Cornflower:"Maybe our new tradition is to pretend that fathers don't exist, but where is the good in that?"

Exactly. Dad's role is to pay and shut up in the Brave New Feminist World.

Thanks for the poem. It's long been one of my favourites. The passage:

"If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;"

carries a lot of resonance for me and I suspect very many men in our society.

Foxy,I'm glad to hear that the women's mags are making an effort. I may make the effort to look them up to see what the tone of the pieces is.

Cornflower, there have been lots of efforts to get politicians and other public figures to stand up and back fathers, but they're all terrified if the huge cohort of "single mothers" who are readily mobilised to vote en bloc against a politician or party who they perceive as insufficiently dedicated to their cause. Siding with "that bastard" is a pretty sure way of getting that mobilisation happening.

CJMorgan:"Why does Fathers Day have to be linked to any issue beyond fatherhood?"

My point exactly.

>>'Johnny Rotten, thanks for the critique. I'll file it with the rest of the unsolicited advice on how to run my affairs...'

Gold! Sums up the whole thread. Again, welcome back anti. You provide wonderful entertainment for all. Not least those who love to patronise your good self and jump up on their high horse. People just love someone to feel better than.

I often find your posts contain quite simple logic, and an invitation to refute said logical arguments. Quite often others find it more entertaining to address your 'attitude', especially 'to women', rather than simply address the claims without emotion.

Not so much on this topic, but in general, I just love when the 'nice' people cant handle sacred cows being slaughtered. Lots of the time people would/do actually agree with many of your points but they cant get past that you refuse to 'empathise' or add the standard disclaimers to show you 'care' in the more 'sensitive' topics. They'd like to bully you into conformance with their idea of table manners.

So here we have a wonderful plea for septic to catch more flies with honey. Bollocks to that I say! That'd be no fun at all.

But, back to Fathers day..

'Why does Fathers Day have to be linked to any issue beyond fatherhood? I like a day when I get appreciated for just being as good a dad as I can be '

I would say, why does Fathers day have to be linked to Fathers at all. Fathers, mothers, grandparents, children are all generally appreciated all year round, and these inane festivals of useless gifts and corny stereotypes only hampers the quiet enjoyment of domestic bliss for all.

If anything Fathers day vilifies men as appealing to martyrdom and being appeased by DIY gear and frivolous (car/golf accessories) or banal (socks) gifts. The only possible interpretation is men feel put-upon by their kids and have very narrow life interests.

BTW: Foxy, thank you so much for your tireless efforts lately in keeping us all up to date with the contents of women's magazines.

<< So here we have a wonderful plea for septic to catch more flies with honey. Bollocks to that I say! That'd be no fun at all. >>

That depends on whether the purpose is to actually get something done about the issue that purportedly offends the OP, or simply to let off some steam by having a rant and slagging off anybody who disagrees with him.

I and others took Antiseptic at his word and offered some opinions about how to do something productive about it. Clearly, it was a waste of time, but I'm pleased it provided some entertainment to the peanut gallery.

CJMorgan:"I and others took Antiseptic at his word and offered some opinions about how to do something productive about it. "

Yes, you did and I appreciated the constructive suggestions. What a shame you couldn't leave it there, eh? Once the pack starts baying, you can't help yourself, can you?

Antiseptic

Thanks for the update - nothing you say is to be taken seriously - I geddit.

Therefore there is no need for you to take offence when I disagree with you, is there, mate?