Illusions of Chivalry

" A man defending husbands vs. wives or men vs. women
has got about as much chance as a traffic policeman
trying to stop a mad dog by blowing two whistles.

-Ring Lardner

Chivalrous Proprieties

The chivalrous proprieties that incline us to support and honor women for their special qualities are now stronger than ever. While men have been traditionally honored for their strengths and virtues, being openly supportive of men has now become somewhat improper and unsuitable for mixed company, as it might imply that men are better than women in at least a few select ways.

Being openly critical of women is socially improper now, as it always has been, while being publicly critical of men is not merely tolerated, as it has been over the ages, but has gained a beachhead and is pressing forward.

Half-Truths

Touting half of the controversies, supporting women and criticizing men, and suppressing the other halves, creates a substantial bias. As we look at only one side of the story, our chivalrous biases morph into an absurdly lopsided sense of reality.

So far as I know, nobody has ever suggested we can understand each other by hearing only one side of the controversies.

We remain as confused as ever about the nature of men and women. Is it any wonder that, as our title suggests, "You Still Don't Understand?"

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