Cornflower,
You wanted a description of the future and you got one. What's your problem?

One of the reasons Stephen Hawkins is keen on the idea of colonization of other moons, planets or space stations is because of the growing number of viruses on earth that are becoming more difficult to treat. If a virus becomes immune to most drugs (and many eventually will), it can wipe humanity out.

There is also the risk of nuclear war on earth, and the eventual depletion of resources necessary for supporting an increasing population.

There is a great lack of vision amongst men now in Australia, and vision and motivation are very important for men.

We have become a country of importers and workforce fodder for multi-nationals, and a country that denigrates the male population at every opportunity, and this is mainly lead by university academics and certain individuals in the media.

Not good for men's health in the short, medium or long term.

vanna,

Fair enough, that is your opinion and so be it, I will not argue with you.

However there may be others who don't see it that way and their views should also be heard.

Severin and CJ - I laughed out loud too! Thanks for that. CJ you are gifted!

Cornflower,

I rarely to never drink myself and even I enjoy an evening at the pub every month or two.

Hotels these days cater to a wide clientele; not just people getting legless.

I think most blokes can set a fair example of how to socialize in a way that doesn't include drinking too much, and maybe that's more valuable because it's an example others can follow. I don't know that all that many people will be inspired by a wowsery message that one needs to abstain to be healthy (which isn't true anyway).

Cornflower: <"General comment
The question remains, who do men look to for leadership in Australia. Are there particular writers, philosophers, academics of worth?">

That's a fascinating question Cornflower. Maybe you could start a general thread with it. I'd be most interested in anything the blokes had to say on that.

Cornflower

I second Pynchme's proposal. Who do men look to as role models? Just sports stars or a wide variety of men? Are there women they admire too?

I'd be very interested in your thoughts.

Thanks Severin and Pynchme - I try and ignore prats, but sometimes I can't help myself.

Speaking of which, Cornflower - you asked "Where do men go to chew the philosophical fat re themselves, men, the future and everything?". I simply provided an honest, if lighthearted, answer. Where I live, men who want to do those things go to the pub, or do so when engaged in recreational activities like fishing or golf. We generally don't get mindlessly drunk, but we do have extensive conversations about all kinds of things, i.e. "chew the fat". That's certainly what I do when I want male company.

Interesting that you think we should be "meeting regularly in cafes to share some sun and conversation" - what, like women do?

I agree with Severin and Pynchme that your question "...who do men look to for leadership in Australia. Are there particular writers, philosophers, academics of worth?" is an interesting one. As an Australian man I'd say that there are many and diverse answers.

While some men might look to writers, philosophers or academics, I suspect that most men who look for leadership would find it in sporting heroes, captains of industry, politicians, religious leaders etc. Personally, I'm not particularly keen on most 'leaders' I've encountered, but I understand that many people seem to need leadership - but I'm not at all sure that it's a gendered thing.

You could ask exactly the same question about women, and I suspect the answers would be quite similar.