stupid old b*st8rd [angry]

[Mud]

was watching DS in his movement class (for 3 to 4 year olds) today, 50 or so year old bloke was watching his grand-daughter who was new to the class

the kids were all being great, throwing back the ball whilst balancing on a beam, but once the ball had passed them they got a bit silly throwing themselves backwards off the beam and making funny noises (like boys do)

so old bloke turns to me and says 'boys are really different aren't they'

I said yes, because they are really, I do believe that. I think I made some joke like 'slugs and snails and puppy dog tails'

anyway, my friend walks up (she also has a boy in the class) old bloke leans over and goes 'boys are really thick aren't they' WTF?

[Amanda3266]

A life of being told he's useless maybe. Agree - totally uncalled for.

[Freckle]

Presumably that includes him......

[Mud]

yes but he seemed to do it whilst intimating how fantastic his grand-daughter (a girl) was, didn't seem to be male self-depracating at all

[Freckle]

Some old g/father said something similar at the boys' swimming lessons. Going on about how great his g/daughter was and how "she's beating all the boys and really showing them". I just said mildly that, yes she was doing quite well, but I didn't realise it was a competition.

[Mud]

is it just me or is there this backlash that is designed to put boys down, because girls have been undervalued for so many generations

I really don't believe girls are undervalued any more (at least not in the main British culture) but I really feel that boys are and that all of their differences are seen as negatives

boisterous, challenging, physical etc

it makes me

[Amanda3266]

Very sad Mud. I am so determined that my darling boy will know his own worth. Don't ever want him to feel undervalued or useless - spend all my time telling him how special he is and I give him lots of love and affection. Just hope that he will feel more secure as a result.

The attitude to men and boys is awful now. I get so cross when I see those "aren't men stupid" ads about washing powder etc. They'd never get away with it if it was a woman being joked about.

[Ags]

Totally agree with you Amanda. Some of the ads on TV would be banned if they were about women. Particularily bad is that one about the fajitas where the bloke is making his other half a fajita and she is talking on the phone about how it might kill her. She is so disparaging to him that I want to shout at the TV every time it comes on.

Want my gorgeous boy to be secure and happy with himself and don't like this turn the media seems to have taken.

Women don't need to be made to feel strong by having men made small. Us women are valuable and strong and so are men.

[acnebride]

Agree with you about that ad Ags. I really want the Equal Opportunities commission to make a version where he chucks the other half of the fajita in her lap and spells out 'you're dumped' in tabasco sauce on the table.

[Ags]

I like your thinking Acnebride! You NEED a job in advertising to redress the balance!!!