General Discussion

riverbendviewgal

(4,396 posts)

56. I do

Sun Jan 27, 2013, 02:32 PM

Jan 2013

Many American men define their masculinity in sports and as spectators of them. Remember in Rome the Colosseum was the circus for the masses. That is what is America today.

Now many American woman define their femininity through their movie/tv/magazine mold of beautiful women.

I just wish that there would be as much money pumped into education and the glorification of being a doctor/nurse/teacher/ policeman/fireman /scientist.
There is no encouragement and money to educate kids. Some states want to discourage cognitive thinking. Everything is dumbed down.

Instead there are beauty contests and sports which are glorified and scholarships and prizes given to the best looking and best playing. and what is galling is that actual criminal offenses are overlooked, as in the football players who rape women/girls. I is all about the individual being better than the whole.

Just today in the NYT there is an article about how guns are being pushed on kids...Bushmasters are being advertised for kids to ask for at Christmas.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/us/selling-a-new-generation-on-guns.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130127&_r=1&pagewanted=all&

America is getting more sick each day...it seems as the decay of the Roman empire is upon the American nation. My history teacher always said that Empires implode from corruption and lack of education..

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Do you agree with Bill Maher's mockery of American masculinity? I think US gun culture is degenerate [View all] MightyMopar Jan 2013 OP

It isn't only men, but whatever. I liked this quote: Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #1

I think one of the degenerate forms of expression is muscle cars ProgressiveProfessor Jan 2013 #2

I personally think that needlessly long words are the worst offense mn9driver Jan 2013 #5

Personally - Needlessly - Everything... lame54 Jan 2013 #19

Ha! ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jan 2013 #72

Muscle car owners love guns too. What does that tell you? Hoyt Jan 2013 #7

I suggest you ask the OP, that is his thing, not mine ProgressiveProfessor Jan 2013 #25

No they don't. Mine is a mustang junky. glowing Jan 2013 #62

72 Pontiac formula 400 with side pipe mufflers madrchsod Jan 2013 #81

It really burns our phony "professor" that his deadly little pro-NRA hobby gets questioning apocalypsehow Jan 2013 #87

Hey, I own one of those fully restored muscle cars. nick of time Jan 2013 #8

Got your goat? BTW, a Mopar can get very good gas mileage like this new 40 mpg Dart MightyMopar Jan 2013 #11

Your fan boi mentality is clear ProgressiveProfessor Jan 2013 #24

Looks like Mopar has gained now that it is a FIAT Hangingon Jan 2013 #74

actually chrysler`s us profits bailed out fiat`s european operations madrchsod Jan 2013 #82

i really would like to own a dart madrchsod Jan 2013 #78

Stupid men with their guns, penises, football, and cars... NightWatcher Jan 2013 #14

I'm a male that doesn't find entertainment in sports... EastKYLiberal Jan 2013 #18

Football is like a metaphor for war. Here's George Carlin's take MightyMopar Jan 2013 #21

What he said..... Th1onein Jan 2013 #85

I do think a lot of fans think football is like war NewJeffCT Jan 2013 #117

Thank god! smirkymonkey Jan 2013 #27

But the theory that men in America (generally) lack bravery mindwalker_i Jan 2013 #70

Some people just admire and appreciate excellent engineering. Flatulo Jan 2013 #35

Last I check, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, etc are not the muscle cars fan bois drool over ProgressiveProfessor Jan 2013 #37

Oh, there's a lot of fan boi-ism over these brands. You'd be surprised how heated the discussions Flatulo Jan 2013 #38

But that is not the same as muscle car fanbois... ProgressiveProfessor Jan 2013 #42

Yeah, I think I know the type. When I was a kid, the car to have was the Plymouth Roadrunner. Flatulo Jan 2013 #50

I've noticed a lot of RBKAer types were bullied and retreat into gun extremism MightyMopar Jan 2013 #94

