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Opinion Why do we even need an International Men’s Day?

There is a lack of mainstream acceptance of systemic men’s issues, writes David Walsh.

WHILE MANY GROUPS in society such as women, children, LGBT and others, have long established calendar days to celebrate their existence, it is only in the last 2 to 3 years that International Men’s Day (19 November) has come to be marked by at least some groups in Ireland.

This late coming on the scene marks a certain hesitation. Slowly, haltingly, it is becoming legitimate to celebrate men, their achievements, and their essential role in society.

Why do we even need an International Men’s Day?

One could list at great length the many problems that afflict men today, including the male suicide epidemic, the paucity of resources for male victims of domestic violence and the falling behind of young men and boys in education. However there is one fundamental factor related to all these problems that men encounter: there is a lack of mainstream acceptance of systemic men’s issues which is compounded by the absence of male advocacy groups with a broad remit to make the case at political level and the level of the media.

Men have endured a bad press for a long time. When a leading UK politician like Andrea Leadsom can say that men should not be hired to do childcare as they may be paedophiles, collective guilt is being applied.

There is no other group in society which is collectively blamed for the poor behaviour of a small minority on such a regular basis. The reductionism evident in blaming society’s ills, from workplace harassment to terrorism, on ‘toxic masculinity’ is a clear example of how lazy thinking and glib talk typifies the current debate on men’s issues.

There is no National Men’s Council

On a political note, take, for instance, the highly misleading perception that the predominance of men in the Dáil automatically means that men’s issues are ‘on the table’.

In fact, it has now become necessary to argue before Oireachtas committees the case for men when laws or policy covering a broad range of social issues are being formulated.

The same case, to be effective, must also be made to the media, including discussions and debates on both radio and television. In a word there is no National Men’s Council, State funded or otherwise, to offer a counterbalance to the prevailing narrative about men being the perennially privileged class in society with no serious, systemic issues requiring advocacy.

Why has there been such a dearth of male advocacy?

Historically, men have had no issues organising as trade unionists, or in groups dedicated to protesting against inequalities faced by minorities based on their race or sexuality. This is not the case for men’s advocacy.

Such advocates are typically met with contempt when attempting to add a discussion of men’s issues to the national dialogue on gender equality. Such negative attitudes may well be a factor in why many men are so reluctant to come forward.

To mark International Men’s Day, Men’s Voices Ireland is organising an event today 18 November in Wynn’s hotel Dublin. There has been a considerable backlash to this event in the media.

The conference will feature two very well-known speakers. Matt O’Connor the founder of Fathers4Justice, will discuss “How has the State and the media been so indoctrinated against men and masculinity?”, and give the benefit of what he has learned from 16 years of campaigning.

John Waters has written eloquently for many years on the plight of fathers arising from the family law courts. His topic is “The attack on fathers, the attack on family”.

Are there any signs of hope?

There are a few straws such as the example set by the UK MP Philip Davies who has spoken and campaigned fearlessly for men’s issues for many years.

Another is the film “The Red Pill” which was made by acclaimed director Cassie Jaye about the Men’s Movement launched last March. Jaye began her film expecting to expose men’s advocates as nothing more than misogynists, but soon found herself challenging her own assumptions so much so that she now rejects the feminist label.

Jaye’s experience inspires hope because it demonstrates that even deeply-held convictions can be relinquished if we are only willing to countenance ideas that challenge those convictions with an open mind. This is what International Men’s Day should be about. Not just a celebration of men’s contributions and of masculinity, but a day to acknowledge that men also have serious issues to be addressed.

David Walsh worked in Maynooth University for many years and is Chairman of Men’s Voices Ireland.

Opinion: Do we still need unions?>

David McCullagh: Was de Valera’s mother telling the truth about his parentage?>

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    Mute Anto Curran
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    Nov 18th 2017, 8:37 AM

    Shhhh every other group in Ireland gets more of a voice then Mens rights groups, and people want to keep it that way. Mens rights when it comes to their own children after a separation from the mother is the highlight.

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    Mute Janet McGowan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:18 AM

    @Joe Bloggs: I presume you’re being funny there? My own experience and the experiences of others I know would certainly indicate a completely different story!!

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:24 AM

    @Janet McGowan: Are you saying what Joe said has never ever happened?

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    Mute Charles McCarthy
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:27 AM

    @Anto Curran: The courts have no issue wanting your money, um money good, access bad. Meanwhile over here we have deadbeat dad, um taxpayer must support his kids as well. Flecked up system allrite.

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    Mute Janet McGowan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:30 AM

    @Dave Murray: Of course not . However when he writes, ‘the judiciary has historically sought’, he is portraying the situation as being the norm.

