Where are all the men?

[graceanne]

Getting to the musical area, I've always excelled in music. From day one, I had the knack to hear tones, and harmonies and rhythm patterns. I started organized music classes in 5th grade and this went on into college, where I was going to be a music teacher.

Me, too. My mom's always said the main difference between me and my sister could be explained with the first set of blocks we got. I banged mine together, and she stacked hers. lol

Woodwind instruments were more difficult because the reed tickled my lip. My professor wasn't amused, though.

I've heard this complaint from a lot of different musicians. LOL

Next tangent question, if you don't mind. Briefly describe your music appreciation beyond what may play in the background that doesn't grate on your nerves and have you played a musical instrument?

I missed this.

I listen to almost everything with the exception of rap and death metal. Yuck. As for background music either oldies (think the Eagles) or country.

I play(ed) the clarinet and the piano. I gave my clarinet to my nephew when I graduated from highschool cause he wanted to play an instrument and his mom couldn't afford it. Then it went to my littlest sister, for the same reason. It's been so long since I've played anything that I'm very rusty.

And, tooting my own horn, but I pretty much taught myself how to play the clarinet and I did teach myself the piano. I didn't have access to all instruments, or who knows.

But I started playing clarinet in fifth grade. My teacher was awesome. Then we moved, and the new school didn't have band. The next year they did, but since it was new they had beginning and advanced and no in between. So I was put in the high school band, with a teacher who sucked with high school students. He had no patience with a 7th grader. I stuck with that group, teaching myself as I went along, and when I moved again the summer in between my sophomore and jr year, I was put in the symphonic band just on my experience. And still, I was 2nd clarinet, fifth chair. Who knows how well I'd have done in that class if my mother didn't make it nearly impossible to practice at home.

As for piano, my mom plays but wouldn't teach me. We had a piano and my aunt was teaching my sister so I took her books and taught myself. I got up through the second book and got stuck with learning to use the pedals. And no one would show me, so I gave up.

don't use the word "neuter" in a thread about men, for crying out loud!!!!

LOL

 

[Netzach]

7/13? does not compute!

I think it was some fucked up little punk rock song by a music major. If that doesn't exist make it your nearest really weird.

 

[Homburg]

I think it was some fucked up little punk rock song by a music major. If that doesn't exist make it your nearest really weird.

The beat structures used by "Tool" and "A Perfect Circle" (which are fronted by the same cat) are weird, off-the-wall things.

Certain musicians have been turning to math to find rhythm structures outside the norm for years. It started a sub-genre called, appropriately, "Math Rock" and then another called "Mathcore" in some circles.

"Between the Buried and Me" is a good example of this.

 

[Keroin]

don't use the word "neuter" in a thread about men, for crying out loud!!!!

I got the strangest urge to protect my genitals just then. Wonder why.

Sorry guys! LOL. It's Netz's fault, she asked for details.

I hope you all had a good National Man Day.

Here's something interesting on the man discussion. We had a small group of school children come by to talk to the vets and see what we were doing. The girls were absolutely fascinated by everything, they even watched a spay surgery from start to finish. The boys couldn't hold still and had to leave when the surgery started because they were grossed out.

I'm not surprised by the "unable to hold still" part but I really would have thought the boys would have been into the gross stuff and the girls would have been squeamish.

Any thoughts on this? Men, are you squeamish about surgical stuff?

We've almost done a 100 cats in three days!

 

[rida]

Sorry guys! LOL. It's Netz's fault, she asked for details.

I hope you all had a good National Man Day.

Here's something interesting on the man discussion. We had a small group of school children come by to talk to the vets and see what we were doing. The girls were absolutely fascinated by everything, they even watched a spay surgery from start to finish. The boys couldn't hold still and had to leave when the surgery started because they were grossed out.

I'm not surprised by the "unable to hold still" part but I really would have thought the boys would have been into the gross stuff and the girls would have been squeamish.

Any thoughts on this? Men, are you squeamish about surgical stuff?

