In today's media, anti-male sexism is the rule far more than anti-female sexism. Whether it's calling men "idiots," creating smart mom/stupid dad TV shows, publishing books with titles like "Are Men Necessary," our culture is full of what some scholars are calling the "WAW effect," short for Women are Wonderful. These days, it's tough to catch a break if you're an unapologetic male.
What's interesting about the situation is that it's not really that removed from the way things used to be in Western society in which men were the preferred sex. In a fascinating address provocatively titled "Is There Anything Good About Men?" Florida State University professor Roy Baumeister discusses how we've moved from male superiority to male inferiority as well as the reasons behind that shift (h/t Helen Smith):
I said that today most people hold more favorable stereotypes of women than men. It was not always thus. Up until about the 1960s, psychology (like society) tended to see men as the norm and women as the slightly inferior version. During the 1970s, there was a brief period of saying there were no real differences, just stereotypes. Only since about 1980 has the dominant view been that women are better and men are the inferior version.
Story Continues Below Ad ↓The surprising thing to me is that it took little more than a decade to go from one view to its opposite, that is, from thinking men are better than women to thinking women are better than men. How is this possible?
I'm sure you're expecting me to talk about Larry Summers at some point, so let's get it over with! You recall, he was the president of Harvard. As summarized in The Economist, "Mr Summers infuriated the feminist establishment by wondering out loud whether the prejudice alone could explain the shortage of women at the top of science." After initially saying, it's possible that maybe there aren't as many women physics professors at Harvard because there aren't as many women as men with that high innate ability, just one possible explanation among others, he had to apologize, retract, promise huge sums of money, and not long afterward he resigned.
What was his crime? Nobody accused him of actually discriminating against women. His misdeed was to think thoughts that are not allowed to be thought, namely that there might be more men with high ability. The only permissible explanation for the lack of top women scientists is patriarchy - that men are conspiring to keep women down. It can't be ability. Actually, there is some evidence that men on average are a little better at math, but let's assume Summers was talking about general intelligence. People can point to plenty of data that the average IQ of adult men is about the same as the average for women. So to suggest that men are smarter than women is wrong. No wonder some women were offended.
But that's not what he said. He said there were more men at the top levels of ability. That could still be true despite the average being the same - if there are also more men at the bottom of the distribution, more really stupid men than women. During the controversy about his remarks, I didn't see anybody raise this question, but the data are there, indeed abundant, and they are indisputable. There are more males than females with really low IQs. Indeed, the pattern with mental retardation is the same as with genius, namely that as you go from mild to medium to extreme, the preponderance of males gets bigger.
All those retarded boys are not the handiwork of patriarchy. Men are not conspiring together to make each other's sons mentally retarded.
Almost certainly, it is something biological and genetic. And my guess is that the greater proportion of men at both extremes of the IQ distribution is part of the same pattern. Nature rolls the dice with men more than women. Men go to extremes more than women. It's true not just with IQ but also with other things, even height: The male distribution of height is flatter, with more really tall and really short men.
Again, there is a reason for this, to which I shall return.
For now, the point is that it explains how we can have opposite stereotypes. Men go to extremes more than women. Stereotypes are sustained by confirmation bias. Want to think men are better than women? Then look at the top, the heroes, the inventors, the philanthropists, and so on. Want to think women are better than men? Then look at the bottom, the criminals, the junkies, the losers.
In an important sense, men really are better AND worse than women.
I don't endorse all of it by any means but it's interesting to finally hear an academic voice challenging the dominant thinking on this issue.
Update 17:55. John Tierney has some additional thoughts centered around Baumeister's contention that sex disparity also exists when it comes to everyone's ancestry. Women are twice as likely to reproduce as men on average.
Philosophy, et cetera focuses on how Baumeister is using biology to help understand sociology.
—Matthew Sheffield is the creator of NewsBusters and its Executive Editor.





















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
The Modern Female in Directing Policy
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:20 ET by Lame CherryFew people realize the first world war.......no not the one in 1914, bu the real first one in the 7 years war aka French and Indian war which spread around the globe was caused by women.
There was a French whore ruling France, an old bag in Austria and a Russian slut ruling there and when Frederick the Great in public called them tramps they all got ticked and attacked Prussia........to which Frederick got his Great by smashing all their armies as Wolfe did here against Montecalm.
The Feminization of policy such as the Carrie Nation movement causes horrendous destruction. Liberals were feeding and arming terrorist Indians which were causing rapine and the male counterpart in the US military was sent in to destroy what liberals instigated.
You can find the same scenarios in World War II in the feminization of policy which "let the world understand Hitler" until he got so big that which should have ended in a little war in 1937 became a world war in 1941.
The same is true with Somalia, Kosovo and now Iraq. This brooding of nations letting the natives bake the cake is feminist in nature in trying to deal with a problem child by loving them to morality. Patton in Germany and MacArthur in Japan had no love in their nation moulding of those peoples. They simply told the SS and the Japanese royalty that they either stopped the murder going on or they would be hung. No cuddling feel good building. Just the promise of a very male dominant death to those who do not behave.
