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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Why is it always men?

207 replies

bobcat2424 · 17/10/2023 12:37

I think IABU, I hope so but it seems as though every single news story, every horrible brutality; wars, murders, rape, abuse... in the very large part of it seems to be caused by men. Am I wrong to think this?

OP posts:
GilChesterton13 · 17/10/2023 22:06

Forgive my ignorance here, and sorry if i'm wrong, but did Thatcher not start the Falklands?

Think it depends who you ask regarding 'starting' it - Argentina's invasion was the inciting incident, but Thatcher was an extremely belligerent war leader (which some give her great credit for).

Chickenkeev · 17/10/2023 22:06

Isometimeswonder · 17/10/2023 21:58

Lucy letby

Is one of a very very small number of female serial killers. And even outside of that fact, the vast majority of murders are committed by men. Referencing one particularly depraved individual who happened to be female is of no relevance at all. The bald fact of it is, men kill much, much more than women. So chucking LL in there is pointless if you're attempting to say women are as bad as men in this regard. It is simply, demonstrably not true.

Fionaville · 17/10/2023 22:05

GilChesterton13 · 17/10/2023 21:39

Well no, they aren't good examples, but then they didn't start any wars either.

If you deindustrialise Britain's regions, devastate employment opportunities for a generatoon, and tank the UK economy you've probably done enough damage without starting a war.

I'm definitely no fan of the female PMs we've had. They are all products of a male dominated political world though. We're obviously only the most rancid of females can get through to the very top. That's my take on it.

Fionaville · 17/10/2023 22:03

Chickenkeev · 17/10/2023 21:41

Forgive my ignorance here, and sorry if i'm wrong, but did Thatcher not start the Falklands?

You're quite right, I only had May and Truss in mind.

Isometimeswonder · 17/10/2023 21:58

Lucy letby

Winnipeggy · 17/10/2023 21:54

Catza · 17/10/2023 13:01

It's not always men. There a re a lot of domestic abuse cases where the perpetrator is a woman. Men are typically reluctant to come forward in these situations which skews the stats.
Plenty of female murderers as well - see recent news story about Lucy Letby, for example. Beverly Allit, Aileen Wournos, Juana Barraza...
Plenty of terror acts in which women were active participants as well as women being perpetrators of sexual assault.
The news don't always show the full picture. If you can get a hold of official crime statistics, you may find that it is not quite so clear cut.

Aileen Wuornos committed murder in 1989....how many male murderers do you think have been convicted since then?

Chickenkeev · 17/10/2023 21:41

Forgive my ignorance here, and sorry if i'm wrong, but did Thatcher not start the Falklands?

GilChesterton13 · 17/10/2023 21:39

Well no, they aren't good examples, but then they didn't start any wars either.

If you deindustrialise Britain's regions, devastate employment opportunities for a generatoon, and tank the UK economy you've probably done enough damage without starting a war.

littleripper · 17/10/2023 21:31

Not all men are like that, but almost everyone like that is a man

Fionaville · 17/10/2023 21:25

GilChesterton13 · 17/10/2023 19:56

My DH says to our son and daughter that the world would be a better place if women ruled it. I think most reasonable men who watched the news would agree.

Sadly, the female prime ministers we have had do not remotely support this statement.

Well no, they aren't good examples, but then they didn't start any wars either.

Fionaville · 17/10/2023 21:22

Balloonhearts · 17/10/2023 19:42

I was bullied from year 6 to 12. The boys were arseholes and nasty but it was the girls who were worse. It was the girls who trapped me in a toilet cubical and threw piss over the door at me. It was the girls who beat me up on my way home, pushed me in the road in front of a car and spat on me. The boys were rude and called me names but it was the girls who were vicious, violent and brutal. I have been left with a deep distrust of women which will never leave me.

The men in my life, on contrast have been straightforward and honest relationships. I have some great friends who I've had since college and my therapist is the gentlest person, I trust him totally.

So no, I don't think its always men.

I'm sorry that happened to you. But you are comparing apples and pears. We're not talking about teenagers or children and girls versus boys. I dont disagree that teenage girls can be vicious bullies (on a side note though, its boys who are more likely to stab somebody to death) But adult actions. Mens actions specifically and how they are the group most likely to kill, rape and start wars that kill thousands, millions even.

Chickenkeev · 17/10/2023 21:12

CurlewKate · 17/10/2023 20:52

"My DH says to our son and daughter that the world would be a better place if women ruled it."
I know that this is meant well. But it's incredibly simplistic. Maybe it's true. So why aren't men either trying to make it happen or trying to make men better!!

I remeber doing something in college though, that said pretty much this. It was economics or accountancy or something, but the jist was that generally speaking, women tend to be more measured and essentially less trigger happy and aggressive. Resulting in fewer wars. So it's not entirely without merit (although obviously nuanced).

CurlewKate · 17/10/2023 20:52

"My DH says to our son and daughter that the world would be a better place if women ruled it."
I know that this is meant well. But it's incredibly simplistic. Maybe it's true. So why aren't men either trying to make it happen or trying to make men better!!

Lolasgame · 17/10/2023 20:50

CurlewKate · 17/10/2023 20:48

@Lolasgame "I will always blame boy mums for perpetuating this. They keep the toxic going and can’t see they’re doing a dangerous disservice to daughters "

I never understand this. Why not blame boy dads? They are the people who are modelling being a man to their sons!

I would if it was the dads who I see coddling and making excuses for their sons.

CurlewKate · 17/10/2023 20:48

@Lolasgame "I will always blame boy mums for perpetuating this. They keep the toxic going and can’t see they’re doing a dangerous disservice to daughters "

I never understand this. Why not blame boy dads? They are the people who are modelling being a man to their sons!

