PatrickC

Yes, conscription would be the most obvious example I think. But also the many examples of 'white knighting' that occur.. The assumption that a woman can do no wrong, at least compared to a man's ability to do wrong, which is assumed to be the more likely. On a different vein I think it hooks into mens propensity for tribalism. Except collectivism is a twisted form of the tribe, insofar as we assume a similar role as 'protector' for women we don't even know, but we identify within the collective. I hope that makes sense. These are ideas I'm working with for now and not entirely processed.

I have been rethinking this 'disposability' theme around masculinity recently. Currently the prevailing culture assumes that men will put themselves in the line of fire for all womankind. At least that is seen as the noble thing to do. However, I'm curious if this has to do with the kind of collective ideology we have mostly grown up with and less about our natures as men perhaps. I think it was Karen (GWW) who made the analogy once that the man would be expected to be that guy that stood on the porch with a shotgun, ready to take out an imminent threat, whilst the women and children would hide away inside the cabin. The distinction here that this is the mans domain and that he is willing to fight to the death to protect his own family. A family that means as much to him, as they feel for him. Whilst clearly this can be seen as having a disposable theme to it, I tend to think this is a role I would naturally assume without a thought. Where the conflict comes I think, is when it's assumed that it is virtuous to apply this process to the collective, many of whom you nether know or even care for.

Elliot touches on these differences quite well I think. But I think masculinity is probably something we do (as men) despite how females might respond to us. I'm beginning to resonate much more with the idea of becoming 'better' at being a man amongst men (our peers), rather than attempting to be a better man (amongst women).. Of course, this approach will likely produce the attraction within women that Elliot speaks of, but I think it's a separate topic to how as men we experience masculinity.

How do you feel talking with this parent Sasha?.. I'm assuming that perhaps isn't possible, given the falling out you described.

I think masculinity has been characterized as either a cartoonish stereotype or as a thing we men must control and temper. However, as men we bring different and valuable qualities to the world and the people we interact with. Of course this is not to suggest that women don't bring the world enormous benefits, because they do. But masculinity is an area I'm enjoying exploring, even if I have yet to fully understand it right now.

Yes, I think masculinity touches on an area of great fascination for us men, but I've found myself reticent to discuss it much because it just seems to be such a culturally taboo topic. I liked Phil's analogy of describing it as being in 'Area 51' lockdown. An area that has been left untouched for some time, considered as potentially volatile but now forgotten by many.and actively dismissed by a vocal few. We venture at our own risk it is presumed. This is what makes it an exciting challenge for me, in much the way Stef describes those little boys that challenge their mothers authority. It is something to be explored and understood better and perhaps to be embraced more fully. Jack is a new thinker for me and like Stef and Karen (GWW) have been enormously important thinkers that have changed my world view irrevocably. Like you, I have found that I have come to the end of my journey with men's rights. Not necessarily entirely, but I am quite selective about those advocates I listen to these days. I look forward to the processing of Jack's ideas a lot more over the coming weeks and months, whose ideas are fresh, exciting and new for me. I also look forward to some well reasoned criticism about those ideas as well.

Sounds like your doing a lot of awesome stuff already. Keep that up and your value will be sky high in no time. Here's a podcast that might interest you by a friend and a fellow board member where he interviews entrepreneurs and discusses ways to approach entrepreneurship. I'm sure he would be delighted to hear from your experiences with your online shopping businesses. Jake is his name. http://www.thevoluntarylife.com/

Definitely challenging in some of the most difficult areas culturally. This chap certainly doesn't pull his punches. but some of his ideas will make you stand up and take a long pause for thought. I also found myself going, 'no way!', 'get out of here!'... Only to find when I read further, that I had totally misunderstood him.

Hi Melissa, I totally understand what you mean about these child labour laws. What is particularly frustrating is that they make it sound as if they're doing you a favour too. The reality is that they fear the young, because they can out price them. This is the real reason for restricting hours, days of the week and the minimum wage. So I sympathise enormously. I had three jobs when I was 16. Little did I know it, but when I left school (1985) Margaret Thatcher had just abolished the Wage Council which used to set minimum wages for the UK. This enabled most of my friends of the same age to get jobs too. Fast forward to today and I barely see a young person under 20 in a job. I put this down in part to a failing and over regulated economy, but also the re-introduction of the minimum wage in 1999. I think you're doing the right thing with your online T-shirt business. Learning how to exploit and profit from this extraordinary medium called the internet will be very beneficial for you in the long run. Actually online businesses are indeed an opportunity for the young looking for work experience. A number of online services are based abroad (such as Asia) and they aren't compelled by the nonsense laws of the West. Sometimes these are even US/European targeted companies that just happen to be based in Bangkok or Manila, because of the cheaper business costs. I am sure if you were able to ask these companies if they had a role which you could do at minimum cost to them that many would be interested. You could even be explicit about your reasons and that you are really interested in gaining some work experience, which you cannot find in the US due to the current regulations. Another thing that I recommend to many young people in the UK, is when you get that passport go to Asia. You'll find no end of them on this board as well. Jobs are plentiful in this region and they are not just teaching jobs either. Sales, design, administration jobs abound too. It's quickly becoming the only way for young people (with a brain) to actually get work experience. Of course traveling is a great experience all round, but mixed up with working can be a significant lift off for your future life. Failing that, since you said you have a very supportive family why not try and find some volunteer work. I know this means you remain a cost to your parents. But even a year of working volunteering can up your value to future employers considerably. I think your parents would understand this and you might feel that remaining under their care for a short while longer to be a useful stepping stone in this statist world. Anyway, whatever you do, best wishes all the same.

