7 Worst Things About Being Male

[Northern Dominus]

See, I'd probably be the asshole asking the etherial woman in question to take pity and pay special attention to you because of your lowly state in a wheelchair....but it's well documented that I can be a well-meaning asshole after a few drinks.

The Bartender had this absolutely pole-ax'd look on her face. She couldn't decide whether to tell me to stop, or tell them to stop, or let it go because I was laughing and had just dropped seventy quid on the table for drinks for people.

Maybe if you had asked her to smile....oh fuck we're going to get into the argument AGAIN if I bring that one up.

70 pounds? I hope it was five pence beer night...

[Neo Art]

but in the pantheon of potential social foibles I fail to see how that rates beyond a bit of a social idiosyncrasy.

You think a strange man going up to a woman who doesn't know him, and telling her to "smile for him" is more than a bit of social idiosyncrasy?

If you've made it this far in your life without figuring it out, I don't think there's anything I can say that's going to help you. Primarily because this:

The only people that would be seriously disturbed by such an advance are either A. Deeply disturbed and in need of counselling or B. Looking for drama and an excuse to get riled up.

Is, once again, the kind of childish absolutist thinking that most of us grow out of by the time they turn into adults. If, you, however, failed to reach that developmental point, then again, there's really nothing I or anyone else can do that's going to help you.

[Ethel mermania]

Besides, what exactly is so annoying about "Show me a smile."?

You need it explained to you why a strange man going up to women who don't know him and telling them to smile might be annoying?

Really? you REALLY need this explained to you?

Really?

It;s not like ED puts smeared makeup on waves a knife around and hoarsely growls "Let's put a smile on that face!"... because that's so 2009.

You're right, because that wouldn't be "annoying" that would be "menacing". And that's a felony.

Seriously, this is your argument? "he's not criminally threatening them, so what's so bad about it?"

Really?

Again, adults are supposed to be capable of more sophistication than this.

fwiw i have been told this myself in irish bars. usually by the bartender offering to buy me a round. it seems to be an irish thing.

[Northern Dominus]

but in the pantheon of potential social foibles I fail to see how that rates beyond a bit of a social idiosyncrasy.

You think a strange man going up to a woman who doesn't know him, and telling her to "smile for him" is more than a bit of social idiosyncrasy?

If you've made it this far in your life without figuring it out, I don't think there's anything I can say that's going to help you. Primarily because this:

The only people that would be seriously disturbed by such an advance are either A. Deeply disturbed and in need of counselling or B. Looking for drama and an excuse to get riled up.

Is, once again, the kind of childish absolutist thinking that most of us grow out of by the time they turn into adults. If, you, however, failed to reach that developmental point, then again, there's really nothing I or anyone else can do that's going to help you.

]Compared to "Nice shoes, let's fuck." or "Congratulations, you just won an evening with me." or "I'll flip a coin and we'll see if it lands on head.", hell yes it's a social idiosyncrasy. Again, not something I would do but I'm only 1/2 irish by ancestry and American by birth to boot.

And who here is being the absolutist? Who here is the one coming down on such a greeting as being almost universally unacceptable in some regard? I've consistently stated it could go either way, and it all depends on the attitude of both parties and the following conduct. Compared to previous examples I just mentioned that's pretty harmless. The fact that I've gone halfway and mentioned yes some people could be annoyed by it (like Enraged Maldivians, who would at least be polite in general), and that you've simply entrenched yourself and failed to acknowledge that some people will take any greeting no matter how benign as lewd and inappropriate certainly speeks to one of us being a hard liner.

[Neo Art]

And who here is being the absolutist?

The one who keeps walking into threads with things that are WORSE and going "see, it's not as bad as threatening to stab her in the face, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM????"

It's fucking juvenile.

Compared to previous examples I just mentioned that's pretty harmless.

Shockingly, things that aren't as bad as other things, may still be bad. Compared to being shot in the stomach being punched in the nose is not quite a big deal. It doesn't mean it's not a bad thing to do.

Again, this is the kind of non absolutist thinking that we generally learn as we transition from "child" to "adult". The idea that just because something is WORSE, doesn't mean this thing is ok. Children think like that. Adults don't. Or at least, shouldn't.

