International Men's Day

[Stu]

Most UK universities are supporting International Men's Day and its effort to address issues like the high rate of male suicide. York University has been bullied into withdrawing its support as it supposedly "takes the focus away from women's oppression".

There is a petition here about it.

https://www.change.org/p/university-of- ... share_skip

[Milfmog]

The University of York had a whole week to support International Women's day (see here for details) but will not hold a single day for men...

Good to know that our seats of learning have such a balanced view of equality.

Thanks for the link to the petition Stu, I have put my moniker to it.

Have fun,


Ian.

[skirtingtoday]

I have added my name too - after all equality is needed to all people, not just women.

[skirted_in_SF]

Most UK universities are supporting International Men's Day and its effort to address issues like the high rate of male suicide. York University has been bullied into withdrawing its support as it supposedly "takes the focus away from women's oppression".

I tend to cringe when I hear/read about someone living in a relatively liberal democracy use the word "oppression". What word would they use for people who live in truly oppressive societies?

[dillon]

Most UK universities are supporting International Men's Day and its effort to address issues like the high rate of male suicide. York University has been bullied into withdrawing its support as it supposedly "takes the focus away from women's oppression".

I tend to cringe when I hear/read about someone living in a relatively liberal democracy use the word "oppression". What word would they use for people who live in truly oppressive societies?

Advantages, once attained, are rarely relinquished and more often than not played for all they're worth.

[moonshadow]

Kudos to Ruth Morris for her comments. It's refreshing to see a woman take such initiative.

BTW, although I live stateside, I added my name to the mix... when it ask for comments I simply wrote... "fair is fair... male lives matter."

I heard somewhere that statistically, more women than men threaten to commit suicide, however more men than women actually succeed. Although I can't honestly say I've ever been truly suicidal in my life, I have had a few periods here and there where I was feeling pretty low, and usually it was because of some woman stepping on my proverbial neck. When you're a man... there is no support group, no crisis hot lines, no safe houses. You just have to get up, dust yourself off, dry your eyes, and keep moving.... oh and try to stay out of jail.....

I could really use some good news. Frankly today I don't want to read an article about a bunch of women patting their selves on their backs. Good for them... must be nice. Meanwhile in the mountains of Virginia, .... well never mind.

Yes I've had a rough day... cut me some slack.

One of these days.... one of these days....

[crfriend]

I heard somewhere that statistically, more women than men threaten to commit suicide, however more men than women actually succeed.

More women attempt suicide than men, but it's frequently -- although not always -- "a cry for help". Men know that there is no help, and face the matter head on and on their own. When men reach "that point" they don't attempt, they succeed. Actually, it's not entirely true that there is no help; there is, but the strings attached to it can be fearsome and potentially very damaging to life (if any) later on. A diagnosis of "mental illness" in the USA carries a very, very, heavy stigma for men.

On women's attempts. Sometimes these have unintended, and tragic, results, and so should be taken seriously. I recall a conversation I had with a nurse-friend of mine, and he (yes, he) recounted the sad story of a young woman who, in a "cry for help" downed an entire bottle of over-the-counter painkillers thinking it'd "make a statement" and not do any lasting harm. The stuff fried her liver and she died from that a few weeks later.

Although I can't honestly say I've ever been truly suicidal in my life, I have had a few periods here and there where I was feeling pretty low [...]

Avoid letting things get that far if you can. It's a deep, cold, and very, very, dark hole -- and it can be very difficult to climb out of. Sometimes the best course of action is to cut and run -- write stuff off in order to cut your losses and run like the wind -- before the darkness really sets in. Learn what types of people to avoid -- and avoid them at all costs. Been there, done that, save that I didn't cut and run when I should have (and this is from something safely in the past, not what I'm still embroilled in).

I could really use some good news. Frankly today I don't want to read an article about a bunch of women patting their selves on their backs. Good for them... must be nice. Meanwhile in the mountains of Virginia, ....

Know this: No matter who you are (unless you're the scum of the earth, and that's fairly rare), you have value, worth, and a reason to push on. Even if you are the scum of the earth (Hi, [names redacted to avoid libel charges] ) you have reason to push on because the rest of the planet needs to know what scum looks like. Seriously, unless what you're facing is a certain and painful death from something else, there are almost always reasons to push on, and eventually you will find the light -- or it will find you. Especially, DO NOT allow others to define you or your worth -- not your work nor even your closest confidant -- for if something happens to those you accidentally put yourself at grave risk.

I didn't "sign" the petition as I'm on the wrong side of the pond, but if I was in the UK I absolutely would have. The lopsided situation we have now is not tenable for the long term and needs to change. I'm certainly not saying it should return to the point of unquestioned male privilege, but that pendulum needs to swing back halfway from unquestioned female privilege and be held there by conscious, rational, and compassionate thought.

[moonshadow]

Thanks for the kind words Carl. I know sometimes the road is rough, and I've talked to many men going through it, but on the flip side, I've talked to many men who went (past tense) through it, and today they offer words of encouragement, because they know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, all you have to do is walk to it.

Like you said Carl, I want to see the pendulum stop in the center. I don't want to see the world go back to the days when women were considered property, but I don't want to see a world where men live under their thumbs either. I'd like to see a world where women and men are TRUE partners in life, each one boasting the other higher, not tearing each other down. Bring women's pay up to the level of mens, and bring mens prison sentences down to the level of women's. Lets have international mens day, and celebrate the achievements of men, and lets have an international womens day, and celebrate the achievements of women, and why not have a day where celebrate the TEAMWORK of men and women working together to achieve great things in perfect harmony!?

[skirtingtoday]

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere but it advertises men in tights for International men's day.

http://www.luxury-legs.com/blog/2015/11 ... in-tights/

Ross

[skirtyscot]

Ha ha! A well timed bit of advertising, and why not? They even managed to fit in wee mention of men in skirts. I'd say the model in the accompanying photos is a woman, so a wee way still to go for that company!

[alsachti]

In my humble opinion, we don't need a Women's Day or a Men's Day, but a Day for equality between men and women.