We've almost done a 100 cats in three days!

I think men instinctively identify with the spayed ...

 

[Homburg]

Any thoughts on this? Men, are you squeamish about surgical stuff?

Not at all. I wanted very much to watch my knee surgery, but the epidural failed, so out I went. I was awake for my vasectomy, and watched what I could (through blinding pain as the anaesthetic failed there too). I find the subject fascinating.

I also have no qualms about cutting into myself, or others, for medical purposes (chasing out splinters, removing glass, infections, etc).

And I think what you are doing for the local cat population is simply beyond awesome. Rock on, Keroin.

 

[Keroin]

Not at all. I wanted very much to watch my knee surgery, but the epidural failed, so out I went. I was awake for my vasectomy, and watched what I could (through blinding pain as the anaesthetic failed there too). I find the subject fascinating.

I also have no qualms about cutting into myself, or others, for medical purposes (chasing out splinters, removing glass, infections, etc).

And I think what you are doing for the local cat population is simply beyond awesome. Rock on, Keroin.

Awww shucks, t'weren't nuthin'.

The vets really deserve all the praise. They have flown half way across the world to work in very primitive conditions for no money and little gratitude. I'm so in awe of them. It is in everyone's best interest to control the cat population and to keep them as healthy as possible. Love or hate cats, population control is important.

I love surgery. Except when it's me and then I can't even think about it. Weird.

I remember when I was working as a vet assistant and we had a dog come in that had impaled itself on a stick. Dr R was in surgery and suddenly he called out, "K, come take a look at this." So I did. He'd cleaned out the wound, which was deep, and through the hole you could see the dog's lung moving in and out. It's hard to explain how cool that was to watch. The dog was under GA, so we couldn't linger forever, but we watched that lung for about a minute with huge grins beneath our masks.

 

[YourCaptor]

Sorry guys! LOL. It's Netz's fault, she asked for details.

I hope you all had a good National Man Day.

Here's something interesting on the man discussion. We had a small group of school children come by to talk to the vets and see what we were doing. The girls were absolutely fascinated by everything, they even watched a spay surgery from start to finish. The boys couldn't hold still and had to leave when the surgery started because they were grossed out.

I'm not surprised by the "unable to hold still" part but I really would have thought the boys would have been into the gross stuff and the girls would have been squeamish.

Any thoughts on this? Men, are you squeamish about surgical stuff?

We've almost done a 100 cats in three days!

I think women generally are more intersted in playing with balls then men are. At least I don't care for it, and those of whose sex lives I know of don't get much out of it either.

 

[Keroin]

I think women generally are more intersted in playing with balls then men are. At least I don't care for it, and those of whose sex lives I know of don't get much out of it either.

Silly rabbit.

Spay = female cat. No balls to play with. Ovaries yes, balls no.

 

[YourCaptor]

Silly rabbit.

Spay = female cat. No balls to play with. Ovaries yes, balls no.

Fine, I'll give you a real answer.

Women are generally more mature then men at any given age. When that young boys are still retards with an attention span of a gold fish, while girls are excelling at math and other such useful stuff.

Then there's that whole female hostility thing too, lots of blackmail, property crimes, steeling of others ovaries, etc.

 

[00Syd]

So, I walked by The Strand bookstore on the way home today and saw sticking out of one of their dollar bins a little skinny book entitled The Decline of the American Male, so of course I had to go pick it up. It's from 1958, written by William Attwood, George B. Leonard Jr., and J. Robert Moskin (The editors of Look Magazine!), illustrated by Robert Osborn, and published by Random House, New York.

The inside sleeve says: "This bold, brash, unblinking little book is going to shock you. It tells you who really runs the show in the American home - and she wears a petticoat. It comes up with some present truths and some dire predictions guaranteed to shatter the complacency of any self-respecting male - or female."

Now, keep in mind, this is from 1958.

Here are a few choice excerpts from what I've read so far of the first chapter titled "Why Do Women Dominate Him?"