The fact that I've gone halfway and mentioned yes some people could be annoyed by it

You seem to think that "meeting half way" is some kind of virtue in and of itself. That's just stupid. If you have a fucking stupid position, than halfway abandoning a fucking stupid position doesn't suddenly give you a GOOD position.

It's just not quite so fucking stupid.

And if the only defense you seem to offer is some kind of varient of "but it's not threatening to stab her in the face!" then you've got a long way to go.

[The Emerald Dawn]

The Bartender had this absolutely pole-ax'd look on her face. She couldn't decide whether to tell me to stop, or tell them to stop, or let it go because I was laughing and had just dropped seventy quid on the table for drinks for people.

Maybe if you had asked her to smile....oh fuck we're going to get into the argument AGAIN if I bring that one up.

70 pounds? I hope it was five pence beer night...

Around that, yeah. It was high-volume, low-cost evening. We were feeling generous, and everyone had a good evening. I ended up spending...somewhere around 300 pounds total that evening at that establishment.

[The Blaatschapen]

Maybe if you had asked her to smile....oh fuck we're going to get into the argument AGAIN if I bring that one up.

70 pounds? I hope it was five pence beer night...

Around that, yeah. It was high-volume, low-cost evening. We were feeling generous, and everyone had a good evening. I ended up spending...somewhere around 300 pounds total that evening at that establishment.

That's a lot. I think I spent 90 euros in one night at most. Ofcourse, in effect going Dutch (I buy a round, friend buys a round, etc.).

[Ethel mermania]

The more I'm on NSG, the less likely that I want to visit the USA.

nyc is fun though we do have a lot of irish b ars

[The Emerald Dawn]

The more I'm on NSG, the less likely that I want to visit the USA.

nyc is fun though we do have a lot of irish b ars

Ahem "Irish" bars.

[Cannot think of a name]

Besides, what exactly is so annoying about "Show me a smile."? It;s not like ED puts smeared makeup on waves a knife around and hoarsely growls "Let's put a smile on that face!"... because that's so 2009.

I can give a few non-gender related responses:

I smile when I feel like smiling, smiling for you on command is pointless and annoying.

You more than likely interrupted a train of thought I was having.

If I wanted to talk to someone I wouldn't be sending frowny signals.

You have more than likely misread my mood and I have little to no desire to discuss my present emotional state with a stranger.

It's condescending. I'm not a fucking child, if I'm down some random fool 'making' me smile isn't going to do shit but trivialize whatever is bumming me out, if indeed I'm bummed out and not just trying to read something far away or some other stupid shit that people might misinterpret as being in need of smiling.

Because my emotions are not an 'on demand' box that can be operated like Siri.

Honestly, up until this thread I never ever thought of this as a gender thing. Plenty of females have told me to 'smile', I had not until this point thought it was something one gender did to another. Granted, I have never had to deal with the possibility that the follow up comment will be something rude or the person will call me a slut or anything like that. Just that the person will be offended that I didn't immediately become bright and vibrant upon their command and call me a sourpuss.

Can't speak for anyone else, but those are some of the reasons I find it annoying.

[Ethel mermania]

The more I'm on NSG, the less likely that I want to visit the USA.

We've perfected the art of "Guilt Fu". It's a subtle art, but we can make anyone feel guilty about anything at any time. It's an unfortunate style that came around due to our hideous record on race and gender relations, and has become something of a national sport.

we are jews, you people are fucking amatures compared to us.

[Neo Art]

We've perfected the art of "Guilt Fu". It's a subtle art, but we can make anyone feel guilty about anything at any time. It's an unfortunate style that came around due to our hideous record on race and gender relations, and has become something of a national sport.

we are jews, you people are fucking amatures compared to us.

I mean, would it kill you to call your mother now and then?

[The Emerald Dawn]

We've perfected the art of "Guilt Fu". It's a subtle art, but we can make anyone feel guilty about anything at any time. It's an unfortunate style that came around due to our hideous record on race and gender relations, and has become something of a national sport.

we are jews, you people are fucking amatures compared to us.

