theoretical question-- are women getting MEANER?

[Deanna's Daydreamer]

This is not a 'dog women' thread at all.

But I've been tooling around with a question I figure I will toss out for any to discuss. Voice what ya think.

Is it a strong possibility that women in American society today are becoming meaner? Let's phrase it in several different ways.

And I'm not saying they are, nor am I saying they should be, nor am I saying they are not, nor am I saying that if they are then it's a good thing. It's basically a simple question. Is your average woman in America today... meaner than the average woman was 10 years ago, or 20 years ago.

And I'm tossing this out there realizing that people might say women AND men are BOTH meaner than they were 20 years ago. That people are more rude in America than they used to be.

And I also don't know if THAT is true.

I'm not trying to stir up some shit, or make myself look crazy by asking this, but sometimes I swear I really DO think that your average modern American woman is a little meaner today than they were back when I was younger-- back in the 1980s. Perhaps it's the rise of divorce and child support issues, perhaps it is a media influence of some kind, perhaps it is just a more stressfull time to be ALIVE.... in America.

So I am just tossing this thing out there for whoever will voice an opinion on it. But let me ask you this. Do any of you guys ever call one of your really old friends, perhaps he lives in another town and you don't get together all that much anymore, and when you talk to the guy's wife she is just flat out mean to his friends? Have any of you guys ever 'felt' that before-- that when you talk with a married woman... who is married to one of your friends... that she is basically "hi and bye" on the phone?

Here's another toss on the fire. And don't get me wrong. I'm not 'blaming women' in this post. God knows there are plenty of *sshole men, losers, potheads, drunks, momma's boys, 10 thousand dollar millionaires, show off, know it all, self obsessed, sex obsessed men out there. I realise that there are serial killers, pornographers, cheaters, guys who beat their wives, and double life leading lying bastard men. So this is not a one sided question I am asking.

I am basically asking if it is a possibility that more and more women in America are acting bitchy for no particular reason, are simply meaner to other people than they used to be, or if society has somehow sponsored this thru female TV characters... what..EVER. You get what I am asking...right? I am wondering if... for whatever reason... more women in America today... are simply MEANER than they used to be 20 years ago.

Your opinion. Right now. LAUNCH

and Challenger go with throttle up.

[gypsy]

[earlnemo]

Ok. That answers his question about society in general, but what about Women?

[Hank IV]

Ann, why the long face? (stolen from Wombats excellent audio clip)

[F-Stop]

That's no woman. ITS A CYBORG

[Georgia]

This month's Cosmo has an article titled- Are you ever a bitch? And the tagline suggests that guys love it.

If you are thinking that women in their 30's-40's are showing bitchy tendencies I'd need to mention that I think selfconfidence can be misunderstood as bitchiness and really, it's more knowing and saying what we want out of life.
But, since you think it's prevalent in younger women; I don't really know what to say about it.
In a general statement, I can say that folks are not as nice to be around in say, a retail situation. Kids learn what they see and push to see what they can get away with...

[fluffy]

im pretty sure ann wears size 12 grey boots.

[Quince]

This month's Cosmo has an article titled- Are you ever a bitch?

Oh, well. At least they used a question mark.

[Georgia]

Oh, well. At least they used a question mark.

I found my copy- I enjoy picking up a racy magazines* in the airport-

the grab line on the cover is- Are you ever a bitch? but the true title to the article is Why men can't resist a bitch.
They give tips on how to become a bit bitchier.

"Sometimes it's easier for a guy to deal with a bitch than with a woman who waffles or is too emotional."



* Racy magazines are what my dear older friend Mary called them. She was in her 80's and lived in the townhouse apartment across from me (my first place after college.). I'd offer her my recycled Glamour, Cosmo...whatever my sister had shared. She feigned concern over the content of the "racy magazines" but, then she'd call over to see if I had any old magazines and specifically ask for the "racy" ones.

[binR Bishop]

Oh, crap. Women in general are more assertive and independent that they used to be. And less tolerant of dips like you.

Good for us, I say.

See how "mean" I am before my morning coffee.