I don't hate all men...

[Lisa Denton]

Lifetime does do some good tv, they are coming out with a Cagney and Lacy reunite with Starsky and Hutch that is a romantic police docu-drama you won't want to miss.

 

[Seattle Zack]

See, now this is what I don't understand. Let it be said up front that snp hates all men (as a general principle, because we have penises, and therefore oppress you, blah blah blah) but you hate the author of this particular article in particular.

Why is that? I read the article, it was a well written satire piece, anyone who's ever had the misfortune to suffer through a Lifetime movie knows exactly what he's talking about. Hell, if it weren't for Lifetime, Gerald McCraney and Delta Burke wouldn't have careers.

So, you hate him because he's a better writer? Because he skewers the Lifetime TV junkies too well? Because you could never write that piece?

Perhaps Lifetime TV should be exempt from critisism or satire, because their subject matter is so serious.

My ex-wife despised Lifetime and their movies. "An insult to all women," she declared at one point, and I'd be hard pressed to disagree with her. She was a very smart girl (which is why, no doubt, she's not married to me any longer) but her characterization of Lifetime TV as the "rape of the week" network is still why I have that channel blocked. I don't need to see Kate Jackson in some pathetic, poorly written "I have to get my daugeter back!" screenplay.

 

[amicus]

I love the sexy theme 'cinematherapy' and often go around humming it from time to time.

I think it is inarguable that television programming is heavily tilted to the feminist viewpoint, the gay viewpoint, the entire multi cultural essence of Hollywood liberals.

I often go channel by channel, looking at the content of each program and curse at the not so hidden agenda of the ongoing assault on the male prerogative.

And the aggressive female Karate Geena Davis type, Superwoman per exellance ad nauseum and of course the Supermoms who have it all.

Bah, Humbug. I loved the link SNP.

However...since the largest group who read Romantica, who read anything, are females. I watch all of them...and learn...I hope.

Know your enemy (or the market niche) After I make enough money on the romantic slush, then I can publish a good male adventure novel and then a good futuristic one where the feminist revolution collapses upon itself and the ladies get back to being ladies again.

(amicus ducks and covers)

 

[Songcatcher]

And the aggressive female Karate Geena Davis type, Superwoman per exellance ad nauseum and of course the Supermoms who have it all.

Desperate Housewives?

 

[sweetnpetite]

She was a very smart girl (which is why, no doubt, she's not married to me any longer)

No doubt, it is.

Don't feel left out, I don't like *you* either.

And it's not that I love Lifetime, it's more a thing about what the author actually said (yes, I know it's satire) and how he said it that let's me know that I don't like him. Just because you are capable of satire doesn't mean you're not an ass.

He is. I'll let it go at that.

 

[sweetnpetite]

Bah, Humbug. I loved the link SNP.

Glad to be of service.

 

[sweetnpetite]

Sweet,
(I know I'm pissing on a fence here, let's just hope it's not hot.)

Na, I think I've mellowed out some. Amy Sweet is the bitchy one.

Many if not most men have known, or still know women who were stalked, raped, abused, or molested. It is not just women who have these friends.

Well, yes. I think I mispoke myself to some degree. Of coure men know these women too. What I meant was that it's not just some media conspiracy telling us that women are victims or whatever, most of us have very direct experience that women are in fact victimized- and thus many feel threatened or fearful, while others feel hatred or anger or whatever, but it is hardly unjustified or some overactive 'victim mentality' as some would have us believe. Men of course relate, but in a different way, and of course react differently too. Men are raped and abused as well, but they don't usually live with the fear of the likelyhood of it happening, which is a different kind of victimization. Perhaps men (and many women) don't realize how prevalent this problem is- we tend to think of it as much more rare or unlikely than it actually is, and to think that women focusing on such dangers are over-reacting.

My point was- how many male friends do you know that have been raped, and do you as a male live with the fear that you could be a target for such a type of crime? For most men, it is not a reality, whle for most women- at some point it is.

Most of the men I know, or at least those I classify as men, react rather strongly to this subject. The punishments they can come up with for those who commit these crimes against women are often more barbaric, and infinitely more painful than those most women come up with.

One thing these movies don't talk about is the reaction of the men when their spouse or grilfriend is attacked. (It is rarely talked about, but there have been several studies. I'll have to find them for you.) What they go through is much like survivors guilt, but in some ways worse. Many men, and not just here in the United States are raised with the belief, (often ridiculed) that they must protect their loved ones from harm. When their S.O. is attacked they feel they have failed their loved one in a very basic way, even if there was no way they could have protected them. (i.e. he is out of town on a trip, or he is in work, or she is in work.) There is a strong feeling of guilt there, even if it is not deserved. There is also the stigma other men place on him because he was not there to protect her.

