Chivalry: It's dead, Jim.

[Hermiod]

Yep, we've all been guilty of feeding the stealth trolls... like a pack of piranhas in here.

People who disagree with you are trollls now ?

Edit : people who disagree with you are whingers too ? Seriously, buy a bike if you want to sit down all the way to work.

 

[Lindley]

I think you need to stop taking other people's opinions so personally.

 

[Mr Awe]

Wow, I'm pretty surprised by some of the cynical, self-centered comments going on here. I think a lot of you are missing the point of giving up a seat for a woman. I don't do it because I think they're weak or deserve comfort more than I do. I do it because it's called being a gentleman, and is the nice and polite thing to do. It's the same reason I wait for my girlfriend to sit down to dinner before I do, or open a door for her. I don't do it for personal gain or to imply anything about the person on the receiving end. I do it because sometimes it's nice to do something nice. Again, I guess I'm just traditional.

Do you ever give up your seat for guys?

Older men, yes or if another guy is carrying a lot of stuff.

It's interesting how some of you can turn a simple polite gesture into something bad.

The issue is that you're sending an unintentional message that women can't stand on their own. Apparently, you think you're quite special for doing so as well.

Mr Awe

 

[Hermiod]

I think you need to stop taking other people's opinions so personally.

What part of being called a professional whinger was I not supposed to take personally?

 

[Mr Awe]

It's not about whether they can or can't. It's about doing something nice and polite. It's a tradition and it's being a gentleman. Why is this so hard to understand?

If it's nice and polite for women, then it is nice and polite for men as well. Instead, you target women only as if men would not appreiciate this. That is what is hard to understand.

Mr Awe

 

[Lindley]

I think you need to stop taking other people's opinions so personally.

What part of being called a professional whinger was I not supposed to take personally?

The part where it's a joke.

D'ya see the irony here?

 

[Hermiod]

I think you need to stop taking other people's opinions so personally.

What part of being called a professional whinger was I not supposed to take personally?

The part where it's a joke.

D'ya see the irony here?

Not coming from who it came from, no.

 

[Mr Awe]

science disagrees, actually.

No, it doesn't. There's some sort of scientific test that shows that women like to go the nail salon and wear high heels? Really?

male and female brains are demonstrably, physically different. infant male MONKEYS prefer toy trucks whereas infant female monkey prefer dolls. is that social conditioning?

Ah geez. My 4 year old daughter (human, BTW), prefers trucks over dolls. She always has. One of her very first words was "bulldozer," although she could only say "bull-do" at the time. So, where does that leave things? It varies from person to person and there is no innate, born attraction to trucks. Give me a freaking break!

Mr Awe

 

[kimc]

No, it doesn't. There's some sort of scientific test that shows that women like to go the nail salon and wear high heels? Really?

male and female brains are demonstrably, physically different. infant male MONKEYS prefer toy trucks whereas infant female monkey prefer dolls. is that social conditioning?

Ah geez. My 4 year old daughter (human, BTW), prefers trucks over dolls. She always has. One of her very first words was "bulldozer," although she could only say "bull-do" at the time. So, where does that leave things? It varies from person to person and there is no innate, born attraction to trucks. Give me a freaking break!

Mr Awe

I had both trucks and dolls as a child. I wear high heels and work as a software developer. I think it's charming and sexy if a guy offers me a seat or his jacket if I'm cold. That has less to do with intelligence or ability on my part but more to do with the laws of attraction.

If I had the choice between spending the evening with a drop-dead gorgeous guy who was a jerk and an average-looking guy who was kind and thoughtful I would go with the latter. Most of us women (there are ALWAYS exceptions to everything) are wired like that.

 

[Mr Awe]

When the fuck did this become about what someone deserves or doesn't deserve? It's about doing something just because it's NICE and is the right thing to do.

This is a most amusing thread!

I've got one point for you. If it's the good and nice thing to do, and that's the reason you're doing it, do it for both genders.

Mr Awe

 

[Pingfah]

If I had the choice between spending the evening with a drop-dead gorgeous guy who was a jerk and an average-looking guy who was kind and thoughtful I would go with the latter. Most of us women (there are ALWAYS exceptions to everything) are wired like that.

Being a jerk has always worked for me

 

[Holdfast]

Funniest thread in ages.

Just back off the directly personal jabs, or a mod will end up having to throw warnings around and eventually lock it, and I want to be able to keep laughing a bit longer.

Wow, did this thread just get napalmed or what?

"It smells like...chivalry."

Agent Orange never looked so good.