GilChesterton13 · 17/10/2023 20:38

Sadly, the three prime ministers our country have ever had have been surrounded by totally incompetent but unfathomably powerful men

The last two were also supported by remarkably incompetent women as well.

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Circumferences · 17/10/2023 20:32

GilChesterton13 · 17/10/2023 19:56

My DH says to our son and daughter that the world would be a better place if women ruled it. I think most reasonable men who watched the news would agree.

Sadly, the female prime ministers we have had do not remotely support this statement.

Sadly, the three prime ministers our country have ever had have been surrounded by totally incompetent but unfathomably powerful men...

Lolasgame · 17/10/2023 20:26

BloominFlower · 17/10/2023 19:56

This is the final post I’ll make on this thread as I feel as though I’ve said what I’ve needed to and the thread will only divulge into more complaining.

Some comments are fair enough, I sort of disagree @Chickenkeev but again I think we’re seeing it from different perspectives. I’m not saying we should be on our hands and knees worshipping men for doing basic things, I’m saying as a society we need to be more appreciative of people in general, that’s why I said it’s gone beyond sex at this point. and I don’t believe it’s harmful to be kind to men or people in general, it’s a bit silly to assume that men will get angry if they do something without appreciation because if they did, then they wouldn’t be good men.

@Lolasgame personally I find that extremely disheartening to read. I recommend taking a step back from social media or at least this thread as it is getting out of hand. How is saying thank you to my son ‘toxic’? That’s a rhetorical question. I’m not calling you horrible or anything, but please just reflect on your stance and ask whether it’s fair to say something like that.

Teach your sons and daughters good role models, whether those be fictional or real (My son loves watching old bob ross videos), teach them to be appreciative of their life and themselves, keep them away from harmful things like pornography. and let’s hope that the next generation of men can be better than the previous, and the one after that and so on.

Not once did I say, saying thanks to your son is toxic. I’m talking about the mums treating their sons with kid gloves etc making excuses for their sons etc.

The amount of times I’ve heard boy mums on here defending their ‘not my little Jonny he’s a perfect Angel/good boy etc.

Well, my daughter, nieces, friends daughters have to attend school/ride the bus/walk down the street minding their business, with all the ‘perfect little jonnies’ and lets just say most of them are entitled abusive little arseholes. I actually think that with the rise of the Andrew Tate’s of the world, misogyny will be worse than ever when these young men are fully fledged adults. I really fear for young women and girls.

Not sure what my social media habits have to do with anything, I’m an adult with lived experiences, I don’t need to go by strangers accounts of life on the internet.

My daughter likes bob ross too, sadly a lot of teens would think they’re too cool for that these days.

GilChesterton13 · 17/10/2023 19:56

My DH says to our son and daughter that the world would be a better place if women ruled it. I think most reasonable men who watched the news would agree.

Sadly, the female prime ministers we have had do not remotely support this statement.

BloominFlower · 17/10/2023 19:56

This is the final post I’ll make on this thread as I feel as though I’ve said what I’ve needed to and the thread will only divulge into more complaining.

Some comments are fair enough, I sort of disagree @Chickenkeev but again I think we’re seeing it from different perspectives. I’m not saying we should be on our hands and knees worshipping men for doing basic things, I’m saying as a society we need to be more appreciative of people in general, that’s why I said it’s gone beyond sex at this point. and I don’t believe it’s harmful to be kind to men or people in general, it’s a bit silly to assume that men will get angry if they do something without appreciation because if they did, then they wouldn’t be good men.

@Lolasgame personally I find that extremely disheartening to read. I recommend taking a step back from social media or at least this thread as it is getting out of hand. How is saying thank you to my son ‘toxic’? That’s a rhetorical question. I’m not calling you horrible or anything, but please just reflect on your stance and ask whether it’s fair to say something like that.

Teach your sons and daughters good role models, whether those be fictional or real (My son loves watching old bob ross videos), teach them to be appreciative of their life and themselves, keep them away from harmful things like pornography. and let’s hope that the next generation of men can be better than the previous, and the one after that and so on.

MollyMarples · 17/10/2023 19:54

It’s 97% men. But we’re all supposed to pretend it’s because they’re Muslims or Jews or black or white or supremacist. They’re men. That’s what they all have in common.

MiddleSaged · 17/10/2023 19:47

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 17/10/2023 18:00

Lucy Letby

Now list all the men who murdered someone during the same timeframe in which she was committing her crimes.

PurpleFlower1983 · 17/10/2023 19:43

YANBU, it’s mostly men and that’s an undeniable fact.

Balloonhearts · 17/10/2023 19:42

I was bullied from year 6 to 12. The boys were arseholes and nasty but it was the girls who were worse. It was the girls who trapped me in a toilet cubical and threw piss over the door at me. It was the girls who beat me up on my way home, pushed me in the road in front of a car and spat on me. The boys were rude and called me names but it was the girls who were vicious, violent and brutal. I have been left with a deep distrust of women which will never leave me.

The men in my life, on contrast have been straightforward and honest relationships. I have some great friends who I've had since college and my therapist is the gentlest person, I trust him totally.

So no, I don't think its always men.

Lolasgame · 17/10/2023 19:40

Chickenkeev · 17/10/2023 18:51

Because why on earth should they be applauded for doing the basics of adulting any more than women are (which is not at all!). I'd go so far as to say that this approach is hugely damaging, in that there could be serious consequences when a man doesn't receive gushing praise for doing normal adulting. Good men should be respected. Praise is at the discretion of the preson giving it. It should not be expected or needed to keep the man 'civillised'.

I will always blame boy mums for perpetuating this. They keep the toxic going and can’t see they’re doing a dangerous disservice to daughters everywhere.