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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:33 AM

    @Janet McGowan: My mother, with her two grown adult daughters got their father chucked out of his home and accused him of violence against his wife. She used photos, from an accident she had at a roadworks site and the man never raised his hand to any of us his whole life. The house, he provided was big and worth a lot of money with land. He rarely drank or smoked, did his best to feed and provide for the family. He died, from the stress of it all in the end and a 40k bill from his lawyer to prove his innocence.

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    Mute Janet McGowan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:42 AM

    @Stephen murphy: That’s terrible Stephen, nobody should have to go through something like that!

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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Nov 18th 2017, 10:00 AM

    @Janet McGowan: if both parents act as adults in a separation regarding the welfare of the children, then all will be okay. However, if the mother/wife/gf lies or fights against the fathers access to the children, then the judge will ALWAYS side with the mother.
    There is an assumption in family courts that a mother will always be the better primary caregiver. That might have been the case in the 1960s when no mother worked outside the home. Therefore the mother was in a better position to care for the kids, than a father spending 10 hours a day elsewhere at work
    In the 21st century, the courts should work under the assumption that either parent is equally likely to be the best caregiver to the children. But our judges are still living in 1967 rather than 2017

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    Mute Gerald Kelleher
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    Nov 18th 2017, 10:10 AM

    @Janet McGowan: Its a lot worse than that, after the judiciary is done with its work, the mother can request ways to maximize social benefits from the dispossessed partner who has simply no choice but to comply. A dirty business that the law tries its best to balance as one parent tries to make up for the failings of the other, either men or women.

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    Mute Stephen Cumbers
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    Nov 18th 2017, 10:21 AM

    @Janet McGowan:
    Not funny in the slightest.

    No woman has ever been prosecuted in this country when she refuses court ordered access to a child’s father. However, on a weekly basis, cells are filled with men who breech maintenance orders.

    90% of custody battles end with either sole custody for the mother or joint custody. Rarely is a father given sole custody.

    Unmarried fathers are not automatic guardians of their children and if the mother is not agreeable he must go to court.

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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    Nov 18th 2017, 10:51 AM

    @Janet McGowan:
    It is the norm that the mother gets preferential treatment over the father when it comes to custody.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 10:58 AM

    @Anto Curran: white men built the world. They gave themselves every right and privilege. The rest of us don’t have the equality that they have that’s why there are groups advocating for women, people of race, lgbt because they didn’t give the rest of us the rights they gave themselves. It’s called the patriarchy. And don’t even start on women getting custody of children. Who made that rule? It wasn’t women it was men. They decided it’s a woman’s job to rare children not a man. If you want to start a group that actually helps men and doesn’t constantly hate on women then go for it. There are certainly areas that men need help in. Just don’t give us this poor me attitude.

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    Mute Gerald Kelleher
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:22 AM

    @Deborah Behan: The recent blizzard of abuse claims really started as a divorce or separation tactic that maximizes the benefit of one partner over another and normally, in the matter of custody, the mother takes precedence. There are different levels, one worse than the other , creating heartache for one of the parents involved however not all separations are legally ballistic.

    https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/sexual-abuse-claims-weapon-of-choice-in-child-custody-battles-35482810.html

    With abuse claims becoming retroactive among adults, this is the secular utopia many wish for.

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:44 AM

    @Dave Murray: What Joe says is a bit of an exaggeration. Unless the husband is a complete dick-head he will fight for his rights in the courts. Most fathers would perfer to see their kids looked after properly and will try to provide for them through a means tested maintainance agreement.

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    Mute Gerald Kelleher
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:55 AM

    @Chris Kirk: ‘Fight for his rights’ indeed !. The best a person can do is not appeal to the courts and do what they would do anyway in providing for their children. The poor people who are sold the idea of a ‘fight’ are wasting energy on an outcome that was always prescribed long before they realized they were being dispossessed.

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    Mute Janet McGowan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 12:04 PM

    @Gerald Kelleher: My own ex took me to court to have LESS access with his children (which already wasn’t that much!), and he won. It goes both ways. The outcome is not always favourable to the mother contrary to popular belief!

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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    Nov 18th 2017, 12:11 PM

    @Janet McGowan:
    So you think you’re getting hard done by by getting more access to your kids??

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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    Nov 18th 2017, 12:13 PM

    Most separated fathers would bite your hand off for that – your ex is very much the exception.