The entire destruction of the United States culture the past century which we as a people are now suffering through is all feminine. The aborticide of children now burdening us with women with scarred wombs dumping high cost preemies to the dumping of cash into black communities destroying those families are all the "don't make Nancy feel bad she is a prego tart and Jamaal feel bad because he didn't stay in school for education" policies which reward screw ups and penalize the male law system of everyone being forced to be moral and productive for the good of society.
Those are the facts and America is about to find out in the next few years how bad this girly policy is going to get with high food prices and as Lincoln said, "Too many pigs for the tits" when war breaks out and America will really be over extended.
Feminist policy always destroys a nation by making excuses while male policy always builds a nation by implementing positive direction and responsibility.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
So right.
Fri, 09/07/2007 - 10:20 ET by iveseenitallSo right, Lame Cherry. Ad to these the feminization of that huge American "success story"--our educational system.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Does anyone else think
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:20 ET by MightyMouthDoes anyone else think Marge looks kinda hot in that red dress?
Or is it just me?
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
MM,Do you have orange
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:29 ET by Chris NormanMM,
Do you have orange skin and purple hair? If so, then there's nothing wrong with you. If not, then I'm concerned... :)
Does brown skin and a red
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:29 ET by MightyMouthDoes brown skin and a red cape count?
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Are you sure you want to
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:32 ET by Chris NormanAre you sure you want to share all of this? Oh. You mean Mighty Mouse. I thought you were getting kinky at home, or something... :)
It's much better than
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:35 ET by MightyMouthIt's much better than posting a real pic of myself and ruin the "mystique" :-()
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Hey Matt! put Marge back!!!
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:38 ET by MightyMouthHey Matt! put Marge back!!! (plz) :-)
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
"The Mystique of Mighty
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:40 ET by Chris Norman"The Mystique of Mighty Mouth" - it has sort of a ring to it. I post no pictures of myself as I am merciful to others... :)
I am merciful to others...
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:43 ET by MightyMouthChris do you think you could convince Free Stinker to be of like mind?
(just kidding free, you're adorable) :-)
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Good post Matthew. I am
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:23 ET by NortonalecGood post Matthew. I am going to announce my retirement to my wife tonight.
Nortonalec
The old schtick of the dumb
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:28 ET by Chris NormanThe old schtick of the dumb spouse vs. the smart spouse as dumb wife and smart husband has been reversed by political correctness. I guess men are going to have to turn into a bunch of whining protesters if we want to get rid of the "dingaling clueless husband" on television. I think it says a lot about men bearing up that we haven't already...
It has been absolutely
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:31 ET by bigtimerIt has been absolutely despicable what has happened in our society to men...
The leftists, msm, and the NOW group and their ilk are to blame as far as I am concerned...I am including trial lawyers, new ridiculous laws and endless class action lawsuits...that a slap across the face would of taken care of.
In the long run it hurts us women.
Btw...I do not mean all of us... I mean as a whole.
Talk about going against nature and creating more problems for all...
We are living it now in our society.
Unfortunately.
BT, They portray some
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:37 ET by Chris NormanBT,
They portray some husbands on tv shows and commercials as being so stupid, as to appear mentally retarded. It's really been so overdone, it's not funny...
They do it on all the
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:40 ET by bigtimerThey do it on all the shows, movies and commercials...
I scream at the despicable commercials sometimes...
being a woman and all....
I raised my son different than what they are force fed...including schools ect.
Thank goodness.
The men on these commercials
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:44 ET by Chris NormanThe men on these commercials are such stupid clowns, it makes you wonder how they could possibly have a job that pays enough money for them to buy the freakin' product being advertised.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Well now Chris... They
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:48 ET by bigtimerWell now Chris...
They may be laughing all the way to the bank.
I call that smart.
LOL..
Oh, I'm sure the actors
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:00 ET by Chris NormanOh, I'm sure the actors are. Actually when you think about it, the actors are probably about as dumb as the characters they play.
Like the one cell phone commercial
Fri, 09/07/2007 - 00:08 ET by Scout FinchWhere the dad says to the kids, "Listen to your Mom, kids....stay in school!" I have to ask, what data do marketers see that bolsters this kind of mentality? As a woman, I detest this kind of marketing! Or the Best Buy commercial where the husband knocks fists with the salesman with a cast on his arm from performing DYI projects? Ugh! I am so turned off by this kind of advertising. Are there any women who agree with me?
bt, commercial
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:48 ET by Clear thinkerbt, commercial question...
Do the commercials that push mens sexual enhancement drugs bother you Women as much as they bother me?
Get Email updates from Fred http://socialnet.imwithfred.com/email_alert_july_26.html
Ct... YEP
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:49 ET by bigtimerCt...
YEP
I get really PO'd when I
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:53 ET by Clear thinkerI get really PO'd when I watch a family friendly show on TV with my granddaughter and suddenly these commercials pop-up. The morality in this country is sickening. IMHO.