Hey, I come from a devout Catholic family, trust me we're right nanners with the guilt too.

[Cannot think of a name]

we are jews, you people are fucking amatures compared to us.

I mean, would it kill you to call your mother now and then?

It might.

[Ethel mermania]

nyc is fun though we do have a lot of irish b ars

Ahem "Irish" bars.

like i can spell

[Ethel mermania]

we are jews, you people are fucking amatures compared to us.

I mean, would it kill you to call your mother now and then?

mom is dead, (goes off and cries).

(yes mom did pass away, but it was 12 years ago). how is your mom doing?

[The Emerald Dawn]

Ahem "Irish" bars.

like i can spell

...No, not pointing out your spelling, just saying that you can't just hang a bloody tri-color flag, and call it an Irish pub.

Can the bouncers pick the fights?

Hell, now that I think about it:

There's a county map to go on the wall,
A hurling stick & a shinty ball,
The bric, the brac, the craic & all,
Lets call it an Irish pub,
Caffreys, Harp, Kilkenny on tap,
The Guinness pie & that cabbage crap,
The ideal wannabee Paddy trap,
We'll call it an Irish pub,

Well I'll be fooked! I swear upon the holy book,
The only 'craic' you'll get is a slap in the ear,
Well I'll be fooked! I'll up & burst yer filthy mug,
If you draw one more shamrock in me beer!

We'll raise the price o' beer a dollar,
We'll make em wear a shirt & collar,
We'll fly a bloody tri-colour,
And call it an Irish pub,
Jager bombs & double shots,
The underagers think its tops,
We'll spike the drinks & pay the cops,
We got us an Irish pub.

The quick one in the filthy bog,
The partin' glass across the lug,
O' the lady-O, the dirty dog,
We got us an Irish pub,
It's over to me and over to you,
We'll skip along the Avenue,
And who t'hell is Ronnie Drew?
We got us an Irish pub.

Plasma screens & neon lights,
Kara-farkin-oke nights,
The bouncers they can pick the fights,
We'll call it an Irish pub,
Plastic cups, a polished floor,
We'll hose the blood right out the door,
And let the knucklers back for more,
We got us an Irish pub,

Oh top o' the mornin', Garryowen,
Kiss me I'm Irish, Molly Malone,
Failte, Slainte, Pog ma thon,
We got us an Irish pub,
Spike the punch & strip the willow,
Strike me up the rakes o' Mallow,
The Liffey never ran so shallow,
We got us an Irish pub.

[Northern Dominus]

And who here is being the absolutist?

The one who keeps walking into threads with things that are WORSE and going "see, it's not as bad as threatening to stab her in the face, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM????"

It's fucking juvenile.

Compared to previous examples I just mentioned that's pretty harmless.

Shockingly, things that aren't as bad as other things, may still be bad. Compared to being shot in the stomach being punched in the nose is not quite a big deal. It doesn't mean it's not a bad thing to do.

Again, this is the kind of non absolutist thinking that we generally learn as we transition from "child" to "adult". The idea that just because something is WORSE, doesn't mean this thing is ok. Children think like that. Adults don't. Or at least, shouldn't.

The fact that I've gone halfway and mentioned yes some people could be annoyed by it

You seem to think that "meeting half way" is some kind of virtue in and of itself. That's just stupid. If you have a fucking stupid position, than halfway abandoning a fucking stupid position doesn't suddenly give you a GOOD position.

It's just not quite so fucking stupid.

And if the only defense you seem to offer is some kind of varient of "but it's not threatening to stab her in the face!" then you've got a long way to go.

I'm still failing to see what the big goddamn deal of "Let's see a smile." as a greeting, or how my position is stupid to begin with. It's a fucking greeting, not a command, and any interpretation as such is reading too far into it anyway.

Maybe if you had asked her to smile....oh fuck we're going to get into the argument AGAIN if I bring that one up.

70 pounds? I hope it was five pence beer night...

Around that, yeah. It was high-volume, low-cost evening. We were feeling generous, and everyone had a good evening. I ended up spending...somewhere around 300 pounds total that evening at that establishment.

