Thursday, November 15, 2007

"For Men Only"—Lost?

Hi, Les,
 
Did we lose the thread "For Men Only"?  It was in General last night when I responded to Bill and Sabby.
 
Thanks,
 
Jack

11 comments:

les__f MSN said...

Hi Theo ( Jack) check your email,.and by all means repost it,.as you were just starting to get a couple of serious response's to your thread.                                                                                                           HF&RV  

theomer MSN said...

Thanks, Les.  Will do.    Bill and Sabby, wait a bit, please, and I'll respond to your last messages.  Thanks.   Jack

les__f MSN said...

Cheers !                   ..........................................          HF&RV

theomer MSN said...

This message has been deleted by the author.

theomer MSN said...

 Good evening, Bill and Sabby,   Last night there were problems with the original post and its threads, so that's why none are shown here.  But here's my response to your last two replies:   Sabby:  So good to hear from you!  Now, me—"brave"?  Never thought of it in those terms.  I was just talking to my wife about the word bravery over supper.  To me, bravery implies some sort of risk, something that one can lose.  I don't have anything to lose except my life.  Only kidding.    The other day I came across a Chinese proverb (actually, it was posted in one of the sites) that says: "When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others."  So much has been shared with me, by family, friends, books, life experiences, etc.  Perhaps this is how I pass it on: by writing about this or that, or whatever.  As long as I don't become a boring, conceited know-it-all.   I think Nobel Prize novelist Hermann Hesse (Steppenwolfe, Siddartha, The Glass Bead Game) might be sort of responsible for letting me "hang it all out."  In a few of his novels, which I read in my 30s, he wrote about some of the feelings and thoughts I was experiencing.  So then the idea came to me: if he could write about these personal things, I could talk about them.  And I did.  And some of it wasn't pleasant for others.  Unfortunately.   Bill: No need to apologize.  I mean, if I didn't know me and read what you did, certainly the wheels would start turning and I'd think, What the hell is this guy getting at?  I love that expression "the Man who's driving the bus."    Like you, I have a few illnesses.  Perhaps we should get together and start a medical thread.  I know what my next topic would be—OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).  But that's another story for another time, right?   Thank you both for your responses ... and may I ask you a favour, please: would you both mind e-mailing me, as I have some information regarding this topic.   jgsmhaines@videotron.ca

sabby MSN said...

Jack,   Good to hear from you too!  You are indeed brave because you threw out a topic for discussion that comedians have joked about for ages.  You risked being ridiculed, ignored or laughed at.  But you wanted to connect with other Verdunites about this important subject.  You said out loud what other people are afraid to say.  That's what writers do.  I'm sure some people felt uncomfortable.  I certainly didn't know there was a name for it, so hey, I learned something even if it doesn't apply to me.  So why is female menopause an open book for everyone?  It's okay, no one has to answer---just a rhetorical question.   Like Heese, you open yourself up to your thoughts, feelings and experiences---that's what writers do and you're a fine writer.  I read somewhere that if you can't make  yourself transparent, show your vulnerability to the world, then don't write!     I've been busy but will e-mail you when I have a moment because I want to know what you're working on and what happened to your short story that you shared with me.   Take care. 

the lad MSN said...

Hi   Long story very short.my cardiologist told me that men can go thru male menopause and while its not all men it does happen..well guess who might just be in that select group of men....hormonal thing...   Theo took courage for you to post it..nice job brother..   Lad

theomer MSN said...

Thanks for your responses, Lad and Dolly.   Dolly, you raised an interesting question: Why is menopause an open book for everyone?  I mean no disrespect when I write this, but maybe because women have made it public.  Let me explain, briefly if I can, and if I can remember some tidbits I think are from the book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, by John Gray.  (I haven't read the book, but I think I will.)   Female children are taught to be nurturing, to be nice, to play nice, to emulate their mothers.  And when they are older they are taught to talk about their feelings and emotions.  In short, they're taught to be team players.    But little boys are taught to be rough and tough, to be a man, not to cry, and when they have that football, to run with it—alone.   So, then, men and women are pre-programmed differently.   Why isn't andropause talked about amongst men?  Why isn't it more public?  I think there are two reasons for this.  First and foremost, not too many men know about it—they have to be blood-tested for it, if I can use that word.  Second, once men find out they have this "male menopause," they don't want to talk about it.  Why?  Because it is weak and unmasculine.  Manly pride prevents men from talking about it.  Period—Oops!   Now for newcomers to this topic who want to learn more about male menopause, just Google "andropause" and it will bring you to the first page of thousands of sites.  Or, better still, just click on the link below to bring you to that first page:   http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=andropause&btnG=Google+Search&meta=   Have a good evening, guys and dolls!   Jack        

wendythepool MSN said...

AMENopause to that.

theomer MSN said...

Good one, Wendy!  I love it!   Pleasant dream,   Jack

theomer MSN said...

Oops!  I wrote, "Pleasant dream," Wendy?  Only one?   No, have a few . . .   Jack