Get Email updates from Fred http://socialnet.imwithfred.com/email_alert_july_26.html
Ct... Way past
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:54 ET by bigtimerCt...
Way past sickening.
It really has been sad watching the decline too.
I find them
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:58 ET by Chris NormanI find them embarrassing. "Viva Viagra" makes me absolutely cringe...
I hate the (BIG) happy Bob
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:02 ET by Clear thinkerI hate the (BIG) happy Bob commercials.
Get Email updates from Fred http://socialnet.imwithfred.com/email_alert_july_26.html
Arghhhh. That guy is just
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:08 ET by Chris NormanArghhhh. That guy is just creepy.
...Very very creepy...
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:14 ET by bigtimer...Very very creepy...
Yeah, we're getting a
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:12 ET by motherbeltYeah, we're getting a little OT, but "cringe-inducing" is the word that comes to mind. Who the heck wants to explain to a kid what ED is, and what Viagra is for?
The other commercial that drives me right around the bend and is in even worse taste, (at least in the Viagra ads, they make an attempt at subtlety) in my opinion is the Pepto-Bismol one where they do a sort of "Macarena" type of dance for the symptoms, ending with grabbing their behinds when they say "diarrhea." That is positively disgusting, and I don't know what moron thought that up and what advertising board thought it was a "cool" idea??????
The downhill slide is on greased skids....
No class, all a$$
One word.....
Fri, 09/07/2007 - 00:11 ET by Scout FinchEwwwwwwwwwww!
(I appreciate the "extended" E and Z on the TV commercial 'packaging' (oops, sorry). Real subtle, there.)
I prefer the shows that
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:41 ET by Clear thinkerI prefer the shows that have men do what a men should do...
Keep their country (and family) safe!
Get Email updates from Fred http://socialnet.imwithfred.com/email_alert_july_26.html
CT, Wouldn't that
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:46 ET by Chris NormanCT, Wouldn't that leave only the recruiting commercials for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines? I can't think of any others.
chris... Touche. Get
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:48 ET by Clear thinkerchris...
Touche.
Get Email updates from Fred http://socialnet.imwithfred.com/email_alert_july_26.html
All the Dirty Harry movies
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:24 ET by Mean Gene Dr. LoveAll the Dirty Harry movies are acceptable in my house.
"There are millions of people in Iraq who have sacrificed in the hope that the United States will finish its work here. We should never forget that." -- Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, Commander U.S. III Corps
Eh - by now, they'd have
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:28 ET by Chris NormanEh - by now, they'd have broken Harry in political sensitivity classes...
Chris Norman
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 20:15 ET by SportPoliticsBlasphemny !
spoilers below:
Come on, he went after the last one (serial killer)with his heart nitro in hand - opposite the gigantic 44 Magnum!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309377/trailers-screenplay-E16368-10-2
Then you have the gal boxer - and after he treats her as a joke and then a gutsy person, and always a girl, she DIES in the end, by his hand if I recall.
Not exactly a tree huggin' styler yet...
Like I said - blasphemny!
Dagwood Bumstead...
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:31 ET by mattm...he started it...the dip...
Actually, this is part of the male domination scheme.... If we're so dumb, we can not be held accountable for anything....
As Bill Cosby said, "It takes great thinking and planning to keep from working...only person as intelligent as we (men/fathers) could fake such stupidity"
Male stereotypes
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 16:55 ET by KC MulvilleAccording to the
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:01 ET by Sick-n-TiredAccording to the commericals, we are that dumb. I call them the ADWGC's -- Another Dumb White Guy Commercial; although I have noticed asians and african americans are beginning to be put into the mix. We are always made to look stupid, dumb, lose at some task/sport etc. I hope the marketers know that some of us do pay attention to their antics---and quite honestly are very tired of them.
Come, now. Not all males are
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:25 ET by chessplayerCome, now. Not all males are portrayed as stupid and incompetent in the movies and on tv. Only white males are.
chess... EXACTLY! I was
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:34 ET by bigtimerchess...
EXACTLY!
I was going to go back and edit a post if I had the time in between getting dinner ready saying just that...
I really meant to.
So....I am very glad you did!
My husband and have commented on that exact point numerous times now over the years.
It is infuriating.
I guess if they're going to
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:45 ET by Chris NormanI guess if they're going to politcally correct by showing only men as being stupid, they're going to be poltically correct all the way, by showing only white men as being stupid.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
you mean you are smart
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 18:02 ET by Sick-n-Tiredyou mean you are smart enough to cook dinner? dang, shur wishes i wuz. ha :)
edit:
oops, sorry, didn't see your last sentence bigtimer! "My husband and..."
my wife and i are the same as you and yours---constantly shaking our heads at this crapola!
true, true mostly
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:54 ET by Sick-n-Tiredtrue, true mostly
Come, now. Not all males are
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:25 ET by chessplayerCome, now. Not all males are portrayed as stupid and incompetent in the movies and on tv. Only white males are.
sick, I commented above
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:33 ET by Chris Normansick,
I commented above that it makes me wonder how men that stupid can afford the products they're supposed to be buying. Know what I mean?
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
yup, no doubt.