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    Mute Myk_Oval_Balls_nRyt
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    Nov 18th 2017, 12:27 PM

    @Janet McGowan: Bit of a sweeping statement there, i like how you tied it together with examples…

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    Mute Misanthrope
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    Nov 18th 2017, 12:33 PM

    @Janet McGowan: that is a man’s situation if he doesn’t “behave himself”

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    Mute Pat Price
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    Nov 18th 2017, 12:43 PM

    @Avina Laaf: I would assume there had been an existing arrangement which was not working out for Dad and possibly the Kid/kids, Mum not agreeing to make changes as they would not suit her so Dad has to go to court, Judge obviously agreed with Dad , a lot of mums nowadays need free time for their own work and their “me time”.

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    Mute Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
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    Nov 18th 2017, 1:10 PM

    @Deborah Behan: ah seriously now .are you for real? Your comment is an insult to all the men who are fighting for the rights to have access to see their kids . I’m sure deep down you know that men do not equal rights in this situation but here you are on about ” aw the poor women ” again ! ..

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    Mute Don Shavago
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    Nov 18th 2017, 1:30 PM

    @Janet McGowan: You’re a knocker Janet.

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    Mute Janet McGowan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 1:31 PM

    @Pat Price: That’s a lot of assumptions right there, Pat. The general opinion here seems to be that fathers are hard done by wrt separation, divorce, access, maintenance etc and I was merely giving an example from my own personal experience that it’s not always true.
    In any case, what exactly would the problem be for any parent of 3 small children to either wish to work, or to have ‘me time’?

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    Mute Paul Hughes
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    Nov 18th 2017, 1:47 PM

    @Deborah Behan: you’re the absolute definition of everything that is wrong with modern feminism, I’m glad you left that comment for everyone to see the true face of your ridiculousness.

    Please tell us the rights that women and minorities don’t have that the white man does, in this day and age in Ireland.

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    Mute Dlow Brown
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    Nov 18th 2017, 2:21 PM

    @Anto Curran: I know a mother of two kids, who has done it all on her own when the father done a runner about 8 years ago when the kids were 3 and 5. Went to a life of drugs and crime. He decided to show his face again. Threatening the mother and stalking the kids, bribing them with money. Physically assaulted the mother in front of the kids. Yet he was granted access to them. The kids thankfully are old enough and they have copped onto him and want nothing to do with him. The 3 seperate judges said they better off to have time with their dad. Times are changing on access but not for the good in alot of cases.

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    Mute Susannah O'Brien
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    Nov 18th 2017, 2:53 PM

    @Janet McGowan: Errmmm, you’re a parent. “me time” doesn’t exist. It’s a social construct.

    If you wish to work it shouldn’t be a problem so long as you can afford child care. If you can’t afford child care, then don’t work.

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    Mute Permo Dermo
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    Nov 18th 2017, 3:27 PM

    @Deborah Behan: what you are saying is most probably true as regards the historic background however, this situation needs to Change and reflect 21st century Ireland

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    Mute Susannah O'Brien
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    Nov 18th 2017, 3:45 PM

    @neilo: It may seem harsh, but it’s not really. It’s just reality. I don’t get “me time” until the kids are in bed at night, that’s the same for the majority of parents, married or otherwise. The odd time an auntie or grandparent takes them for a few hours here and there, or even a sleep over, but that does not make you entitled to “me time”.

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    Mute Susannah O'Brien
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    Nov 18th 2017, 6:16 PM

    @neilo: I never intended to come across as if I was attacking Janet, neilo. I was just giving my opinion, same as everyone else in the comment section. Although I would like to point out that Janet did indeed mention it herself.

    ” In any case, what exactly would the problem be for any parent of 3 small children to either wish to work, or to have ‘me time’?”

    I dislike it when people imply that having kids is so terrible that we all need to have “me time”. You only have them with you for such a short time, and then they’re all grown up with their own families. Have your “me time” in the evenings when they’re asleep, and be with them as much as possible for the rest of the time. One day they’ll be gone.

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    Mute Janet McGowan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:18 PM

    @neilo: Thanks Neilo, it’a nice when someone actually reads what you’ve written in the context of the thread, as opposed to as a stand alone comment. You didn’t misunderstand and I appreciate it!

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    Mute Felicity Hensen
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    Nov 19th 2017, 12:10 AM

    @Gerald Kelleher: My mother was raped before being made marry my father because she was pregnant. She was then imprisoned, yes imprisoned, in a marriage where sexual, physical, financial, & psychological violence was the norm. The barring order she got when he assaulted my sibling was a joke. The court system never once favoured her when we we minors, & any chance was gone when we became adults. My father refused to have his share of the house bought at a fair market price because he didn’t want to separate. Therefore, my mother was forced to spend thousands of Euros being dragged through the courts for a judicial separation. Her lifetime of violence resulted in 5%. She got a 55% share of the sale of the house. I am sick to death of people claiming it’s a free for all for women. It isn’t.

