# Male Centrism at the Dope **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 5, 2018, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437 "2018-06-05T00:04:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/261 "2018-06-05T17:06:50Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Is it just me or has this thread been taken over by a bunch of dudes yelling at each other about how their opinion matters the most? > > Not one square inch where they don’t yell “Mine!” Your analogy needs some help. There isn’t a finite amount of square inches on the Internet. The fact that male centric threads exist in what is practically an unlimited amount of cyberspace does not crowd out female centric threads. All that is needed is the employment of agency that we all should possess. You don’t need to destroy a single so-called male centric thread. All one needs to do is start creating the content they wish to share and participate in. Wow! It’s mind blowing. Not really. It’s exceedingly simple. There is a reason why this is in the Pit and why it bounced from the Skald Pit thread to ATMB back to here. Why not take this energy and time and hop on up to IMHO or MPSIMS and start creating threads that are on whatever topic these folks would like to participate in? Well, there’s no drama to be had in that… “Well there goes octoputz with his misogynistic, old white male, man-splaining again. Why can’t he just listen?1!?” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/262 "2018-06-05T17:08:21Z")
> [@Delicious](#): > > Are men here treated with or talked about with respect and dignity? This thread is full of counter examples. There is context. Should everyone be treated with respect and dignity (if they haven’t abrogated it with their own behaviour)? Yes. Does treating women with disrespect have more impact on them than treating men with disrespect? Yes, probably. It’s the same kind of thing as **monstro’s** earlier racism example; it’s not great to be racist against white people, but it doesn’t have the same impact as being racist against a minority. Men always like to trot this kind of thing out when we’re talking about things like women’s rights. The playing field is NOT level, and no amount of false equivalencies can make it that way. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/263 "2018-06-05T17:10:45Z")
I am not sure I believe that the board is male-centric, but I appreciate the female posters who’ve shared their perspective on the topic and I feel I learned something today. So there. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/264 "2018-06-05T17:12:12Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Male and female behaviors may be socially constructed but tell me about a case where they are not different. You don’t have any science on your side at all. This makes zero sense. I said that _biologically_ we aren’t much different and there isn’t any basis for your claims regarding some “natural” need for males to express their sexuality. It’s funny how you go from walls of text when you’re trying to pound your ideology into people, yet you have very few words when you have no idea what the conversation means. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/265 "2018-06-05T17:12:14Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Anatomical geography is irrelevant. What’s relevant is whether it has logical ramifications. > > That’s what would apply in the case of women’s breast cancer. It would depend on what aspect was being discussed, and many aspects would have no logical ramifications as to male prostate cancer or whatever. But if someone was advocating a principle as applied to women’s breast cancer which was inconsistent with widely accepted principles applies to male prostate cancer or childhood ear infections or whatever else, then it would be appropriate to raise those other issues. But no one in those threads is ever arguing whether or not FGM should be legal. People may or may not take the stance that nicking the clitoral hood --the closest analogy to circumcision–should be legal, but no one,\*\* literally no one\*\*, is arguing that removing removing female genitalia is an acceptable practice. No one. They are pretty much all threads about how outraged people are, with perhaps some discussion of what can be done to prevent the practice. But within 2-3 posts, every single time, someone starts talking about male circumcision, making arguments for or against it, etc. etc. If we were testing the proposition about whether or not different types of FGM should be legal, than analogies to different types of male genital mutilation would be appropriate. But that’s not what those thread are about. Those threads are “OMG! Look what people are doing to these girls! That’s awful!” and within a few posts, the whole thread is “No, look at what people do to a body like mine! That’s much more urgent!” ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/266 "2018-06-05T17:12:15Z")
> [@fervour](#): > > (I think I used ellipses correctly) > > […] If you are using them to indicate editing a quote you should put square brackets around, and you should never add spaces between the periods. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/267 "2018-06-05T17:12:23Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Anatomical geography is irrelevant. What’s relevant is whether it has logical ramifications. > > That’s what would apply in the case of women’s breast cancer. It would depend on what aspect was being discussed, and many aspects would have no logical ramifications as to male prostate cancer or whatever. But if someone was advocating a principle as applied to women’s breast cancer which was inconsistent with widely accepted principles applies to male prostate cancer or childhood ear infections or whatever else, then it would be appropriate to raise those other issues. Address my last paragraph and then maybe we can continue this conversation. Until then, I’ll assume you’ve missed the more salient point in order to defend your right to assert _intellectual consistency_. