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Original poster

BoysToys

436 replies

SlowFJH · 13/02/2016 11:37

We have two boys and a girl (all now teenagers). My daughter was never into dolls and never really liked pink. She was into arts and crafts and loves knitting and sowing. The boys were completely stereotypical (plastic and wooden swords, guns, cars, diggers and tractors, soldiers etc).

We have good feminist friends (with three boys) who banned violent toys for boys. They always gave us the cat's bum face when they visited ours because their boys used to absolutely love playing with my sons' swords and shields. When we went out it for a walk, every stick they found was a gun - despite their parents vocal disapproval.

My friend's boys (now all strapping teenage lads) joke about how their parents banned them from having the toys they always wanted.

We definitely saw differences in toy preferences very early on. My daughter had zero interest in wheeled toys (despite my efforts) but both boys were fascinated by them virtually from day one.

I know my experience is not scientific. But there were some studies several years ago using baby apes (who obviously had not been conditioned by human systems or been exposed to advertising etc). Baby male apes showed a clear preference for mechanical toys over plush toys.

www.newscientist.com/article/dn13596-male-monkeys-prefer-boys-toys/

I'd love to hear others views on this topic... social conditioning versus biological predispositions.

OP posts:
Original poster
SlowFJH · 14/02/2016 00:02

Don't think I ever claimed my credentials were impeccable. Sorry if I gave that impression. The topic of castration has only come up because you and a couple of others have discounted the effects of testosterone on male behaviour and development.

Thankfully we do not castrate boys and men anymore. But we do have ample evidence from the animal world. It's been suggested by PalmerViolet that this is for the benefit of meat yield. But, last time I checked, we don't eat a lot of dog meat in this country and yet most doh owners get their male dogs castrated.

Why do you think that is?

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scallopsrgreat · 13/02/2016 23:52

Ahh, so what you are doing is checking out my credentials, in relation to yours which are obviously impeccable.

I did the degree over 20 years ago and only used small areas since e.g. Energy metabolism. I've forgotten more than I remember. As I said I work with computers. Not much call for physiology.

I do remember quite a bit about swim bladders in fish though (for some reason). Can we talk about those?

I wonder if a study of violence in human castrate has ever been done?

Original poster
SlowFJH · 13/02/2016 23:42

Scallops
"I don't much care"

I am asking you what you think and I'm genuinely curious how your physiology curriculum might have been different to mine..

I too would like men to stop murdering and raping women (men, boys and girls).

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scallopsrgreat · 13/02/2016 23:37

I don't much care. I'd just like men to stop raping and murdering women (and other men/boys too. Let's share the love). I'm sure that can be achieved with or without testosterone. NAMALT, for example.

Original poster
SlowFJH · 13/02/2016 23:36

PalmerViolet
Do you think that's why colts are commonly castrated? Because they produce more horsemeat than stallions?

Would any horse loving readers care to give a view?

OP posts:
Original poster
SlowFJH · 13/02/2016 23:32

PalmerViolet and Scallops
OK I am going to go along with this for now.. Even though I know (hope) you're just "bustin my balls" for fun.

Let me turn the question around. What biological effect (if any) do you think testosterone has?

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Original poster
SlowFJH · 13/02/2016 23:27

Have I, or has anyone else, done that in this discussion?

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PalmerViolet · 13/02/2016 23:26

Yes, because castrated male animals tend to fatten up faster than their intact brethren, which means that they don't have to be kept alive as long for the meat market.

scallopsrgreat · 13/02/2016 23:25

Or boys...

scallopsrgreat · 13/02/2016 23:24

Oh actually they do have their testicles removed. Who knew? Learn a new thing every day. And here's me who grew up on a farm and all (didn't castrate any animals though).

PalmerViolet · 13/02/2016 23:24

It's because it's an easy cop out, scallops.

scallopsrgreat · 13/02/2016 23:23

*themselves

scallopsrgreat · 13/02/2016 23:22
Original poster
SlowFJH · 13/02/2016 23:21

Thanks Scallops
I think you know I have not suggested castration for humans. I am citing evidence that testosterone affects behaviour. We know this because, throughout history, we know that male animals with testicles behave differently from those without.

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PalmerViolet · 13/02/2016 23:21

That's a really interesting post Show, and your description of the different ways people interacted with your friend's twins is born out by research. As is your second point about how much things change when children are thrown together with differently socialised children.

Original poster
SlowFJH · 13/02/2016 23:18

Scallops
Your have a degree in Physiology but you have "no idea" if a geldling would be likely to behave differently to a stallion.

Would you like to take a wild guess?

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scallopsrgreat · 13/02/2016 23:17

I would imagine anyone who had their genitals cut off would behave differently. Surely you aren't suggesting boys should be castrated to make them less violent?

I'm sure I could think of a few better ways to deal with male violence.

ShowMeTheWonder · 13/02/2016 23:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PalmerViolet · 13/02/2016 23:14

And that's always going to be the problem with comparing animal studies to human behaviours, scallops. We aren't horses, fish or monkeys. We are subject from birth to very different influences.

Original poster
SlowFJH · 13/02/2016 23:14

AskBasil
Thanks for the snide rebuke? Do you have an opinion on the effects of testosterone on behaviour?

If it doesn't, why would farmers and breeders even bother going through the hassle, expense and pain of castration?

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scallopsrgreat · 13/02/2016 23:10

Oh I thought we were just giving CVs.

No idea, in answer to your question. Should I know? Not sure what the point of the question is anyway. When I last looked girls and boys weren't geldings or stallions and are also subject to far more social conditioning than horses.

AskBasil · 13/02/2016 23:07

Yes Geeka, tell SlowFJH whether he can safely dismiss your well-informed posts because you don't have the only degree he will allow as being relevant to this discussion.

Original poster
SlowFJH · 13/02/2016 22:58

Thanks Scallops. The question was directed to Geeka. But it's good to have your input.

I am guessing you took GCSE or O'Level biology? Would you agree that a geldling is likely to behave differently to a stallion?

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scallopsrgreat · 13/02/2016 22:47

And yes I reduce the amount of guns/swords etc. You are fighting against the tide though because they do get bought these things for birthday/Xmas etc.

My BIL sat there swearing boys are only interested in swords/guns etc, whilst in the same moment giving my two swords for Xmas. Remind me again why they are interested in this stuff?

scallopsrgreat · 13/02/2016 22:43

I have a degree in Physiology and another one in Business Studies. I work with computers.

I also read.