I grew up in a semi-rural area outside Boston. Every family had guns, and most kids had a .22 Flatulo Jan 2013 #98

Car enthusiasts never theathened their opponents children like the RBKA crowd does MightyMopar Jan 2013 #99

Most muscle car types I have known were good ole boys with historical ties to guys who wore white ProgressiveProfessor Jan 2013 #103

What if your muscle car gets 89 mpg? MightyMopar Jan 2013 #106

I have a childhood friend who can't stop talking about the Prius's he and his wife drive, and how cherokeeprogressive Jan 2013 #43

At least they are talking about something positive Aerows Jan 2013 #112

My mother refers to (classic) muscle car owners Dawson Leery Jan 2013 #65

You're *STILL* not really fooling anybody, know it, "professor"?* apocalypsehow Jan 2013 #86

I smell fungus ProgressiveProfessor Jan 2013 #90

Your concern is noted. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #91

As the owner of several guns AND several muscle cars, I can't decide which of you is the bigger tool Throd Jan 2013 #93

Two posts in, and you manage to turn the debate from guns to cars. bluedigger Jan 2013 #110

Cars have a purpose Aerows Jan 2013 #113

I imagine the one of the quickest things we often do when our sacred cow is attacked LanternWaste Jan 2013 #118

The US military budget has little to do with masculinity. mn9driver Jan 2013 #3

And the ability and need of our elected officials SQUEE Jan 2013 #4

In Ventura County, CA, thousands work at the local base. That and local government LibDemAlways Jan 2013 #15

There are actually a couple there, Point Mugu and Port Hueneme ProgressiveProfessor Jan 2013 #28

Yep, the joint bases are the largest single employer in the county. LibDemAlways Jan 2013 #52

Plenty of men exhibit their masculinity vicariously via chickenhawkism Odin2005 Jan 2013 #44

A woman I used to know Confusious Jan 2013 #102

The military and the contractors who feed it are LibDemAlways Jan 2013 #6

So continuation of a war machine, with our tax dollars, and the blood of our children SQUEE Jan 2013 #9

I don't like it any more than you. It's like a cancer that has LibDemAlways Jan 2013 #17

However, it can be reduced slowly over time by attrition ProgressiveProfessor Jan 2013 #30

Precisely n/t Still Sensible Jan 2013 #63

It's our culture, not our gender. bemildred Jan 2013 #10

good points - I agree nt Tumbulu Jan 2013 #54

Hey. bemildred Jan 2013 #59

Thanks! Hey back! Tumbulu Jan 2013 #73

Exactly. Thank you. n/t lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #92

It's not just men. Our whole culture is a 13-yr-old boy. DirkGently Jan 2013 #12

+10.000 smirkymonkey Jan 2013 #29

Maher always thinks outside the box. His hypothesis, that men have been neutered Laura PourMeADrink Jan 2013 #13

Yes, well, his misogyny is well documented, so I'm not surprised at the "neutering" BS whathehell Jan 2013 #33

I think you are right about his personal issues with women for sure. Laura PourMeADrink Jan 2013 #71

I remember tons of wannabe Rambos popping up in the '80s pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #16

I noticed it after 9/11 too. All of the camouflage gear men were wearing, like they had just finished RKP5637 Jan 2013 #64

I think we live in a bully culture. In basketball it isnt "have a competitive game" but rhett o rick Jan 2013 #20

I generally agree FlaGranny Jan 2013 #36

I agree that it was tougher in the past but today it's all about domination. rhett o rick Jan 2013 #45

How does a referee in ANY sport "reward" a participant, especially in basketball? cherokeeprogressive Jan 2013 #47

If you were to stand within two feet of Michael Jordon going to the basket rhett o rick Jan 2013 #80

LOL, "I haven't watched a game since 1992, but I'm gonna tell you EVERYTHING I don't like about it"! Moses2SandyKoufax Jan 2013 #89

