Hey All [View all]

Okay, first off, I think we've settled the "safe haven" question. If anyone has ideas for additions or changes to the SOP, please chime in. I'm okay with "discuss issues of interest to men" because it's pretty broad and open, which is sort of what I think would be good for this group.

So... Warren who? (there are a couple of us)

Let me run down a few relevant points about myself, so everyone is clear and we're all good. Obviously, if anyone has a problem with where I'm coming from, esp. to the point of me not taking the #2 slot here, by all means, let me know in this thread. It's cool. I just want to be sure everyone is on the same page right off the bat.

I joined DU in 2004, not long after going to DC for the march for womens lives. With 1.2 million other people including family members I marched for reproductive choice. Choice, freedom, personal self determination... these are BIG issues for me.

First off, just so we're clear- I do NOT consider myself an "MRA" or men's rights activist or any of those things. It's just not where I'm at. I am, of course, a firm believer in equal rights for EVERYONE. Men do face unique challenges in our society and our world, that should not be forgotten- and obviously this would be an excellent place to discuss that sort of thing. That said, I also am personally of the opinion that we as men do have a responsibility to acknowledge the historical precedence of male--- maybe 'privilege' is too loaded a word, but certainly men have not been an oppressed group such as some others in history.

(Of course, men have also overwhelmingly been the ones to die in the wars, but that's another kettle of fish for another thread)

And so, with all the noise in H/M, I do understand the arguments some have had around this group and the concept of "men's rights". Like "Caucasian rights", or "Christian rights", I mean one has to acknowledge the reality that coming from a majority group or group that has enjoyed historical advantages, such a term can sound, at best, absurd if not flat-out obnoxious.

Like I said, I want this out on the table from the get-go. I do believe that men have had certain historical advantages, I get that some may not agree with that assessment, but it is my opinion and it's not going to change.

I haven't gone through all the links in the FAQ, I am generally in favor of data, data, and more data. I like science and I think information in and of itself is value-neutral. So if there are things in our society about the way, for instance, boys are being educated and integrated into the workforce, that to me isn't "women vs. men over jobs", it's "how can we meet the educational needs- perhaps the different needs- of boys as well as girls?".

I am in full agreement with Jeff that the host (now hosts) can't be held responsible for everything people say or may say. Personally, I can't abide anyone advocating violence, justifying violence, or even trying to 'explain' the rationale behind violence. Not cool. The member in question who caused the issues in H/M has been PPR'd.

What I'd personally like to see for this group is a low-key, low-stress, non confrontational area for open discussion on a whole range of topics, again, of interest to men... which covers a pretty broad area, I should think. I also think this should be a bigotry-free zone, a homophobia free zone, a LGBTransphobia free zone, a misandry and, yeah, misogyny free zone... Probably can't keep it from being a misanthropy free zone just due to my personality, but that's what I'd like to see.

Hope everyone's cool with this.