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Audacity of Truth
Whiner-in-Chief:
"[W]hether the grumbling is about Republicans on Fox or bloggers in pajamas, there's a word for what the president and his aides are doing. That word is "whining." And nothing [...] does more damage to Obama's credibility or authority than the sense that a popular president is becoming the whiner-in-chief."
- John Nichols, Nation Magazine - 10/12/09
To the guys: would you be offended by this?
To the fine gents who visit this blog: Let’s say you were doing some online shopping for to find a nice gift for your wife, or your girlfriend, or your good buddy, and you came across a site who’s motto was:
” … because guys can’t shop”
Would that be offensive to you? The reason I ask is because of an email I rec’d from the proprietress of Romeo Shops, an online store devoted to helping guys who aren’t into the shopping thing find nice gifts for those in their lives who they care about. Apparently quite a few of the men who have visited the website have sent some not-so-nice emails to her complaining that guys are being unfairly stereotyped by the store motto. It should be noted what the “About Us” page reads:
Congratulations! You’ve just discovered the first online site dedicated to helping guys find the perfect gift. It’s not necessarily true that guys CAN’T shop, but that they don’t have the time, patience, or (dare I say??) the taste to select that perfect something. We are just a few girls from Minneapolis who know what it’s like when a guy gives a bad gift. There’s an uncomfortable pause, an insincere smile, and a “You shouldn’t have. Really”. We’ve heard all the horror stories of bad gifts- so we’re ready to arm guys with the knowledge and service of great gift selection and packaging!
Seems pretty clear to me that Romeo Shops is just trying to help out guys who don’t enjoy shopping and who may not have a good idea of what type of gift to get for their person they are shopping for – and are gently teasing guys with their motto in the process.
However, those are just MY thoughts on the matter – what are yours?
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28 Responses to “To the guys: would you be offended by this?”
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‘Scuze moi, but at the risk of sounding sexist, guys don’t need to “shop.” A friend, who used to work at a clothing store, told me the biggest difference he found between men and women was men knew what they wanted, asked for it, bought it (if in stock), and left. Women enjoyed looking and often seemed to have no intention of buying anything. Maybe that’s another part of the brain that is wired differently. Neither is “right” or “wrong,” just different. And vive la difference.
That doesn’t offend me. I know I can’t shop.
Although, the ones that it is offending are probably the guys that have been married for 10+ years or have been dating a girl for less than six months and anything they get her will make her happy.
Those that are offended by that probably have a pink shirt in their wardrobe too.
You can offend guys?
Great idea!
Personally, I think I will turn my hubby onto this shop! We have been married 14 years and he STILL has a panic attack when he THINKS about shopping for me!!!:lol:
Men derive less pleasure from shopping than women. That much is incontrovertible. (Something about wanting to get the kill back to the tribal campfire before halftime is over.) But when it comes to gifts, no one can shop.
I don’t have a problem with it, but then I’m sensitivity challenged.
I hate shopping. I’m the guy who walks into a store knowing exactly what I want, buys it and gets outta’ Dodge.
And I take no offense from the Minnesota ladies, they’re spot-on.
I don’t like shopping, but I can do it.
I go in, get what I want, and leave. I do almost all of my Xmas shopping in about 1 hour in one mall, Crossgates near Albany, NY where my family lives. (No, they don’t live at the mall. Well, my sister and my nieces do.)
But I am extremely not offended if women think I can’t shop. It allows me to not shop.
The site doesn’t offend me, it only repeats, in a comical way, the old saying, long repeated, that men can’t shop, to act as an intro to their service. Of course, I’m not a whiny liberal who finds offense at any statement or issue either.
On the topic of shopping, I am the typical male in that just wandering around the mall looking at things isn’t my thing, I usually know what I want to buy and am in and out quickly. Unless I’m not sure of which exact widget or whatever I want, then I shop and compare, but it’s not as much a hobby for me as it is for my wife.
But I also know how to shop for my wife. It’s called paying attention to your wife and what she likes, listening to her, and caring enough to understand her. Face it, this is supposed to be the most important woman in the world to you, and you don’t know how to buy her a simple gift she’ll like? Shame on you!
Hello, My name is Gary, and I hate to shop….
{Hello Gary}
I have hated shopping for the last twenty years. But with your support and encoutagement I too will one day spend hours watching the Home Shopping Network…
Seriously, most guys hate to shop. Any site that makes shopping easier is welcome by most of us.
Oh, good grief! Everybody just needs to lighten up and stop being offended by everything.
I’d also observe that there is a segment of *women* who aren’t into recreational shopping, and their marketing approach has pretty much foreclosed that segment to them.
Let me tell You. One of the best times I have ever had is when my girl friend at that time wanted to do some window shopping. I tell ya’ guys. There is nothing like a beautiful woman, who is truly enjoying herself, dressed in some very beautful gown that compliments her figure twirling and prancing in front of you. Well worth the wait, trust me. When she feels beautiful, You reap the benefits gentlemen. – Lorica
My only problem with shopping is lack of spending money. Give me a Summit Racing Catalogue, access to eBay, and a full bank account, and I’m a happy shopper.
