<![CDATA[Jezebel: askmen]]> http://tags.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jezebel.com.png <![CDATA[Jezebel: askmen]]> http://jezebel.com/tag/askmen http://jezebel.com/tag/askmen <![CDATA[Ask Men Thinks You're Cruel, Ladies]]> Ask Men has come up with a list of "Cruel Things Women Do To Men," noting that "it seems like a reverse sexism started to take hold as the feminist movement came about and equality for women began gaining ground."

The list, which was written by a woman, would be infuriating if it wasn't so incredibly dumb. Women are cruel, according to this list, because they "don't pick up their phone," "emotionally manipulate men," and "criticize their men in public." Miller trots out every tired stereotype there is to complete her list, including "withholding sex," in an attempt to make some sort of stand against an "acceptable" cruelty that has gone on for way too long.

Miller seemingly fails to recognize that these aren't just cruel things that women do to men, they are cruel things that people do to people. This list could easily read "Top 10 Things Total Jerks Do," or "Top 10 Signs You Are In An Unhealthy Relationship" though that would destroy the author's basic argument, that it's more appalling when the "fairer sex" (yes, she went there) is cruel, as ladies aren't meant to do such things, and that women (and women alone, apparently) should be ashamed of such behaviors.

Lines like this: "In general, women are much more emotional than men and it's easy for some women to use a man's complete incomprehension of female feelings to get something out of him," and "For most men, sex is as important as breathing, so withholding it in order to get something she wants or simply to punish her man for his transgressions is a pretty awful thing to do, even if it is effective," also show a nice heapin' helpin' of sweeping generalizations towards both genders on Miller's part, as men portrayed as idiotic weaklings who are bandied about by cruel and horrible women and their wicked ways.

I typically rip these pieces apart, but the site isn't worth the trouble anymore; it's just a land of stereotypes and stupid articles meant to play into the target audience's belief that women are just bitches who need to step in line. Don't believe me? Check the comments:

Dan says:

@ woman:

Shut your hole. All three of them.

lol says:

Nice article. The fact that so many chicks are mad at this article and one even went as far as to call it misogynistic shows how much the realization that they're total bitches hurt them. Good job =)

At least "Oh please" is fighting the good fight:

Oh please. says:

Holy sexist stereotypes, Batman! My god, could this be any more stereotyped? Clearly the author of this article knows nothing about either gender, since these so-called "cruel things" can apply to both men and women.

Good try. Not really. Let me know when you join the rest of us in the 21st century.

Top Ten Cruel Things Women Do To Men [AskMen]

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<![CDATA[Ask Men Thinks They're Too Good For You, Ladies]]> Ladies, Ask Men doesn't want no scrubs, and in this case, a scrub is a girl who is too pretty, too sexy, and too broke. Let's hang out the passenger side and call BS on this crap, shall we?

In an article titled "Top 10 Signs You're Too Good For Her," writer Jason Moore lets all the bros know when it's time to let a girlfriend go:

No.10 - You're always dumbing down conversations around her
And it's not just her — it's her entire social universe. Her friends, her family and her coworkers all seem to have an extremely limited vocabulary, one that contains more four-letter expletives than a U.S. Army boot camp. If your cat can match her wit, it's one of the signs you're too good for her.

Ok, look. Nobody is saying that you need to (or should) stay with someone who doesn't stimulate you intellectually, but being smarter than someone doesn't necessarily make you better than they are. This isn't a case of someone not being "good enough" for you; it's just a case of someone not being the right match. I'm sure there's some oh-so-lucky lady out there who can match wits and pretentiousness with you, bro. Trust.

