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?

[Winterisntcoming]

Men get drunk on Father's Day?

Never heard of this tradition, are there herds of father's out getting lashed

No father I know really takes much notice of Father's Day.

[Mide7]

"It's also totally inappropriate for other groups to come in and say what they think is ok and what should and should not be highlighted, and at what times!"

Very much agree with this Damnbamboo, a lot of womansplaining going on in here. Highlighting issues that men face ( mental health/ things around gender roles for example) benefits both sexes.

[DamnBamboo]

You can use the argument that everyone benefits if outcomes for women are improved. If they are treated better, like equals, get the support and respect they need but then not apply the same logic to another group of people (in this instance, ones with penises) who may have a different set of issues, just because they're men!

[DamnBamboo]

You can't use the argument rather.

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

VestalVirgin's post at 12:51 is the attitude that made me mention International Cat Day.

Why does a group have to be oppressed in order to "qualify" for an International Day?

[Shakey15000]

They'll only use it as excuse to get drunk. (As is already done with Father's Day, if you haven't noticed)

Sweeping statement much? I, for one, haven't noticed because that's not the behaviour I see regarding my husband. Step father as well actually. Oh and BIL.

[MrRobot]

Yes, I get hammered on Father's Day and International Men's Day

As usual there's a load of bollocks being spouted about men but it's okay because it's being typed by women who are projecting or being deliberately stupid.

[VestalVirgin]

@Winter: It is a steretoype where I live. The culturally accepted way of celebrating Father's Day. I think most people don't really pay attention to the day, but those men who do ... get drunk.

Of course you can declare a "Men's Day" just for the fun of it, but it is not going to achieve anything or draw attention to anything.

[Apathyisthenewblah]

Zoe the only thing I have seen about it relates to men and mental health. Posted by a friend who lost her father to suicide. No golf clubs/fathers4justice.

[DamnBamboo]

I am actually laughing to myself at the thought of hordes or marauding drunk dads on fathers day!

Taking over the town-centre, celebrating their right to be pissed and smugly enjoying their total lack of oppression, or indeed any other problems that humans, dare I say men, may experience. They must all have teflon-coated penises must deflect any potential problems from reaching them... ever!

[MoriartyIsMyAngel]

There's a Day for everything under the sun these days. Why shouldn't men get one? (International Donut Day remains my favourite.)

[DamnBamboo]

I think most people don't really pay attention to the day, but those men who do ... get drunk

Utter horseshit!

[StillDrSethHazlittMD]

This thread shows some very sad views from a few posters. To start with, as a man, I wasn't fussed at all about an IMD. But reading some of the postings, if there are many women with such low opinions about men, or who think we're all wife-beaters, cheaters, drunken idiots and bad fathers, then actually we probably DO need an IMD.

I'm a 41-yr old man. Vestal, I've never been drunk in my life. Nor has my father. But you carry on sweeping. You know, some of us men are actually quite nice people if you gave us a chance. I've been treated badly by a woman once, but it didn't cause me to assume all women were nasty pieces of work, thankfully.

[DamnBamboo]

Of course you can declare a "Men's Day" just for the fun of it, but it is not going to achieve anything or draw attention to anything

Say's who? You! Because you are a misandrist? Do you have any male offspring?

[Shakey15000]

And yet still, my DH, SDF and BIL do pay attention to the day without getting drunk. Amazing!

More expansion of horizons and less stereotyping required in my opinion.

[Permanentlyexhausted]

Why does it have to be a race to the bottom?

And oh, the irony! Men get a day to highlight their issues and achievements (IMD), something women already have (IWD), and a whole load of women who claim they are fighting for equality between the sexes are suddenly up in arms and wailing that it isn't fair.

It seems some people cannot tell the difference between equality and advantage.

[CultureSucksDownWords]

DamnBamboo, if by "reversed" you mean applied to women, then I'd think you were wrong but I wouldn't think you hated women. I'd think you needed to see some evidence of why you were wrong, to be educated.

[DamnBamboo]

You're being too literal culture and it serves no purpose in a discussion of this nature. Most men don't 'hate' women do they? But many are responsible for their lack of progression in society.

And anyway, in equality isn't just about hate of another group. It's ignorance, indifference, lack of understanding, misguided expectations, fear, the list goes on.

[GloriaSmellens]

The thing is, often when someone says 'what about the men' in relation to DV or discrimination or whatever, the stock reply is 'if men feel that they want to campaign on these issues, they are perfectly entitled to do so, why should women have to do it?' Quite right.

But then when men do campaign on these things, they are called MRAs (which lets face it is an insult) and are criticised for taking the focus from women's issues and because apparently men don't need campaigns because everything is already so perfect for them?

[CultureSucksDownWords]

You were the one who brought up hate, hence my addressing it.

What discrimination does IMD aim to address or highlight? And as a follow up question, who is doing the discrimination and why don't men in a position of power/authority address this urgently?

[BadlyBehavedShoppingTrolley]

Let them get on with it. Why does it matter? If you are not interested there is no need to be involved or to engage with it.

[Shakey15000]

Well said Gloria

[DamnBamboo]

I brought up hatred on this site culture, not on this thread!

And quick google will answer your question or indeed, a proper read of the thread!

[CultureSucksDownWords]

It seems reasonable to me that if you state that this site is full of hatred for men, then you ought to easily be able to point out where.

[DamnBamboo]

You want me to go and get threads and link you to all of them? Just read go off and read! It doesn't appear on all threads off course not. But it crops up a lot!