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:58 ET by Sick-n-Tiredyup, no doubt.
I'm old enough that I
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:46 ET by MidAmericaI'm old enough that I can remember when women were happy with their lives. Now they usually can only tell you that they are happy with their careers. Ain't the same thing.
Is anyone else getting a
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:39 ET by Chris NormanIs anyone else getting first a blank page, then a "Page has expired" after they post a comment? And what's with all these double posts? Matthew? Anyone?
Chris
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:39 ET by BlondeI am too. If you refresh...it reposts. Dreaded double.
When you get the white page...just go back to the address line & go back to NB home page...your comment will have posted.
Glad you asked...I thought it was just me. I have to update my IE...but have been too lazy to do it.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Hi Blonde, Yeah, that's
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:42 ET by Chris NormanHi Blonde,
Yeah, that's what I've been doing. I replied to BT's double posted comment, then I got a message that the comment I was replying to didn't exist. I thought I was going nuts, then I went back and saw that the second of the double post was gone. However, I may still be nuts. :)
Chris, Gremlins. It's
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:47 ET by BlondeChris,
Gremlins. It's bound to happen. Yesterday Matt said he'd fixed some stuff that was caused by a bug in IE7 or somesuch. As is usual....it's probably the law of unintended consequences.
So (I can't believe I'm going to even type this) patience is the key!
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Hey, I think it's fixed!
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:51 ET by Chris NormanHey, I think it's fixed!
Should be fixed
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:54 ET by Matthew SheffieldMinor little PHP niggle after I tweaked the NB theme a bit.
I knew it had to be your
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:56 ET by bigtimerI knew it had to be your fault this time Matthew!
LOL...
You are a techno-god. :)
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:59 ET by Chris NormanYou are a techno-god. :)
I knew I was right about
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 18:06 ET by BlondeI knew I was right about the "unintended consequences" thing.
Thanks for the repair, Matt. Those doubles are maddening.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Yes Chris... Plus it is
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:41 ET by bigtimerYes Chris...
Plus it is doubling and tripling posts on my and obviously others end too...
I'm out of here for awhile...
check back later...got some things to take care of.
Sure hope it is fixed by then.
LOL
May be Leon's/hater's
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:43 ET by bigtimerMay be Leon's/hater's revenge ...lol...
Leon's ghost in the
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:50 ET by Chris NormanLeon's ghost in the machine? :)
In traditional society, the
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:36 ET by alamojbIn traditional society, the father is the head of the house. I strongly suspect, that as men have been removed from that role, mothers have lost respect as well. In previous times, if a child showed disrespect to the mother, it was the father who would restore it when the mother could not. "You don't talk to your mother like that!" And then the corporal punishment followed.
There were men who abused the role as "head" that gave that system a bad rap.
The head was supposed to lead the family in love and sacrifice his needs for theirs if necessary, not rule as a tyrant. That required self discipline on the man's part, not immediate gratification.
Typical Liberal philosophy
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:58 ET by exLibTypical liberal philosophy states that if you can find a bad example of a system you don't like, use it as a reason to not follow said system. (namely traditional values/morals).
The number one reason I hear from college students, or younger people in general, for allowing homosexuals to marry is that the divorce rate among heteros is 50% or greater.
Liberalism is a philosophy based on following exceptions to gernerally held moral principles.
Take abortion. Why should abortion be legal? #1 reason is because they will do it anyway and must make it "safe".
After all, will every person against abortion adopt the babies had by those who "don't want them".
Erased duplicate post.
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:40 ET by alamojbErased duplicate post. The screen went blank after first attempt to post so I resubmitted.
There are smart dads out
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:50 ET by balboaThere are smart dads out there in TV land, you know.
Uh, Balboa, despite your
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 18:49 ET by Chris NormanUh, Balboa, despite your best (and usual) effort, a few "smart" dads (?) don't exactly dilute the hundreds of dumb male characters out there written for both shows and commercials. Not to mention a few hundred more we're subjected to on the radio, "Duh, honey, can you remove the fork I've jammed into my eye?"
This is obviously a
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:07 ET by balboaThis is obviously a backlash from the years of women being seen as nothing more than decoration, a nice garnish for a man.
I knew you were going to
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:14 ET by Chris NormanI knew you were going to bring that up. So, it's payback time, huh? For how many years? How enlightened.
Chris
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:19 ET by BlondeIt's all balderdash.
But, unfortunately true in the media....what I find surprising here is that none of you guys has mentioned "dumb WHITE men". More lib media lies.
If Hillary is the smartest human in the world...I'll be happy to stick with the dumb white guys.
It's really a sad commentary on the times that we're even having this conversation, actually.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Blonde,You know, as a
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:35 ET by Chris NormanBlonde,
You know, as a man, I'm not even all that ticked off by the depiction of men on television - I'm a big boy. The dumb vs. smart spouse is as old as drama. What depresses me is that political correctness is driving this trend to make men look stupid. Political correctness has permeated our society so much, that we can't even have an honest discussion of the problems we face, both domestically and internationally, because someone may be offended. It's distorted everything it touches. It's driving public policy now - as in the whacked out immigration bill - the bill designed not to offend illegal immigrants. I don't when it will stop, either. To stop it, we may have to offend someone.