Hah, got you beat on ridiculous spending in a drinking establishment.

$350 dollars....all for two drinks.

[Neo Art]

I mean, would it kill you to call your mother now and then?

mom is dead, (goes off and cries).

(yes mom did pass away, but it was 12 years ago). how is your mom doing?

Probably dying. But apparently I should stop worrying about her, do I want any soup?

[The Emerald Dawn]

Around that, yeah. It was high-volume, low-cost evening. We were feeling generous, and everyone had a good evening. I ended up spending...somewhere around 300 pounds total that evening at that establishment.

Hah, got you beat on ridiculous spending in a drinking establishment.

$350 dollars....all for two drinks.

What were you drinking?! The Pope's Piss?

[Ethel mermania]

like i can spell

...No, not pointing out your spelling, just saying that you can't just hang a bloody tri-color flag, and call it an Irish pub.

Can the bouncers pick the fights?

Hell, now that I think about it:

There's a county map to go on the wall,
A hurling stick & a shinty ball,
The bric, the brac, the craic & all,
Lets call it an Irish pub,
Caffreys, Harp, Kilkenny on tap,
The Guinness pie & that cabbage crap,
The ideal wannabee Paddy trap,
We'll call it an Irish pub,

Well I'll be fooked! I swear upon the holy book,
The only 'craic' you'll get is a slap in the ear,
Well I'll be fooked! I'll up & burst yer filthy mug,
If you draw one more shamrock in me beer!

We'll raise the price o' beer a dollar,
We'll make em wear a shirt & collar,
We'll fly a bloody tri-colour,
And call it an Irish pub,
Jager bombs & double shots,
The underagers think its tops,
We'll spike the drinks & pay the cops,
We got us an Irish pub.

The quick one in the filthy bog,
The partin' glass across the lug,
O' the lady-O, the dirty dog,
We got us an Irish pub,
It's over to me and over to you,
We'll skip along the Avenue,
And who t'hell is Ronnie Drew?
We got us an Irish pub.

Plasma screens & neon lights,
Kara-farkin-oke nights,
The bouncers they can pick the fights,
We'll call it an Irish pub,
Plastic cups, a polished floor,
We'll hose the blood right out the door,
And let the knucklers back for more,
We got us an Irish pub,

Oh top o' the mornin', Garryowen,
Kiss me I'm Irish, Molly Malone,
Failte, Slainte, Pog ma thon,
We got us an Irish pub,
Spike the punch & strip the willow,
Strike me up the rakes o' Mallow,
The Liffey never ran so shallow,
We got us an Irish pub.

this is nyc, the home of "irish and niggers need not apply" why do you think they all became cops. there were no other jobs

[The Blaatschapen]

Hah, got you beat on ridiculous spending in a drinking establishment.

$350 dollars....all for two drinks.

What were you drinking?! The Pope's Piss?

Becks?

[Northern Dominus]

Hah, got you beat on ridiculous spending in a drinking establishment.

$350 dollars....all for two drinks.

What were you drinking?! The Pope's Piss?

Actually the drinks were a kamikaze and an overpriced beer.

The rest was totaled in broken bar furniture, a cracked lexan bar top, glass shelves and bottles behind the bar, and stitches for an emergency room visit... granted the initial total was $700 but a bit of persuasion dropped it to half

[The Blaatschapen]

What were you drinking?! The Pope's Piss?

Actually the drinks were a kamikaze and an overpriced beer.

The rest was totaled in broken bar furniture, a cracked lexan bar top, glass shelves and bottles behind the bar, and stitches for an emergency room visit... granted the initial total was $700 but a bit of persuasion dropped it to half

How did that happen?

[EnragedMaldivians]

What were you drinking?! The Pope's Piss?

Actually the drinks were a kamikaze and an overpriced beer.

The rest was totaled in broken bar furniture, a cracked lexan bar top, glass shelves and bottles behind the bar, and stitches for an emergency room visit... granted the initial total was $700 but a bit of persuasion dropped it to half

Did you ask them to smile?

Sorry. Couldn't resist.