The pussification of the american male

The BBQ Pit
1

Is it just me or has it become unacceptable to be male at this time. I hear commercials on the radio where some woman derides a man for something he has done that is foolish and I can’t help thinking that if the roles were reversed, the ad would never get run because the ad agency would face lawsuits by feminists. I teach computer courses at a community college. The other day I heard a female student say that “All men are rapists. They are just waiting for an opportunity” When did that happen?!? What if a male student said “All women are bitches”? Would that have been OK?

Imagine for a moment that Microsoft was owned by a woman. Would the justice department have the balls to go after that company the way they have gone after Gates & Co.? Before you say that no woman would ever run the company the way he has, think about it. You either have to accept that men and women are basically the same or that men and women are different. If they are the same, then why not a woman running a business the same way. If they are fundamentally different, then women shouldn’t fight in combat or hold jobs that require tough decisions of life and death (Literally or figuratively)

The average white male isn’t allowed to be the hero in movies anymore unless there is a woman, child, or minority to co-hero with him. More often the man is the weakling, only there because women tolerate him. Look at the movie 9 to 5 for an example of how women can treat men in film. Try making the same movie with the roles reversed. You couldn’t do it. Not because it’s not funny but because it’s insensitive. Well what about men’s feelings? Don’t we count anymore? No, I guess we don’t.

2

You little pussy, shut the fuck up and get a real job!! Fuck you and sorry male white ass!! You can take you pathetic excuse for a post and stick it right up your lilly white butt! You may be a little softie with a little fear of women, but don’t pin you petty insecurities on me, sucker. I’m male, white, full of testosterone, and not afraid to use it!!! Take that and toast it! Shitforballs.

Welcome to the pit, I hope you enjoy your stay.

(Maybe yo meant to post this in great debates? If so I’ll be happy to discuss your point, though the example you used about the movies is a bad one - still mostly white male heroes in top flicks.)

Sili

3

I think he was going for more of a rant than a debate (and I see your point, Cynical1)

Give him time. He will learn.

Now, as quickly as you can, snatch the pebbles from my hand …

4

I know someone who could use a nice, warm cup of darjeeling tea, some new shoes, and an uninterrupted viewing of the movie The Bridges of Madison County.

5

Up to a point, I agree with you. Subversive humor - like the movie 9 to5 - is often a way to get some licks in on the power du jour. In the United States, that was, and still is, white men. The whole reason movies like that work is not because it’s women vs. men, but because it’s underlings vs. the boss. Yes, they have done a gender-swapped version of the movie, from what I can tell. It’s Screwed. Doesn’t look very funny, but there you go.

As for male-bashing across the spectrum, it has gone to far, and if that student had said such a thing in front of me, I’d have challenged her on it in a heartbeat. Excuse me, but my brothers, father, close friends are most definitely not just waiting for the opportunity to rape. They are ethical, moral, righteous men who respect individuals, including women.

I get annoyed with the constant “oh, my husband’s so stupid” commercials touting the latest fabric softener or whatever. As far as I’m concerned, it’s bad writing and a surefire way to lose me as a customer.

It is fashionable to beat up on white men now. The pendulum has swung past “subversive humor” and into plain idiocy. The only thing I can guess is that some elements of our culture have had their oxes gored pretty extensively and now want their own pound of flesh (how’s that for a mixed metaphor?).

Hopefully, in the next few years, we’ll see a little more reason start to prevail.

6

If women are fundamentally different from men they shouldn’t be allowed to make life or death decisions? Huh?

7

ahhhhhhh, i’m not so sure about that cynical1. I’ve heard the ranting from other males actually, some that are friends, and can only look at them and think, “you people have issues you need to take care of on your own before you can make a statement like that.” Seriously, men are allowed to be men, women are allowed to be women. I’ve yet to meet a woman who has a problem with me behaving like a gentleman. No where, at any time was it ever acceptable to behave like an ass hole though. If that’s what you mean by being pussified, then all your’e saying is, “i’m an ass hole, and god dammit!, fuck all these feminists that think men can’t continue to be ass holes any more.”
If you want to continue to be a man, by all means, start by ignoring the small stuff like what the media portrays, and focus on the real world, regardless of the fact that there are so man others that bring the media into their real world. Be a man, stand up for yourself, don’t take crap from anyone, treat others with the respect they deserve, and you’ll get the same. Be an ass hole, and women will continually rant about how you as a man are a pig.
I highly doubt there has been any pussification going on, and if there has been, i want to know why i wasn’t invited to do some licking. :smiley:
yeah! now that was a real mans comment. :wink:

Men, are only men when they are mature males, exhibit a sense of responsibility fit for leading a life through a succesful journey, and exhibit enough intelligence or sense to stay or rise above the menial every day negative “issues” of society. Gay, or straight, or whatever, all it takes is intelligent sense, consideration, and humble modesty. Since when was that ever pussification?

