger
        directed at all men by your fellow women and your steadfast defense 
        of the same , you are in the wrong, yet I doubt that you will ever 
        see it. You see what you want to see and disregard the rest.
        Continue your anger,  continue your defense of it, for I see little 
        evidence that it disturbs you, but be aware that someday it will 
        come back to haunt you .

                                      Bob B
153.14No stones in my glass house, please.ULTRA::BUTCHARTSun Oct 04 1987 12:2822
Funny, I'm thinking about all the times I've complained about supervisors
and managers and lumped them together in generic "management - FEH!".
Don't get me wrong, I'm not prejudiced.  Some of my best friends are
managers.  

It's pretty natural to make generic pronouncements in a fast or heated
discussion.  I can't think of anybody I know that hasn't done it at some point.
Whenever I see a statement using "men" in that fashion, it doesn't bother me in
the least, 'cause I'm pretty sure that it's no different from the times when
I've reached an impasse (related to differences in the way we think) with 
Marcia and raised my eyes to the ceiling and thought - "women!".  (I have 
learned how to keep my mouth shut - sometimes.) 

/Dave

P.S.  Laws and regulations against prejudice only came into being
      in the 60's and 70's.  By my reckoning that only puts us
      part of a generation through a change that will take at least
      three to be fully realized - assuming no setbacks.  Most
      high executives and government officials had their attitudes
      set well before that - and mere laws do not change fundamental
      societal attitudes that quickly.
153.15GCANYN::TATISTCHEFFLee TSun Oct 04 1987 20:3518
    re .12
    
    Nice note.  Like to add that I dn't think "men" are better off than
    "women" in general, or even in sum.  Economically, yes, yu are better
    off.  But there are aspects of "womanhood" that I would not trade
    for anything.
    
    I am reminded of this every time I see a loved man struggle desparately
    to express an emotion which his training has denied him to feel.
     He knows _something_ is wrong, but doesn't know what, because in
    the effort to be the "man" he was trained to be, who does not feel,
    he has turned off _all_ emotion; he cannt allow himself to acknowledge
    it EVEN TO HIMSELF, much less to anybody else.
    
    I would rather be raped a million times, than go through that.
    
    Lee
    
153.17Be true to yourselfCAMLOT::COFFMANHoward D. CoffmanMon Oct 05 1987 16:1615
< Note 153.6 by MOSAIC::MODICA >
                  -< WOW, I'm not alone in my consternation >-

    RE: .4 & .5		Thats exactly how I feel but couldn't seem to
    			find the words to express it. So thanks to you
>>    			both. I'm really getting tired of all the guilt
>>>    			assigned to me because I'm a white male. Hell,



Guilt assigned does not have to be guilt accepted.  Be true to 
yourself and not get caught up in the "stuff" of others.


Howard
153.18STING::BARBERSkyking Tactical ServicesMon Oct 05 1987 21:07277
	RE:  .9
    

    	  >	After thousands of years of oppression, you think
    	  >	that a few laws and a few changes in company policy
    	  >	in some of the great CORPs like DEC can make EVERYTHING OK
    	  >	(so we should SHUT UP now and stop talking about what
    	  >	happened to us as women over the centuries and during
    	  >	our own lifetimes.)

                Yes, since now you have the ways and means to put a stop to all
                the things you are objecting to. These laws and policies are in
                place and can be used to combat and stop the problems that 
                women are encountering. If you or any other woman chooses to 
                live in the past and not use these tools to stop the opression
                problem, what would you have me do ?? hold a gun to her head to
                force her to go and do something about it ???

                But thats right, I'am the enemy, the bad guy, Iam a man so 
                therefore I wouldnt lift a finger to help. Why is it you are 
                so blind to the fact that there are both MEN and women who
                are working to put a stop to this, do you recognize this ? NOOO 
                all we see are is people living in the past and pointing the
                finger at man as a group and screaming your to blame. Your the
                enemy.

                And no, I never ask nor demanded that you "shut up", or stop 
                talking about all these problems. For the umpteenth time 
                WHAT I asked for was for you and your fellow women to stop 
                directing the anger at all men. To stop blaming all men for 
                all your problems.

                What I am asking is for you to get off to get off this line of
                defending other women who ARE writing all inclusive anti men as
                a class statements. You as an individual, may not feel that way,
                But I know (considering the replys both here and in the WOMEN
                NOTES file ) that other men share my feelings that these state-
                ments and anger and blame ARE being directed to all of us.
                
      >		Considering that DEC has set aside one file (out of
      >  	hundreds of DEC files) for the purpose of DISCUSSING
      >		TOPICS OF INTERESTS TO WOMEN (including our social and
      >		economic position in the world) -- why does it BOTHER
      >		YOU so much that *WE* have decided what we want to talk
      >         about and refuse to let *YOU* decide for us?????
    
                Decide what ????? You can discuss anything you wish.
                This is America ya know ... Freedom of speech and such.
                Neither I nor anyone else I know made any statements
                that any subject was "forbidden" for discussion. To 
                discuss it is one thing, to use it as a medium to point 
                the finger of blame is another. You support and defend 
                statements that say that men are the enemy, and dont under
                stand why we get upset over that. 

    	>	We *DON'T* write anti-man statements.  We write
    	>	anti-rape, anti-abuse, anti-discrimination and anti-
        >	other_things_that_are_of_concern_to_us_as_women.
    	>	If you choose to interpret the statements as anti-man
    	>	simply because the majority of rapists and abusers are
    	>	men, we have no control over that.
    
                The problem here is that in most instances the author of 
                those note goes on to blame men as a class of people for
                being responsible when in fact it is NOT all men but one
                or two men who are guilty. Yet we as a class of people are
                expected to take the rap for the few. If I were alone in my
                feelings and interpreting these words you would have perfect
                grounds to blast me. But in consiteration that I am NOT ALONE
                in these feelings, why is it that I am bearing the brunt of 
                your anger ??? Because I was the first to speak out against 
                these things ????

