Fawlty-versity
Students. Crazy, aren’t they? Well, they used to be before they had to start paying their own tuition fees – it’s all a bit serious now; now they’re actually paying themselves. They apparently still have time for some wacky student activities, however, judging by the latest from the University of Manchester. The MEN headline read, “Feminist fury at blokes’ club for ‘all things male’.” The club in question is actually called the ‘Masculinity Exploration Networking and Support (MENS) group’ and, according to its founder, was simply set up to ‘challenge blokeish stereotypes’.
That didn’t stop the overly-sensitive feminists grabbing the headlines though. I’ll quote the MEN again: “Feminist students claim the Masculinity Exploration Networking and Support (MENS) group – promotes 'beard-growing contests', 'beer marathons' and macho culture.” The group claims it’s being misrepresented and is actually concerned with highlighting often overlooked male issues, such as ‘male depression and male-on-male violence’ and lists activities such as ‘fund-raising, health-promotion, and providing emotional counselling’. That’s a smokescreen, according to the detractors, for a Men’s Society concerned with ‘Self Betterment’. Those stupid men and their desire to better themselves, eh?
The proposed activities that seem to have caused the most backlash, and are being held up as examples of what a disgraceful society this is, include ‘(visits to) Top Gear shows, gadget fairs, beer drinking marathons and Iron Man competitions’. So basically harmless events for relatively niche interests that people – mainly men – enjoy going to and participating in. It reminds me of a particular exchange from the masterpiece that is Fawlty Towers:
Sybil Fawlty: [to a customer who has just given Basil a tip for a horse race] Basil doesn't bet on the horses anymore,
[to Basil]
Sybil Fawlty: do you?
Basil Fawlty: No, that particular avenue of pleasure has been closed off.
Sybil Fawlty: And we don't want it opened up again, do we?
Basil Fawlty: No, you don't dear.
That didn’t stop the overly-sensitive feminists grabbing the headlines though. I’ll quote the MEN again: “Feminist students claim the Masculinity Exploration Networking and Support (MENS) group – promotes 'beard-growing contests', 'beer marathons' and macho culture.” The group claims it’s being misrepresented and is actually concerned with highlighting often overlooked male issues, such as ‘male depression and male-on-male violence’ and lists activities such as ‘fund-raising, health-promotion, and providing emotional counselling’. That’s a smokescreen, according to the detractors, for a Men’s Society concerned with ‘Self Betterment’. Those stupid men and their desire to better themselves, eh?
The proposed activities that seem to have caused the most backlash, and are being held up as examples of what a disgraceful society this is, include ‘(visits to) Top Gear shows, gadget fairs, beer drinking marathons and Iron Man competitions’. So basically harmless events for relatively niche interests that people – mainly men – enjoy going to and participating in. It reminds me of a particular exchange from the masterpiece that is Fawlty Towers:
Sybil Fawlty: [to a customer who has just given Basil a tip for a horse race] Basil doesn't bet on the horses anymore,
[to Basil]
Sybil Fawlty: do you?
Basil Fawlty: No, that particular avenue of pleasure has been closed off.
Sybil Fawlty: And we don't want it opened up again, do we?
Basil Fawlty: No, you don't dear.
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Dragonfly!
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Friday, February 05, 2010
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