Another point these movies often fail to mention is the dynamics at home after the attack. I have heard many women complain that their spouse treats them differently after an attack, as though they were damaged goods. Often this treatment is different because the husband or boyfriend has no idea how the woman is going to react. This is where communication between the two of them is needed, but often doesn't happen. The male understands she was attacked, he needs to know what the female needs from him. Maybe it's just being held, but she must let him know that. She also has to understand that he wasn't there, he doesn't know what took place during the attack. He knows that some things will trigger memories of the attack but he doesn't know what they are. Will it be his whispering against the back of her neck? Will it be his holding her hands the way she liked for so long? Or will it be him coming up behind her? Or even something as innocent as his knocking on the window as he passes by?

I have actually seen these things handled in these movies, and also on soap operas. I remember when Barbara was raped on as the world turns, the Husband/Homelife dynamic was huge, and very well handled. (this was over 10 years ago, I haven't watched ATWT for ages). He wanted to help but didn't know how.. he had guilt, she didn't want him to touch her.. all of that.

I think that a huge beef many men have with Lifetime movies is that so often the husband *is* the perpetrater (which is also statistically sound). While trying to draw attention to the fact that women are often in more danger from loved ones and strangers, many get the idea that lifetime is simply trying to say 'all men are abusers' which I don't think is the case. Because the shows are aimed toward women, and all shows must have conflict and a large part of the conflict in our lives comes from men (and also men is a large part of what we are interested in) men tend to cause the conflict on these shows.

In my house we always joke that we know who the bad guy is on any lifetime movie- it's the guy! Or we act shockd when we see a show were it is not. Personally, I like more variety, and I'd prefer more movies that weren't about victims of any form. but I do like what is often panned as 'chick fare'-- stuff about friendships and people dying in the end (or middle) and the big questions about life and death and meaning and comunity and all of that. (think, beaches, steal magnolias, fried green tomatoes) I think the only 'favorite' of mine were no one dies is Pretty Women.

That a guy can't relate to all that mushy stuff is understandable. (if irritating at time) That a guy feels so overwealmingly threatened that men should be portrayed as assholes toward women and that these women get tough and get even is what what I object to. My objection is to men that wine that men are being portrayed badly and so the people at lifetime are manhating hags. (or some such) IN my book, men who behave badly fully diserve to have a light shown on there actions, and are certainly not the victims of some man hating agenda.

BTW- my b/f watches Cold Case files and other similer shows quite often, and never seems much bothered by the fact that they are also mostly about men who kill or rape women. (Hey, men are the badguys one your shows too!) These types of shows and newsstories were the mainstay well before Lifetime and are the climat that women live and were brought up in. All around us, media tells us, 'be afraid, men will hurt you' --Lifetime is pretty much the only media that says 'hey here are some women who won't put up with that shit' If men are threatened by that- well then perhaps they diserve to be. (and I dont' think that you are one of them)

[/B][/QUOTE] On the other hand, some of the movies and programs on these channels are great. I have seen a couple which I wished I had taped so I could pass them on to other people I know. (One like this was a recent one about surviving Breast Cancer.)

Cat

Oh by the way, I can't stand either Playboy or Hustler. The women all look fake to me. (Although Hustler does have some good stroke stories from time to time.) [/B][/QUOTE]

In the end, I dont' think we disagree all that much. I have no beef with you, or with anyone just becaues they don't like (or favor) lifetime. Or even those who don't understand it. But guys like the one who wrote the article are assholes pretending to be victims- and I'll call them on it.

 

[SeaCat]

SweetnPetite,

We agree way too much on this. I also think the guy who wrote this article was an ignorant Weasle Dick. If he want's something to feel threatened about he should look around him. I'm sure he can find something of worth to be threatened by.

Now as for TV in general, Bah!!!!!! I drive my poor wife crazy by picking up the TV Guide in the beginning of the week, going through it and highlighting the programs I think I'll be interested in watching. (Usually one or two a week.) I then avoide the TV except for those programs I highlighted.

Cat

 

[BlackShanglan]

Now as for TV in general, Bah!!!!!! I drive my poor wife crazy by picking up the TV Guide in the beginning of the week, going through it and highlighting the programs I think I'll be interested in watching. (Usually one or two a week.) I then avoide the TV except for those programs I highlighted.

I would, in fact, have to kill you.



Shanglan

 

[cantdog]

Now as for TV in general, Bah!!!!!!

Cat

Right on. Hyperbolic treatment of the serious issues does no service to them. Television seems to warp and degrade everything it touches.