    	>	Don't blame US for the fact that most of the crimes
    	>	committed against us are committed by men.  It's an
    	>	ugly fact of life (supported by statistics), but unless
    	>	YOU are a rapist or an abuser, then YOU have nothing
    	>	to worry about.
       	>	WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     	>	If the shoe doesn't fit, then DON'T WEAR IT!!!
    	
                 Then when can we expect to see the all men are guilty
                 and all men are to blame statements stop ???? When 
                 and only then will I believe you .	

      >		I strongly defend other members of the community when
      >		they are unjustly attacked (and I defend myself.)  If
      >		the attacks stopped, I would become more like my REAL
      >		SELF (i.e., a busy person with a sense of humor and
      >		a lot of warmth.)  I would *LOVE* it if I could spend
      >		less time in the file defending myself from the attacks
      >		of ***SOME*** men.

                UNjustly attacked ????? OH ya, thats right, if a person
                whoops correction ..a man disagrees with someone or 
                thing that one of the women has written that constitutes
                an attack. I guess since Iam not an "honorary woman"
                that my feelings and thoughts arnt worth anything.
               
                Its wrong for me to reach a point of reading so many 
                angry and anti man statements and words that I have NO
                right to write that I find them disturbing and wrong.
                I guess since I directed my words at a total audience 
                rather that a single person (so I wouldn't look as if I
                was picking on a person ) Iam wrong. The real killer here
                is that expressions of these feelings were asked for 
                yet when expressed they are considered an attack.

                Lets look at one more thing, when all this started
                how many of your fellow women came back and said 
                Iam not angry at men, Iam not anti men. Four ?? 
                five ??? Out of how many in the file ?? I hear you 
                ( and those other 5 ) saying that you are not anti man.
                I don't hear the others. The fact that you didn't see 
                anything wrong with the notes I referenced as the reason
                for my speaking up in Womennotes tells me you will never
                see what I and others are upset about.
 
    	>	Wrong!!  We get mad at INDIVIDUAL MEN (but the individual
    	>	men then say "You're just mad at me because I am a man.")
    	>	When I flame you in Womennotes, I do it to ***YOU***
    	>	as a ***PERSON*** (and so does everyone else.)  You
    	>	consistently IGNORE the comments directed at you (where
    	>	we show you that you misquoted us and made statements
    	>	about things we've said where we can **PROVE** that you are
    	>	mistaken.)  
    	>	We only start talking about our feelings about ALL MEN
    	>	when some guy goes in the file and takes an innocent
    	>	statement PERSONALLY (and attacks the file.)


               You flame me and accuse me of attacking the file because I 
               have the ordasity to object to something that you think is
               OK.  Because I don't come in there and go rah rah women on 
               every note like some other men that are " accepted ".
               Certain women in that file have ASKED and SOLICITED opinions
               from men about when and what they find bothers them or they
               find objectional. 
 
               So I in good faith came back twice , first about there is too
               much anger and second about the anti men statements. What 
               happens ???? You come out blasting away defending the whole
               file and it participants as totally above board and reproach.
               Got news for ya .... I've never meet anyone who filled that
               qualification yet including me.

               I tried to make some peace offerings to you and you choose to 
               ignore them. I realized it was going no where so I retired 
               to let you have your way.  So Now what, You have got to come 
               over and start this all over again in another file. You must 
               really love to do this, to take razor in hand to cut down any
               one that disagrees with you.


       	>	What is an "ENITY"???  What I defend is the right for
    	>	women to speak to each other about the REAL (statistically
    	>	provable) problems that we face in the world.
    
                But thats just it , you haven't been defending your right 
                to speak to one another because that HAS NOT BEEN THE ISSUE
                HERE. what has been the issue is the fact that a number of 
                men in this and the other file have found things written there
                angry, disturbing and anti men in general. That was the subject
                of this note and the main issue between you and I during this
                entire exchange from Womennotes to here. 

               I have never asked you or anyone else to shut up or stop 
               discussing your problems. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO SEE AND 
               ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WHOLE THING HAS BEEN OVER MY OBJECTING
               TO THE ANGER AND GENERIC ANTI MEN STATEMENTS THAT EXIST AND
               CONTINUE IN WOMENNOTES FILE.


     	>	Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?  We showed
    	>	you in Womennotes where your statements were WILDLY
    	>	INACCURATE GENERALIZATIONS ABOUT US (one woman took
    	>	your text and SHOWED you how you generalized about her
    	>	to make statements that were totally false.)  You didn't
    	>	listen.  You said we were just jumping on you for being
    	>	a man.
    

                WILDLY INACCURATE GENERALIZATIONS ABOUT US ???????
                Excuse me , but I defy you to take 20 or 30 men at random
                let them read through the Womennotes file and come back to
                any of us and not have found multiple angry at men or anti 
                man in general statements by multiple authors. The mistakes
                you and others found were #1 I screwed up when I said Lee's
                note contained "war with "all" men". The word "all" was mine
                not hers and a mistake.

                The other mistake was when I cross connected replys between 
                I believe you and Ann B. Yup she didn't say it someone else
                did. Other than some typos and misspells there were no other
                factual errors. Differences in opinions yes, facts no . 
                For that matter after you and ANN accused me of all these
                generalizations, Maggie cane back with 479.46 and stated that
                she had not seen any such generalizations that you accuse me of.
    
    	>	Oh, give me a break!!!!  Would you like me to send you
    	>	an extract with all the notes written by men who accuse
    	>	us of hating men (and being angry at all men)?????????????
    	>	How large is your "IN" basket (it would never make it
    	>	across the net.)
    