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    Mute Boyne Sharky
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    Nov 19th 2017, 12:35 AM

    @Deborah Behan: We know the family courts system in Ire land are overwhelmingly biased against men from the only in depth examination of them by Roisin O’Shea, who did this for her PhD thesis. This isn’t opinion or interpretation but fact.
    She found that when access was unilaterally withdrawn in 100% of cases it was done so by the mother and where this was persistent there was no case of the court sanctioning them. In 100% of cases maintenance orders were made in favour of the wife, even in those rare cases where the husband was the primary carer, this did not change.
    This isn’t equality it’s a blatant bias towards men and is acknowledged by everyone within the system.
    If we go back just 100 years it wasn’t a case that men ruled the world and subjugated women, the wealthy and powerful ruled over the poor, regardless of gender. Any of us can examine our ancestors from the 1911 census and you can be certain the vast majority were downtrodden as that was the way it was. It was not a “white men ruled the world” scenario, rather it was a case of “the wealthy ruled the world”. If you were wealthy you didn’t go hungry, your family were educated, had the best healthcare of the time and didn’t go cold. The poor however had few, if any, of these things.
    It’s ignorant, patronising and insincere to attempt to link those genuine women’s issues, which had been fought for and won over the years, to the plutocracy we once had and, unfortunately, are seeing a return of. You should be apologising.
    Nobody “decided” it was women’s job to rare children. Had you read Dr. O’Shea’s thesis you may know that of the 95% of cases where mothers fought for, and secured custody of their children she found they tried to severely restrict or prevent the fathers from the children’s lives, often even breaking court orders. If anything, she indicated that it was many of the mothers who regarded their children as “personal property” to be bargained with.
    Blaming men for not getting help in areas they may need it, when the help isn’t there is beyond insulting. If you accept that every other international study may just be comparable to Ireland then there is little or no gender pay gap, in fact women in their 20′s to 40′s will earn more than men. DV will approximately affect both genders, but where is the help for male victims, it’s laughable saying few turn up to the centres that don’t exist and insulting to say go out and build or fundraise. If you believe in equality, live it, and divide those grants equally. Stop demonising men. Hardly a day goes by but there’s an article demonising men. If people truly take issue with violence, for example, then target the crime without demonising a male or female component.

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    Mute Janet McGowan
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    Nov 19th 2017, 2:35 PM

    @Susannah O’Brien: Susannah, yes I mentioned ‘me time’ which was directly in response to Pat’s comment, as neilo pointed out to you. I was in no way implying that having children is terrible!!

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    Mute gjpb
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    Nov 18th 2017, 8:37 AM

    Men and women need to work together to improve all our lives.

    We need to listen to each other.

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    Mute Daniel O'Connor
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    Nov 18th 2017, 8:44 AM

    @gjpb: What?

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    Mute gjpb
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    Nov 18th 2017, 8:48 AM

    @Joe Bloggs: I agree. There most definitely is an anti male narrative in the media. Look at the many articles on buzzfeed and huff post as well.

    Men and women must both realise that society can be unfair to both groups.

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    Mute Daniel Donovan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:43 AM

    @gjpb: Read an article on shitfeed recently which said “men using the hashtag #feministsrefat are misogynists and hate women.” All buzzfeed do is pander to minority groups and teach them to be victims, like a lot of media oulets at the moment.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:03 AM

    @Daniel Donovan: says the eternal victim! Ha! Poor you. You had to fight to get the vote? No. You had to fight for equality in the workplace? No. You have to fight for autonomy over your own body? No. You don’t have custody of your children? Who made that rule? Not women. Men.

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    Mute Kevin Gallagher
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:11 AM

    @Deborah Behan: sorry Deborah, but you come on here spouting hatred of men and then claim you don’t hate men. Yet when this article comes out I have already read two posts stating that men made the rules on custody of children to the woman. A rule you say was made by men, not a government, men. By your logic it’s women that are at fault for the way Brexit is being negotiated with Theresa May in charge.
    You constantly claim you are not anti-men yet any attempt by a man or woman to defend the fact that not all men are women-hating bigots you spout out that men, as a sex, made the rules.

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    Mute Flip off
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:50 AM

    Debs you didn’t have to fight for those things either. Your “team woman” nonsense is infantile. You have about as much in common with those women (and men) who fought for women’s rights as I do.

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    Mute Con Murphy
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    Nov 18th 2017, 10:44 PM

    @Deborah Behan:
    You are quite correct.
    We live in a patricachal society, therefore mysogyne is inevitable. A tragedy for both genders, and the root cause of many of our societies ills. But many women are happy to use this to their own advantage. Look at female world leaders, like Thatcher,and in our own country the female leaders in political parties,who promote the status quo as long as they have positions and prestige.