Scientists who study human behavior fear that the American male is now dominated by the American female. These scientists worry that in the years since the end of World War II, he has changed radically and dangerously; that he is no longer the masculine, strong-minded man who pioneered the continent and built America's greatness...And the experts pin most of the blame for his new plight squarely on women. (page 3)

From the moment he is born, the American boy is ruled by women...hospital nurses, and then his mother, dictate his every move. When he goes to school, his teachers take over, and today most of them are women. He quickly becomes accustomed to female domination. (page 4)

The American mother...has developed a subtler technique for bossing her son. She gives love if he performs well, withholds if he fails...The mother's withholding of love has replaced the father's punishment in child training. (page 4)

Some scientists believe that young boys are also damaged by the increase of competition with girls - at school and play - and the fact that it is difficult to tell one sex from another. Girls wear blue jeans and short haircuts like boys, play ball with boys, compete with them in science classes and join in bull sessions. Social scientists David Riesman warns that today "boys can be boys only from six to ten" years of age. Beyond those years, a boy is unsure of his malenes, torn by his mother's sometime love, afraid to fail in front of girls. Can his masculinity take it? (page 4)

Editors note: WHAAAAT?!!!

Most observers agree that both boy and girl are seeking security. But the form that this security has taken is completely opposed to the male's recognized biological nature, which impels him to seek the company of a variety of females. The going-steady idea seems to be clearly a girl's scheme; (page 5)

Who controls this increased premarital sex activity? The young American female.(page 5)

Wives may say they want their husbands to easy up, but they still hold out the carrot to lead their husbands up the hill to success - and toward two cars in the garage. Dr. Mead describes the technique: "From his mother, he [the American male] has learned that if he does what she asks, she will reward him. Later, as a husband, his rewards will come when he earns a good living...It is not insignificant that has been years since most American brides have promised to "obey." (page 8)

Today's American male, if the experts are right, has even lost much of his sexual initiative and controls...More women are taking charge of sex relations and they now have three new weapons to make their control effective:
First, as noted earlier, women condition men, before marriage, to the rule that the girl regulates all physical contact...
Second, women have now gained an important share of a couple's decision over birth control...Although the actual decision to conceive children is usually a joint one, women at last have the means to enforce unilateral decision against conception. When the oral pills now being developed become available, women's confidence in sex relations will increase and men will have still less control over conception.
Finally, and perhaps most important, the modern male is now being directed toward a new gial in sex relations. Marriage advisers warn him that he is no longer to concentrate on his own pleasure; he must concern himself primarily with satisfying his wife... (page 8)

What are the results of women's new aggressiveness and demand for sexual satisfaction? There are four:
1 - Fatigue. Women's new economic and sexual demands on their mates, some experts point out, are fatiguing American husbands. Men overwork themselves to supply their wives with material possessions. That may be one reason for the fact that the percentage of twin beds sold in America has nearly doubled since 1939. Experts also believe that women, now free to enjoy sex, have..."a far greater sexual potential than men." Robert Elliot Fitch, in The Decline and Fall of Sex, comments: "It is already remarkable that our younger generation shows signs of being fagged out and of having lost...the 'hunting instinct.'"
2 - Passivity. If men are not to be the aggressors in sex, they must be the receivers. The American male has begun to dress for women; the men's toiletries industries now does a $480 million business every year...
3 - Anxiety...the American man is faced with two difficult alternatives. He can attempt to focus all his attention on sex...Or he can become sexually less effective...
4 - Impotency. In the extreme case, the male may lose his potency. Many authorities warn modern woman that she can seriously damage his sexual capacity. (page 11)

And, that's only from what I've read so far (up to page 12 out of 66).

Thoughts?

P.S. I couldn't believe it when I saw this book, its just too perfect. Oh, and FUN FACT: On the same trip to The Strand today I found a book from 1919 called Sane Sex Life & Sane Sex Living ("Some Things that All Sane People Ought to Know About Sex Nature and Sex Functioning; Its Place in the Economy of Life, Its Proper Training and Righteous Exercise"), published by the Eugenics Publishing Co., Inc.