Chris
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:43 ET by BlondeSee my post, to Bal..."Qu'elle crap".
Well, I am mostly offended by everything I see on TV, which is why I have kind of stopped watching (with the exception of my Gators and certain cooking shows!). P.C., stupidity & venality rules on the idiot box.
I could hardly care less whom I offend...particularly not foreigners. If they don't like it....don't come here.
But you evil white guys....you better watch it (kidding!). Double down bloody hell to all of the PC lovers.
BTW...I like the Discovery Channel too...except when the show is about Global Idiocy.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
I saw it. :). I channel
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:53 ET by Chris NormanI saw it. :). I channel surf so fast, I can't watch tv with others in the room. I'll sample and reject 99% of the shows on. The only way I can sit still is when I read. I read a lot and I read fast - about a book a night . Not that I'm highbrow. I read mostly mysteries and adventure thrillers. Gets kind of expensive, but B&N and Borders love me. That's why I have made numerous posts here regarding liberal themes creeping into non-political fiction books. I just finished an otherwise decent mystery where the writer gratuitously has the main character express her disdain for "tax cuts for the rich while the poor suffer for it". I can't get anyone else worked up about this trend though. Oh, well...
Gee Chris
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:59 ET by BlondeBefore I got this new crazy job of mine....I used to have about a fifty dollar a week habit at the bookstore. And now that I think about it, I miss it.
But my job has me so wrapped, that it's just easier to come here and interact with some normal people. Kick the trolls to de-stress a bit.
So thanks for that reminder. I need to get back to reading. I usually do about 75/25....75% crap (technotrash or other silly thriller kind of stuff) and about 25% serious reading.
Perhaps I should reverse that....then again, maybe not. I sometimes suspect I come off as a snob just because I absolutely devour facts. Hmmm...
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
I must confess that I
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 20:13 ET by Chris NormanI must confess that I stopped most of my serious reading when I got out of college, except for conservative magazines. I don't even suscribe to magazines any longer - I just buy 'em if a story interests me. I'll still read an occasional biography, but sometimes, I get so stressed at work, I just want to go home and let my swollen brain shrink back to it's normal size. Reading serious works is just too much work for the poor distressed thing. I have to take an occasional break from reading - especially after buying a couple of turkeys in a row. But, my membership card at B&N has come in handy.
You guys should watch Mad
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 20:16 ET by balboaYou guys should watch Mad Men. Great stuff, beautifully shot.
I do, occasionally. But, I
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 20:20 ET by Chris NormanI do, occasionally. But, I figure it will be on for only one season before the majority of the cast succumbs to lung cancer...
Lol. I saw a behind the
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 20:28 ET by balboaLol. I saw a behind the scenes feature where the lead said someone counted that he smoked something like 70 cigarettes in the pilot episode.
Supposedly their herbal cigarettes.
Well, if they are
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 20:34 ET by Chris NormanWell, if they're herbal, the set must smell like the sidewalk out in front of old Tower Records...
Reading
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 20:23 ET by BlondeChris,
especially after buying a couple of turkeys in a row
I do the same thing with a book as I do if I find myself watching an idiot movie...give it up. Walk out, if you will.
I bought Anne Coulter's "Godless". I got to about page seven and just gave it up. It just didn't interest me. Yes, the hardback was expensive....but you know what...it would have cost alot more to slog through it...in terms of my time.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
I'll write to an author if
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 20:31 ET by Chris NormanI'll write to an author (if they give an e-mail address), usually to thank them for providing good entertainment. Surprisingly, they usually graciously respond. I correspond, off and on, with a couple of them. However, once, at the risk of coming off like Kathy Bates in Misery, I wrote an author of a favorites series, to tell him I didn't think the direction he was taking his main character was a good one. He responded by saying "Oh, yee of little faith...". I wrote back that I had a lot of faith, that's why I was still spending $24.95 for his books - end of correspondence! :)
Chris
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 20:35 ET by BlondeThat's pretty cool.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
To all, a good night...
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 20:37 ET by Chris NormanTo all, a good night...
Hey all
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 21:06 ET by Matthew SheffieldPlease move further discussion on this topic to the open thread.
Blonde, Chris, etc...
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 22:05 ET by m4ster chiefThe $$$ I used to spend on books dropped like a rock in a vacuum when I discovered the bookshelves at the Salvation Army store, Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, etc. I really like the older books, and they're dirt cheap. Five or six dollars buys a stack of books that lasts me a month. I go to the city library now only to check out the "New Arrivals" shelf. Just a tip, in case you're interested.
Sunrise at sea; a breeze across the deck, salty spray tickles the face, the aroma of fresh coffee, stack gas, and haze-gray paint is in the air. Another Navy day aboard ship as a Navy Chief...the perfect life!
m4
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 22:16 ET by BlondeExactly.
Library books gross me out. There's always someone else's leftover food, and such.
