About 'International Men's Day'

[ZoeTurtle]

I've just been informed by a colleague that it's International Men's Day. According to their website:

It is an occasion for men to celebrate their achievements and contributions, in particular their contributions to community, family, marriage, and child care while highlighting the discrimination against them.

AIBU to think this is MRA bollocks or is there a big problem of "discrimination against men" that we should be highlighting?

[vvviola]

The only thing that I've heard about it (radio this morning and Twitter) is it being used as a starting point to talk about men's mental health, and particularly suicide. Which can only be a good thing.

[SuburbanRhonda]

This has to be a spoof, surely?

I always thought that in return for International Women's Day, men got the other 364 days, or was I wrong about that?

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

Tbh if you can have International Cat Day, Dog Day etc I don't see any harm in International Men's Day.

[chibsortig]

Surely if we have international womens day its only fair to have international mens day?

[SoupDragon]

Who gives a shit?

On that note, it is apparently International Toilet Day today, raising awareness of sanitation in developing countries.

[howtorebuild]

When is international cat day?

[PuntasticUsername]

But it's worth having it, just for this: www.telegraph.co.uk/comedy/comedians/richard-herring-spends-international-womens-day-fighting-sexism/

[bobbywash]

I think if it talks about the appropriate issues then its a good thing ie why boys are doing worse at school. Why men are more prone to suicide, why men are more likely to die of cancer.

If it's a celebration of "why men are so great" then IMHO it's a waste. I'm not even sure where this comes from or when it started, but it seems a recent thing to me.

[Helmetbymidnight]

I think it's ok - women are always being criticised for not campaigning on behalf of men's issues. Let the men do it themselves...

[abbieanders]

Surely if we have international womens day its only fair to have international mens day?

The classic "why no white history month" gambit.

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

ICD is 8th August I think.

MilkHousehold Cat Day is every fricking day.

[Birdsgottafly]

The Patriarchy certainly didn't do WC men any favours when it came to quality of family life.

Unfortunately it generally isn't recognised who was to blame for that.

I worked for SS, fathers would be overlooked and ignored when looking to place a child.

It's better now, but there's still a discrepancy.

I was watching the debate around Ken Livingston using Corbyn's Depression as an insult.

If this does focus on Men's role in the family and MH issues, then that's a move in the right direction.

[chibsortig]

Cats are selfish enough without having an entire day devoted to them cant it be changed to international cat hour?
My cat may get ideas above his station otherwise.

[Screaminlikeabanshee]

I don't mind really. Its what they do with that more concerns me. Are they discussing being more proactive in the home? taking on more day to day childcare responsibilities? are they debating why men abuse women and ways of dealing with such men through policy change? are they pulling each other up on extra marital affairs, pledging to be faithful to their wives and building happy homes for their children? are they discussing why men abandon their children so often and what they should do about it ….if they are doing all this then i'm all for International men's day.

[howtorebuild]

Here have my first on behalf of my cat.

[patterkiller]

why boys are doing worse at school yet men do better at work without having to work their arse off at school. Privileged by birth.

[Birdsgottafly]

Also, this is International, all of the analysis around how to stop young Muslim Men being Radicalised has included ensuring good self esteem and worth, by positive means (as well as education/financial opportunities).

Life isn't equal across Europe, let alone the World.

[Birdsgottafly]

""My cat may get ideas above his station otherwise""

It's impossible for Cats to get ideas above their station, by definition of being a Cat.

[SoupDragon]

Are they discussing being more proactive in the home? taking on more day to day childcare responsibilities? are they debating why men abuse women and ways of dealing with such men through policy change? are they pulling each other up on extra marital affairs, pledging to be faithful to their wives and building happy homes for their children? are they discussing why men abandon their children so often and what they should do about it ….if they are doing all this then i'm all for International men's day.

Yeah, fuck any issues about male physical and mental health etc, right?

[MephistophelesApprentice]

Are they discussing being more proactive in the home? taking on more day to day childcare responsibilities? are they debating why men abuse women and ways of dealing with such men through policy change? are they pulling each other up on extra marital affairs, pledging to be faithful to their wives and building happy homes for their children? are they discussing why men abandon their children so often and what they should do about it ….if they are doing all this then i'm all for International men's day.

International mens day, which men can spend thinking about women. Hmm.

[Whattheydonttellyou]

Erm.... Soupdragon, sorry to point out the obvious, but men's physical and mental health would improve if they were do accomplish what Scream suggested!

Marriage, apparently, is better for men than women with regards mental and physical health.

[MissFitt68]

So much scathing hatred towards men

Plenty of decent dads have to fight through the courts to just have a few hours a fortnight with their kids. Contact blocking women flock to forums ( have seen it here many times) with ideas on how to erase the (non abusive) father out of their kids lives. Shocking

[howtorebuild]

yep evil ex wife blocking contact for no reason. -> yawn

[Shirtsleeves]

Men are far more likely to commit suicide and are under represented in some areas of the MH service. I'm glad they are doing something to highlight this.

[TerryTylerlikesaTiger]

I'm placemaking for the cat discussions