                Well Guess what, there isn't a single reply, in note 479 in 
                Womennotes, in which any man, makes any statement, that any
                of you women, in that file or that note are men haters.
                Now I suppose that make both us human and capable of mistakes.
                But on the other side Iam more than willing to believe that
                there are some replys to different notes, accusing women of 
                being men haters in there,  Why ??  Because of the anger 
                and the anti men statements that is what Iam talking about,
                and you claim don't exist.
                
         >      You attacked the file some months ago (starting with
    	 >	words "NUCLEAR MELTDOWN FLAME" or some such) and without
    	 >      mentioning ANY SPECIFIC NOTE, blasted the whole bunch
    	 >	of us.
         > 	When you started in on us this latest time, you once
    	 >	again FAILED to mention any specific note (you just
    	 >	criticized the whole bunch of us.)  
         > 	If you don't mention a note and you flame, then you
    	 >	are attacking the file.  We can't read your mind (and
    	 >	GUESS what you are talking about.)
         >	I am not angry at all men.  I am angry at **YOU**
    	 >	for the kinds of things you say to me and to others
    	 >	in the file.  I am angry at *****YOUR WORDS*******
    	 >	to be more specific.
         >	Is that plain enough for you to understand, Bob?
    
							Suzanne...

                 Thats right , lets dig up every thing Bob has said in
                 different notes and use it to justify our stand in this 
                 one. Real class maneuver, For that matter I could pull the 
                 same stunt , but I wont.  So for that matter you have never
                 written anything protesting something to a broad audience,
                 rather than aimed at a single person. In both cases this 
                 was the intention, that the message should go out to all.

                 It is still my contention that I attacked neither anyone,
                 nor the file with either note. The point of both was to 
                 state that I as a person, as a man was greatly disturbed 
                 by the amount of directed anger at us in the first note.
                 And by disturbed by the anti men statements in the second
                 one.

                 No what has happened here is that you have chosen to be 
                 angry with me because I had the ordasity to speak out 
                 against what you believe to be your all too perfect file
                 of all too perfect people. I have terrible news for you,
                 NOTHING is as perfect as you think it is. 

                 Your fatal flaw is that you insist upon defending not 
                 freedom of speech, or subject, but the right to be angry 
                 and to direct that anger at anyone that suits you. Right 
                 or wrong. You and the others continue to say it isn't so
                 but it continues. I will believe you and the others if and 
                 when you see it for what it really is, blind anger.

                 You have made statements that you cant afford to avoid 
                 offending 100 % of the men that support women's movements.
                 That there will be a small percentage of those that will fall
                 out of the movement. Yet what you don't see, is that in 
                 defending that blind anger you are just driving all men away.

                 It is that blind anger, that makes many of we men think, that
                 you, defending other women that continue to express that blind
                 anger, are of the opinion that few, if any men are worthy to 
                 help you. And you wonder why so many are turning 
                 around and walking away. Your driving them away !!!!

                 WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE MESSAGE ????????? 
              
                                          Bob B
153.19just another woman's opinion...STOKES::WHARTONMon Oct 05 1987 21:5125
    re .18
    
    For the record, I am not a man-hater. I love some men.  God knows what
    I would do without then.
    
    Now that I've made that clear I can go on to disagree with you.
    
    Yes there are a few laws and a few changes in the company policy
    and the US. But what are laws if they aren't properly enforced??? So
    women have the sexual harassment policy, but women have to *prove*
    that they were harassed. Harassment and rape and most of the *crimes*
    against women are difficult to prove. When the crime is harassment
    it's the woman's words against the man's. (When it's a pickpocket
    it's hardly ever one's word against the other's! The victim identify
    the criminal and the case gets rolling.) A woman gets raped. If
    she received no wounds then the defense asks, "Did this woman consent
    to having sexual intercourse with the defendant and now has had
    a change of heart...?" Yeah I know that a man must be innocent until
    proven guilty, but these laws make it very very difficult to prove
    guilt. 
    
    Another thing, who should be blamed for women's oppression? Women?
    Society? God? Or no one?
    
    
153.22Talk about a chameleon, WOW!GUMDRP::MCCLUREWhy Me???Tue Oct 06 1987 15:0923
    re .21
    
    Truly amazing! While Bob B is obviously upset with your attitudes
    and the strident nature of your rhetoric, I certainly don't see
    him as having attitudes that are anti-woman. But then, that shouldn't
    surprise me. You failed to see that my attitudes weren't anti-woman.
    No where does Bob claim to speak for all men, but you twist his
    words to make it seem that way. The reason, that you don't see more
    individual men responding to your rhetoric, could very well be that
    they have done the same thing that I have. Namely, came to the
    conclusion that it is a waste of time to argue with you, because
    you can't see the forest for the trees. You may conjure up mental
    images of oppression and sexism, because of certain words or phrases
    that are used. But you really should look at the overall intent
    of what is being said. You're intent would appear to be to label
    every man, that doesn't *totally* agree with your exact position,
    as being an opressor of women.
    
    I am truly amazed at how you can flame and attack someone's response
    and then turn around say "well, I really didn't mean that of you".
        
    Bob Mc
    
153.23Guess I should stick my nose in here, huh?GCANYN::TATISTCHEFFLee TTue Oct 06 1987 15:2638
    Bob, what _is_ it about my note that you found to be so anti-men?
    
    And you, too, Hank.
    
    I cannot speak for others' comments/addenda, but I do not find my
    note(s) to be anti-men.  I _am_ angry, yes.  I am angry at some
    very specific men.  I have every right to that anger, as I was
    brutalized emotionally and physically.  I do not make that anger
    a part of my life, I do not nurture it or allow it to fester within
    me.  I do not particularly want to become embittered.  It is there,
    I acknowledge it, out loud and on paper, for three reasons: 1) to
    help work it out of my system, 2) to let other women know what happened
    so that if it happens to them they will be a little more prepared
    than I was, and 3) to let any man who wants to read it know that
    it happens, that these are the results for one woman, perhaps make
    he think about the actions he does that put this one woman in fear.
    
