Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!ucbvax!decwrl!dyer@vaxuum.DEC (This did not happen to/Pablo Picasso) From: dyer@vaxuum.DEC (This did not happen to/Pablo Picasso) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Saying It Nicely Message-ID: <130@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Fri, 23-Aug-85 17:39:05 EDT Article-I.D.: decwrl.130 Posted: Fri Aug 23 17:39:05 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 25-Aug-85 00:45:51 EDT Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation Lines: 39 Saying It Nicely________________________________________________________________ > What I have repeatedly tried to point out in this forum, is that some "mascu- > line" behavior patterns are less than desirable in the context of society. I basically agree, though I'd put it slightly different: The sexist attitudes that hold so-called "masculine" traits as (1) innately male, and (2) more valuable than the so-called "feminine" traits has thrown our society into a dangerous state of imbalance. Every human has the capacity for all of these traits, and to restrict one's experience to a certain constellation of traits that one's society deems appropriate for one's sex is to miss out on one's full potential. But that's not what I'm writing this article for. The above-quoted sentence was written by a netter whose articles have been perceived by many as anti-male. It is my opinion that these perceptions are derived from the fact that said articles would say things like "men do," or "men are ." The use of the word "men" is ambiguous. Does it mean *some* men or does it mean *all* men? The ambiguity is likely to lead to somebody being offended on grounds of sexism. I suggest that those who write to this newsgroup refrain from making statements like "men {do|are} ." Refer, instead, to "some men" (or, if applicable, "most men"). If you're not talking about men, but rather "mascu- linity," write about that, not about men. Men like themselves, working hard to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem, would appreciate it very much. <_Jym_> :::::::::::::::: Jym Dyer ::::' :: `:::: Dracut, Massachusetts ::' :: `:: :: :: :: DYER%VAXUUM.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA :: .::::. :: {allegra|decvax|ihnp4|ucbvax}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-vaxuum!dyer ::..:' :: `:..:: ::::. :: .:::: Statements made in this article are my own; they might not :::::::::::::::: reflect the views of |d|i|g|i|t|a|l| Equipment Corporation.