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    Mute Colin Morris
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    Nov 19th 2017, 1:20 AM

    @gjpb:
    Yes – and wealth needs to be redistributed.
    Men are not the problem.
    It is the 1% of men (and some women) who control all resources who are the natural enemy of good people.

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    Mute Permo Dermo
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    Nov 18th 2017, 8:59 AM

    Excellent article Kevin and thank you for highlighting this very important topic.
    Men don’t need feminizing no more than women need to be masculine for sociatile acceptance. We need to both celebrate our gender differences and move society forward as equals, not opponents

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    Mute Steve Austin
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:13 AM

    @Permo Dermo: the media and in particular advertising need to change…most TV and radio ads portray men ..husband’s, dad’s etc as a bit stupid and a figure of fun.

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    Mute Misanthrope
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    Nov 18th 2017, 12:34 PM

    @Steve Austin: Cultural Marxist bullshit. No accident

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    Mute Permo Dermo
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    Nov 18th 2017, 6:53 PM

    @Steve Austin: Bang on comment, totally agree.

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    Mute Colin Morris
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    Nov 19th 2017, 1:14 AM

    @Permo Dermo:

    Partly true.

    Equitable wealth redistribution – to pry resources from the hands of a tiny few – will be the biggest step to helping society.

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    Mute Pepe Kekistani
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:49 AM

    This article will not go down well for the other 47 genders, especially the non-binary ones

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    Mute Daniel Donovan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:51 AM

    @Pepe Kekistani: All the pseudo-scientists will be going mad.

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    Mute Pepe Kekistani
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:35 AM

    @neilo: Keep fighting the good fight for social justice Neilo!

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    Mute Pepe Kekistani
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:51 AM

    @neilo: of course I don’t. I’m just an alt-right Nazi, a fascist and a low information voter.

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    Mute Pepe Kekistani
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    Nov 18th 2017, 12:40 PM

    @neilo: I just have a different opinion which is clearly unacceptable to ultra-liberal goons such as yourself

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Nov 18th 2017, 1:23 PM

    @Pepe Kekistani: too much internet and not enough growing up.

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    Mute Daniel Donovan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:41 AM

    Why do we need an international men’s, women’s, LGBT or anything day. Can we not just accept that everyone is equal in western society and move on from the victimhood complex plaguing peoplel at the monent.

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    Mute Bairéid Rísteard
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    Nov 18th 2017, 12:25 PM

    @Daniel Donovan: men’s suicide rate and how they get treated in family court is not ‘vague’.

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    Mute Permo Dermo
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    Nov 18th 2017, 3:30 PM

    @Daniel Donovan: that can only happen when men are viewed equally to women.

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Nov 18th 2017, 6:28 PM

    @Daniel Donovan: We’re not equal. Can you point out where your healthcare is restricted in the constitution? I can where mine is.

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    Mute Felicity Hensen
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    Nov 19th 2017, 12:13 AM

    @Bairéid Rísteard: Abusive men are allowed unsupervised access to their children. As in my other comment. My mother received not one ounce of preferential treatment in any court relating to the violence she and we as a family were being subjected to by my father.

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    Mute Colin Morris
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    Nov 19th 2017, 1:11 AM

    @Daniel Donovan:

    Everyone is NOT equal.
    Rich people are treated differently as they control access to opportunity, which is denied to most men and women.

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    Mute Peter White
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    Nov 18th 2017, 10:57 AM

    This isn’t recognised in the same way as womens day because men don’t complain as near as much as women and it isnt in womens interests to recognise that day.

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Nov 18th 2017, 6:30 PM

    @Peter White: Judging by this thread alone, you’re wrong!

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    Mute Felicity Hensen
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    Nov 19th 2017, 1:03 AM

    @Peter White: Or maybe because it’s viewed by some as a similar argument put forth by people in the U.S. as to why isn’t there a white history month.

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    Mute Liam O'Reilly
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    Nov 18th 2017, 8:39 AM

    No other group collectively blamed for the actions of a small minority? That is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in a long time. How about Travellers for a start. How about people from underprivileged areas of the country? EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. a group is tarred with a bad label, it is because of the actions of minority.

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    Mute Charles McCarthy
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:30 AM

    @Liam O’Reilly: Male travellers, males from underprivileged areas?

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    Mute Daniel Donovan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:45 AM

    @Charles McCarthy: Male travellers are “underpriveieged” as you put it because they leave school at 15/16 without completing the leaving cert and are undeducated in conparison with the rest of the country. Nobody wants to employ someone who doesn’t hold any qualifications.