No.9 - She f*cks like a porn star

Sure, we all have those fantasies, but if your woman is taking you into uncharted territory that has serious repercussions for personal safety, there's a good chance it's a sign you're too good for her. No limits or boundaries in the intimate sphere means serious problems with self-respect and control in general. Sure the sex will be mind-blowing, but you'll never know where she's been or even how she learned her maneuvers, which can only mean one thing…

And you know what that "one thing" is, ladies! You're a total slut! Being skilled in bed, confident in one's sexuality and enjoying mixing things up a bit obviously means that you're a big ol' whore with a self-esteem problem, and Captain 2Good4U can't handle it. You are just too good at sex, and that means you're a terrible, terrible person. It couldn't possibly mean that your dumbass boyfriend isn't good enough to keep up with you, could it? Naw, that couldn't be. Men who are good in bed are studs, and women who are good in bed are filthy tramps who aren't worth the Axe bodyspray, right brah?

No.8 - None of your friends like her

Your friends don't like her and they seem to have independently verified, double-blind proof, that she's awful. You've spent a lot of time cultivating your social circle to serve as just this type of guard when you're in completely over your head, so trust your safety net. If she can't make simple conversation with your friends, it's a sign you're too good for her.

This is somewhat legit, in that often times, when people don't get along with their partner's social circle, there are problems. But using "bros before hos" as a means to gauge whether or not someone is "good enough" for you is a fairly juvenile solution. And if you need your friends to tell you that your girlfriend is "awful," you probably need to work on your own relationship skills.

No.7 - You're always encouraging her
If, on a regular basis, you find yourself encouraging your girlfriend to go out and really experience life outside the couch or mall, you're in all likelihood too good for her. There are certain people for whom ambition or enthusiasm for the future are just plain anathema. You're not going to be her catalyst and all you're doing now is wasting valuable energy and focus that you should be spending on your own life.

Again, this is more about a mismatch than being "too good" for someone. And not for nothing, but it might be a drag to have a boyfriend who finds it such a bitch to be supportive and understanding, which may account for her general lack of enthusiasm.

No.6 - She can't pay for anything

When it comes time to pick up the check for a dinner, a movie or just about anything else the two of you are undertaking she is nowhere to be found. There are two types of women for whom this is a problem: The first is just oblivious to the fact that she should actually pitch into the relationship. The second is just without the ability and just doesn't seem to have any income. Life's too short to waste time on either of them.

Ugh, poor people, am I right? It's not that she's cheap—she's broke, bro! That is like, the worst, man. I mean, why would anyone waste their time on a genuinely good person if said person can't even afford shots at T.J. McThursdaytown? You can't be seen riding around in your pimped out Toyota Corolla, blasting the latest Asher Roth, with some broke-ass chick in the passenger seat. It's a total no-go, bro. No go fo' sho.

No.5 - She's amazed by what you take for granted

At a certain point in life, certain realities set in and some things are just taken for granted. After college, a paycheck certainly falls into this category. If your girlfriend is dumbstruck by your ability to garner income, you're staring into the abyss of someone who cannot hold a job. This may be a warning sign of future problems.

Other things that she's awestruck by include paying bills, utilities or credit cards on a monthly basis. These should all let you know you're too good for her.

Again, we go back to the idea that women are dumb, immature, and lacking basic life skills. You should kick her to the curb, bro. Because if you don't, she might end up broke, and well, we know what a buzzkill that is, right?

No.4 - She has poor hygiene

If you've noticed on numerous occasions that there is a certain unpleasant odor emanating from your betrothed, it may be time to move on. Some people are merely untidy while others endanger your health. You can try mentioning in passing that there seems to be something amiss, but by and large, you're going to be facing a recurring and uphill battle if you want her to change.

First of all, "betrothed" means that she's already your fiance. She may be stank, but you already asked her to marry you, even though you find her disgusting, so it looks like you're the one with crap manners.

No.3 - She is devoid of natural curiosity

The universe is a strange and mysterious place. Every day you come across phenomena that nearly cry out for further explanation. At least you thought so, until you met your current girlfriend. If you've been together for a while and you've never heard her mention travel or a book she has read, you're in trouble. Conversations based upon first-hand experience from your day are both powerfully limiting and dull.

Have you noticed that every "tip" seems to revolve around the fact that some women just can't keep up with this dude's intellectually superior rock and roll lifestyle? At this point I'm just concerned about him. He seems to have issues getting over the dumb, broke, poorly smelling one who got away.