 

[matriarch]

I would, in fact, have to kill you.



Shanglan

But........but......but..........doesn't everyone do that with their tv guide? Isn't that what its for???????

 

[sweetnpetite]

SweetnPetite,

We agree way too much on this. I also think the guy who wrote this article was an ignorant Weasle Dick.
Cat

Good one. Your wife is a lucky lady. She'll probably forgive the TV guide highlighting.

 

[SeaCat]

I would, in fact, have to kill you.



Shanglan

Hey at least I let my wife watch what she wants. (I'm usually cuddled up to a computer writing or surfing here when she's watching TV.)

Cat

 

[SeaCat]

Right on. Hyperbolic treatment of the serious issues does no service to them. Television seems to warp and degrade everything it touches.

I wouldn't know about that. Like I said I usually don't watch a lot of TV any more. Besides a lot of things they try to talk about can't get any more warped or degraded than they already are. (Not and keep the censors happy that is.)

My problem with TV is their version of humor I find to be mindless drivel. Most of their drama is boring, and any time they show a movie I liked in the theaters they cut half of it out. (Oh and did I mention the five minutes of commercials for every ten minutes of show? I understand why they need the commercials, but come on. The other night I watched a one hour program which looked to be interesting. During this show I got to watch three commercials about Hemmeroids, four about allergy reliefe and I don't know how many about feminine products. {To quote Bloom County: "Feminine protection? What's that? A chartrues Flamethrower?"} I once thought they should group all of the commercials at either end of the show, but then realised this would just give people a chance to hit the fridge and the litter box without missing their show.)

Cat

 

[carsonshepherd]

Hey at least I let my wife watch what she wants. (I'm usually cuddled up to a computer writing or surfing here when she's watching TV.)

Cat

All we watch, literally, is pro football and Law & Order (all varieties). And sometimes I watch the Golden Girls. On Lifetime.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Right on. Hyperbolic treatment of the serious issues does no service to them. Television seems to warp and degrade everything it touches.

Opium of the masses. Amen.

Shanglan

 

[BlackShanglan]

And sometimes I watch the Golden Girls. On Lifetime.

While reading Oprah magazine?

Shanglan

 

[Seattle Zack]

No doubt, it is.

Don't feel left out, I don't like *you* either.

And it's not that I love Lifetime, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.

But hon, she had two PhDs. That's kind of why I respected her opinion, ya know??

 

[sweetnpetite]

Let it be said up front that snp hates all men (as a general principle, because we have penises, and therefore oppress you, blah blah blah)

and yet, I'm such a fan

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Apparently men=insecure chauvanists according to the key male experts on the top.

I for one was surprised. But in accordance with the new truth I'll start treating women like shit and bashing Lifetime for too much estrogen and not enough bubbies.

Or I could just not watch television and act like I want to.

Yeah, I'm going with the latter.

 

[sweetnpetite]

But hon, she had two PhDs. That's kind of why I respected her opinion, ya know??

aww, you don't respect me?-- i thought we had something together!

 

[sweetnpetite]

Apparently men=insecure chauvanists according to the key male experts on the top.

I for one was surprised. But in accordance with the new truth I'll start treating women like shit and bashing Lifetime for too much estrogen and not enough bubbies.

you could always start by slapping around some estrogen overdosed manhating lifetime supporter...





(aint it a bitch when they like the abuse)

 

[amicus]

Post after post, spells Chauvinism as Chauvanism, which just irritates the hell out of me for an Authors forum.

"Chauvinism" " Excessive devotion to any cause. esp. zealous and belligerent or blind enthusiasm for military glory. [< F chauvinisme, equiv. to chauvin jingo (named after N. Chauvin, a soldier in Napoleon's army noted for loud mouthed patriotism) +
-isme -ism) --chauvinist, n. --chauvinistic, adj, --chauvinistically, adv.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, if we are gonna be 'Chauvinists' let us be so grammatically correct, no?

My 14 pound Random House says so and I'm stickin' with it!

amicus...

 

[sweetnpetite]

Post after post, spells Chauvinism as Chauvanism, which just irritates the hell out of me for an Authors forum.

"Chauvinism" " Excessive devotion to any cause. esp. zealous and belligerent or blind enthusiasm for military glory. [< F chauvinisme, equiv. to chauvin jingo (named after N. Chauvin, a soldier in Napoleon's army noted for loud mouthed patriotism) +
-isme -ism) --chauvinist, n. --chauvinistic, adj, --chauvinistically, adv.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, if we are gonna be 'Chauvinists' let us be so grammatically correct, no?

My 14 pound Random House says so and I'm stickin' with it!

amicus...

 

[amicus]

SNP