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    Mute Pepe Kekistani
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:47 AM

    @Liam O’Reilly: The same group that never finishes school, majority permanently unemployed, robs, mugs, fights, vandalises…the list goes on.

    And after all that they still have Pavee Point and you feel like they get a raw deal? Gimme a break

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    Mute Hardly Normal
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    Nov 18th 2017, 10:25 AM

    @Daniel Donovan: you don’t need qualifications to be skilled

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    Mute Pauric J O'Brien
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    Nov 18th 2017, 10:26 AM

    Your dead right Liam, the poor travellers, it’s the 99% that give the rest of them a bad name ! Totally unfair……

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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:10 AM

    @Daniel Donovan: The ignorance displayed on this site, not all travellers are uneducated thieves. Didn’t we have a traveller judge a few years ago, Gardai, actors and artists, journalism and particularly in sports at all levels, some of our best world champions are travellers.

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    Mute Pepe Kekistani
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:36 AM

    @Mr Phil Officer: Yeah in boxing LOL

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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:52 AM

    @Pepe Kekistani: boxing is a way out of poverty in some communities on the margins of society and it’s not just boxing that travellers participate and compete in, GAA and soccer too.

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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Nov 18th 2017, 12:17 PM

    @Mr Phil Officer: …just to add after a quick search, equestrian sports, we’ve also had traveller musicians, poets and story tellers, authors and believe it or not in the sciences.
    I could probably write a whole article about the positive contributions made by travellers if I dug a bit deeper.

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    Mute Charles McCarthy
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    Nov 19th 2017, 1:05 PM

    @Daniel Donovan: I think you’ll find it was Liam that used the word “underprivileged”. The reason I reposted was that I did not understand why he was equating a group (gender) to ethnicity (traveller). The subject matter being discussed is gender, not travellers, or blacks, or whites or romanys, etc, etc. Going off topic is a national pastime in this country by some people.

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    Mute Peadar Ó Gréacháin
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    Nov 18th 2017, 8:43 AM

    Because we need all the help we can get to actually be men, to stand up and protect our families and rights, and not to expect others to do it for us….

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    Mute Stephen Maher
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:17 AM

    Say it once and say it loud,
    Im a white straight Male and proud.

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 4:34 PM

    @Stephen Maher: Great to see you’ve come out of the closet. :)

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    Mute Ariana
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    Nov 18th 2017, 12:45 PM

    As a feminist, I support this.

    There’s a lack of father’s rights, support for male victims of domestic violence. Men have a higher rate of suicide. These issues are no less important than women’s issues.

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    Mute Chris Martin
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    Nov 18th 2017, 4:45 PM

    @Ariana: Same here. As a mother to 2 sons I strongly support this.

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    Mute Permo Dermo
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    Nov 18th 2017, 5:25 PM

    @Ariana: Arians, nice to hear that, respect. I grew up in the late sixties and wittnessed how put down women were in the home, workplace and in the media. The women’s movement has done so much good to rectify the gender imbalance. I also think while rectifying one gender imbalance it happens fairly and not leaving men in a similar situation as women have been in the past.

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    Mute Fred O'Connor
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:21 AM

    I can see value in highlighting issues that affect men. But you’re shooting yourself in the foot promoting talks by John Waters and Matt O’Connor. I get that fathers are often treated unfairly in the family courts and I’m all for raising awareness of it and making the system more just. But I don’t see why that should involve attacking the LGBT community in Waters’s case or silly, self-defeating publicity stunts by O’Connor. Having these two clowns at the forefront of the movement will keep it mired in obscurity and inaction.

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    Mute Janet McGowan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:41 AM

    @Fred O’Connor: There needs to be proper legislation put in place regarding custody, access and maintenance as these issues tend to be mostly at the discretion of the sitting judge which is ludicrous.
    Fathers are often treated unfairly in court but mothers are also not always treated fairly either and legislation would protect all parties – fathers, mothers and most importantly, the children!

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    Mute gjpb
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:53 AM

    @Janet McGowan: very good and fair point

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    Mute Janet McGowan
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:37 AM

    @neilo: Thanks Neilo!

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    Mute Bloodysam
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:07 AM

    The Red Pill documentary was partly funded by Men’s rights Activists groups and Breitbart. Unbiased it ain’t.

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    Mute Kris Kendellen
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:52 AM

    @Bloodysam: It was funded on Kickstarter. And she sought money for making a feminist movie attacking the men’s groups.

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    Mute Bloodysam
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    Nov 18th 2017, 10:02 AM

    @Kris Kendellen: $10,000 was given by anti-feminist and men’s rights supporter Mike Cernovich. Now, why would he give that kind of money to a film that attacks the Men’s rights groups?