Used books are a much better choice. People who own books take good care of them. Which makes the second-hand choice far superior to the library route.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Really, Blonde?
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 22:37 ET by RJI have no problem with library books. When reading them, I simply put on my CSI gloves and an air filter mask. I also wear a hair net. I can honestly say I've never had a single episode of foreign substance intrusion to mar my reading enjoyment.....
I remember, though, that my ex-wife got all bent if someone else read her magazines first. She liked that "new magazine smell."
But, hey, I'm just a guy....what do I know? ;^>
All
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 22:45 ET by BlondeApparently, RJ...you "get it" all.
I'm sorry if I sound like a perfect prig (not pig!)...but I cannot abide reading books that a hundred other people have read...and dropped their lunch or snacks, or whatever, on the pages.
Color me a snob, I don't really care...the library is nice place....but I like to have my books clean, and clear, and not smudged up by others.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
}}---> Perfect Pig
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 22:50 ET by Cool ArrowFor some reason I was always a little envious of Porky. That Petunia was totally HOT!
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
No problem, Blonde, just teasin'
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 22:56 ET by RJEverybody has their hangups. As for me, it's when the green mold on the old pizza slice turns black. Some guys will try to tell you that just adds another interesting nuance of flavor, but I absolutely refuse to eat that stuff! After all, as Clint said, a man's gotta know his limitations....
And now, I'm off to bed....'night.
Not payback. It's the
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:25 ET by balboaNot payback. It's the natural result. If you can't have the woman be simple-minded, someone has to be instead. I'm not saying it's right; it's just what has happened.
If enough men complain, I'm sure the paradigm would change again.
Come on, Bal!
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:33 ET by BlondeQu'elle crap.
It's a media induced hallucination. All of it.
Unfortunately, certain, um, groups buy into it.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Wait a minute wait a minute Blonde!
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 22:27 ET by SportPoliticsBalboa was finally explaining to us why he is a simple minded dolt here.
( I say 9.7 - at least :-)
Abject Apologies Sporty
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 22:34 ET by BlondeSo sorry friend.
I didn't realize I was intruding upon logic of the world. I was just trying to be helpful (okay...I'm channeling K. Couric, here.)
Abject apologies, Sporty, for interrupting.
I promise...it will never happen again.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
See above.
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:33 ET by Chris NormanSee above.
See above your "See above."
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:42 ET by balboaSee above your "See above." :-)
You know
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:45 ET by Matthew SheffieldWith all this self-quoting going on here, I thought it was apt to mention that all comments are linkable. Just right-click their headline to get the link.
Hopefully that doesn't create a monster ;-)
Okay Matt
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:50 ET by BlondePlease explain that as you'd do to a six year old.
I'm interested.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Procedure
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 21:05 ET by Matthew SheffieldTo reference a comment from someone else, all you have to do is right-click on the comment headline ("Procedure" in my comment here) and choose Copy Link Location/Copy Shortcut.
From there, you can paste the URL in, NB's new software will automatically turn the address into a clickable link.
Thanks, Matt
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 21:23 ET by BlondeA question....do you ever get tired of the tech deficient posters here...like me?
You have the patiences of Job. As someone else said earlier...you are a techno-God.
Much appreciated, too.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Actually
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 21:32 ET by Matthew SheffieldThere are days when I want to just ban everyone ;-)
Kidding actually. Most of the time we don't have too many problems questions just naturally pop up. Thankfully most NB readers are smart.
I do find it amusing, however, that even though our new Contact form has explicit instructions not to use it to send messages to Jack Cafferty, ABC, Paul Krugman, etc. at least a few people a month will do exactly that.
Ah, the missing link. :)
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:56 ET by Chris NormanAh, the missing link. :)
}}---> I'll try it
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 21:36 ET by Cool ArrowLike this
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
It works
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 21:37 ET by Cool ArrowIt's twue It's twue
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
As with other PC issues
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 17:54 ET by exLibAs with other PC issues (homosexuality/marriage, certain racial issues, etc) it's the people who should know better that are allowing this to happen.
I don't know how many men I talk to who condescendly talk about their wives as "the boss".
They say "she calls the shots" and other things.
These are the types of men who laugh at the white men as dopes characters and feel guilty about supposedly oppressing women.
CO of Fort Housewife
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 18:44 ET by SarahAnnieFor all the comments I make about being the CO of Fort Housewife, I know who the REAL head of the household is. Even with The Man 14 time zones away, he is still in charge of our house. However, he trusts me to make decisions that he would approve of.
Back to the topic at hand, I laugh at Homer. I don't think all men are that dumb. But the prevalance of the stupid/fat husband and smart/hot wife on TV shows is exactly why our daughter watches precisely 1 VeggieTales DVD a day, and that is the extent of her TV time. Impressionable children (whose parents don't control what they watch on TV) are going to grow up thinking that men are dumb, and why should my daughter settle for that?
Nebraskans for War: Peace through Strength
I don't take it personally...
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 19:28 ET by m4ster chief...but I do get tired seeing the commercials:
Kid: Daaaad...you're putting mustard on your ice cream!