 

[ZRT]

God damn but the Matriarchy's plans run long and deep.

I thank God for these brave and selfless American men who have stepped forward to spare us the domination of the skirts.

The going-steady idea seems to be clearly a girl's scheme;

I fucking KNEW IT.

 

[Shankara20]

Thoughts?

Oh wow! - great stuff!

So if I read some of this correctly a man is a man when he is making the decisions, when he is in charge.

It is a wonder it took as long as it did for the 70's woman's revolt to ever start.

Any idea how that book sold at the time?

 

[Shankara20]

What are the results of women's new aggressiveness and demand for sexual satisfaction? There are four:
1 - Fatigue. Women's new economic and sexual demands on their mates, some experts point out, are fatiguing American husbands. Men overwork themselves to supply their wives with material possessions. That may be one reason for the fact that the percentage of twin beds sold in America has nearly doubled since 1939. Experts also believe that women, now free to enjoy sex, have..."a far greater sexual potential than men." Robert Elliot Fitch, in The Decline and Fall of Sex, comments: "It is already remarkable that our younger generation shows signs of being fagged out and of having lost...the 'hunting instinct.'"
2 - Passivity. If men are not to be the aggressors in sex, they must be the receivers. The American male has begun to dress for women; the men's toiletries industries now does a $480 million business every year...
3 - Anxiety...the American man is faced with two difficult alternatives. He can attempt to focus all his attention on sex...Or he can become sexually less effective...
4 - Impotency. In the extreme case, the male may lose his potency. Many authorities warn modern woman that she can seriously damage his sexual capacity. (page 11)

So, I ask, is there a problem for men to retain there sexual potency and desire without having to be the one in charge?

A large part of me says "yes, there is a problem" and I have yet found a solution.

I want to say more but must trot off to a meeting for now.

 

[00Syd]

Oh wow! - great stuff!

So if I read some of this correctly a man is a man when he is making the decisions, when he is in charge.

It is a wonder it took as long as it did for the 70's woman's revolt to ever start.

Any idea how that book sold at the time?

No clue. I could maybe try and look it up but I'm not sure how much data I'd find.

I love the part about how increased competition with girls is hurting our American males! It's the most insecure statement I've read in that book so far. In my mind it immediately translated to (and read this in a whiny little boys voice) "But.. but... They're ruining the illusion!!"

Also how going steady is a girls "scheme." Hahahahaaa

The entire book, so far, just sounds so incredibly insecure. It's like, jesus, take a little responsibility.

 

[Homburg]

The entire book, so far, just sounds so incredibly insecure. It's like, jesus, take a little responsibility.

That was my take from those quotes. Insecure.

 

[ownedsubgal]

That was my take from those quotes. Insecure.

insecure, definitely. more than a little ignorant as well. but 100% off-base? no.

 

[graceanne]

I fucking KNEW IT.

ROFL!

 

[ZRT]

ROFL!

Oh, you laugh now. You think that I'm just one puny male among a sea of oblivious and helplessly deluded fools off buying their second car and waxing the floors for their domineering math-proficient mates.

But by god, I'll write a book, woman, just you watch.

AND IT WON'T BE COOKIE RECIPES!

 

[graceanne]

AND IT WON'T BE COOKIE RECIPES!

Why?

 

[gypsy*seer]

AND IT WON'T BE COOKIE RECIPES!

Why?

(Psssst, Gracie........he has no idea about the cookies!!)

 

[ZRT]

Why?

...okay, I'm a sucker for innocence.

I'll throw a cookie recipe into my denunciation of the encroaching Matriarchy. Like 'This is what THEY want us to cook. One pound butter...'

Just for you.

(Psssst, Gracie........he has no idea about the cookies!!)

Et tu, wenchy?

 

[youknowyoulike]

Bump--1 man here

 

[Keroin]

Bump--1 man here

Prove it.

*Releases roach in the general vicinity*

 

[youknowyoulike]

How?
I do have a cam