# Question for the Ladies: Symbols, Icons, and Popular "Stuff"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 14, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148 "2018-05-14T17:34:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/21 "2018-05-15T04:04:25Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Am I the only guy that’s never been to a “men’s retreat”? I don’t even know what the OP is referring to. I was so out of touch, I wasn’t aware they actually existed. The only time I’ve heard about them was in sitcoms and movies and I assumed they were mostly made-up. I’ve been to pig roasts, gun rallies, tailgate parties, and demolition derbies. But none of them were men only. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/22 "2018-05-15T04:36:58Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > If I have, it’s because I was there for some other reason and only men showed up for it. I’ve never been to a men only thing \*because \*of the men only thing. Same here. Maybe I should join [this](http://thecenteroflight.net/the-sacred-masculine-retreat.html) one… ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/23 "2018-05-15T04:41:15Z")
Some go to pig roasts and gun rallies. Others go to gun roasts and pig rallies. It all depends on what you like. 🙂 I’m certainly biased, but my unscientific observation has been that women often get together to accomplish something they are all interested in accomplishing, while men often get together to talk. It sounds backwards according to the old stereotype, but it’s what I’ve actually seen. I’m not saying men don’t accomplish anything; I’m saying they don’t habitually plan a special time and place to gather for that purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/24 "2018-05-15T05:17:53Z")
Wine. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/25 "2018-05-15T05:25:27Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Am I the only guy that’s never been to a “men’s retreat”? I don’t even know what the OP is referring to. I’ve never been to one. But if I’d known that they talk about sports and motorcycles, well, I still wouldn’t have been to one. > [@suranyi](#): > > I recently went to a retreat that wasn’t exclusively female, but it was 90% women. So I can say what that was about: How to get back into the workforce after taking extended time off. Most of the people there, mainly women, were there because they had taken years off to take care of children. > > One of the star speakers was a lady who used to be a COBOL programmer, took 20 years off to raise kids, then learned iOS in her spare time and then eventually got a job as a programmer again. I could use something like that, myself. Was it any good, and who organized it? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/26 "2018-05-15T06:23:56Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > No. Why would I want to deliberately hang out with a bunch of men with no women? Also: Why do you need a “retreat” to do these things? Just do them–without retreating. They’re not illegal or anything. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/27 "2018-05-15T10:27:21Z")
Every few years friends of mine hold MensTown, a camping weekend for guys only. We drink a lot, smoke weed, eat mushrooms or acid, and shoot clay pigeons. Surprisingly there have been zero fatalities and the injuries have all been minor. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/28 "2018-05-15T11:24:43Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > If I went to such a thing and it was cammo, guns and military I would leave. So would I. That just sounds creepy. ---
**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:** [May 15, 2018, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/29 "2018-05-15T11:43:30Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Havent you ever been to any type of men’s only meeting or group? Forget chicks, man. Tonight, let’s just go and dance. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/30 "2018-05-15T12:14:18Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Same here. Maybe I should join [this](http://thecenteroflight.net/the-sacred-masculine-retreat.html) one… That doesnt sound too far off. Well the price is. I noticed that one cost $1080 for 5 days. Our events are usually just weekends. Would they do some “guy stuff” like shoot skeet maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/31 "2018-05-15T12:16:33Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Also: Why do you need a “retreat” to do these things? Just do them–without retreating. They’re not illegal or anything. Because just getting together with fellow men is just… good now and then. Same way women like to sometimes do things without any men being around. Its normally just a weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/32 "2018-05-15T12:16:56Z")
Shoot skeet is “guy stuff”? I’ll make sure I tell the ladies shooting it out of El Cerro next time I see them. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/33 "2018-05-15T12:19:51Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > Some go to pig roasts and gun rallies. Others go to gun roasts and pig rallies. It all depends on what you like. 🙂 > > I’m certainly biased, but my unscientific observation has been that women often get together to accomplish something they are all interested in accomplishing, while men often get together to talk. It sounds backwards according to the old stereotype, but it’s what I’ve actually seen. > > I’m not saying men don’t accomplish anything; I’m saying they don’t habitually plan a special time and place to gather for that purpose. Your above sounds more like a workshop. Those are good but these events are more to just relax, hang out, have fun, and make some friends. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/34 "2018-05-15T12:21:45Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > That doesnt sound too far off. Well the price is. I noticed that one cost $1080 for 5 days. Our events are usually just weekends. > > Would they do some “guy stuff” like shoot skeet maybe? Actually second thought, that sounds more like a money making facility where they run these events with the purpose of selling hotel room nights. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/35 "2018-05-15T12:25:39Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I have never in my life been at an event like this. > > If I went to such a thing and it was cammo, guns and military I would leave. That’s fine and I respect that. What do you think of the idea of single gender activities in general? ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/36 "2018-05-15T12:27:23Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Wine. Ok, that is popular. But is there an overall theme or common activity? I mean you can drink wine at home. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/37 "2018-05-15T12:32:58Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Am I the only guy that’s never been to a “men’s retreat”? I don’t even know what the OP is referring to. Although I enjoy off-roading, shooting, BBQ, campfires, and hunting (with a cheap camera to prove my “kills”); and while I enjoyed and am proud of my military service I think military camo is highly inappropriate for civilian use and tantamount to ‘stolen valor’. I would retreat from an event as described in the OP. Double time if it were sponsored by a supposedly “religious” organization as I don’t think any of these ‘symbols’ positively influence men to be their best. “Macho” is what drives the leadership styles of dictators and I have no use for it. Show me a retreat where men can talk about their experiences with vexing man stuff like aging, financial and marital insecurities (what the fuck is wrong with my dick, and what are my options?), activities they don’t understand that their teens are into, dealing with cars being too hard to repair these days, planning for retirement when employers don’t plan on making it possible, and yes: when is it time to send your kid to rehab, what goes on there, and what will it look like when they return–basically, how does one get by as a 50 year old guy in a world that is completely unlike the one Dad lived in when he was 50? Show me a retreat like that and I just might start going to church. ETA: Single gender activities I think can be useful because there is stuff I as a guy would rather just muscle my way through rather than talk to my wife about. She’s great and all, but she has no idea what it’s like to be a guy. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/38 "2018-05-15T12:53:21Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Women don’t have to find “retreats” or special occasions to chat casually with strangers. They’re allowed to do that in public rest-rooms. Excellent ! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2018, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/39 "2018-05-16T02:07:49Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’ve never been to one. But if I’d known that they talk about sports and motorcycles, well, I still wouldn’t have been to one. > > I could use something like that, myself. Was it any good, and who organized it? Sent you a private message. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2018, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148/40 "2018-05-16T02:38:56Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Show me a retreat where men can talk about their experiences with vexing man stuff like aging, financial and marital insecurities (what the fuck is wrong with my dick, and what are my options?), activities they don’t understand that their teens are into, dealing with cars being too hard to repair these days, planning for retirement when employers don’t plan on making it possible, and yes: when is it time to send your kid to rehab, what goes on there, and what will it look like when they return–basically, how does one get by as a 50 year old guy in a world that is completely unlike the one Dad lived in when he was 50? Show me a retreat like that and I just might start going to church. Not long ago I had a “night out” with three other men and no wives. We were all in our 60s. Eventually we ended up talking about enlarged prostates and cholesterol drugs. It was okay for an evening, but if it had been an entire weekend retreat, we would have ended up more depressed than when we started. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-ladies-symbols-icons-and-popular-stuff/814148.md?page=3)