 

[An Officer]

When Flux says he prefers to stand from the very beginning sometimes, so that others can sit in comfort... both sexes can benefit from this. It's not like he goes round hogging seats in order to only give them up for women, because he has an acute vendetta against men! Talk about blowing things out of proportion... but hey, it's the local sport here.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

I don't do it for guys because I hold a different/higher level of respect for women than I do men. I suppose its a biological part of being straight in combination of how I was raised.

 

[Mr Awe]

To the OP, I think able bodied women are perfectly as capable of standing as men. If either person had been eldlerly or handicapped, yeah, the other should've yielded the seat. In this day and age, there is no preferential treatment for a gender in every day interactions. If you're dating a woman, sure, treat her extra nice.

But, with your attitude (which I know you mean with the best of intentions) you're basically suggesting that women are not capable of standing, that they're handicaped in some manner and need extra help by virtue of their gender.

Mr Awe

I don't think he's saying that at all, Mr. Awe. I certainly think women are capable of standing and yet I'd offer up my seat for a woman. Doing something nice for the opposite sex doesn't mean they're less capable or important. It really doesn't.

There's one point that covers this whole thread. I'll repeat.

If it's such a kind, nice, decent thing, do it for both genders. If you're only doing it for one gender, it's immediately suspect. Such is life in the 21st century with equality.

I'll take the OP at his word that he means it with the best of intentions, that he's not after anything, etc. But, really, if it's the nice thing to, then do it for everyone, not just half the people based on an arbitrary distinction. Yes, gender is arbitrary when it comes to sitting down on the bus, or holding the door, etc.

If the OP wants to continue, well, there's nothing really terrible about it I suppose. But, just don't be so frigging self-congratulatory!

Mr Awe

 

[TheLonelySquire]

It's not about whether they can or can't. It's about doing something nice and polite. It's a tradition and it's being a gentleman. Why is this so hard to understand?

If it's nice and polite for women, then it is nice and polite for men as well. Instead, you target women only as if men would not appreiciate this. That is what is hard to understand.

Mr Awe

Men and women are inherently different and there are traditional ways of expressing courtesy to them. This is simply one of them. It's not meant to imply women are any less valuable or capable than men are. It also doesn;t mean you're less of a man if you don't extend the courtesy. It simply means your less courteous toward women in this particular regard.

Men and women are different. Thank God.

***Sorry, didn't see your immediate post above this one. I for one am not the least bit concerned with political correctness. I think it's stupid. Just saying... I do agree that doing something like this should not be a self-promoting venture though and I don't think the OP is making it out to be.***

 

[Mr Awe]

I don't do it for guys because I hold a different/higher level of respect for women than I do men. I suppose its a biological part of being straight in combination of how I was raised.

Sorry, but I disagree. If it's kind for one gender, then it's kind for both. You're applying an arbitrary distinction.

I won't belittle you for it because, as I said, I'll take you at your word that you're doing it out of kindness. I just think you're applying an arbitrary distinction.

Mr Awe

 

[Hermiod]

I don't do it for guys because I hold a different/higher level of respect for women than I do men. I suppose its a biological part of being straight in combination of how I was raised.

That's the problem, though. You are doing what you and many others say men should not do - you are putting women on a pedestal and based on what? Tradition? Upbringing? Because you're straight?

 

[Mr Awe]

It's not about whether they can or can't. It's about doing something nice and polite. It's a tradition and it's being a gentleman. Why is this so hard to understand?

If it's nice and polite for women, then it is nice and polite for men as well. Instead, you target women only as if men would not appreiciate this. That is what is hard to understand.

Mr Awe

Men and women are inherently different and there are traditional ways of expressing courtesy to them. This is simply one of them. It's not meant to imply women are any less valuable or capable than men are. It also doesn;t mean you're less of a man if you don't extend the courtesy. It simply means your less courteous toward women in this particular regard.

Men and women are different. Thank God.

Believe me, I *enjoy* those differences greatly!

Again, I'll really take you at your word that it's meant with the best intentions. I disagree with using arbitrary distinctions/criteria for whom you'll be kind.

Mr Awe

 

[TheLonelySquire]

If it's nice and polite for women, then it is nice and polite for men as well. Instead, you target women only as if men would not appreiciate this. That is what is hard to understand.

Mr Awe

Men and women are inherently different and there are traditional ways of expressing courtesy to them. This is simply one of them. It's not meant to imply women are any less valuable or capable than men are. It also doesn;t mean you're less of a man if you don't extend the courtesy. It simply means your less courteous toward women in this particular regard.

Men and women are different. Thank God.

Believe me, I *enjoy* those differences greatly!

Again, I'll really take you at your word that it's meant with the best intentions. I disagree with using arbitrary distinctions/criteria for whom you'll be kind.

Mr Awe

No problem bud.