Wife: Oh, honey, you're such an idiot...
Kid: Yeah, dad, you're such a loser!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...those wacky men!
But I take comfort in knowing that the guys on Madison Avenue who write those commercials probably wear the skirt in the family...nudge nudge, wink wink...say no more...[/monty python]
I know we don't want to get into anecdotal one upsmanship here, but I can't resist citing two hilarious examples of when the little ladies do outrageous things:
1. Indianapolis: A 24 year-old mom was arrested recently for allowing her FIVE YEAR-OLD SON to drive the car because (as she told the police) she was "too drunk to drive." But that's okay, she said, because "he's a good driver." Her two children were removed from the home. HAHAHAHAHAHA...
2. In southwestern Ohio: A mother of two toddlers, an assistant school principal, complete with the Mercedes Benz SUV and hyphenated last name, had been warned THREE TIMES PREVIOUSLY about leaving her two year-old daughter in the carseat while she ran and did quick errands. One of these warnings spurred school officials to include, in a school bulletin, a specific warning to all parents in the school district to avoid this practice. So a few days ago she was in a hurry to get to a morning staff meeting at school. She strapped her two year-old in her carseat, stopped and got a load of donuts, backed up to the school front door and unloaded them, and then parked her car.
Eight hours later, on a day where the temperature was almost 100 F. in the shade, a teacher noticed the child still strapped in the car...dead of course. Police estimate the temp inside the car rose to 150 degrees. Let's see, 150 degrees for 8 hours...yep, that would tenderize a steamboat round of beef. Her excuse...she forgot. Prosecutors declined to charge her.
HAHAHAHAHAHA...(have to laugh or I'll cry)...those wild, wacky women! Why don't they make commercials about these?
I was lying above...I really DO take it personally.
How about the current TV ad
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 20:15 ET by Chris NormanHow about the current TV ad for cell phones that has the doltish dad arguing that 5 X 5 = 26? His wife tells their wise kids that's why it's important that they stay in school. By the looks of the house, we're supposed to believe that this is an upper middle class family...
Thanks for the article Matthew S.
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 20:03 ET by SportPoliticsI thoroughly enjoyed reading it, since he actually used common sense and reality as a guide, and I found I agreed with the vast majority of it, even though he had to so often gingerly step over, around, and defuse the feminazi psycho pc hate and attack bombs that marked his very path, with CYA phrases and opinions constantly slipped in for protection. LOL
It was grrrrreat !
Depends
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 20:17 ET by Conservative_in_mass.Are Men as Dumb as the Media Say We Are? If we are actually dumb enough to listen to them, then yes. I for one will not succumb to the almost dehumanizing portrail of the male figure in the household. You hear that kids are becoming more difficult to handle, have way less respect for adults etc. One hour of family TV is all you need to view to find your answer. I'll stick to Discovery Channel, History Channel, Military channel and my books. As for Dumb Dumb dad shows and my boyfriend is a henpecked wimp, I'll pass.
This is precisely why I quit
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 22:45 ET by gueinThis is precisely why I quit watching network TV a loooong time ago.
???
Thu, 09/06/2007 - 22:51 ET by clarkfkDuhhhhh what? I don't get it...
Seriously though, I have oft commented to many people over the last few years about how almost all commercials make men look stupid, incapable, inept, completely lost without the woman or child or whomoever else.
There is currently an auto insurance commercial playing on TV where a man is picking up cheese puffs from the carpet and talking about how he admires the honesty of the insurance company for providing quotes of its competitors. Then a child enters with cheese product all over his face and clothes. The man asks if the child had anything to do with the mess. The child lies and leaves, the man sits on the floor and contemplates who made the mess.
My issue with this commercial is that we are asked to believe that this man knows honesty when he sees it, and then that image is shattered by his inability to recognize dishonesty. So how does he really know the insurance company is being truthful? He doesn't, and thus is made out to be a moron.
In most situation comedies, the male roles are either bubling idiots (usually with a good heart though) or evil and domineering. A man is not to be trusted, nor is his word or honor. The Duke is probably rolling in his grave right now...
Men of the world unite! Put an end to the gynocyde! (No disrespect to you women out there - just kidding you know.)
While I agree with you about
Fri, 09/07/2007 - 09:05 ET by SmartypantsWhile I agree with you about commercials in general, I have a completely different interpretation of the one you describe here. I think we are supposed to understand that the man knows the kid did the damage, but he's just not going to make a big deal about it because he's a "modern parent" or something like that. Personally, I'm more offended at the idea that he's apparently going to let the kid get away with behaving badly and is seemingly taking it in stride. One of my biggest pet peeves with modern day parents is their unwillingness to discipline their children for fear of offending them--yet another example of political correctness gone awry.
I was going to make a
Fri, 09/07/2007 - 00:14 ET by Carl KolchakI was going to make a comment about how Hollywood makes husbands and males look bad, but I'm watching the movie "Thelma and Louise" right now. I'll make a comment once this movie is over.