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/268 "2018-06-05T17:12:24Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > There is context. Should everyone be treated with respect and dignity (if they haven’t abrogated it with their own behaviour)? Yes. Does treating women with disrespect have more impact on them than treating men with disrespect? Yes, probably. It’s the same kind of thing as **monstro’s** earlier racism example; it’s not great to be racist against white people, but it doesn’t have the same impact as being racist against a minority. > > Men always like to trot this kind of thing out when we’re talking about things like women’s rights. The playing field is NOT level, and no amount of false equivalencies can make it that way. He’s a returning sock and a troll. Don’t waste a lot of time on him. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/269 "2018-06-05T17:12:54Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Again, \*thousands \*of threads here, most of us are interested in only a smallish fraction of the threads available to read. There are lots of tables having lots of different conversations and you are free to sit or not sit at any of them. There are tables with political discussions going on, religious ones, silly ones, ones about a variety of shows, about different sorts of foods, about philosophy, about pets, about losses and about victories. There are those who get support here and there are jerks who are assholes and differing thoughts about who is the jerk. Anyone, male or female, cannot find a table here that has a conversation of some interest, is probably not a good fit for this board. Looking at GD now … not a single “male-centric” thread on the whole first page. Very few on all of IMHO’s first page. horseshit. it’s like a middle school cafeteria. group of kids want to sit at a table and talk to each other, then a few of “those” boys has to walk by, crop dust the table, and make a bunch of stupid noises. So they get up and go to another table, then the same boys walk by _that_ table and crop dust it. Lather, rinse, repeat. It’s a sad truth that there are entirely too many guys who can’t let people (especially women) have something nice; they have to barge in and (figuratively) piss all over it and drive them away. I used to read The Truth About Cars a lot. at points here and there, there were a few women who commented on articles, until the mental adolescents had to shit everything up around them. One guy justified it by saying “I consider this place a guy’s room where I can kick back and say whatever I want.” Well, who the fuck told you that’s what it was? You just barged in like a prick and said “this is mine now, get out.” ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/270 "2018-06-05T17:18:08Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > But no one in those threads is ever arguing whether or not FGM should be legal. People may or may not take the stance that nicking the clitoral hood --the closest analogy to circumcision–should be legal, but no one,\*\* literally no one\*\*, is arguing that removing removing female genitalia is an acceptable practice. No one. They are pretty much all threads about how outraged people are, with perhaps some discussion of what can be done to prevent the practice. But within 2-3 posts, every single time, someone starts talking about male circumcision, making arguments for or against it, etc. etc. > > If we were testing the proposition about whether or not different types of FGM should be legal, than analogies to different types of male genital mutilation would be appropriate. But that’s not what those thread are about. Those threads are “OMG! Look what people are doing to these girls! That’s awful!” and within a few posts, the whole thread is “No, look at what people do to a body like mine! That’s much more urgent!” OK, that’s possible. I don’t recall reading those threads. ETA: what you’re describing sounds a lot like a thread about false rape accusations, where people jump in to say “hey, what about actual rapes? That’s a much much bigger problem!!!”. You get some of those too. > [@QuickSilver](#): > > Address my last paragraph and then maybe we can continue this conversation. Until then, I’ll assume you’ve missed the more salient point in order to defend your right to assert _intellectual consistency_. Your last paragraph was a complete non sequitor in the context of the point I was making. I’m fine with not “continuing this conversation”, such as it is. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/271 "2018-06-05T17:19:27Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Go crawl in a hole. You’ve got a chip on your shoulder that you put there yourself. > > Like the rest of my critics you have nothing positive to offer. There’s not the least hint of a solution in this thread or the others. I’ve heard the same complaints over and over again, and the increasing distortion of my responses because I point out that the only solution offered is censorship. It’s censorship even if you ask nicely. Once someone has something constructive to say this discussion can move forward. I don’t care if you or anyone else wants to continue along this path, I’m being vilified simply for disagreeing with you and pointing out the over-reach to place blame on anyone who doesn’t jump up and down shouting “Men are evil pigs!”. Discussion itself is constructive! Telling us that if we were real feminists or emotionally mature we would just ignore it is not all constructive! I haven’t seen any one saying men are evil pigs except you, in your misinterpretation of things. Admittedly, the thread moved fast from when I last checked it. Maybe it’s now full of pigs. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/272 "2018-06-05T17:20:30Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > We should listen. Why wouldn’t we want to? Then perhaps, after you’ve respectfully listened they will give you the same consideration and listen to your points. This might be a two way street for you. > > But insinuating they are wrong when you clearly have no idea what they are saying isn’t, well, isn’t really helping is it? This isn’t about you, and isn’t the place for mansplaining. I’m a man. Stop talking about what I ought or ought not to do. That’s male-centric. Regards, Shodan PS - > [@](#): > > This is a wedding! It’s supposed to be a happy occasion! Let’s not ruin it with a lot of petty bickering about who killed who! ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/273 "2018-06-05T17:28:45Z")
