DU Men's Group

[comtec]

Poll question: DU Men's Group

Here we are, i think 2 years later, and I am still yet to hear from Skinner, Earl G, or anyone in the head moderator's group.
So here's my request yet again.

I would like a DU men's group where LIBERAL men can get together and discuss issues that affect men, such as health, divorce, child care, child custody, women, and the like, in the same vein as the feminist's group.

We LIBERAL men need a place where we can comfort and reinforce each other in a world that distinctly does NOT approve of LIBERAL men.

LIBERAL men, are men of all races and sexual orientation, who see the world as needing to be equal. Equal rights for all gender, background, and sexual orientation.

It is understood that LIBERAL men will not permit misogyny, racism, or bigotry of any kind in their discussion forum.

LIBERAL men are different from conservative men, in that they acknowledge their own emotions, and emotional needs. They don't need to attack or denigrate others for their own sense of self worth.

And finally, liberal men understand, that sometimes they need to know they are not alone. That there are others who understand and are sympathetic. They understand that there are things only other men understand, in the same way women can only be truly understood by other women.

Should DU have a group for LIBERAL men to discuss things off the main thread

Poll result (57 votes)
Yes LIBERAL men should have a place to discuss things of a sensitive nature off the main threads	(46 votes, 81%)	Vote
NO, men have no right to such a group, LIBERAL or otherwise.	(1 votes, 2%)	Vote
YES - no comment	(2 votes, 4%)	Vote
NO - no comment	(7 votes, 12%)	Vote
Other	(1 votes, 2%)	Vote

[HopeHoops]

1. "We're knights of the Round Table..." -- Edited to add YouTube links

"T'is a silly place" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfGpVcdqeS0

Lego version (I think I like this one better than the Monty Python version): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjUoaOiErFo

And just for shits and giggles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATBl4qH9I54&NR=1

[FSogol]

2. What? The Sports and Beer groups don't fill that need already?

[HopeHoops]

5. Hey, I added a beer link in my first post on this thread.

[Wednesdays]

9. Free beer?

Where?

[Renew Deal]

3. Is.....

Is voting no in this poll sexist?

[dipsydoodle]

4. Its always seemed odd to me

that there's a Women's Rights Forum and no equivalent for men of any description.

I suppose one for men called be called "The men's room "

[HopeHoops]

6. Hell, if it was called "The Outhouse" it would still work.

We aren't that picky.

[uncommon]

There is no equivalent because men's standing in society is not equivalent to

women's.

However, I think if a substantial number of DU men want their own group then whatevs.

[comtec]

7. to the NO voters...

Thank you for your honesty.

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. Other: Oy vey...

[eShirl]

10. There are two DU Groups listed under Women: Feminists Group, and Women's World

I certainly don't think it is too much to ask that DU provide a forum for discussion of men's issues.

[donal dubh]

11. I think more men should learn to discuss such things...

but I would not want to do it online. Sorry, but unless I know who the audience is I would not be comfortable. Sort of how I feel about social networking sites. If I can't see the person, and read the subtle nonverbal messages, there is no way. Also how I feel about online poker... bad craziness to play against someone when you can't read their body language. Also I can't use my Jedi mind skills to control the game. Sorry.

[comtec]

12. How do you expect men to learn how to discuss this if not first online?

If you peruse the men's sites online, they are generally NOT friendly to women.
I'd like a place that is LIBERAL first, where we all know our political leanings, and understand that personal enrichment isn't going to come about by hating or abusing the other gender in any way.

Men DO NEED to be able to open up, desperately so, but so many of whats available online and irl, 1- doesn't really help our emotional grown, and 2 - tends to be a den of misogyny at best, and hateful cest pools of hatred at worst.

Many men need the safety of anonymity to open up before they can go to the next step.
You may laugh and skoff, but the patriarchy has deemed any such open signs of weakness must be immediately punished and ostracized.

Do you really want men to CONTINUE to be like this?

[Recursion]

24. First off, take about a year or so and LISTEN

Stuff a sock in your mouth if you have to; disable your keyboard if you have to.

Listen (and read) what people say. Don't chime in with how you think women "should feel". Don't bring up how men in some circumstances suffer things too.

Read and listen to what women on DU and in real life are saying about women's issues, and why they feel like they need a place. Do that for a while. Without putting in your own two cents. Then start worrying about whether and under what conditions a men's group might be helpful.

[uncommon]

29. Most LIBERAL (why the caps I know not) men are NOT friendly to women.

And I would be willing to bet some serious cash that your group would hardly be the utopia you mention here.

[comtec]

34. you mean how the feminist group is friendly to men?

You're right, utopia isn't possible... but i'll make damned sure it does NOT degenerate to a woman-hating fest either.