"I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane" Waylon Jennings
In all seriousness, this
Fri, 09/07/2007 - 00:51 ET by MrShyIn all seriousness, this stereotyping of men that is so pervasive, and accepted now -- and yeah, really perpetrated by the current culture and media (okay, now I hate the MSM even MORE!) -- is what really makes it hard to date women these days, for me...
No, I'm not quite my namesake (shy :p)... I'm actually quite confident in myself and not that afraid of approaching women, but they are now programmed to belittle men and attempt to break them down right from the get-go, and male self-esteem seems to sort of turn them off, or intimidate them, I find. I really sort of sense this across the board with "the fairer sex" in this era, and it's often worse with the ones who have no business putting themselves on such high pedestals... and I'm totally fine with doing that to a good degree with any woman I'm interested in, but they almost never want to return the favor in a truly equal-gender way.
My motto is always to do unto others.... that's lost these days on women, epecially the younger generation.
That's my woman-rant for the day... and not intended to be a sweeping generalization by any means... some of my best friends are women!!! (okay, I lie :p I hardly have any friends these days, so maybe I have my own issues :))
Father Knows Nothing
Fri, 09/07/2007 - 08:39 ET by Tom PaineBack in the 1950s and early 1960 the depiction of the family was fairly standard. The dad went to work and the mom stayed home to take care of the house and children. If nothing else Ward and June Cleaver had an unwritten agreement – she took care of everything inside the house and he took care of everything outside of the house. While feminist decried that the images on these programs was unrealistic, they were an accurate reflection of the social contract of the times.
As more women entered the workforce, shows like One Day At a Time elevated the single mother to the exalted position of honor that it enjoys today. This was a trend that continued through the 1970s and the early 1980s. Meanwhile, something was happening in America. The women who were beating down the doors of corporate America demanding to be treated the same as men didn’t much like the experience of the way men were treated in the workplace. The long hours and dehumanizing treatment necessary to advance in corporate America was too much for them.
They wanted a way to return to the traditional role of homemaker but they needed some political cover to do so. Television was happy to oblige and the pendulum of the sitcom began to swing the other way. Shows came out showing women in the traditional homemaker role with a new feminist twist. The new template said that working in the home was much more demanding than having the job outside the home. In today’s TV household, mom is all powerful and father knows nothing. We can see this new paradigm at work in series such as Everybody Loves Raymond. The underlying message in these shows is that mom works hard while dad’s job is a place he goes to have fun. So the contract has returned to Leave it to Beaver but dad is now at a distinct disadvantage. After all, we never heard June complaining that Ward didn’t do enough to “help around the house" after he had spent a full day at the office.
Real Men
Fri, 09/07/2007 - 11:09 ET by iveseenitallMy wife and I both were raised by the same types of dads on Long Island, New York. They were dubbed "Dashing Dans" as they left the house, sometimes before dawn, to travel to NYC on the L.I. Railroad, only to return at dusk. They were highly educated, intelligent men who worked 50 weeks a year while their wives stayed at home. Yet they always managed to have time for their families. They coached the little leagues, worked with the scouts, etc. And they never seemed to want anything for themselves, except the occaional beer and the Sunday papers. (But, oh my God, they smoked). Sure, the liberals would mock them as "dominating males" because they were truly the heads of their familes. But to me, our dads, and thousands like them (many who had returned from WWII, by the way), were the definition of American heroes. What the Hell happened?---Liberalism/Socialism/Communism happened.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
I fond this artacal to bee
Fri, 09/07/2007 - 10:35 ET by BinxlyI fond this artacal to bee very ofensuv. To say that all men are dum is not only wrong, but a slap in thuh fase of edacatud peeple like me and the many othur smart peeple on this site that are men.
(sorry couldn't help myself :-P)
Matt, I think you are
Fri, 09/07/2007 - 11:12 ET by MikeBMatt, I think you are missing at least half the picture here. How many ads and programs out there showing both parents as complete idiots, and the teen-age kids as fonts of wisdom? And, not only in television, but in movies.
Now, I haven't watched network tv in several years, so there might not be any such programming on now. But the dumb parent motif was certainly prevalent then, which is why I turned the tv off.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Only the "O" man wise!!
Fri, 09/07/2007 - 11:14 ET by PawpawNI thought only the "O" man, Keith Olbermann, was wise!
Why then, is every woman i
Fri, 09/07/2007 - 12:02 ET by compguytracyWhy then, is every woman i know, unable to program a remote, use a computer, set the frickin time on a microwave/vcr/car stereo?? Am i really that stupid? i have my associates in applied science, deans list, etc. I think maybe 2 woman and 20 men in any of my classes, why is that if they are equal, or smarter? Is it that they are not technically proficient?
Ceteris paribus
Hey there
Fri, 09/07/2007 - 12:09 ET by bigtimerHey there comp....
Whoa....
I have to do all of that...my other half still cannot turn on a PC or do the answering machine...
the remote I taught him...
Unfortunately...
I am lucky he can do the digital alarm clock at times...
LOL...
btw...if you go far up the post I have stated plenty what I think...and it is good towards you guys...
...but you are going to far here now... ;~)