RB

It is an awesome idea that you are getting together. Can it be guys and gals? I know retired folks in Scotland who build their own musical equipment in the garage from wood laying around the street and then "idea" they play music in the marketplace. So fun.

Ahhh sensitive now...may allow for one kind of understanding

A landmark decision on practices in Canada of what is fair and equitable, see the Meiorin case. A firefighter who was awesome working as a firefighter until a test of physical fitness requirement was introduce that unfairly favored males. Meiorin failed to meet a physical fitness test requirement. While males overwhelming pass, overwhelmingly females failed.

Quite provocative statements. You forgot to add doing the clothes, dishes... Isn't easier to discuss how males and females can access education equally?. Your thoughts?

Well, it is a perspective. The topic of masculinity and its portrayal in society can be polarizing. And one can argue that discussions around toxic masculinity and patriarchal structures might contribute to feelings of alienation among male students. This is not the only reason though to get the full picture why males are not enrolling or dropping out of college.

Dropping Out of University in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic A French paper but shows the lapse of enrollment males vs females. Of course mental health is a BIG issue for students males and females returning to school after COVID - they are still suffering from loneliness, and social isolation and these variables have usually undesirable outcomes unless there are support systems.

What a good laugh I had. Ahh, the good old days of feudalism! It's always nice to reminisce about simpler times when all you needed was a strong back and a good lord to keep the invaders at bay. If only modern life were as straightforward, right? Doing the medieval musing? and feeling nostalgic for the days of yore? Back to men dropping the classes. Present day: do you feel COVID is having an impact on males and their experiences in higher education? It is an open question.

To follow up on the charity giving - it depends on where people are on their spectrum of life. If their basic needs are not met, and persons are hustling it is hard to give resources or even time for the good deed. Lots of folks worried about life, and everyday survival and these folks are many that might not lend to a voice to promote causes (even it does not require money) that can help in change.

There are practical reasons! Tall people do have their advantages, like reaching the top shelf without a step stool. It's always good to have someone around who can lend a hand with those hard-to-reach places. Preferences are personal. The media and society help in shaping what women prefer and this might have skewed the appreciation of body types - not making people selection shallow. While many women might prefer tall guys, some men do prefer shorter women, and while some men have no preference at all analogous to not wanting to go shopping. Men seeking a partner may simply find someone attractive without focusing on specific physical traits like small parts, Barbie legs, or shiny hair. Compatibility might lie in shared interests like sports, food, family, religion and intellect, which are truly special qualities. Well, some additional reasons why short, small-bosomed women are often found with tall men.

OpenStreetMap and Organic Maps are interesting initiatives. Charity and giving are deeply personal decisions that can have far-reaching positive effects on the lives of others. It's heartening to see contributors mention empathy, whether driven by moral reasons or personal experiences, and finding fulfillment in giving. Every bit of generosity counts, even the smallest gestures - tips To answer the opening question on giving: Yes.

Isn't the tall man discussion in another thread? Here is a question, those tall men prefer short women?

"toxic masculinity" evokes strong reactions. This "toxic" as a precise meaning can be seen as "bad idea"? Masculinity in itself is not inherently harmful but toxic masculinity does have an association of suppression of women, emotions and being overly aggressive. Maybe it is not the best way to get reactions since it perpetuates the gender inequality. So now I want to say that toxic masculinity is a phase that address harmful behavior, and since we know these behavior/attitudes we can encourage inclusive healthier expressions of masculinity. Masculinity is divisive and misunderstood and now aligned with toxic and bad idea. Quote Kakuda: "It's amazing how society has beat down masculinity but tells young women they can do whatever a man can do and people are wondering what's wrong????? " This statement seems too simple to address a complex issue. The idea that society has "beat down" masculinity is a broad idea. Discussions around masculinity aim to address are the harmful behaviors and stereotypes that can be associated with traditional notions of masculinity, not masculinity itself. These discussions often encourage men to express their emotions, which can lead to healthier outcomes for everyone. On the other hand, encouraging women to pursue opportunities traditionally dominated by men is about promoting equality and ensuring that everyone has the chance to reach their full potential, regardless of gender. This doesn't mean that men are being pushed aside; rather, it's about creating a more inclusive society where both men and women can thrive. You can think about creating a bigger pie. We're turning men into women and women into men but no one will get confused Again this statement is too simple and misrepresents the complexities of gender identity and societal roles. The idea that society is "turning men into women and women into men" is a misunderstanding of efforts to promote gender equality and inclusivity. These efforts aim to allow individuals to express themselves authentically, without being confined by traditional gender roles. Encouraging men to be more emotionally expressive or women to pursue careers in STEM, for example, doesn't mean they are being turned into the opposite gender. Instead, it means they are being given the freedom to explore and express all aspects of their identity. This can lead to a more balanced and inclusive society where people are not limited by outdated stereotypes. We can have a balance society. The level of stupidity in all this garbage is mind numbing Yes, some of these topics can be frustrating and sometimes complex. But it is important to approach them with an open mind and a willingness to understand different perspectives. Conversations about gender roles and equality are ongoing and evolving, and they can be challenging to navigate. RB

mmm no need to be emotional. Better, a dispassionate response is warranted.

