Jack Campbell Jr.'s picture
Jack Campbell Jr. from Lawrence, KS is reading American Rust by Phillipp Meyer June 8, 2012 - 10:26am

Corporations are going to sell what sells. If combative Legos sell better than just plain Legos, then they are going to sell combative Legos. If girls aren't buying Legos as often as boys, they are going to market to boys. It's that way with all toys. There are very few that are marketed to both sexes.

It isn't Lego's job to teach my kid right and wrong, it's mine. Corporations exist to make money. Parents exist to parent.

Besides, I don't care if the thing came in a box that said army tank, the first time it is put together is the last time it is ever a tank again. They all get mixed together and he makes whatever he wants out of it.

GaryP's picture
GaryP from Denver is reading a bit of this and that June 8, 2012 - 10:49am

Geez, I feel like building something so I can blow it up. Which pretty much mirrors human history.

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner June 8, 2012 - 11:05am

Chris it looks like this ran it's course. Here ya go buddy! 

GaryP's picture
GaryP from Denver is reading a bit of this and that June 8, 2012 - 12:24pm
Boone Spaulding's picture
Boone Spaulding from Coldwater, Michigan, U.S.A. is reading Solarcide Presents: Nova Parade June 8, 2012 - 9:03pm

Boone vs. Insomnia update: I didn't get to sleep until sometime after 4:30 a.m. I had to be at work at 8 a.m. I made it. Thank God for Casual Fridays....

[TMI: went casual on the hygiene]

Great thread. After a long day at work, and a long after-work of chores, I read all 103 posts on the thread and I will go to sleep tonight!

I may have to change the name of this thread and start another one with "I'm NOT going to sleep" and then see what that one transmorphs into....

FYI: Civilization and Its Discontents and Joseph Campbell. I consider Freud and Campbell's contributions to be to "social philosophy", not psychology or cultural studies. Campbell made the observation that historically,  with women biology overtakes them (menstration) and then they're supposed to be "women" whereas with men historically, they were initiated into manhood by their elders (bar mitzvahs, ceremonial passing on of "manhood/now you are a man" by a group of elders). Nowadays, there is no such initiation in American culture that tells boys "now you are a man." If there ever was.

Compelling concept, interesting, but not that I think it's conclusive or anything...thoughts?

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner June 10, 2012 - 2:45pm

Glad you liked it Booningham. I'll have to check that book as well. Sounds neat. 

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters June 10, 2012 - 6:31pm

"with women biology overtakes them (menstration) and then they're supposed to be "women""

We're so lucky. 

But actually, doesn't biology sort of do the same for men?  I mean, I realize you don't get your period (some of you), but you do go through puberty just the same. 

Lots of very interesting theories on why men can't keep their shit together.  I'm interested.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated June 10, 2012 - 6:51pm

Stay at it guys, because we can totally fix all gender interaction problems on this forum. 

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner June 11, 2012 - 2:46am

Lots of very interesting theories on why men can't keep their shit together.  I'm interested"

Ha! It's 530am here and I just laughed my ass off. I approve. No biology doesn't work the same with us. I think he is referring to cultural things that symbolize "you're a man now" which I don't buy either. Alot of my Jewish friends had Bar Mitzvahs and they're total nutjobs. 

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry June 11, 2012 - 5:43am

I'm in favor of institutionalized male rites of passage that involve dropping down from trees onto wild beasts armed with nothing but a pocket knife.  Starvation.  Hallucinations of communing with your ancestors.  But I know not everybody can afford college, so can I recommend an apprenticeship in your local trade unions?

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like June 11, 2012 - 9:33am

why men can't keep their shit together

Because they haven't yet made a bag big enough.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters June 11, 2012 - 9:35am

JY has given me the correct answer.

Boone Spaulding's picture
Boone Spaulding from Coldwater, Michigan, U.S.A. is reading Solarcide Presents: Nova Parade June 14, 2012 - 12:19pm

But actually, doesn't biology sort of do the same for men?  I mean, I realize you don't get your period (some of you), but you do go through puberty just the same.

The idea I think is that although men and women both go through puberty, the consequences for women are less escapable than they are for men - women have regular painful reminders that they can now become pregnant. Whereas boys/men can Peter Pan their asses through life indefinitely....

JY has given me the correct answer.

Your life is moving into a dominatrix phase right now, isn't it...? ("Correct, slave! Now lick my shiny boots of leather...")

Chris Davis's picture
Chris Davis from Indiana is reading A Feast of Snakes by Harry Crews June 14, 2012 - 6:33am

Thank you for the puppies Matt, you're a gentleman and scholar.

jyh's picture
jyh from VA is reading whatever he feels like June 14, 2012 - 1:58pm

JY has given me the correct answer.

Your life is moving into a dominatrix phase right now, isn't it...? ("Correct, slave! Now lick my shiny boots of leather...")

I'll have it known that didn't happen... not to me anyway...

I only said it because of my love for the idiomatic "shit-in-a-bag" sayings, not to garner favor from any internet mistresses.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters June 14, 2012 - 2:24pm

"internet mistresses"

I've really got to reevaluate my life choices. 

 

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated June 15, 2012 - 6:01am

Well you are being referred to in the plural, which I must say is impressive. I think it would be cool to hear someone say, "They are the Dwayne."

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner June 15, 2012 - 6:14am

I've really got to reevaluate my life choices."

 

The various Matts laughed at this. 

Boone Spaulding's picture
Boone Spaulding from Coldwater, Michigan, U.S.A. is reading Solarcide Presents: Nova Parade September 24, 2012 - 10:36pm

Can't sleep again...

I'm not sad. I'm S.A.D. 

The paradoxical thing is: autumn is my favorite time of year. And yet, Seasonal Affective Disorder. When it happens in the springtime, no wonder - it's a wet, muddy mess. I love fall. And I'm enjoying it to the best I can.

Insomnia - I want to throttle you until you taste the sweet sting of death. And I will flay you and sleep inside your skin...