That said...he reflects overreaction to the liberal pushes of the past decades and a society filled with "Kims" like him would become quite unbearable. Equilibrium. That is the key. One doesn't have to be a slob to be a man and I sure don't know where the John Belushi comment survived the first proofreading. Belushi wasn't a "man" - he was a drugged out cokehead like most SNL alumni.

While one certainly can be justifiably angered by the premise of the Queer eye show, one also has to realize that societal decline has traditionally fostered and promoted sexual ambiguity and that there will always be a percentage of folks who are incarnated reverse polarities. Anyone who has actually spent any time in Hollywood will realize that much of the distorted shows on tv only mirror the perverted and distorted lifestyles lived in Hollywood.

One has to see these things in balance. I personally believe that the phrase is offensive and will offend women almost universally. Since he is on his third wife, I am betting he has a few issues that he is parading here somewhat.

I open doors for women and believe that any increased "wimpiness" in men is somewhat inherent in being a man today - and in trying to please women. I saw the way women were treated in many families thirty years ago - and in my opinion it was not being "manly" to get drunk, be rude to women and then pass out after poker or in front of the TV. Sometimes being a real man means biting your tongue, suppressing the stereotypical male instinct and taking care of a woman the way she deserves to be taken care of.

When you wheeled your wife through Europe for example - that is being a "real man" of 2003. Some might deride such apparently subserviant roles - but they are living in the past. As a historian one can grow fond of parts of the past. Or for example your daughter Katie's disobedience re the creative cable routing - my dad would've given me a nice belt-whipping if I directly disobeyed so flagrantly. My grandfather would've given my dad an even much more serious thrashing. I would've done what you did - a grounding. It's male evolution.

Sometimes being a real man means sacrificing the freedom of being a slob, leaving the seat up, watching touchy-feely shows without commenting out loud and letting the woman have even more say than she did in 1980, 1970 or anytime earlier. Sometimes, as a man, one gets the most satisfaction in doing the things that ones father, grandfather and great-grandfather would never dream of doing. It's sacrifice - and it's manly!

Evolution requires change. Technology facilitates new changes that could not be imagined just a decade ago. While one part of me wants to cheer his apparently refreshing honesty - another small voice tells me that his viewpoint isn't the answer either and needs rebuttal.

A balance between the two extremes is required.

SDAI-Tech1