Yes these tattoos have controversies and downsides. Is it possible though that despite tattoos having been accepted, some folks still carry this disdain for tattoos - why we are still talking about this. Now this non-acceptance can lead to all kinds of judgements, and even though people wish to be rational about their biases and stigmas the fear is, it also lead to exclusions...

NOPE no one informed me. What is an example of "make up for it"? Making assumptions about people based on their physical appearance isn't fair nor even accurate. Everyone has their own unique qualities and also their ways of expressing themselves. It's important to appreciate people for who they are, not the looks.

This is a bit concerning that men are dropping out of higher education. I go with Gary Becker, Nobel winner, and his theory with the "zero sum" game where academia is the best way to success. Higher paid jobs do require critical thinking meaning post-secondary education, meaning also labor shortage in some fields. Since males are going to limit their earning power, they are going to become dissatisfied with life and face those mental and well-being challenges. In a few years see social dynamics changes including about getting married. Well, earning and success have an impact of decisions about marriage and family. My suggestion is early intervention for males. This can include, support programs (mentoring), success programs (success centres for males), mental health support (awareness-they are also not visiting their doctors), ease some financial burden by encouraging grants, scholarship, financial aid to males to help them stay in school, job placement so they see the long-term benefits of higher education. My input. RB

Both of your statements are oversimplifications and do not account for the complexities of the human body. People are subject to a wide range of influences, making it important to avoid blanket statements. For instance, Increase in breast size after menopause: prevalence and determinants - ScienceDirect. There are research to indicate that women's breast undergo changes e.g., the breast changes when they gain weight, age, when they have kids and they breastfeed. After menopause some women reported larger breast (1 in 3) but the research attribute some of this large breast to weight gain. However the point is that women's breast being the same size can be refuted. It's not accurate to say that a woman's breast size does not change at all. Now addressing men losing their hair with age, happens for many reason due to genetic factors, hormonal changes, and other health conditions. However, not all men lose their hair, and the extent of hair loss can vary widely.

Since it is a question about male height. Should I take a vote here to ask how many males wish to be shorter? or taller? an overwhelming majority would not wish to be shorter. There are evidence to back "tall" height and why the ladies go for height ‘Big’ men: Male leaders’ height positively relates to followers’ perception of charisma - ScienceDirect; Standing tall pays off, study finds. For those wishing to be shorter there are some key evidence that show short people stay longer in relationships, and they live longer among some other variables. hmm short folks don't like housework compare to tall folks. But, our height (both genders) should not define who we are and what we are capable of e.g., Simone Biles @ less than 5', Carnegie, De Vito

So, some folks have uniqueness. Could it be that a thing of beauty is not defined by appearance?. What makes a person beautiful?

tsk tsk ... I will come by more frequently in the future...

Nope I am not doing the figuring as you suggest. It will only make the folks seem illogical with their lots of tattoos. Their tattoos have deep meaning related to sometimes trauma, sometimes happiness, and whatever come what may ...

Tattoos and wedding rings are powerful symbols, but they cater to different aspects of personal and social identity. One student in my class has 101 tattoos, one to memorialize at pet, one to a sport they belong, one to rebel some societal inequities, one it is beautiful, all sounded like a valid reason to get a tattoo. Why remove some as they are doing costly procedure, well it faded and maybe not aligned with the stars. Maybe they have different values/taste now, people grow up. How about maybe it is affecting their health - so your tax dollars at work to remove them. Removing them also have side effects so they must have really good reason to remove them - hopefully they are not into bets to get or remove these tattoos, some people do this and then get some wild tattoos. The wedding rings are commitment - two people, it a long culture thing. Who knows why people take off the rings - I suggest if you go swimming better to have no jewelry.

Ahhh recently I listened too Beautiful Things, Boone and Too Sweet, Hozier

I will watch the Oscars this year. True I have not seen a really good movie in a while. I still have not seen some that have been nominated this year i.e. Barbie but love Billie Eilish

I heard the radio playing both sides now - Joni Mitchell - hmmm it sounded even better on the radio, she is good.