8

All it takes is watching I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, or hell, even The Flintstones to realize that making fun of white men is nothing new.

All the crying about “white male bashing” is about the most stupid fucking thing I’ve heard. You’re feeling oppressed because people don’t want you belching, farting, killing things and beating up women? Christ in sequined pumps, try being a woman. Or black. Or gay.

And then shut the fuck up.

9

mmmm, i somehow feel like i’ve stepped in some troll-shit.
yuck. :eek:

10

phouka notices:

I see the same thing. A vast majority of commercials with a stupid spouse and a smart spouse have the woman being the smart one. Regardless of what is being sold. TV, radio, whatever; the guy is invariably a shmuck who would be lost without a woman to lead him into enlightenment.

I can mentally reverse the roles and come to the conclusion that the company would not have dared presented the reverse situation lest it be demeaning to women or whatever.

Hey, men can be stupid. So can women. But not to hear advertisers say that. And why is male-bashing an accepted part of a stand-up comic routine by a woman (insert howls of laughter), where I don’t see nearly as much female-bashing by men (insert silence or boos). Maybe I just haven’t seen the right performers?

11

First of all I’d like to thank you all for a charming welcome to the pit. I love it.

Great debates? Bullshit. No debate here. White + male in this country means bend over and take it like a man. Oh and by the way - while you’re bending over, shut the fuck up about it. We don’t want to hear any of your whining.

Soulsling - I personally don’t have any issues of my own. I act the way I see fit and if it doesn’t sit well with others that’s too bad. What I’m talking about is the acceptance by this society that it’s OK to bash one group but not any others. What a hypocritical pile of steaming, extra runny, grade A, prime choice, american made bullshit.

phouka - Thanks for the support but I would be risking a job I enjoy to have opened my mouth and questioned the statement.

KSO - Look at it in context. I’m saying that women want us to accept that they can do anything men can (That is good)but not that they are capable of doing anything men can (That is bad) - OK, maybe that part belongs in Great Debates.

Andros - I can’t try being a woman, black, or gay. (Well OK I guess I could try gay but…) And frankly I wouldn’t want to. I don’t think many blacks, women, or gays would want to try being me either. It’s a bullshit statement.

As far as the statement that it’s been going on for a long time now - SO THE FUCK WHAT! Does that make it right? Did it make it right that a generation of women had to hear about it being their fault for ring around the collar. That stopped because they spoke up. If someone speaks up because the pendulum swung too far back why is that wrong when the first complainer wasn’t.

It’s Fucking Wrong
It’s got to stop
If you think it’s OK to slam me but not OK for me to slam you then I cordially invite you to go fuck yourself.

12

soulsling - As I recall, and I admit that as a newbie I could be wrong, a troll is someone who posts something they know to be wrong and waits to see how many people they get to fall for it. I assure you that as a card carrying cynic I find people like that repulsive. If that’s what you think of this thread - TOO FUCKING BAD!! I’m passionate about this topic and I want to hear what other think. We don’t agree on the subject - that’s OK. Don’t go accusing me of trolling. I’ve got better things to do with my time.

13

If I really wanted to bash the OP, I’d note that it sounds a lot like Mark Serlin/Sentinel.

Yeah, commercials that tout household products tend to portray males hopelessly bumbling around the house. It’s a stereotype–same as the stereotype where the confused female gets rescued in the store by the wise grocer (usually male).

9 to 5 bashed men? Nah. It used a specific type of stereotypical male role as the foil in a comedy. That hardly makes it prevalent in the movies. (There are only one or two actors they could have gotten for Dabney Coleman’s role–maybe Martin Mull–the rest are out being action heroes.) How many movies have you watched lately where Bruce, Sly, or Arnold were rescued by the heroine. Good grief! That movie is 20 years old! How many follow-ups has it had?

I am no less likely to challenge an extremist feminist at work than I am to challenge an extremist racist or a fundy-anti-science statement–even when made by my bosses or clients. My statements have never threatened my job. (Of course, I don’t start off by yelling, “That’s bullshit, you ignorant slut!” There are acceptable ways to challenge a statement that do not require rudeness.)

As a single rant prompted by who-knows-what back-breaking-straw, the OP was a nice (if misguided) expression of rage. To come back with two follow-up posts insisting that you have not only anger but Truth on your side has prompted me to point out that you are being more than just a bit silly.

If you keep this up, some of us are going to start giggling about your close resemblance to Serlinel.

14

This is actually an interesting topic. It’s too bad it was posed in such a poor way.

Here is an interesting perspective…I grew up overseas and came back to the US for high school. My best friend from overseas came back to the US and went to the same high school. I am white and he is black.

We both noticed that we were BOTH treated in a rather bizarre fashion upon several occasions. I go to one of the most PC schools in the country and am often subject to the rantings and ravings of idiotic liberals (note: liberal does not = idiotic. it just seems that the idiotic ones go to my school). It’s relatively typical and usually is along the lines of :I am a white male and thus should feel guilty about slavery or the massacre of indigenous peoples, etc…I try to tell them that my ancestors were Irish and were over the sea when these things happened. Usually it does no good.

