c'mon, cliffy

They already have that privilege (given the appropriate training) in New Mexico and Louisiana. A number of other states are considering it. What do you think?

Why do some people feel compelled to drive so closely behind you? Even when there is a passing lane, they don't pass - they just tailgate. Is there a psychological explanation for such behaviour?

A BUCK'S night reveller was completely naked and on his hands and knees when he allegedly was raped by a stripper with a "statuesque'' pink sex toy, a court has heard.

Stripper Linda Maree Naggs, 40, will argue the rape of the best man at the party in the bayside Melbourne suburb of Mornington in September 2007 was an accident.

The alleged victim had volunteered to take part in a dildo routine, but asked the stripper not to penetrate him, the Victorian County Court heard.

As she was performing her routine the man felt a sharp pain and the sex toy enter his anus, it is alleged.

The court heard he later showed the stripper blood he had wiped from his bottom.

Today, Ms Naggs' lawyer Paul Higham held up the dildo to the jury, describing it as being of a "statuesque nature''.

"This is the tool that apparently was used to commit the rape,'' he said.

"The facts of which are quite unique. Certainly, I think we all agree extraordinary.

"This is a case of accidental rape, if in fact there is one.''

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,25853780-2927...

Does the success of the “slacker-dude” image of young men in movies reflect the general image of young men in contemporary society?

Or, is it aspirational?

Should it?

Is it better to be described as:

A. kind, gentle and above all else, modest

or

B. smart, ambitious, and a talented actor

I come to GWS infrequently but regularly. In the time I've been around, there have been a number of interpersonal dramas played out on this forum. This last one's been the best in a long time. So, can we actually learn something from it? About gender or women's issues? About relationships of a kind? About anything?

Nevada is one of only two states where prostitution is legal, but by state law it also is restricted to counties with fewer than 400,000 residents. That outlaws it in two counties, Clark, which contains Las Vegas, and Washoe, which contains Reno. There are about 225 women licensed by the state as prostitutes; no county allows brothels to have men who sell sexual services.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/us/26brothel.htm...

Not to pick on anyone in particular, but in a recent answer it was stated:

"women sexually abuse older children (12-17 years old) at a greater rate than men (11 times more according to data from the US 2000 National Incident-Based Reporting System on unforced sexual abuse (McCloskey & Raphael 2005, p.16)."

Now, if you go to page 16 of this study, there is nothing which supports this statement. In fact the table on p.16 shows that the number of male offenders in this group is 1929, while the number of female offenders is 128. The kernel of truth is that among NON-FORCED sexual abuse (so statutory rape) of 12-17 year old MALES, there were 112 female offenders and 10 male offenders. (Compare this to the number of offenders of females in this same category - 1919 male offenders and 16 female offenders.) And the authors statement, also on p. 16: "the finding that sex offenders are overwhelmingly male is a

virtual replication of other studies"

I don't want to minimize the reality of either male victims or female offenders. We all know that both exist. But does not misrepresenting research studies undermine credibility? Or do folks do it because they figure most people won't check, so they can get away with it?

I've shovelled a lot of snow lately. I like the fact that because I'm stronger than my partner, that I get that task - and as I look up and down the street, I see all the men in the neighborhood with their shovels and snow-blowers - not the women. I like the fact that when my partner hears a strange noise at night, she wakes me up and I go investigate. I like opening doors for her, walking on the street-side, and being the one who catches the spider and takes it outside. Yes, I know that not all women would want or need a man to do these types of things, but it seems to me that these kinds of little things tap into some basic needs I have, as a man, to be a protector and a provider. (My partner is no damsel in distress - she's a lawyer who makes more money than I do - an intelligent, able, professional woman.) I know that some will say that these "needs" are merely societal constructs - that there is no real reason for me, as the man, to take on this role. (I disagree, but that's another question). And I know that others will say that manliness has nothing to do with being strong or brave. That's fine - but however you might construe being manly, is it wrong to aspire to be that way?

I understand the concept that "gender" is socially constructed. But is there no room for biology in explaining difference between men and women beyond the obvious physiological ones? Wouldn't you think that the basic hormonal differences might play a role in behaviour? Or there might be some evolutionary advantage to having some sex differences programmed into our genes? It seems like such concepts get dismissed quickly. Is that reflective of feminist theory or is just some of the folks around here that promote that view?

In her book "The Unthinkable" Amanda Ripley points out that "heroes" -defined as individuals who risk their lives to save the life of a stranger - are almost overwhelmingly (90%) male. What do you think explains this interesting gender difference?