Please Don’t Hate Me For Saying This!
There’s been some disagreement this week in the reader feedback, from some earlier strips about the views our boys have about women. Hopefully this clears up the issue…
Or shows just how superficial the college male can be.
I really don’t mean anything demeaning by this, so I hope that no one is offended. The intent is to show just how confused guys can get on issues of Gender relations, particularly those who are in the “nerd” camp (that would be me). I do want to take this opportunity to communicate that Chivalry, despite many people’s interpretations, was never meant to be demeaning. It’s one of the few ways guys know how to communicate respect (or even genuine affection) for Women. Ironically it has come to mean the opposite to many Women. I’m highly confused by the issue, I never know whether I should walk a girl to the car, or let her go herself, at risk of finding death in an alley… On the other hand, I don’t know what I would do to protect her, other than provide another target to divide the attention of the would be attacker, but then it’s just a matter of delaying the inevitable…
But once again, Chuck has found the way to manipulate this confusion to get away with being even lazier than before (if that was even possible).
At least I can claim that my chivalrous acts are a result of being from Texas. If a girl gets mad at me holding a door open, I can just claim that that’s the way we do it in Texas! That, and that alone, is the reason!
May 15th, 2009 at 7:15 am
This is a funny strip! I like it! Asking a “doll” to clean up the plates is a lot different than just considering a woman a “good lay.”
As for your dilemma pertaining to the treatment of women, always err to the side of chivalry. If they get upset at you for holding a door open or something, that’s their problem to deal with not yours. I’ve held doors open for guys, not because I’m trying to imply that they’re chicks, but because it’s the polite thing to do. Your point about Texas (and this part of the country) is spot on.
May 15th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Awesome, thanks Chris, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
The “good lay” comments were not meant to be revealing about our characters world view, it was just the two of them engaging in some college-boy humor.
May 15th, 2009 at 8:12 am
I’m in a human sexuality class right now (literally), hence my sensitivity on this issue. We’re currently having some class debate on the big lack of chivalry and kindness on the part of campus males–the women are asking us to be more considerate and to be thoughtful of things that many women find encouraging socially.
May 15th, 2009 at 9:26 am
That is interesting… I guess it depends on the individual woman more than anything else. I know several that are offended by chivalry because it makes them feel pandered to, or that it somehow means that men think women are weaker and not able to handle themselves.
All I know is, I’m attracted to a woman that can beat the crap out of me. I am “Wash” from Firefly, in love with the “warrior woman.” Does that make me a stereotype?
May 15th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Ahhh…I apologize then for criticizing. I’ve been guilty of college boy humor before. A lot. Too much, probably. Actually…it’s a wonder Lisa even TALKED to me, let alone MARRY me!
May 15th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Apologies unnecessary, sir! I think it’s amazing that so many of us men find women who are willing to put up with us… you are one of the lucky ones!
May 15th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Chivalry is always nice. What girl could have a problem with it? Getting walked out to the car–great but having a boy get you another Shiner is always better!
May 15th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
You’re just trying to trick me into giving you more free Shiner…
I’d like to point out the extreme irony by the way, that all the comments coming in for this section are in between spam comments I have to filter out, that are nothing but porn links… Apparently chivalry hasn’t gone digital…
May 19th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Chivalry is a confusing concept.
I have been chewed out several times for the simple act of holding a door for a woman. My standard response (since I’m not from Texas) is “Sorry, that is how my mother raised me.”
I have had women on occasion hold the door open for me. I just smile and say “Thank you.”
And I have had women stop by a door and wait for me to open it for them, even though they were empty handed and I was carrying a computer monitor at the time.
Who knows?
When my nieces were in college we got to talking one night about college guys and how they treat college girls. They were both pretty disgusted with the general behavior of most of the guys in college. They were both tired of being treated like a piece of meat, or first prize in a ‘who can charm her pants off quickest’ contest. (those are their descriptions, not mine)
They both believed that most college guys brains are wired to think about 1) sex, 2) food, 3)sex, 4)drinking, 5)sex and 6)sports.
Their frustration came from trying to tell the truly nice guys from the jerks who were just putting on a great act. They were both tired of dealing with jerks with great ‘nice guy’ acts who only wanted to get into their pants.
They were not amuzed when I pointed out that the truly nice guys also wanted to get into their pants. But with them it usually wasn’t an urgent number 1 priority and they were usually willing to take the time to establish a relationship first and maintain it afterwards.
Mike, you would have loved my nieces. They were both swimmers. They both had a great repetoire of verbal put downs to get rid of the persistant jerks. But each of them, at least once, had to resort to physical violence to get rid of a jerk who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Most guys have no idea how strong a top swimmer can be.
May 19th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
David, I know what you mean, I had similar experiences with the Chivalry concept… some girls expected it and were offended not to get it, some girls were offended when they got it… What’s a guy to do?
Your nieces sound awesome! I definitely would not want to be on the bad side of a top athlete, especially a swimmer… anyone who excels at swimming has to be ridiculously strong, and amazingly conditioned!