    I also have some very general anger that is aimed at the men who make
    me afraid, the men who also do that sort of thing (rape, incest, abuse,
    harrassment) to others.  Is it an affront on all of man-hood for me to
    talk about this anger?  Are my comments "wild anti-men" comments?
    
    Could it be that you are reading into my words the anger that you
    think you would feel if you were in my position?  That if you were
    me, YOU would hate all men?  That you find it difficult or impossible
    to believe that I do not hate all, or even most men?
    
    I am not trying to provoke, I am simply trying to understand.  If
    you find this to be inappropriate for a notes file, please feel
    to write me.  I am in the air, the only people who have contacted
    me on this issue are the people (male and female) who support me.
    Those who are angry at my words do not seem to want to understand
    my intention or explain where they see an implied "all" when much
    of the text was spent trying to explain why the "all" doesn't exist.
    
    Your friendly Martian,
    
    Lee
153.26COLORS::MODICATue Oct 06 1987 16:1420
    RE: .23	To tell you the truth Lee, When I left the other conference
    		it was because of what some others had written, not
    		any entries by you. But I must add that I hadn't read
    		everything so you may have written something similiar
    		to what had hit my nerve. Unfortunately, what I expressed
    		in womanote 479.93 (I think) is how I feel. But even
    		that was dismissed as childish. 
                                                
    		But, to be perfectly honest.....
    		I guess all of this talk about "war" and the "enemy"
    		makes me very uncomfortable. In my eyes it does not
    		seem to be the best means for working towards a just
    		and equal society. That, and constantly being asked
    		to stay out of discussions because I'm male did me in.
    		I don't know how we'll ever be able to overcome these
    		obstacles that exist in society if we don't do it
    		together.
    
    				Hank
    
153.28 GUMDRP::MCCLUREWhy Me???Tue Oct 06 1987 16:2725
    re .24
    
    Yes, I agree that communications appear to be the problem. I went
    back and reread .21. You're opening statement there is definitely
    open to the interpretation that Bob B is anti-woman because he
    isn't 'pro-woman' (in that he agrees with everything you think).
    No, you didn't use those exact words. The interpretation is possible
    from the tone of the sentence and the *perceived* meaning of the
    rest of the note. I guess, if you can't see that, the  argument
    will continue ad infinitum. Admittedly, some of Bob B's statements
    are open to that same problem. However, if you were only asking
    for a clarification of the language instead of taking an antagonistic
    stand, things might get better. I will assume that Bob B can't sit
    back and look at this objectively just now. I know that I couldn't
    do that when this was happening to me. I haven't gone into Womannotes
    for a long time now, so I don't know what the specifics are, but
    this whole discussion is getting very fuzzy now. Its spread over
    a couple of notes here and other places and is getting hard to keep
    track of.
    
    Bob Mc
    PS, I also reread one of your earlier replies here. The one mentioning
    how your mother has never lost an argument. I guess I understand
    better why you argue like you do. Hey, you can't lose if you keep
    changing tack.
153.29 GUMDRP::MCCLUREWhy Me???Tue Oct 06 1987 16:3912
    re .25
    
    That's the first time anyone said that my notes were "strident".
    These are the occasions when I deeply regret the deletion of
    all previous responses in Womannotes when I left (Hey, i was
    pissed, what can I say?). You appear to base that impression
    on one note. There are some things that I have stronger opinions
    on than others, but enough of this. I'm going back to conflict
    avoidance again. The Lord knows that I deal with enough conflict
    already.
    
    Bob Mc
153.352B::ZAHAREEHacker, Diplomat, Chili ConnoisseurTue Oct 06 1987 19:4812
    re .34:
    
    I hate to be picky, but I think *all* of the bickering found in this
    note a tad undignified.
                                                    
    - M
    
    humorous ps - .34 really had me going for a second.  It appears that I
    read it while it was in the process of being written, however I did not
    get the usual "note x is being written".  What I saw was the first
    screen of .34 with something like "4 billion more lines" at the bottom. 
    "Oh no!" echoed through the vacinity of my cube.
153.36STING::BARBERSkyking Tactical ServicesTue Oct 06 1987 19:54117

    	RE: 153.21
    
    >	It's amazing how much you reveal about yourself (and your
    >	attitude toward women) by what you say.
    >
    >	Obviously, you are not one of the people who was EVER on
    >	our side and or ever will be.  It's no great loss to see
    >	that you (as an individual) are steadfastly refusing to
    >	listen to us.  You NEVER would have listened to us no matter
    >	WHAT we had said.  That much is more than obvious.

        Well lets look at what this evil oppressor of women has done
        to and for them in the last few years.

        AS the Chief investigator for a certain Navy base I successfully 
        prosecuted three dirt bags that raped and kept their victim all 
        night long. I was the one she came to with her story and I 
        protected and backed her through the whole ordeal.

        I'am the creep that convinced an ex lady friend to get out from 
        under a low paying abusive receptionist job and helped her get 
        one as an administrative assistant from which she was promoted 
        to the head of the operation in one years time.

        I'am the bozo that hired a female candidate into my engineering
        section, not because I had to, but because I felt she was the 
        best qualified for the job out of four other male candidates.

        I'am the jerk that grabbed the dirtbag that was going around 
        exposing himself to young women, my sister included.

        I'am the cretin that currently works for a female boss and
        just supported the hiring of a very qualified female engineer
        into this group. 
    
    >	I don't think that the other men in this conference are
    >	fooled by what you are saying.  They can see for themselves
    >	that you are arguing against statements that I've never made
    >	(such as the statement that we in Womannotes are perfect.)
    >	I've never said such a thing.  