[Heidi]

13. Still want a place where "it's safe to be un-politically correct"

Your words: "A place where Men can discuss things womyn won't care to hear about.
That's fine, that is their right NOT to enter the group forum threads... but don't we have a right to have our own place as well?"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Heidi,
A "womyn" who does not believe she "can only be truly understood by other women"

[Call Me Wesley]

15. I want a Pirate forum.

We're we can Arrr Arrr Arrr whole days long!

[Recursion]

16. Avast ye scurvy dog! I'll keel haul the lot o' ye!

Arrr

I'm in.

(Incidentally, anybody know where the "pirate accent" came from? It sounds vaguely Welsh or West Country to me but I have no idea. Was there like one famous pirate movie that did it?)

[JonLP24]

18. LOL @ Trumad

[Touchdown]

20. Yes! We need this to plot for a mass refusal to put the toilet seats down.

Or take out the trash during Sports Center! That'll teach you!

[uncommon]

25. Wow that thread was illuminating.

"ACTUAL" misogyny.

Give the guy his own group so he can take his toxic bullshit there and out of GD - and send the others with him.

[Recursion]

14. "Every day is children's day"

A kid is woken up early to make breakfast for his mom on Mother's day. He's grumbling about it and asks when "Chidlren's Day" is, and he's told "Every day is children's day".

The sad fact is that threads that aren't specifically about women end up being about men by default. If you want to discuss something from a male perspective, just start a thread.

[comtec]

22. That's hardly true or fair

are you suggesting that the current threads about the administration trashing the left are "a men's thread"?

How many threads do you see about men who are having a rough emotional time b/c his wife was cheating on his for the last 2 years, and he's trying to find a way to forgive her?

How many threads about Men trying to take care of their kids as single fathers because of one circumstance or another?

Men who are abused by their spouse?

Men who have testicular cancer and need support, or information about a strange lump on their testicles, or a odd color to their urine?

I am disgusted at the suggestion that men don't have emotional needs.
You are encouraging that which you hate... the way the patriarchy expects people to behave by projecting this "All men must be macho" bullshit meme that has hampered LIBERAL men from evolving to their proper potential.

Are you happy with how "average" men behave then and feel no need for them to evolve?

I respect your opinion, but don't think I wont challange it either.

[Recursion]

26. Wah wah

I am disgusted at the suggestion that men don't have emotional needs.

Which suggestion I didn't remotely make. Next?

[negativenihil]

17. 1 vote for "NO, men have no right to such a group, LIBERAL or otherwise."?!?

Are you fucking kidding me?! No right to such a group?! That's just wrong.

[Recursion]

19. I don't think anyone has a "right" to a group on someone else's server

The same way we don't have a right to just say anything we want here.

[comtec]

do a archive search, and that is what you will find...

Hell even some posts on this thread have that meme.
because the matriarchy has not taken over, men have no right to have needs.
That is the need to talk about things you generally dont want to air on GD or the other threads.

Where would you go when you need to ask other men how to cope with your emotions?

any answer will due, you arent limited to this board.... but where?
and is that place liberal?
is that place misogynistic?

Do liberal men have a right to talk to one another about these things on a forum, apart from GD, in the same way women have the right to do so?

[DrDan]

21. I doubt I would join - but agree that if there are those that

would like such a forum under the rules you lay out, then we should have it.

[femrap]

23. I thought

all of DU was the men's liberal group. They're one in the same.

Are you being ????

You have the patriarchy. You make the rules. You are the entitled.

Your assumption that only men can understand men and women can only understand women is truly a divisive construct.

I can't wait till I die and can head to that Unisex Planet where I have a reservation waiting for me.

[uncommon]

27. Amen, as usual.

Thank you for existing.

[eShirl]

28. most of DU is co-ed, actually

then there are two groups for women

[Recursion]

30. A lot of DU is like a lot of the world when it comes to men and women

Women are there, contribute things, and then (if they are identified as women, this being online) marginalized and told how they should "really" feel about the subject, and then sit patiently while some blowhard tries to construct a moral equivalency between the widespread condition of women and the particular conditions of some men. At least if the subject is in any way sex or gender related.

[uncommon]

31. Cute.

Ignore.

[eShirl]

33. same to you

[femrap]

32. because women

are not the 'norm'....we are the 'other'....you know, the 'sex' class. The ones who are not studied when it comes to medical studies. The ones who make 77 cents on the dollar of the norm. We're the ones who are denied freedom to control our bodies and destinies. We are basically the 'lesser' as viewed in a patriarchy.

And of course the administration of DU is liberal male....well, most of the time unless it involves women stripping which I guess mainstream liberal male and if one speaks up, is told she is a prude and a fundie.

[maddezmom]

35. locking

Here is a link on how to propose a group:

If you are considering a DU Group on a controversial topic, the Administrators would appreciate if you contacted us before collecting your ten members, so we may discuss any sensitive issues. This courtesy will increase the chance that your Group is approved.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Please contact them before starting another topic on this group proposal.