My best friend is often pressured to act like an African American male. He is often pigeon holed as well. “He is black so he must be pro Affirmative action…”

The lesson…White male bashing is the vogue right now. But so is bashing everyone regardless of race, religion, gender.

15

Too late, sorry. ::giggling::

16

Sorry. I’m who I am. Nothing more - nothing less. If you think I’m someone else, I would say that you are probably insulting them.

OK 9 to 5 may be an old movie but let’s look at the action hero genre. Is it my imagination that so many of them have a black or female sidekick. (Of course, Real Men with Jim Belushi and John Ritter would be an exception.)And look at Pleasantville. All the bad guys were stereotypical white men.

The movie thing was just a sidenote to the main topic anyway. Men are portrayed as idiots in the media more often then not and anyone who portrays a woman the same way would be keelhauled.

Not to hijack my own thread, but along a similar line: Why is it OK for a woman in my county to pass a test to become a firefighter by pulling a dead weight of 150 pounds out of a fire when the men have to pull a 200 pound weight. The old standard was 200 pounds male or female. Women sued saying that the requirement was sexist. I wonder how the judge that ruled on that would feel if it was him that needed pulling out of a burning building and the woman who came to his rescue couldn’t pull him out.

17

Hey cynical can I get a reference for that firefighter fact? i am not doubting the veracity, just interested in seeing the original source…

18

Can you say demographics? Non-white or non-male sidekicks are supplied to bring in the non-white and non-male audience to increase the number of tickets sold. Notice how all these interlopers on your pristine action-hero movies are “sidekicks”? In other words, the white male is still on top. That’s true of the villains, as well. Blacks and women aren’t allowed to get the roles (and the money and top billing) that a good villain brings in.

Sorry. You’re going to have to provide some figures to back up your selective memory. That fact that you get bent out of shape and remember every incident where a man is portrayed as a goof hardly means that men are “more often than not” portrayed as goofs. It means that you selectively remember the things that bug you.

You know, I’m a middle-aged, middle-class, white male and I get really tired of seeing people try to put me into some sort of oppressed class. Having some white guy out there crying about his horrible fate is just pathetic.

I don’t really think you’re Serlinel, but you certainly whine the way he did. Come on! You’re a white male in North America at the turn of the 21st century! You’re a Master of the Universe. Buck up! Go out and claim your destiny!
(If your fire department did lower the real standards for entry, they are idiots. That still does not make you an oppressed :::giggle::: minority.)

19

**
OK 9 to 5 may be an old movie but let’s look at the action hero genre. Is it my imagination that so many of them have a black or female sidekick.**

First off, why is bad to have a black sidekick? Is that somehow demeaning to white men everywhere?

Yes, some action flicks have female sidekicks, but guess what, they’re there usually as romantic interests.

Let’s examine shall we…

Judge Dredd. Sly Stallone and Sandra Bullock. They have sex.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Harrison Ford and Karen Black. They were ex-lovers. Harrison was hardly wimpy or idiotic in the film.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Has been burned from my memory. Doesn’t exist as far as I’m concerned.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. No female sidekick. Nope instead, we have a white male sidekick.

Die Hard I guess you could consider the black police officer a sidekick, but the only one doing ass kicking in the film was Bruce Willis.

Die Hard III (didn’t see II). Yes, there was a black sidekick. Who cares?

Rocky. I sisncerely doubt you could consider Apollo Creed or Adrian the side kicks in this film. Nope, it’s Burgess Meredith, a white man.

Men in Black. Ok let’s go for a twist. Black man with a white partner. Guess who got the more “idiotic treament”? The black man. The white man came across incredibly intelligent and professional. (Not that it was demeanig to black men. Smith’s character was a rookie and naturally prone to mistakes).

Air Force One. What sidekick?
Ok, I think I’ve given enough examples. But you know what, I’m glad that there are more women and ethnic/racial minoriteis being shown as heroes. It goes a long way to dispelling the myth that white men are the only ones capable of being heroes, without making men seem incapable in turn.

I’d like to see a cite for the fire fighter story.

Oh, and there are women who can carry 200 punds. I’m 5’ 9", weight lifted for a long times, and worked a limestone mill stacking 70lb bags on pallets. There was a point that I could pick up 200 pounds.

20

I used to play football, and box, and drink beer. I used to be tough! I used to be cool!

Now I’m just a pussy.

I have no idea how it happened.

(I feel so ashamed)

Can anybody help me?

I dunno, maybe I need to get in touch with my feminine side or something. I’ll ask my shrink.

Maybe I could get cool again, if I hung out with the guys again? Nah, my wife would never let me.

Maybe I’ll just go to promisekeepers or something.

OH MY GOD LISTEN TO ME!!!
{{{{{{help me please}}}}}