        No, you never said such a thing and I never said that you did.
        What you fail to see, is that in steadfastly defending the file,
        because* you*, don't make angry or anti men statements, and *YOU*
        see nothing wrong with the ones that are made. That the whole file 
        is above reproach from anyone. All I and other have been trying to
        say is that there is blind anger and anti men statements that DO
        exist in the Womannotes file, and they are of a nature that we as men 
        find them disturbing. I'am not out to fool anyone, the simple fact that
        some other men have expressed concerns over the same problems in both 
        Men and Womannotes tells me I'am not alone in my feelings

   > 	You also say that my whole argument is in defense of anger
   > 	toward all men.  I've steadfastly DENIED feeling such anger,
   > 	so why would I defend it?  Your arguments make no sense.
    
        While you personally may have not written blind anger and
        generic anti men statements a fair number of women in the 
        Womannotes file have. You defending the file as if it did
        not contain any of these statements . It is as if both you
        and the Womannotes file are above reproach from comment.
        You are in essence defending that anger, when you disagree
        with anyone who has written against it.

 >     	Another man asked me recently how Maggie could state in
 >   	Womannotes that BOB BARBER SPECIFICALLY is not a "bad guy" (although
 >   	some of us continue to disagree with you.)
  
        Because I believe that Maggie and other women understand that
        I am not out to attack the file or anyone or everyone in it.
        I expressed in my own words my own felling of the anger and
        anti men statements contained within. The difference here is 
        that Maggie came back with something to the effect of Bob I may 
        not agree with all you say, but I do hear you. You on the other hand
        have only seen what you wish to see, denighed any validation whatsoever
        to my words and infer that I wouldn't lift a finger to help a woman.
        

   >	However -- while your arguments do not make you a "bad guy,"
   > 	they *DO* make you what I would consider a non-friend.  The
   > 	VAST MAJORITY of the rest of the men in Womannotes *ARE* our
   > 	friends, but I personally do not see YOU as one of them.
    
   > 	But a non-friend is **NOT** the same thing as an enemy.
    
        Then I shall continue to be non friend in your eyes, to you
        and those who think like you, so be it. For I have gotten to 
        the point of tiring of attempting to explain and show you what 
        the problem is. One can not communicate with another who, has 
        put up the brick wall to keep their perfect little world free 
        from criticism. I tire of being only as good as my last trick
        having to constantly prove my value and worth to you women
        that are of a mind set that all men are cretins. That we are all
        out to take advantage of you, rape you, oppress and abuse you.
        
        That either don't know how or are totaly unwilling to accecpt
        any criticism, are above reproach, are perfect in their minds.
        That we are only accecptable when we support everything you 
        think, do or say as totaly right, never wrong in any way. 
        You use whatever means necessary to cast us aside, for you don't
        want our help. You haven't believed in us for so long you never
        will.  You are the ones that drive us away.

        I for one know that there are women among you that have risen 
        from that quagmire of crap. I have been welcomed and accepted 
        into their mist for they recognize a good person when they see
        one. I would support and defend each of these women as if they
        were my kin. They actively seek real communication, both criticism
        and praise. They don't play the game, they don't ask for our
        opinion and then turn us off if it dosent agree with their own.
        These are the women I will seek, these are the women I shall 
        call my friends, for they are real.
      
                                      Bob B
    
153.38I really would like to know.STOKES::WHARTONTue Oct 06 1987 19:5932
    re .33
    
    I noticed that your note was addressed to Suzanne but I read it
    anyway.  :>)
    
    Do you really find it stressfull to argue with women? I have noticed
    that some men do find it stressfull. I have been practically attacked
    physically by some men I've encounted because I disagreed and said so. 
    
    I am opinionated but I don't believe that I am pig-headed. However, the
    general attitude when I disagree, especially if the topic is about cars
    or politics, is "What the hell do you know?"  And if I ask "Why do you
    think I don't know?" and say that it's a sexist attitide to think that
    I am not informed because I am female, I recieve harassment. 
    
    Sometimes I would refuse to "shut up." (My refusal is generally not an
    effort to win the argument. I just feel as though these men do not even
    listen to what I am trying to say.) Only to receive threats or a
    dismissal as if whatever I have to say must be trivial. 
    
    I am not taking sides in this -Womansnote- arguement. I've never
    read the conference. 
    
    However I see a few similarities between the argument here and
    the arguments I have had with people of the opposite sex. Mainly
    men think that I'm trying to win the argument or "there you go with
    that femenist bs.
   
    Why do you think this is so? And why do you find discussions between
    man and woman stressful? 
    
    -Karen
153.39STING::BARBERSkyking Tactical ServicesTue Oct 06 1987 19:5962


    RE 153.23

>    Bob, what _is_ it about my note that you found to be so anti-men?
>    And you, too, Hank.
 
    Lee, Let me start out by saying that I have nothing against you 
    personally or as a woman.  My problem (and I believe the other men 
    concur) was that we are disturbed at the amount of anger and anti
    men sentiment that has been coming from the authors in the womennotes
    file for some time now.
 
    It was neither my intent to say that you don't have good reason to
    be angry or that you should not speak out against being a victim.
    I had hopped I had made that clear when I wrote the original response
    in Womennotes. What I want you to know is that there has been a regular 
    entering of angry and anti men notes written by multiple authors been
    going on in the file for some time now. I for one just hit a saturation 
    point after reading your entry and responded. 
  
    I had done something similar a few months ago about the amounts of 
    what I refer to a blind anger directed at men in general. Whats 
    happening here is that we as men are saying yes you have a right to be 
    angry and hurt but don't take that out on all of us. All of us didn't 
    do this to you. Many of us do want to help you and help stop this 
    from happening. Its when a person blasts all of us as a class of people 
    that we begin to feel that there is no sense in trying to talk or help
    you for you'll never believe that were sincere in our offer or intent.