No.2 - She gets into trouble with the law

There is a time when authority figures are challenged and boundaries are defined. It's called adolescence. It's when your juvenile record can be sealed and expunged. If she's still shoplifting or finding herself on the business side of a DUI conviction, that's just reckless and is endangering your future. It shows that she hasn't developed a sense of what is right or wrong, nor does she have any respect for the possessions of others.

Is it me, or is the language here really creepy? Sure, he's talking about breaking the law, but the disdain he has for women who seemingly don't "know their place" is fairly evident, and ties in with the "she's too good in bed" tip. I'm not saying that we should all start dating criminals, but the way this guy talks about women who take control or break rules, be they laws or sexual taboos, as disrespectful and wrong, is quite telling.

No.1 - Her best asset is her looks

Relationships are a growing concern. You're supposed to find other qualities that endear her to you beyond the initial physical attraction. If you haven't found anything like that and in fact have found many qualities that the good looks are covering up for, then you're too good for her. You need to move on and find someone else. If you don't, you're selling yourself short. Strike out in a new direction and find someone who is both physically attractive as well as your equal or better in the other 98% of life.

She's too pretty, which means you're way too good for her. Obviously!

While there are some decent arguments to be made here, namely that relationships need to be based on more than looks, that couples should enjoy spending time together, and that money troubles often pull couples apart, the way this writer approaches these concepts is all wrong. His sense of superiority, aside from being irritating, also shows a self-centered approach to dating (and to life, really): it seems as though no one will ever be good enough for this dude, and when women are too good at something, he feels they need to be knocked down a peg. Perhaps this dude should just come right out and say it: it's not that women aren't "good enough" for him, it's just that's he's too in love with himself to admit that anyone else has any redeeming qualities whatsoever. But don't worry, dude. You'll always have your bros. And bromance, they say, is the greatest love of all.

Top 10: Signs You're Too Good For Her [AskMen]

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<![CDATA[AskMen? Uh, That's Ok.]]> According to that window into the male soul, AskMen's "Great Male Survey," the rascals are closet romantics: 36% of men polled believe in soul mates, 75% are pro-marriage while only 10% consider signing a prenup "very important." Awww! [AskMen]

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<![CDATA[Ask Men Thinks You're Fat, Wants Your Boyfriend To Tell You So]]> Normally I go to Men's Health to get my fill of terrible bro articles, but today's horrifically sexist article comes to us from another bro source: Ask Men, who present us with "Subtle Ways To Tell Her She's Getting Fat."

Isn't it a total drag, bro, when the woman you supposedly love gains weight? Instead of perhaps considering that she's aware of the issue, or perhaps wondering if there are health concerns or emotional reasons behind a sudden weight gain, Ask Men thinks you should approach the subject of your beloved's body by humiliating her as often as possible. Isn't that just the sweetest thing, girlfriends?! It's like Irving pushing Cathy into a shark-infested ocean and yelling, "This will help you prepare for swimsuit season next summer, as I know how emotionally difficult it is for you!" Charming.

Below, a break down of Ask Men's Top Ten "Subtle" ways to fat-shame your girlfriend into losing weight:

No.1 - Take her to places where she has to wear a swimsuit
If she seems content staying at home eating donuts in her track pants, why not start taking her to places where she has no choice but to where a swimsuit? As she awkwardly looks around at all the slender bodies having a great time, she'll more than likely vow to do something about her recent weight gain, especially if she knows she'll be back there in the not-so-distant future.

Oh, that's right! She's just chillin', eatin' donuts. Women be eaaaatin! What better way to make her feel terrible enough to lose weight than to force her to go to the beach and deal with what apparently are some pretty serious body image issues? Because a woman who is comfortable in her body, regardless of her weight, wouldn't be affected by this dumb tactic at all, so clearly this is aimed at women who are already struggling with a self-image problem. Humiliation will clear that right up, Ask Men. Good call, assholes.