Thanks for some good feedback. I own this shop and can’t believe how outraged people have been! Since when do we take ourselves so seriously?? My favorite saying for females is “The pointier the heels, the higher the maintenance”. It’s funny, not slanderous. And I wear pointy high heels- does that really mean I think I’m high maintenance?? Well, again thanks for bringing me back some common sense comments.:roll:
Hi Sister-My hat is off to the Minneapolis Ladies who have seen a need, and answered it with their shop. Some men,fully capable of knowing that you don’t wear a Rusty Wallace Jacket with a Jimmy Johnson hat are befuddled, not knowing that a lady may not appreciate anything he may pick out for her birthday at Sears Auto center. How many men know they can’t shop for the lady in their life, so whatever they buy comes with the return receipt included, to put the shopping onus back on her. I lacked enough “style” to even pick out glasses, and the nice girl at the optometrist’s office chose for me. I credited her with every compliment on how well my glasses look.
I, for one, am incredibly offended. I’ve been told I shop like a girl; I took it as it was meant: A Compliment.
Shopping is really fun for me. I am in the minority, this I know. My wife, OTOH, can’t pick up the hint I’ve been dropping for several years around Christmas time.
“Men derive less pleasure from shopping than women. That much is incontrovertible. (Something about wanting to get the kill back to the tribal campfire before halftime is over.)”
LOL!
I don’t “shop”, if I need something I go buy it. If it is not my size after I wash and dry it, I compensate accordingly and go buy another.
This sounds like the answer to my prayers as far as relationships go, I will be bookmarking immediately.
I think that web site is a good idea and I’m not offended by it.
I’ve been married for almost 32 years. I hate to even go into malls and department stores. However, I love to browse in hardware, electronics, gun, and camera stores.
I’ve developed a really great way to avoid having to buy gifts for my wife on all those “required” occasions. Last year I took care of Xmas, birthday, wedding anniversary, mothers day, valentines day, and a few others by buying her a new house. This year I got off the hook by having an inground pool and spa put in the backyard of the house.
A few years ago I bought her a Grand Cherokee Overland. That was good for a years worth of gifts.
One year I gott off fairly cheaply by taking her on a 7 day cruise to Alaska followed by a 15 day cruise to Hawaii.
I suppose it would be less expensive to just buy small gifts for the various occasions but it’s more fun my way.
As any marketing major would know, you do not want to offend your target market. By doing this romeoshops has seriously hurt its chances for success.
Personally, as a guy who dates one of the girls in charge of this damn website and as a guy has a reputation as an excellent giftgiver I am extremely offended.
My husband wouldn’t be offended…but that’s because he already knows how to shop for me…LOL.
A tip for the ladies…men aren’t mindreaders. If they ask you what you want, TELL THEM…don’t say, “Whatever you get me will be great!”
LOL.
I am a woman who doesn’t like to shop (do I hear silence in the room?). I visited romeoshops and gathered some great gift ideas.
Romeshops should expand their marketing capabilities and revise their motto to read: “…because guys and a few oddball women can’t shop”.
To any “man” who is offended by this:
Grow one and a pair! Or just grow up.
I’ve seen male bashing and don’t appreciate it, but this ain’t it. Going to visit the site and find a nice gift for the Mrs.
Hey, I just saved that site – for future use! I have no Tootsie right now, but I expect to one of these days. This place will be helpful.
Any guy who is offended by the ” … because guys can’t shop” line are probably … “Girly Men”.
Wusses!
Thanks to all who participated in this thread… guys, you were good sports about all this. Give yourselves high fives
Michelle: I’m glad to see this has made you feel better about things
Stacy: Good to see you here! Hope you are doing well.
The problem with men’s gifts is not that there is no thought put into the gift, the problem is he thinks he has given a great gift but it’s a disaster.
You know the scenario, it’s your birthday, your man’s eyes are glazed over with that, “I got you something special” look, his chest puffs out and from behind his back he pulls out that highly anticipated gift. He stands erect waiting for that look of excitement on your face. To your dismay the box holds a wool poncho with embroidered pheasants. You immediately look at your man, expecting him to say, “Oops! Sorry, wrong gift” but instead he says, ” When I saw it, I knew it would be perfect for you!”
Wrong.
While many men try hard to find that “perfect gift” for their significant other, they are usually completely wrong in their gift giving assumptions. In which case, men are often easily “beaten out” by the wife/girlfriends gal pals’ gift . So just one note to all men out there when they are thinking of gifts to buy: try asking the girl friends of your girl friend/wife, it really saves time in the end.
Any gift is easy to buy, all you have to do is listen to your wife or girlfriend. They will let you know from time to time what they like and don’t like. Besides, if you are in a good relationship, you already know what turns her on.. Just go get it. Been married 19 years and it works…….
The complainers are sissy-boy whiners. Pay no attention to them. Real men like to be teased by sassy women.