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    Mute Veronica
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:12 AM

    @Bloodysam: a figurehead of the “mens rights movement” says disgusting things about women. Examples:

    “The idea of f*cking your shit up gives me an erection” (taking to a feminist interviewer)

    “Women who dress like X are not asking to be raped…they are BEGGING FOR IT”

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    Mute Paul Hughes
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    Nov 18th 2017, 1:59 PM

    @Veronica: you should look up someone on YouTube called Karen Straughan, you might find her stuff enlightening,

    https://youtu.be/QikKf0H3nhY

    this video is somewhat relevant to this article, considering the event that will be taking place

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    Mute Veronica
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    Nov 18th 2017, 3:22 PM

    @Paul Hughes: I know Karen straughn. She’s not the brightest bulb on the tree by a long shot. Quite sure she’s also just doing all this to make money from vulnerable men, as is the whole men’s rights movement. Look up what they do with their donations. Al straight into Paul elams pocket.

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    Mute Boyne Sharky
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    Nov 19th 2017, 1:42 PM

    @Veronica: There will always be extremists on both sides of any argument and I think everyone can agree these people do nobody any favours. Extremism of any form should be avoided, isolated and held up for the ridicule it deserves, it has no relevance to this discussion.

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    Mute Ron Burgundy
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:01 AM

    Superb article. Very measured and logical. Nice to see a bit of balance on the Journal for once.

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    Mute Brian McDonnell
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:21 AM

    International days have lost all meaning anyway, Here is a list of International days per the U.N. in November alone. This does not include all the really useless meaningless ones invented by social media.

    2 November – International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists 
    5 November – World Tsunami Awareness Day
    6 November – International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict 
    10 November – World Science Day for Peace and Development 
    14 November – World Diabetes Day 
    16 November – International Day for Tolerance 
    16 November (third Thursday in November) – World Philosophy Day 
    19 November – World Toilet Day 
    19 November (third Sunday in November) – World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
    20 November – Africa Industrialization Day
    20 November – Universal Children’s Day 
    21 November – World Television Day  (
    25 November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
    29 November – International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 

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    Mute Rex Banner
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    Nov 18th 2017, 10:59 AM

    @Brian McDonnell: haha I have a calander in work with all these stupid holidays marked on it. I keep asking for days off to celebrate these “holidays ” just to wind up my boss.

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    Mute Rex Banner
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:03 AM

    @Rex Banner: And FYI World Toilet Day is a severely unappreciated holiday. The fact that schools arent closed and the lack of a parade in many places is absolutely shameful.

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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Nov 18th 2017, 12:28 PM

    @Brian McDonnell: In fairness World Toilet Day actually highlights a serious problem – access to sanitation is something we take for granted in the developed world. Over 850 million people worldwide have to shit out in the open because there are no toilet facilities available – I hardly need to describe the effect this has on public health, never mind the lack of dignity or safety.

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    Mute Brian McDonnell
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    Nov 18th 2017, 5:18 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: Amazing you picked that one…..it is the same day as the supposed International mens day….draw your own conclusions.

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    Mute zebedee
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    Nov 18th 2017, 9:01 AM

    Balls and beard = BAD, everything else, GOOD.

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    Mute The Dons
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    Nov 18th 2017, 8:34 AM

    Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey are on the pi$$ for this one!

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    Mute lavbeer
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    Nov 18th 2017, 8:58 AM

    Only two questions to ask about this nonsense – who is making money and who is paying?

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    Mute Alex Bailey
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    Nov 18th 2017, 11:18 AM

    When people go to family court over custody issues, the only way that they could be treated fairly is if they remained behind a screen, that all of their answers were given by ONE speaker on their behalf and if the judge had to make decisions on the evidence only. That way, the genders would be treated equally and nobody could say that either party got preferential treatment. I know that there are reasonable arguments against this, like when the children have to speak and it would be hard for them not to speak of Mammy or Daddy, but that might be filtered too

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Nov 18th 2017, 6:42 PM

    @Alex Bailey: The UK courts are looking at penalising a parent who turns a child against the other parent. I think it’s a brilliant idea. A child isn’t a weapon and shouldn’t be used to hurt your ex. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/nov/17/parental-alienation-divorce-custody-crackdown-cafcass

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    Mute Permo Dermo
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    Nov 18th 2017, 6:55 PM

    @DaisyChainsaw: super idea but in practice very difficult to prove

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    Mute Alex Bailey
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    Nov 18th 2017, 7:37 PM

    @DaisyChainsaw: very good idea. If they could prove it, it would be great. The thing I hate to hear most is when a parent coaches children to claim falsely that they have been molested.