No.2 - Leave "now" and "then" photos lying around
This is a highly effective way to draw attention to the explicit changes to her body as you see them. By consistently reminding her of how she used to look, she'll inevitably be more inclined to do something about her excess flab. Appropriately chosen and strategically placed photos should accomplish this quite nicely. Keep in mind, if she confronts you about trying to shame her into losing weight, the key approach here is denial, as you reply: "Do you actually think I would be that manipulative?" Of course you would, but she doesn't need to know that.

Again, be sure to embarrass her and make her feel as terrible about herself as possible. And please, disregard any notion that a woman's body changes over time. That's just silly! Oh, and leaving "before and after" pictures around the house? Reaaaaaal subtle, bro.

No.3 - Sabotage her chair
Sometimes as men we have to get downright nefarious to get what we want. You might not be proud of stooping to this level, but nothing says "better lose some weight" like a broken chair. After you loosen a few screws or remove some important slats of a chair in which you know she'll sit and subsequently break, sit back and watch the guaranteed dietary transformation that ensues. It will profoundly amaze you.

You guys, I can't even make this shit up. Sabotage her chair?!? What is this, 4th grade? Are you also going to get her a locket that reads "Fatty Fatty 2 x 4?" And what if she, you know, really hurts herself thanks to your little stunt? Or are broken vertebrae like, totes sexy, bro?

No.4 - Ask her to wear an old dress
Plan a romantic night out for the two of you and insist that she wears something from when you first got together; particularly something that you know doesn't fit her anymore. This way she'll have to admit to you that she's put on too much weight and can no longer get into many of her old clothes. Follow it up by telling her how good she looked in those days, and maybe she'll make it her mission to get back to that size.

Yes, because nothing makes a woman feel better on a date than being forced to try on a dress she already knows doesn't fit her anymore. Humiliation! Romantic!

No.5 - Playfully grab her love handles
Ask any man and he'll tell you that he instinctively flexes his biceps whenever a woman touches them. The same thing goes for a woman when you make contact with any unwanted flab: She recoils and feels embarrassment. Use this reaction to your advantage. Even if she thinks that you're too busy at work to have noticed a few extra pounds, if you continually rest your hand on her love handles (or even lightly pinch them), she'll soon realize that you're becoming increasingly aware of something that never used to be there before.

Dude, if you even try this with 99% of the women I know, you will never have anything on your body "playfully grabbed" ever again.

No.6 - Improve your own diet
It's very easy for the two of you to fall into the downward spiral in which many couples begin to replace sexual intimacy with ice cream and cake. Don't let this happen by focusing on your own health requirements and staking your right to a junk-food-free home. It might even be the only way of separating her from the fatty foods which have led to the current problem.

Yes, please keep Fatty McGee away from the junk food! Only you, Mr. Penis, with the perfect body and self-discipline, can save her from herself! She's so lucky to have a man like you, who will forcibly remove food from the household in an attempt to make her feel even worse about herself. Healthy attitudes!

No.7 - Serve her unsatisfactory portions
When dishing up meals for the two of you, try giving her smaller-than-usual amounts. By making her ask for more food, you might succeed in shaming her into an acknowledgment of her recent weight gain, and hopefully to instigate a conversation about what she's going to do about it. If you feel as though you're starving yourself in the process, remember you can always go back for more when she's not looking.

Yes, starve her and then eat the leftovers yourself. This will surely do the trick. Encouraging the development of disordered eating is true love, right, bro?

No.8 - Set out on your own weight loss plan

Here's an interesting experiment for you using reverse psychology. A subtle way to tell her she's getting fat is to tell her you're not happy with your own level of fitness and she may begin to open her eyes to the wider picture. By referencing yourself in any plans to lose weight, you're also subtly telling her that you're not the only one who might benefit from a diet. And even if she does see through your ploy, she'll at least appreciate the tact you have shown and will hopefully take the message on board.

Wait, what?!? You mean you don't have the perfect body already, bro?! Who would have thought?!?!