Can you spell intellectual dishonesty? rhett o rick Jan 2013 #95

I didn't refute what you said Moses2SandyKoufax Jan 2013 #97

Good job. Play the race card and shut off the discussion. You totally missed my original point rhett o rick Jan 2013 #104

I think I'd have to agree. Marr Jan 2013 #122

Yes and they called it the "Dream Team" and we bullied the other teams. In fact rhett o rick Jan 2013 #123

I liked this clip and was amused at some comments I saw on Facebook. logosoco Jan 2013 #22

he's right samsingh Jan 2013 #23

It's all about $$$$$ and the MIC. Weapons, war and deaths are big money and the MIC loves lots of RKP5637 Jan 2013 #26

right. another conspiracy. it cant be that most american males out there are really large babies pasto76 Jan 2013 #48

Quite true, particularly your last sentence! RKP5637 Jan 2013 #57

That was so right on. I find that there are very few real men out there. smirkymonkey Jan 2013 #31

C'mon... give us something to aspire to. cherokeeprogressive Jan 2013 #55

Someone who is just completely himself without all the macho posturing and smirkymonkey Jan 2013 #76

I think that "gun culture" has the same status as "gangster culture" or "drug culture". Igel Jan 2013 #32

Don't these same republicans tell us this is how Ronald Reagan defeated the Soviet Union? sadbear Jan 2013 #34

It is exactly what we are doing now... Kalidurga Jan 2013 #60

BillMaherFanHere jbone45 Jan 2013 #39

Maher is a wanker. JoeyT Jan 2013 #40

These "men" have the emotional maturity of a 12yo boy. Odin2005 Jan 2013 #41

right on. basic respect has been largely lost pasto76 Jan 2013 #51

I think it starts with folks born in the 30s. Odin2005 Jan 2013 #68

Creepy gun fetishists abound. Arugula Latte Jan 2013 #46

not just US! Everywhere... Duppers Jan 2013 #49

Americans are quite primitive in this respect. Dawson Leery Jan 2013 #53

I do riverbendviewgal Jan 2013 #56

In all fariness DonCoquixote Jan 2013 #88

In all fairness riverbendviewgal Jan 2013 #100

I normally like you DonCoquixote Jan 2013 #107

i know we can get very enthusiastic with our sports riverbendviewgal Jan 2013 #109

Yes. And I don't need a gun to "prove" that I am a man. amb123 Jan 2013 #58

Part of it is the post-WWII "We're king of the World" mentality.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2013 #61

I agree, but I think more of it is the aftermath of that. We USED to be king of the world. Now Squinch Jan 2013 #77

The government got women on board during the Cold War through the myth of breeding camps. Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2013 #83

What is that? Squinch Jan 2013 #108

There was a myth the government put out that when the Soviets rolled in,... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2013 #114

Interesting, but I don't think that's an equivalent. It would have to be something women are Squinch Jan 2013 #119

These guys are obsessed with Americas virility.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2013 #120

More bullshit sexist drivel from Maher. MadrasT Jan 2013 #66

I loved Maher's closing segment! bvar22 Jan 2013 #67

Yes. n/t whatchamacallit Jan 2013 #69

what's wrong with serious locks and alarms? probably cheaper than guns farminator3000 Jan 2013 #75

I could not agree more. forestpath Jan 2013 #79

What "sick degenerate culture"? Warren DeMontague Jan 2013 #84

This is when you point out to those who think that media has no Skidmore Jan 2013 #96

This country has been conditioned from cradle to grave WHEN CRABS ROAR Jan 2013 #101

Maher is right except about the WAR budget. That's just THIEVES stealing money from the Treasury. nt valerief Jan 2013 #105

He's right on Aerows Jan 2013 #111

There are plenty of other cultures that love their sports NewJeffCT Jan 2013 #115

He was spot on Taverner Jan 2013 #116

Yup. He's the closest thing we have to a pop-culture genius. Smarmie Doofus Jan 2013 #121