> [@anomalous1](#): > > Okay… > > I am willing to bet most people who use the term “socially constructed” and are in favor of the idea are on a certain end of the political spectrum. > > Humans are more intelligent animals, we are social creatures, therefore most things we do or perceive with each other are ‘socially constructed’ and sex/gender being one item for eons is not going to change because of some sociology buzzwords and theories. > Call them what you (general you) want, label them whatever. There are inherent differences in behavior and physiology that are unique to each sex due to chemical reactions, genetic predispositions, hormones et al. Males are one, Females are another. Many biological traits are hard written and instinctive. No amount of ideological posturing is going to change that. > > Men are a certain way and Women are a certain way, biologically, therefore behaviors are intrinsically different in their natural state. The **theory** of sex/gender being socially constructed was coined/studied for scientific purposes and adopted by feminist groups in an attempt to either slander men, or change societal structure, either way there is an angle. Instead of accepting what is, and has been accepted, it has to be changed to support the few who disagree. Seems like most political aspirations and agenda these days seems to follow suit or at least in the general direction of that. Gender/Sex is just another one. This is very polite hooey. Do you have empirical, peer-reviewed science supporting your claims? Although, the research that’s been done is itself gender-biased. Not the actual research, but the choice of what research to conduct. Here’s an interesting article on this very subject: > [@](#): > > And while women and Democrats are more likely to say differences are the result of social and environmental factors, a majority of men and Republicans believe they are biological. > [@](#): > > One of the important things that biology has taught us over the last 50 years is that nature and nurture can’t necessarily be separated. And there is biological feedback that happens as a result of the environment. So, for instance, if you give a very young child mechanical toys to play with, stuff that exercises their ability to build things and make things, they will be better, biologically better, at making and building things because of the experiences they’ve had. So a social interference produces a biological effect. > **[How Different Are Men and Women, Really?](https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/02/an-interview-with-angela-saini-author-of.html)** > > An interview with Angela Saini, author of Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong – And the New Research that’s Rewriting the Story. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/274 "2018-06-05T17:29:38Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/275 "2018-06-05T17:32:34Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > This isn’t about you, and isn’t the place for mansplaining. > > I’m a man. Stop talking about what I ought or ought not to do. That’s male-centric. > > Regards, > Shodan > > PS - One thing I really like about you Shodan, is how well you do your \*\*Archie Bunker \*\*imitation. you’ve got him down pat. Do you do \*\*Al Bundy \*\*too? ---
**Author:** ![fervour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/276 "2018-06-05T17:34:28Z")
> [@naita](#): > > If you are using them to indicate editing a quote you should put square brackets around, and you should never add spaces between the periods. I’m fully aware the rules change. I was taught that “. . .” meant that there were words missing in a sentence/paragraph/statement---------" Four dots meant that I left off the end. Nothing else followed. Even in the pit I’m going to ask for a cite. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/277 "2018-06-05T17:39:12Z")
> [@fervour](#): > > F > I’m fully aware the rules change. I was taught that “. . .” meant that there were words missing in a sentence/paragraph/statement---------" > > Four dots meant that I left off the end. Nothing else followed. Even in the pit I’m going to ask for a cite. I believe that square brackets around ellipsis that indicate elision vs. ellipsis that were present in the original text is the current MLA style. But MLA style isn’t the be-all and end-all of usage conventions. I think in general written discourse the distinction is not generally maintained. ---
**Author:** ![fervour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/278 "2018-06-05T17:48:26Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > I believe that square brackets around ellipsis that indicate elision vs. ellipsis that were present in the original text is the current MLA style. But MLA style isn’t the be-all and end-all of usage conventions. I think in general written discourse the distinction is not generally maintained. I believe you, but I still want a cite. It’s hard to tell, but I do appreciate your sincerety. Gahhh! Troll vs. neophyte? asshole? something? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/279 "2018-06-05T17:49:37Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20998879&postcount=18](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20998879&postcount=18) > > How is “banana” any different than “boobies”? And comments about the size of said banana? You really don’t understand the difference between talking about some theoretical non-Doper’s “banana”, and asking to see a real, live Doper’s breasts? I mean, I don’t think either comment is _tasteful_, but only one is actually harassment. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437/280 "2018-06-05T17:52:35Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Does that trigger you? Naah, mate - not like I didn’t know \*exactly \*what you are from previous threads. That’s why I give any post from you exactly zero fucks, anywhere. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-centrism-at-the-dope/815437.md?page=15)