No.9 - Sign her up for yoga under the pretence of "stress relief"
This works particularly well if your girlfriend still hasn't worked out the link between an active lifestyle and emotional well-being. Tell her you have found exactly what she needs to help her relax, a regular spiritual cleanse in the form of a yoga class. Make sure you choose an intense, calorie-burning form (power yoga or ashtanga yoga), otherwise she may end up rolling around on the floor a couple times a week with no real benefits. The beauty of yoga is that if you dress it up as a way to relieve stress, she may not realize that she's being tricked into shedding a few pounds, and even if she does, you'll end up with a happier, more self-confident girlfriend rather than a grumpy lard-ass.

Trick her into exercise, because nothing says "honest and open relationship" quite like blatant manipulation for your own personal gain.

No.10 - Buy her clothes that are too small

If you buy her clothes that are obviously too small for her, not only will she finally have to admit that she's putting on weight, but she can easily return them for her correct size. First, she'll have to reveal to you that the clothes are too small. "Oh," you might say, "I thought you were a size 8. Isn't that what you were last summer?" The onus is now on her to do something about it.

Oh, I made you feel shitty about yourself with my shitty, ill-intentioned present? I'm so sorry! I'm just kind of an expert in really small things, like, you know, my brain, for example.

I can't even really begin to express the rage I feel for this article: it is based on the concept that humiliating, degrading, and manipulating a loved one is the only way to make them aware of their weight gain. It also sidesteps the fact that for most people, it's not necessary to point out weight gain, as people are usually aware of what is going on with their own bodies. It also doesn't advise partners to consider health factors, emotional issues, or other underlying causes of weight gain that could be addressed in a healthier, more supportive way. And, perhaps most importantly, it doesn't point out that some women may be happier and healthier at a higher weight, and that if their stupid boyfriend thinks it's more important to make her feel ashamed of her body than to love her for who she is at any weight, then her best method of losing weight would be to dump the 180 pound sack of shit who thought this article was a good idea in the first place.

Top 10 Subtle Ways To Tell Her She's Getting Fat [Ask Men]

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<![CDATA[Telling You He's Cheated: Reasons Pro And Con]]> When my boyfriend of six years told me he'd been cheating, a friend said, "Why did he tell you? That was so selfish!" AskMen would agree! Common sense? Not so much!

In their enduring quest to provide an arbitrary 10 answers for any question (and there are generally only about five), AskMen has presented the world with "Top 10: Reasons Not To Tell Her You’ve Cheated" and, correspondingly, the Top 10 reasons to come clean. (Which, I guess, frees the site from flagrant emotional irresponsibility?) They're about what you'd expect, a mix of the obvious, the self-justifying and the same-thing-differently-worded-to-make-10-answers.

Pro honesty rationales include: guilt/paranoia will kill you; she'll hear it somewhere else; and (oddly at #2) "it's the right thing to do." The "Don't Tell" list is a combination of self-righteous (it would only hurt her; it's "selfish" to tell; it meant nothing) and the self-serving (she'll leave you; she may be cheating too!; she won't find out.)

But there is really only one answer: where sex has taken place, nowadays, secrecy is not an option. Whatever the emotional rationale for concealing such a mistake, health consequences render the debate moot — or should. But grown up life is disappointingly messy and I'd be lying if I said that was my first thought when I got The Confession — not least because I'd never had to consider that stuff before. I remember when my friend asked me if I was sorry to have been told, my response: "No, I'm sorry he did it in the first place!" I mean, as long as it had happened I'd rather have known, and I'd rather have known a lot sooner. Strange as it sounds, while ignorance may have been bliss, retroactively the period of obliviousness felt like the worst part. In some ways unburdening oneself is selfish; but so is keeping a partner in the dark and not arming them with the facts of a situation, emotional and otherwise. (Although, given that that's only maybe four arguments, we should probably defer to AskMen.)

Top 10: Reasons Not To Tell Her You’ve Cheated [AskMen]

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