will they never learn?

I'm not a fan of reality shows. As a matter of fact, I think they are a cheap way to fill the airwaves (or rather the cables); it seems to be the preferred way these days, however. After all, who wants to pay for (occasionally) intelligent writing, sets, actors ... it's so much easier to stick a few cameras in already existing locales, with people who are more than willing to surrender their privacy and, if many cases, their dignity for their 15 minutes of fame. Oh, how sad.

And yet ... (you must have known this was coming) ... there is an occasional glimpse into the minutia of life that is, if anything, educational. I'm speaking of the CBC show "The Week the Women Went, Season 2". I've seen two episodes so far and each time I was left speechless. Yes, speechless. Actually, no. They had me yelling at the TV and those stupid men who were left to fend for themselves for a whole week! I realise that they pick towns which have an unusually high proportion of über-men already present, but please ... this can't possibly be for real! Unfortunately, it is. And these men pretend to deal with their womenfolk being away by making light of anything and everything in the female realm. Children? No problem. Let's pack them and take along to the work site; heavy equipment and other vehicles posing a risk? Nah, there are plenty of people around more than happy enough to save my brats when I get bored. And when all else fails, make the young girls who were left behind to tend to their little brothers and sisters. After all, they're female so they must know what to do. I especially "enjoyed" the segment about a man whose roof is leaking and has been leaking for the last two years, but instead of going up there and slapping a couple of shingles down he prefers to sit downstairs in the basement for hours at a time carving ducks. You heard me ... carving ducks. In the meantime, this leak is in the kitchen with water dripping (for two years!) on top of the stove where his poor wife has to deal with it day in and day out. His excuse is that the kitchen is HER domain and he never goes in there so it's just not a priority. Can you believe this man? Oh, but wait. She is now gone and he has to make dinner for the kids. On the stove. Where the water is dripping constantly. NOW it's bloody inconvenient.

I have to be honest here ... I am angry at these men. But I'm almost as angry at the women who have put up with this shit for so long. This isn't something that just started last week. This total disregard for women and their value has been going on for ever. And the fact that these women have allowed themselves to be treated like that is a travesty. Why? Why do we do that? Why do we let men get away with treating us like shit? I really would like to know this. If anyone has any brilliant ideas, I'd love to hear them.

Singer of the Day: Bonnie St Croix