Very sorry to hear your mother completely evaded any responsibility for her past actions and indeed that your father had nothing to say. There certainly can be a bitter sweet feeling in those revelations. In my experience 'deFOO' is often a long process, even after the initial decision has been taken. It can be drawn out over many months and sometimes years. I personally only found it possible with a therapist. If you aren't with one now, I would particularly recommend it, because you are likely to find yourself feeling quite vulnerable at this time. Remember it's not really you that deFOOs them, it's them that have deFOO'ed you. Whilst it's true that you took that decision independently of them. Your challenge to them to have a deeper and more sustainable relationship with you has been rejected (at least for now). Being rejected by ones parents has a deeply emotional impact on children, even as adults. That rejection will upset parts of you enormously and may well need help coming to terms with the situation. On a practical note I set aside an hour each morning when I would take a walk through my local park and would do a voice journal where I attempted to understand what was going on for me. I did this for almost 3 years and found it enormously insightful. But I must admit that at those crucial moments my therapist was a lifesaver for me, when sometimes things could become overwhelming for me. Lastly, one thing to be aware of in all this, which I've discussed with quite a few people over the years including a number of trained professionals. Nobody that has taken the decision to deFOO their parents will ever quite forget them. There will always be a part of them etched in our minds. A large part of the healing process is learning how to have that relationship with them in your head. The best part about that relationship is that you get to apply reason and evidence to it. If you keep applying philosophy in your life, then you will find things becoming much easier in time. Sounds like this is a new chapter in your life, best wishes.

I believe we've had this discussion before. PPC computers will not install Java 6 updates properly. It's only avaiable for Intel x86 architecture. As for Linux distro's that run on PPC, you can try Mint as an alternative to Lubuntu which I believe is the only linux distro that will run on PPC computers. http://www.mintppc.org/

I don't know if this will help, but anecdotally my experience of people that get cognitive dissonance around the DRO model. They often have been struggling themselves with their own reputation in their real life. Insofar as they have reneged on loans, overdrafts or employers over the years or other things. The whole idea of being judged in that manner seemingly has their hair standing on the back of their neck, which I think is understandable. I'm not saying it's a rational response, but it's a useful one which might enable you to avoid pointless debates with certain individuals.

Yes, I've had similar debates with statists, that tell me that you don't go to prison for not paying your taxes. Whilst strictly this might be true of the UK (not Council tax). However, they will attempt to bankrupt you and steal any property or assets you may have, which if defended would lead to the same thing. Both these excuses are just evasion tactics and I agree with Alan has nothing to do with the DRO model.

Yes, I'm intrigued by this mainly from a 'geeky' standpoint.. The idea of having a private gateway to friends and family sounds cool. It's just a shame it relies on many others to think the same. You are right of course, as soon as the internet become impenetrable for more people, the interest is likely to expand.

What's stopping it you think.. A lack of knowledge or the hardware?... I guess also the lack of content I presume as well.. I'm assuming you could easily run this alongside the existing internet of course.

Yes, thanks Wesley, I thought it might be related to P2P. So I assume all the technology to bounce a one mile signal connection would be in some kind of specialised router/modem perhaps. Effectively making each household it's own private bandwidth provider and network, as such.

My first thoughts, albeit perhaps ignorant ones on my part. But wouldn't the state be able to just commandeer the companies that utilise this mesh or provide the coverage. Or is expected that the coverage will be done by millions of users potentially.

Having watched it, we need more Mr Stef... I thought you brought some great challenges to your guests that didn't go unappreciated by them.

Been looking forward to this conversation for some time now. Thanks for posting. Are there any more plans to have either of these guests back again in the near future?

Well I think that was what STer later alluded to with his 'corporate media' statement, which I would agree with for the most part. However, whilst it's not a fully fledged 'free market' as such, it is still a market all the same. It's just that topics and stories that might interest us are of little value to these corporate entities, because we would be considered as a niche market. They prefer to plunge into cultural mediocity because it tends to garner the larger audience for them that way.

STer is quite right, the MSM only gives stories that the market will respond too with increased revenues for them. I've heard it said that the MSM is just a propaganda tool, when for the most part it merely reflects the values and judgements of everyday people and mainstream culture.

Many thanks Wesley.. I felt a profoundly deserved derp moment.

The title says it all I think.. Just couldn't see that option within the settings.

Like so many of these kinds of debates, it all comes down to thrashing out the deffinitions, rather than getting stuck on whether one definition is more correct than another. People can become emotionally attached to the meaning of words, which can distract them from making a cogent argument.

Here I go again recommending yet more guests to interview.. This ladies perspective on mens issues are very similar to much of what we've already heard of course. However, she does offer some possible solutions that many guys and women too might find helpful. I'm also interested to hear more about her views on Ayn Rand and how she relates her ideas towards this issue. She is also a forensic psychologist that specialises in violent children and adults too. Could be a fascinating and diverse conversation perhaps. Wikipedia reference Her blog Men on Strike - The book Her email is - [email protected]