Men's Group

lumberjack_jeff

(33,224 posts)

19. "Men as a whole" = cop out. I asked about you.

Thu Jun 20, 2013, 06:28 PM

Jun 2013

Barack Obama and Bill Gates aren't "men as a whole", and no one, including you or I are empowered to speak for "men as a whole".

I asked you a fairly simple question about your experiences with a phenomenon that you describe as patently obvious. The question should have some immediately apparent answers if your response is based on something more than conventional wisdom. Are you personally paid more than your female co-workers because you're a man? You were handed a CEO position? You got drafted into congress? You go to the front of the line at the doctors office? You get a discount on your taxes? You get government benefits that are not available to women? You didn't have to register for the draft but your sister did?

This is the fattest pitch down the center of the plate on this topic imaginable. This is your opportunity to knock it out of the park. How is your personal, daily experience enhanced by your position of social privilege?

The best manifestation of the patriarchy is the Vietnam wall. 58,272 names... 58,264 of them men's names. Patriarchy<>male privilege.

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After being called an MRA here numerous times, I decided to try define that term [View all] galileoreloaded Jun 2013 OP

Don't let others define you. NYC_SKP Jun 2013 #1

lol. i think its a riot, but I just want to get myself defined all proper like galileoreloaded Jun 2013 #2

or, you could just change the light bulb in the john. Warren DeMontague Jun 2013 #5

Ah, but when you play the game of thrones, you win, or you die. opiate69 Jun 2013 #13

Adding to the definitions: galileoreloaded Jun 2013 #3

I doubt that many who throw around the MRA label as a pejorative would accept the mirror argument Major Nikon Jun 2013 #4

I've been accused of being some sort of fucking MRA Grand Poop-bah, because I dare to say things Warren DeMontague Jun 2013 #6

Know what else apparently defies explanation? opiate69 Jul 2013 #34

To me the hallmark of an MRA is that he considers himself disadvantaged in society, as a man. nomorenomore08 Jun 2013 #7

I would agree, although pretty much everything I've learned about "MRAs" has come from people Warren DeMontague Jun 2013 #8

Exactly. Some people apparently feel the need to divide up the entire world into "good guys" nomorenomore08 Jun 2013 #15

Indeed. Warren DeMontague Jun 2013 #20

Let's explore this. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #9

yeah but its not about equality is it. its about replacing an idea, male primacy or "patriarchy" galileoreloaded Jun 2013 #10

The main problem I have with it is selective primacy. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #12

Which is why addressing gender inequality all by itself is never adequate. nomorenomore08 Jun 2013 #18

Sure, you can find legitimate exceptions to almost any "rule." Generalities are just that, nomorenomore08 Jun 2013 #17

"Men as a whole" = cop out. I asked about you. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #19

Okay, sorry. I guess I misunderstood slightly. nomorenomore08 Jun 2013 #21

Privilege is not a feeling Major Nikon Jun 2013 #22

I know that. I was just trying to tie it to my own subjective experience, in a tangible way. nomorenomore08 Jun 2013 #24

If privilege is subjective, it is bullshit. n/t lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #27

I wouldn't say it's "subjective." But it is relative, and encompasses much more than gender. nomorenomore08 Jun 2013 #28

Burden of proof and remediation. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #30

If you feel safer than the typical woman, it's irrational. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #23

In terms of cold, hard statistics, you may be right. nomorenomore08 Jun 2013 #25

Subjective perceptions of the world are shaped by phrases like... lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #26

I think maybe *some* women's lives are held in greater value than *some* men's. nomorenomore08 Jun 2013 #29

women's lives, by biological necessity are more important than mens galileoreloaded Jun 2013 #32

Very true. And those who consider women so disposable - not on DU, but out there in the world - nomorenomore08 Jun 2013 #33

i dont feel disadvantaged at all, just not "priveleged" barf. i guess im not an mra then. nt galileoreloaded Jun 2013 #11

No, I don't think you really fit the profile. You're not paranoid or belligerent enough. nomorenomore08 Jun 2013 #14

lol. i do get assertive but it isn't rooted in insecurity galileoreloaded Jun 2013 #16

Join the resistance Major Nikon Jun 2013 #31