US: "She stated 'I had never heard of the possibility in relation to men'. I gave her an example. What the hell is wrong with that?"

There's nothing wrong with it. But Romany wasn't searching for examples, she was talking about her life experience. Just because you had a different experience doesn't mean she was lying about her own. And it's disingenuous to suggest you just "gave her an example" — you attributed a motive to her post then assigned it "ridiculous". You brought up male circumcision in order to point out women have it easier than men. In short, the very fact that she'd posted about her experience seemed to immediately piss you off.

US: "Regardless I take your point this is a 'female only' thread, and males are not welcome. Unless they agree like CJ of course."

That wasn't my point, and that's kind of childish.

US: "Anyway, as I said, the only thread that dealt with DV by women against men got PLEANTY of women guilty of exactly what all you women are complaining about here."

Yeah, but so what? Are you saying the same people who are on this thread were on that thread? I think if you want to accuse someone of being hypocritical I think you need to be upfront about it and use examples. I for one was not involved in that other thread (I don't think so, anyway), so I'm not sure why I keep hearing about it.

I really don't think you're being "unfairly castigated". It's an argument. I'm sure you're not going to be impressed by my cod-psychology but you've seemed from your first post to feel angry and attacked more than perhaps one would expect given the posts that have been flying about. No one thinks you are a "potential rapist" here. No one is calling you "responsible for all wars and human misery". The post is about whether women carry shame and embarrassment around because of the way they smell.

Bronwyn: I was actually being facetious about being a feminazi — it just didn't come across proper!

"Romany could have just let the topic be about how she felt about the chair sniffing."

Excuse me? I could have substituted the topic I wanted to explore for another one? Well yeah, I guess. Come to that I "could have just let the topic be" about bee keeping or flower arranging too. But I wanted (how many times have I now said this?) to hear from other women to see what their experiences were and if they felt the same as I did or if it was just me. As Vanilla said, its not - for obvious reasons, I would have thought - something often discussed.

"women the downtrodden made to feel bad about their bodies, but not men." Wot the…? Do you still not understand I was addressing other women? THAT was my experience. Was theirs the same? Men and their experiences,believe it or not, were not my point of reference.
Women the downtrodden? How on the gods green earth do you extrapolate "downtrodden"?

If, by that, you are insinuating that I am trying to claim victim status for women then I think that is a classic case of transferal: You appear to consider yourself a victim of feminism - you will not let us forget it.

In any case, Robert, with no rancour, animosity or accusations put forward a male pov - which I took on board and we both had a go at diffusing the moment of potential embarrassment and moved on.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...another pertinent post has crept in, inserted itself totally unregarded and lies there damning " a not very nice aspect of the female of the species."

"It might also make a few of you realise that you are not as desirable as you think you are, after the first rush of blood to the also revolting male bits." Exactly

Usual Suspect/Whitty: << ...now I think life is too short >>

Apologies in advance, but in the spirit of Whitty's puerile attacks on me, might I suggest that perhaps it is not life that is too short in this case?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

P.S. Whitty - it was you who brought your feminist mother into OLO discussions in the first place.

Romany "Meanwhile, back at the ranch...another pertinent post has crept in, inserted itself totally unregarded and lies there damning"

I started to respond to that poster and the tone of the response which was trying to get to the keyboard was one I thought I might later regret. At a guess another arrogant fundy christian.

To the topic at hand, I've not done extensive odor or taste testing nor have I done any chasing to see what research has been done.

From my own admittedly small sample of experience some are like honey and some are significantly more bitter. My own theory is that the taste relates to how happy the owner chooses to be (and not just at that moment). That might explain why religious extremists seem to find it all so revolting.

R0bert

Usual Suspect

"You're a good little boy CJ. You're gorgeous the way you suck up to the female posters."

I think this churlish little comment reveals far more about you, US, than it does about CJ. He certainly doesn't strike me as the sort of person to "suck up to" anyone.

"It's actually a good technique he probably found quite successful for getting attention at uni hanging out with the women's studies chicks. What he probably didn't know was that they all thought he was a great friend, while they were shagging that sexist chauvinist mans man behind his back."

As one female poster whose uni days are well in the past and who rightly or wrongly considers herself much older and wiser, that "sexist chauvinist mans man" you speak of might have had some attraction way back then, but certainly doesn't hold a candle now!

Mr Always Right

"a not very nice aspect of the female of the species."

It amazes me how a discussion that only came into existence in the first place due to the puerile actions of one immature male can so quickly be turned on its head to become yet again an attack on women. Why are women the focus of negativity here? However unrepresentative it might have been, it is male behaviour at fault here. That's where the real smell is in this whole grubby little episode.

At the risk of being castigated, it's not "male behaviour" that's "at fault", it's the humorless response to a pretty poor gag. The fact is that men demonstrably find women attractive. Women ditto for men. It's also a fact that both genders have bits and pieces that make smells. Men tend to fart a lot, apparently, if the women I've known are any guide. We also tend to be "stinky", I'm told, to the extent that one of my mates is not allowed into the house after work until he showers downstairs because his wife "can't stand the smell". I have another whose wife makes a point of keeping a room deodorising spray handy "for when you and your mates start farting". Should I be as insulted as the OP?