Chivalry?

[Shorin Ryuu]

I try to be chivalrous to men and women. Meaning, I try to be nice to everyone. It just makes life easier for me and others. I usually try to think of three things I can do a week to make people's lives easier, and then do them. I used to try to do it everyday, but I would always slip up and forget...

[monkeygirl]

That was...beautiful, fireka...really...

[fireka]

yes, isnt it? but dont get to teary eyed monkeygirl, because i changed my attitude abit when i learned about a couple of other skills woment have. The ability to lie mercylisly, to decive with untangeable levels of cunning, to void themselves of emmotion for there own personal gain. god like women may still be in my eyes, but ive also learned that in many religions, gods are often feared more than worshiped.

[monkeygirl]

No, those are just evil women. Unfortunately there's lots of them. But there are also many evil men...it's inescapable.

[fireka]

perhaps you are right but all i have to go on is what i have seen. i have seen my male friends hurt and victimised while the females i know still reign victories in there own private little worlds, and i see myself three times screwed over because of my own nieveness. (is that even a word?) sometimes i honestly wonder, and this will sound really bad, if women were not put in a lower position socially than men on purpose, by god or fate or whatever you choose to belive in. simply because without that controling factor, the fact that women are seen often times as inferor by society, even by other women, is the only thing that keeps the universe in balance and keeps them from getting so out of control and tyranical that we all end up like little slaves to some femminist party. i actually wrote a sci-fi story about that called colony 178, were the women ruled the earth and men were used like drone bees, that would mate and then be slaughtered, the number of male babies born was controlled geneticlly to keep there numbers down. pretty extremist i know, and im not gay. all i know is what ive seen, if i honestly see something to prove me otherwise, than great! actually i really hope i do...

[Fenris-wolf]

Chivalry is a nice idea, but to me it seems to be in a lot of ways sexist toward men.

 

To elabortate: women want to be treated as equals and yet will be annoyed that a man does not hold open doors? Where is the logic in this? Unfortunately chivalry traditionally came with a price, and that price was that while yes, you were treated nicely: As you would treat a child when they behave.

 

There are certainly aspects of it that may be retained -I am female but I like to hold open doors and generally be polite and pleasant with other people.

 

It seems ridiculous that a woman could want to be treated as an equal, but then expect different behavior around them. We are meant to be going for equality, not female dominance!

 

Every woman (or man) has a different outlook on life, but I have always enjoyed been treated as a friend, or a collegue, or a sparring partner, rather than a "girl".

 

Part of my outlook on this subject comes from my opinion of the blatant inequality in many relationships (mostly in the younger generation). Sure, there are many healthy relationships, and many where the man is abusive or neglegent. But what gets to me is when a couple of teenagers get together. The guy is in a lot of aspects dominated by his lady. Everything he does in the relationship is to try and make sure she feels happy with the way things are going, so she won't get angry, so he'll get laid.

 

It sounds funny, but I hate the way women can use sex as a tool against men. I will never use my body (or lack of) as a form of punishment on a partner. That is petty and deeply irritating.

 

Anyway, having strayed from the subject by about a mile, I guess I could conclude that chivalry has a place, but not as an exclusively male domain.

[SaiFightsMS]

How about basic and simple manners? Simple courtesy between people. I think too many have no idea what the heck that is.

[Fenris-wolf]

Actually, cancel that, I like what Sai said. Pretty much my point, but with less babbling.

[fireka]

yea, sai's post was lvely grand, but off topic, intresting since shes the one whose supposed to stop threads from being off topic. im just messing with you sai, because this is the first time i think ive ever disagreed with you about anything. not because of what you said, but were you said it. this topic is on chivalry, which despite what i have said, what sai has said, what fenris said, what we all here have said, has nothing to do with politeness. if you read the actuall code of the original chivalry, you will find it contains a lot of things about politeness and all that hoplah, and a lot of other stuff you probsably didnt expect or know about, some of it may even appal you. for instance, according to the code, its okay for a guy to have up to 20 girls! also, its okay to pronounce your crush on a married woman to the world, and to try and seduce her. its what we call Courtly love, but with a twist on what hollywood tries to make it. technically neither party could act on it but the seduction was still there and encouraged. true chivalry is not practiced anymore today or at least is rare to the point of oblivion. none of us have adressed what chivalry really is, includeing me, because we are stuck on the idea created by N. america (much like how many aspects of karate were screwed by the USA) of chivalry.

[Fenris-wolf]

Very interesting point. I dunno about you, but I think that pretty much backs up my point. Ideas. Whatever.