    As long as women continue to express encompassing statements that 
    imply that all men are wrong, guilty and evil, no man is going to
    support anyone with those feelings of resentment against them.
    We are not angry with you, we are disturbed at the growing trend 
    of sentiment that all men are bad, cant be trusted, are in fact to
    be considered guilty until he proves himself innocent and worthy
    of being trusted.

    Let me try to depict an example here. If I get mugged one night,
    by two men, I wind up angry and resentful of those two that did
    it to me. If I wrote about it I would express my anger of and about
    those two individuals, not all men. What the trend has been is that 
    when the same thing happens to a woman that expression of anger goes
    out to include all men and not just the individuals that did it.
  
    When that happens those of us men who are innocent of this become 
    resentful that we are being held responsible for something that 
    we as a class of persons did not commit. In too many cases nothing 
    we can say will make any difference about these feelings and so 
    we then give up bothering to attempting to be of a help, because 
    we are in fact being driven away by the anger directed to us.
    How often and under how many criteria do we need to continue 
    to prove that we are the good guys and not the bad ???
    
    I hope this explains why I and others get disturbed when we see
    blind anger and anti men statements. In some cases a compromise 
    of understanding will never be reached since some people don't 
    want to hear about it. I hope this is not the case here.

                                 Bob B    
    
153.41STING::BARBERSkyking Tactical ServicesTue Oct 06 1987 20:2631
    	RE:  .34

   > 	Bob Barber has not satisfactorily PROVEN the allegations that
   > 	he made earlier in this note about women in womennotes.  He
   > 	has tried several times and has not succeeded in building a
   > 	case for his insulting, inflammatory and argumentative statements
   > 	about us.

        What allegations have I failed to prove ?????? You are actually
        going to take a stand and continue with a defense that there are
        NO blind anger and general anti men statements in the Womennotes 
        file ??? You've got to be kidding !!!!!!!!!!

        I can't believe this !!!!!! You are still taking the stand
        that men and their opinions are "welcome" in that file ????

        You might have a case for differences of opinion of how effective
        the current AA and EEO laws have been up to and including 1987,
        which is the subject in note 155. But in this note, in which the 
        subject is about men being disturbed about women writing notes 
        to the effect that many men perceive them as being anti all men.
        To continue to say that men and their opinions are welcome
        in womennotes is utter nonsense.
     
   >	Are you going to tell Bob Barber and Bob McClure that they
   > 	are being undignified (or do you save that argument for women?)

        And just how am I "undignified" ????? Just because I disagree 
        with you ????
    
153.42Well hello EAGLESTING::BARBERSkyking Tactical ServicesTue Oct 06 1987 20:307
    
    ET ALL EAGLE
    
        As usual brother bridman you are at your superb and
        undaunted self of excellence. My congratulations.
    
                                        Bob B 
153.46*** WARNING 2 ***2B::ZAHAREEHacker, Diplomat, Chili ConnoisseurTue Oct 06 1987 20:569
    Bob & Suzanne,
    
    Please consider this an official "cease and desist" order from the
    moderator.  Either figure out how to carry on a civilized discussion or
    I will write-lock this topic.
    
    Thanks,
    
    - M
153.49You'll go blind!ULTRA::BUTCHARTWed Oct 07 1987 11:3429
Back on the original topic, sort of.

How many "here" remember the late 60's and early 70's?  I recall the
"hostility argument" was raised frequently then about blacks who were
not "polite" about working for equal rights.  (Hmmm.  A few more quotation
marks and I may qualify for the William F. Buckley school of psuedo
intellectual debate, as it were.)  It was the liberal whites who seemed
to have the most trouble with "hostility" - and it was amazing how detailed
an analysis some would go into to uncover hostility in almost any statement
by a black leader that was not so sugary as to cause actual diabetic attacks
in their audience.  I feel odd little echos in the corners of my mind.

Being perceived as hostile seems to be a sin of sorts in U.S. society, 
although most of the stuff I have read that has caused accusations of 
hostility to be flung about in this and other files is pretty dam' tame 
by my standards - just some good, aggressive position staking and jostling.  
In fact, the only hostility *I've* perceived seems to come *after* the
accusation is flung.  Looking at the detailed and, in my opinion, rather
far-fetched interpretations imposed after the fact on some of the writings,
I'd say that some folks could detect unmitigated hostility in a purchase 
order for jello pudding.  (Of course, considering the last time I read
the ingredients for jello pudding, maybe the P.O. *could* be considered
a hostile act, especially if you were going to feed it to someone else.)

Ease up a little!  That kind of mental exercise leads to bad eyesight,
poor posture, and all the other ills that are attributed to the physical
exercise it most resembles.

/Dave
153.50VCQUAL::THOMPSONNoter at largeWed Oct 07 1987 12:0514
.38>   Do you really find it stressfull to argue with women? I have noticed
.38>    that some men do find it stressfull. I have been practically attacked
.38>    physically by some men I've encounted because I disagreed and said so.

    Personally I, and I think most people, find it stressful to argue
    with *anyone*. Arguing with women is no more or less stressful
    (except with my wife but that's different) then with men. Especially
    thought notes. I seldom read the name attached to a reply until
    I've read it and not always then. It's an opinion being expressed
    not a person to attack.
    
    			Alfred    

    I never did unterstand how anyone could disagree with me. :-)
153.51GCANYN::TATISTCHEFFLee TWed Oct 07 1987 15:0129
    Ye olde bird_brain has some VERY good points on how to get yourself
    listened to rather than dismissed.  People try to dismiss me rather
    regularly, whether due to my gender or my age (the lack thereof),
    I am not sure.
    
    To "win" feminist arguments/debates/discussions one has to be very,
    very careful before using the label "sexist"  (seeing a grunting
    snout on the face of the offender does wonders to ease that anger,
    tho not laughing at the sight can be tough).
    
