Sounds like pynchme or SJF. You cant buy that kind of amusing parody of a rad-fem undergraduate.

I love it because people always say this kind of character doesn't exist, but they're still out there man. I call them the lost soldiers, running around in the jungle long after the war is won. Shrill doesn't cut it with this stuff. When I hear 'The Patriarchy!' I always hear that old Monty Python 'The Bishop!'

'In any fight against paranoid masculinist oppression and its elements of subjugation and subordination to the will of others, suppression of abilities, and denial of equality of opportunities, there are always those who lead and take the flak, while others are more passive but enjoy any benefits which may accrue to them. (e.g. Universal franchise in 1908, property rights, partial equal pay etc). Some are so conditioned into acceptance of their subservience and see no means of resisting, or are oblivious to their subordination, that they comply to the power and control exercised and controlled within society and social groups.'

See that kind of gear gives me a real chuckle. Bravo! You wont find a better parody.

'In any fight against paranoid masculinist oppression and its elements of subjugation and subordination'

You just cant read that and not laugh.

val kyrie's article on male oppression illustrated something for me. This sort of savage rhetoric cannot be answered with debate. People who are that commtited to something as barking mad as this kind of feminism (or indeed any kind) will simply reply with sneers and put downs and more slabs of libellous rhetoric. It is a real problem, especially when one replaces 'feminist' with 'islamic fundamentalists', 'jihad', etc. I therefore refuse to join in the 'debate' about feminism.
Just a p.s., from a strong women who believes in her rights. Every time a job goes to a woman, another woman, the partner of the man who didnt get the job, loses out by that much. No simple solution to that one, but certainly can't be solved by just giving lots of jobs to the girls. Unless of course you can arrange for men to bear children and breastfeed them. But then most australian men handle a baby in the same style as they do a football.

"But then most australian men handle a baby in the same style as they do a football."

A most unhelpful comment in a debate such as this.

It's always the same. Where is the middle ground? We have created a society that encourages mothers back out into the workforce at the earliest opportunity after childbirth....economic imperatives again.

I'm not in favour of placing very young children into collective care with age peers as there is very little one on one interaction. It's a herd situation where children are denied the appropriate interaction for their age.

All the dads I know are wonderful with their youngsters, balancing the child's world with masculine interaction. I'm assisting an acquaintance next week when he gets the chance (after four years in the legal system) to bring some pressure to bear on his state-hopping wife so he can see his kids again.

There is no one-size-fits-all system that is ever going to satisfy all situations....my dad used to hit my mum and she left him, but I've seen enough of the other side of the coin to dismiss rabid views whichever gender they emanate from.

Right with you, Poirot.

I found that "football" comment exceedingly offensive too.

As for violence and bullying - I was abused by my ex-husband, however have encountered some female bullies in the workplace I'd like to see behind bars with the key thrown away.

That said, it is always the extremists from either sex who cause the most discord and sully any attempt to work through issues that effect everyone of us - even if not directly but our partners, children and other loved ones.

And so the cycle continues.

Poirot:"A most unhelpful comment in a debate such as this."

I dunno, most blokes pride themselves on their ability to control a football. Ball security, for example, is regarded very highly. The quick offload is also well thought of. the key there is to watch for the runner coming up the inside, while appearing to be paying attention to something else entirely.

All in all a highly complimentary expression.

No football fans?

Here's a quote from Charles Pragnell about Munchausen Syndrome by proxy, which seems to contradict his stance on the subject of claims of abuse made by mothers about fathers

"One of the things we were supposed to learn from Cleveland was that social workers should not act on the basis of a medical diagnosis alone,” Pragnell said. “If you look at Munchausen’s cases there is often no corroborative evidence. ”

and

"“If a paediatrician suspects child abuse there is no need to give it a label,” said Pragnell. “It’s for the police and social services to investigate. By pinning the blame on someone the doctor is acting as judge and jury.” "

As anyone following will have noticed, his position on allegations of abuse in the Family Court is that they should be accepted without question, if the mother makes them about the father.

Poor confused chap.