Could we stop promoting the message of genital size as being connected to men's worth?

[Bonobo]

Last edited Mon Jan 7, 2013, 12:12 AM - Edit history (2)

The near Universal acceptance on DU of using sexual dysfunction or physical issues to attack men for being gun defenders is a real window into the kind of invisible --what do I call it? Apparently the term "misandry" will be laughed off as will the claims of "sexism", so I don't know what to call it-- but in any case, I think it is disgusting.

If you agree, raise your voice on this thread because this is the safe place to do it.

ON EDIT:

What I wish I had said is that EVEN IF there is a connection, it is wrong to promote this narrative of men's feeling inadequate because of sexual performance or size. It is a destructive, sexist connection that would be offensive to everyone if we were talking about women.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. don't I know it. K&R

[Warren Stupidity]

2. The gun manufacturers disagree.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

6. Is that some sort of comment on sex in advertising?

Because again, it doesn't negate the OP's point that we are supposed to be opposed to all forms sexism on both sides.

[Warren Stupidity]

7. Yes it is a comment on how the big money of guns markets guns.

And yes it is directly relevant to the op.

[Bonobo]

11. So when Penthouse magazine says something sexist...

I will remember that that gives license to everyone else to do the same.

The NRA's method of selling guns is just as sexist as the people on DU making the same argument.

Just as Women's magazines are culpable in spreading sexist ideas... same thing. You are falling for it.

[caseymoz]

12. Yes, but there's another angle here:

men respond to the advertising by buying guns. That gives the reference credibility it otherwise wouldn't have.

[Bonobo]

14. Yes, you have a point. I should change the thrust of what I am trying to say...

Advertising works because it preys on feelings of inadequacy, yes, such as men's fear of impotence or small size or women's fear of being fat or having wrinkles, etc.

SO what does this tell us? Yes, it could be that women buy diet food because they fear being fat and yes, it could be that you can sell guns by preying on men's fear of sexual inadequacy... I agree.

But what I am saying --or rather what I WISH I had said in my OP is that it is wrong --EVEN in the service of promoting sensible gun control --to further this sexist, anti-male message of inadequacy being tied to genital size --by ourselves (at DU) promoting this connection.

Does that make sense?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

15. So...

...I'm not really inadequate for not owning a gun???

[Bonobo]

16. No, bro, yer perfect. nt

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

17. Well then...

What if get one??

[Confusious]

19. You shrink

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

22. But I...

...wasn't in the pool.

[caseymoz]

18. It makes sense

Last edited Mon Jan 7, 2013, 12:44 PM - Edit history (1)

but I don't know how it can be realized. This sounds rather primal to me.

From my observation, the genital analogies and references used as vulgarities are not really symmetrical between the sexes. I mean, you could insult a guy by calling him a pussy, but it doesn't work in reverse. Calling a woman a dick should be insulting to her, but first and foremost, it just sounds strange. Whereas calling a guy a dick is insulting, too, it's a different flavor of insult than calling him a pussy.

Also, I don't think there's an emotionally equivalent word for "cunt" that refers to the male genitalia.

In other words, all things are apparently not equal and symmetric here. I've never before heard any genital vulgarities and thought, "Oh, I wish people wouldn't impugn my sex like that." I see no reason to crop outrage I don't really feel just because some women feel vulgar references to their genitals insults their entire sex. Suggesting a person's genitals are inadequate or defective is still an insult no matter the sex of the person you aim it at.

[Major Nikon]

23. Now there's an act we all should be following

[Warren DeMontague]

3. I think it's odd that size criticisms of certain sex organs are okay and others get hidden.

That said, I think there seems to be -armchair psychoanalysis time- a certain fetishistic attachment some gun people have to their guns, preferably wanting them ever-bigger, ever-harder, ever more potent ... which lends itself to a certain degree of inevitable speculation and comparison.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

4. I'm really sure...

...that a number of fellow posters here feel I must have to look straight up to see whale dung as I regularly defend the rkba and currently don't even own one.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

5. OTOH...

...as I look over the list of the five folks I see having posted so far, I can't saw I'd think any of you would engage in such silliness on any serious level.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

8. I think I know the posts to which you refer

Then again, I'm sure there are a ton more I missed.

I was tempted to alert on a couple, just for laughs in what I'm sure would be the enlightened responses, but what's the point?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. there is No Point. I quit alerting last January.

[Denninmi]

10. Well, statistically, there are millions of male gun owners.

So, as far as size goes, it should follow the normal distribution curve, which if I can remember anything from my college statistics class should be a standard bell curve.

As far as impotence, it too should exactly mirror the rates among the general population, given such an enormous sample size.

It does seem to be a double standard.

[caseymoz]

13. You have to admit

an AK-47 makes a better phallic symbol than a Porsche. It's hard-- excuse me-- difficult to see the shape of the gun, and its mode of operation and not think penis on some level. And if you want to insult somebody, genital references almost can't miss, no pun intended. They're very primal. No point of reference needed.

The fact that they're revolting is part of the reason why they make good insults. They, of course, can do some collateral damage, offending people you didn't want to insult. That's why you shouldn't use them. That they'll come out when you lose your temper is almost expected, but you shouldn't use them casually.

[Upton]

20. What I do..

Whether it's someone who claims gun owners have small penises or whatever, is just assume those making that type of claim are themselves making up for their own inadequacies....

[libodem]

21. If the shoe were on the other foot

We'd see some outrage. The everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask book says all guys are about average give or take an inch.

And for the ladies, being accused of having differentiation, in size or shape regarding lady parts, well, just pretend we don't have one. We have privates. Guys have publics. Think of us a floating heads. No body at all. Mkay.

Just sayin' from the balloon with a pie hole, floating by.

[ElboRuum]

24. We could...

...but some people seem to get way too much mileage out of it to let it go.