    I find that both men and women are much more comfortable if I argue
    around the sexism...  I never had to say sexism or feminism, but
    the people I work with knew from day one... one guy even joked about
    an old employee who used to pat women's fannies, saying that he'd
    really like to see the results after trying that on me.
    
    Alfred is right too... I HATE confrontation, whether it be with
    a man or a woman.  There are ways of getting the results you want
    without ever confronting in a hostile way.  Screaming at me (or
    typing accusations) will get no one anywhere with me... I will figure
    out if I am indeed wrong (horrors!) or if the accusations are unjust.
    In the former case, I apologize VERY quickly, and avoid the topic
    for a while.  In the latter, I get a bit school-marm-ish or high
    tail it out of there.
    
    My experience has been that in general men are more willing to conflict
    than women but there are some immediate exceptions to THAT rule...
    
    Lee
153.52 ?MPGS::MCCLUREWhy Me???Wed Oct 07 1987 15:2156
re .32    
>    	Again, you read things that are not there.  Where did I say
>    	that if one isn't "pro-woman," one is "anti-woman"?  Where
>    	did I say that I define "pro-woman" as one who agrees with
>    	everything I say?

    I supplied my reference and explained my reasoning. I also stated
    that you didn't use those very words.
    
        
>    	Where did I say that I argue like my Mother?  I don't (not
>    	at all.)  Why do you keep making assumptions about me and
>    	my words that have NO BASIS in fact?

    I never said that you argued *like* your mother. I just stated that
    I understand a little better now. IE Your role model never lost
    an argument, therefore you can't conceive of losing an argument
    yourself. But, maybe thats a fallacious assumption.
    
        
>    	What did you mean by "when this was happening to me" -- when
>      	WHAT was happening to you?  Arguing with women?

    No, arguing with Suzanne Conlon when you are already po'd and
    she keeps telling you that it isn't you but flings your words
    back at you to show that you are a (perceived)jerk.
    
        
>    	Do you find it especially stressful to argue with WOMEN?
>    	Do you think that ANY WOMAN WHO IS WILLING TO ARGUE PUBLICLY
>    	WITH A MAN must be some sort of radical (and must HATE ALL MEN
>    	to do it?)

    No, all arguments are stressful. The gender of the other person
    has nothing to do with it. Only that the @#$%& idiot doesn't seem
    to understand my viewpoint and do it my way 8-).
    
        
>    	Why did the word "strident" bother you so much?  You used it
>    	against me as a STEREOTYPE.  My views in this note have very
>    	little to do with FEMINISM (unless you think that only feminists
>    	argue with men.)
    
    My heavens, how did you make the quantum leap that your use of
    the word 'strident' bothered me "so much". I only questioned your
    application to my notes. Why did MY use of the word bother you so
    much? A stereotype? When did that word become a stereotype? Of
    what?
    
    I always thought that you said you weren't a feminist. I'm a Humanist
    myself and , the last time I checked, women are a part of the human
    race.
    
    
     	
    Bob Mc
153.53I read something and started wonderingCOLORS::MODICAWed Oct 07 1987 15:4114
    I've got a question for Lee or Suzanne or anyone who might have
    an idea. It has to do with something entered in womanotes. One
    entry is entitled "men never had it so bad" (I think) and goes on
    to explain that no matter what has happened throughout history,
    women have been nothing better than slaves. I hope I'm paraphrasing
    correctly. I don't wish to dispute the argument itself but would
    like to ask what purpose it serves to keep stating how badly
    women as a group have been treated. It almost seems to me like
    reverse one-up-manship that can only serve to keep the anger 
    level high. Is it productive? Counterproductive? Any comments?
    
    As I probably said before somewhere, it seems very unproductive
    to me and only seems to encourage polarization on either side
    of the fence.
153.541 + 1 x 0 = 0AKOV04::WILLIAMSWed Oct 07 1987 15:5710
    To those of you continuing a long and, for me, trying exercise in
    throwing words at each other (I dain to call it an arguement or
    discussion given that I fail to see proof that any of those involved
    correctly understand what the others are saying) I offer a suggestion:
    
    	Enter a comment or response and ignore the words thrown
    	at the comment or response if they are provokative.  By
    	ignoring the words you assign them a nil value.
    
    Douglas
153.55GCANYN::TATISTCHEFFLee TWed Oct 07 1987 15:5814
    I too found the wording inflammatory, and the reminder seemed to
    feed fuel to flames.
    
    I have a hard time asking her to reword, tho, 'cause she's RIGHT
    (except for the title); those things did happen, they are important,
    we mustn't forget them.
    
    It bothered me less than you, probably, but if it bothers you I'd
    suggest you contact her via mail (without screaming, but you know
    that) and tell her why the title was, er, unfortunate.  Then tell
    her how to modify a note's title (if she chooses to do so.. after
    all it _is_ her choice until a moderator is called in).
    
    Lee
153.56well...YAZOO::B_REINKEwhere the sidewalk endsWed Oct 07 1987 16:027
    Hank, Most of what the note referred to is historical fact as
    I know it. It doesn't mean that individual men haven't been
    kind and loveing to individual women, nor that women haven't
    been equal and loving partners with men....just that those were
    the laws - and I for one am glad they have changed.
    
    Bonnie
153.57COLORS::MODICAWed Oct 07 1987 16:054
    re: Last few, agreed. Perhaps I wan't clear though. What was stated
    doesn't bother me. I seriously ask what purpose it serves today.
    I didn't mind the title either. I am really just trying to understand
    better.
153.58AKOV04::WILLIAMSWed Oct 07 1987 16:107
    	One excellent reason for accurately restating history:
    
    	"He who ignores history is destined to repeat it."
    
    	Don't know the author of the above - Plato?
           
