Basically we young people are being slammed by the older generation who's "seen and done it all, so why can't you whippersnappers do likewise, you lazy runts".

Times have changed, and as kids we saw how things weren't exactly with our parents. Constant arguments over the budgeting and extreme penny-pinching yet having bought a brand new home. The parents made you feel foolish and guilty for even suggesting a small semblance of allowance, yet they would turn around and discourage you from earning your own pay at McD's as a teenager because of the narrow-minded "finish school first, then work later".

We've seen kids our age crushed by tanks in China when taking a stand. We've seen Greenpeace activists on TV sprayed by hoses whilst shackling themselves and refusing to leave. We've seen all manner of things happen to those who put themselves on the line, for a cause that's bigger than they could ever hope to make a difference in.

See that kind of history - the prevailing attitude is - with the sight of such consequences...is it really worth it? For many, the answer is no. If our parents were in our shoes today, saw and heard what's happening, and in our age group, they'd feel exactly the same way.

See what happened to the victims - better off looking out for yourself, instead of trying to make a difference that ultimately won't matter. Better to keep up with the times, maybe learn a bit on web design during the dot-com boom and profit. But stay ahead and keep moving in order to survive.

Salon where have you been?

Women have been riding motorcycles for years if not decades now. I remember even as wee kid, I've seen women on the Harley's, not just hells angel's wannabe's. Old old news.

Now if they could just make a silent Harley.

THAT would sell. Got the looks, without the noise pollution.

I would appreciate the "hug your sysadmin" day.

With all the attractive females around, hey why not?

The writer is bemoaning the lack of friendly banter at the table, like the way of bunch of old men playing poker. Now it's young whippersnappers with sunglasses who are just in it for the money, and not here to make friends.

Really - so what?

There is a difference between poker in a buddy's basement and professional, and televised poker, where there are millions of dollars at stake. I doubt in the old boy's basement, would you stand to lose or gain that kind of money.

This also levels the playing field, when everyone is in it for a singular purpose - to win. It also cuts down on the uglier old boy's club and thus more and more women are competing.

You can't tell me that's wrong.

Yup, it's true.

The moment the old boy's club is trampled over by teaming young un's all wanting a piece of the action, it's game over.

Too bad, this is the wave of the future. Doesn't matter what card game it is - the mathematicians will a find a way to break everything down to math, and be able to tell you exactly what to do on any given hand, and have you come out ahead.

It doesn't matter what you think. It matters what the public in general thinks, especially when you're trying to win the most number of votes.

So with that in mind - no matter what actions you take or what you do - think about the lowest common denominator. All it takes is a few hundred people to not like this or that about what you're doing, and that alone could cost you the election.

Just do whatever the most number of people would accept, in order to get the maximum number of votes.

After you win you can do whatever you want.

Well sure we'd all love to help but -

Not until the situation out there stabilizes. Why should we risk our behinds and risk capture, torture, and whatever else might happen at the hands of the Taliban? Forget that.

Who's to say that any amount of money or goods you send down, really ends up in the right hands? For all we know, it's pennies on the dollar that are actually reaching the women, if even that.

...to just serve as punching bags?

Or to be part of a co-ed boxing class, where men can square off against women, so therefore things are on a level playing field?

I like the second idea better. But it's still a very oppressed society and like it or not, the Taliban are lurking around and just waiting to pounce on anything they don't like. Our American ideas and ways just aren't going to make a difference, nor make waves over in Afghanistan.

Stop it with all you people trashing each other for this reason or that.

The OP is complaining and hates men right now for a number of reasons. Once you stop being mad, things will happen, but you need to make them happen as well.

For the men who want lots and lots of sex: Lots to be found in China. Save up some money for a trip, go nuts, and I promise you you'll be saving up again for the next trip.

For the bitter women: Go to Japan and the equivalent is found there for you too. There are bars that are catered exclusively to women, check those out.

Both sides will come back grinning ear-to-ear, and all these fighting will be just a distant memory.

...so the masses here can stop being so racist and judgmental about it. This is their thing, let it be.