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    Mute Alex Bailey
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    Nov 18th 2017, 7:46 PM

    @DaisyChainsaw: Really good. Let’s hope that one arrives on Irish soil before too long. Parental alienation is the most vindictive thing a person can do. It’s vile behaviour.

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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Nov 18th 2017, 8:39 AM

    More rubbish and unnecessary PC stuff

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    Mute Ger Healy
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    Nov 18th 2017, 8:43 AM

    @Randal McNally: Another thoughtful and articulate statement. Did it take you long?

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    Mute Paula Hannon
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    Nov 18th 2017, 10:47 AM

    Fun fact it’s also ‘World Toilet day’ on the 19th of November.

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    Mute Les Boyd
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    Nov 18th 2017, 3:42 PM

    Cause were brilliant

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    Mute John Allman
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    Nov 19th 2017, 2:23 PM

    This is how I would like to see International Men’s Day marked.
    Firstly, we should call to mind some examples of the many achievements and inventions of humanity where we happen to know that the achievers and inventors happened to be male rather than female. There have been quite a few.
    Then we should remind ourselves of some of the many the disadvantages that these men overcame. These include natural disadvantages that are caused by maleness itself, and socially-induced disadvantages caused (for example) by women’s treatment of men, or the oppression of matriarchy.
    Finally, we should pause in solemn remembrance of the many males who have died in war, or of medical conditions that affect males more than females, or of fatal mental conditions induced (for example) by the grief of separation from one’s children or by being the victim of false accusations that typically are made more against males than against females, or men’s more frequent and longer periods of imprisonment than women, in harsher conditions, or of the complications of genital mutilation (a practice from which the law protects girls more effectively than boys). And so on.

    http://JohnAllman.UK

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    Mute Eileesh Buckley
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    Nov 19th 2017, 4:19 AM

    The film director who claimed to no longer be a feminist obviously doesn’t know the meaning of the term. A feminist wants equality for all genders, as such an example would be that men should have as much paternity leave as women get maternity. That single step would kill so many arguments about men having an advantage in the workplace because women effectively lose a year of experience/seniority each time they take maternity leave.
    There are undoubtedly many men’s issues that need to be addressed but not by taking pot shots at minorities or women’s rights campaigns. It’s far more effective to work in tandem with those campaigns; I’ve noticed the recent ad campaign for domestic violence alternates between male and female victims as it should.

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    Mute Mit Egdirdle
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    Nov 19th 2017, 12:27 PM

    @Eileesh Buckley: Nonsense, feminists want female privilege not equality. Watch what they do, not what they say. I agree that men should have equal parental leave but why do you assume that all men would want to take it? Men don’t have equal reproductive rights to women and many only have children because their partner wants them. It’s up to couples to negotiate the balance of responsibilities between themselves. If my wife had insisted on me spending equal time caring for our children then I would never have agreed to have children. As it happened she unilaterally decided to stop taking the pill so as far as I’m concerned she is the one who is primarily responsible for caring for our daughter.
    Women (not just feminists) are constantly sniping at men so why shouldn’t men return fire? Just thank your lucky stars they’re only doing so metaphorically.
    Feminists can’t stand any attention being given to men’s issues so your suggestion of working in tandem with women’s rights campaigns is patently disingenuous.

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    Mute gerry fallon
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    Nov 18th 2017, 5:26 PM

    I will be holding a WEEKLY men’s day starting from next Monday.We poor men will meet on a regular basis in copper face Jack’s where you can pour your heart out about being oppressed by these women bullies.
    We can’t and won’t take anymore.
    Rise up brothers.This is our time.

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    Mute Susanne OKeeffe Smith
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    Nov 19th 2017, 1:41 PM

    We don’t need one…

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    Mute Colin Morris
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    Nov 19th 2017, 1:06 AM

    The problem is capitalism.

    Most men are not wealthy.

    However the fact that most wealth and power is concentratred in the hands of a small minority of men, is the problem.

    That is not the fault of most men though.

    Wealth redistribution will help both men and women.

    Ireland can do this.

    Has Denis O’Brien or Bono (who both represent inequality) been contacted for comment?

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    Mute Dermot Hayden
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    Nov 18th 2017, 8:37 AM

    Because there is a day for every other gender

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    Mute Con Murphy
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    Nov 18th 2017, 6:59 PM

    The word “Pansie” needs to be brought back into the English language, to cover men, whether Hetro or Homo, who need this kind of nonsense!
    The word “nancyboy” was a good one also but instead of applying it to homosexuals could be extended to hetrosexuals also, to cover Labour party and Green party members.
    Strap-on takers each and every one of them.

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    Mute Con Murphy
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    Nov 18th 2017, 6:53 PM

    What a load of nonsense. Any man worth his salt is too busy to bother with this patronising crap.

    3
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