    Douglas
153.59YAZOO::B_REINKEwhere the sidewalk endsWed Oct 07 1987 16:114
    Well I presume the author entered the note because she thought
    many people were not aware of the information and she thought it
    was relevant to the discussion....perhaps you should write to her
    if you want a better explaination. :-)
153.62followupYAZOO::B_REINKEwhere the sidewalk endsWed Oct 07 1987 16:463
    Also, Ian the colonel has entered a note discussing the 
    historical accuracy of the note that Hank was talking about
    - at least as far as Great Britian is concerned.
153.63STING::BARBERSkyking Tactical ServicesWed Oct 07 1987 17:1316
    
     Since I have said everything I have needed to say. And since 
     this discussion has only served to set up divided camps of
     opinion, that show no chance of reversing themselves. And  
     due to multiple requests (and one threat, hi Mike :-) )from
     both male and female members of the DEC community, I will 
     discontinue from any further continuing of this debate.
    
     I have realized that opinions are like the nose on your face,
     everyone has one, and they all can be different. This has gone
     too far and only served to drive a wedge of division between 
     two factions that by all rights, should be working together 
     instead of apart. Eagle is right in that its gotten to be a 
     contest for fools. I defer to the wishes of the noting community. 
    
                                  Bob B  
153.64STOKES::WHARTONWed Oct 07 1987 19:5515
    re .47
    
    Lack of information is generally not the case. I do not know everythng
    there is to know about all subjects under the sun. But then again
    I don't know of anyone who knows everything about all things. 
    
    There have been times when the opinions I expressed were opinions based
    on facts not feminine intuition.  But there seems to be a strong
    tendency among a large number of men to question the validity of
    statements made by a large number of women. 

    I agree with you about the advantages of discussing an issue over
    "arguing."    
    
    -karen
153.67enquiring minds wanna knowRAINBO::MODICAThu Oct 08 1987 14:131
    RE: .65	Was that serious or tongue-in-cheek?
153.68Poor things...STOKES::WHARTONThu Oct 08 1987 15:1424
    re .65
    
    "WHAT does one do?" you asked.  
    
    Well for starters, I believe that some women totally avoid those
    pig-headed men in question. In any semi-civilized conversation those
    men simply become nuisances. They are always right, never willing to
    listen to the "female" side of the discussion. Without even reading any
    of the notes in Womennotes I can understand why some women would want
    some or all men out of the conference. But alas, these women are
    branded as "men-haters."
    
    I do not agree with your utimate solution.  
    
    The ultimate solution has to come from within men. We all have our
    ego problems, men and women. Why is it so difficult for some men
    to comprehend that MEN aren't the only intelligent species on earth? 
    
    Even if the older generation were to die overnight and were to leave
    only the younger gerneration, women will still have problems.  The
    older ones are socializing the younger. They'll die but they'll
    and leave a legacy.
    
    -kw
153.69CEODEV::FAULKNERtMon Oct 12 1987 00:468
    okay
    I'm confrontational but..... 
    i confront everything and ...one the same
    but 
    i will admit this there are men that take advantage of the lower
    abilities (ie. physical strength of women) but what the hay 
    
    i suppose every planet has its reptile life
153.70Never ascribe to malice what can be explained by lazinessOPHION::HAYNESCharles HaynesMon Oct 19 1987 19:0816
    I'm one of the men who read WOMANNOTES and don't feel threatened
    by statements like "I hate men because they do x." Because I hate
    men who do "x" too, and since *I* don't do "x" I don't feel threatened.
    Now we all realize that "I hate men because they do x" is a gross
    overgeneralization, but hey! we all overgeneralize :-).
    
    Why don't all you men out there who *are* bothered by this sort
    of thing just pretend you're "martians" while you read such things.
    Try to "grok" it, sympathize, empathize, whatever with the attitude.
    *Then* turn back on your "menness" and realize that you aren't like
    that, and you do hate men who are.
    
    And if you run into someone who insists that *you* are a shm*ck
    just because you have one... well treat them like any other bigot.
    
    	-- Charles
153.71Opinions sought or not?ANGORA::BUSHEEGeorge BusheeTue Oct 20 1987 12:0818
    
    	RE:. 70
    
    	 Charles, While it really doesn't bother me in the slightest
    	when I see statements like "I hate men beacuse the do x." as
    	I look at it much the same as you. I do however see some men
    	come in here to give their opinion and when they do they get
    	an attack on them personally. That is what I object to, if by
    	chance your opinion doesn't match with what most of the more
    	out spoken women say then, they bring on an attack of you as
    	a person rather than accept you have a different opinion. 
    	Debate is one thing, attack is another and one which shouldn't
    	be taken place as often as it does. Why can't it be you can
    	give your opinion without an attack even if it doesn't agree
    	with anyone esle? Is it only allowed that the more out spoken
    	WOMEN may state their opinion without an personal attack?
    
    	G_B
153.75No arguements from hereANGORA::BUSHEEGeorge BusheeTue Oct 20 1987 15:3315
    
    	Suzanne,
    
    	  I'm sorry if it came across as I agree with the notion that
    	all women in this file and woman notes are saying all men. I
    	didn't mean that, what I meant was I saw several men give their
    	opinions about something that went against the majority of the
    	women's view and get attacked for that opinion. If the male
    	gives his opinion without attacking another, why should he
    	be attacked for the way he sees an issue? That is all I'm saying
    	plain and simple. It just seems popular to flame someone for
    	their opinion if the are of the other sex (BTW, this goes both
    	ways and we MEN are just as guilty).
    
    	G_B
153.76ENSIGN::HOLTWed Oct 21 1987 02:404
    re .70
    
    rah = (Martian *) HumanBeing;
    
153.77It happens frequentlySTOKES::WHARTONWed Oct 21 1987 14:065
    .75
    
    I don't think that it has all that much to do with sex. 
    
    The majority nearly always sh*t on the opinions of the minority.