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  • Guest

    Agony Aunts

    Before you read this, please understand that I have been buying a tabloid newspaper for years and always have been interested in what "DearDierdre" has had to say to the people who write in. What I have noticed is that she seems baised towards women. So I have written this email to her today. (there is another agony aunt on a Sunday, Tracey Cox, who is very even handed and will tell a woman if she is in the wrong) Do any of you read columns like this and notice any biase to either sex ?




    Hello,
    As a regular Sun reader for years now, I look with interest at your column each day.
    What I have noticed over the years is how biased you appear to be for women, against men.
    Several times I've been almost at the point of writing to you, today I have done.

    Numerous examples spring to mind but in essence, it seems like the women all deserve another chance whilst the men are always bad people and should not be given another chance.

    I'll give you an example;
    In today's paper there's an article about a woman that gets so bored with her boyfriend. Your advice is is that "he needs to discover what thrills you"
    You tell him to find out what thrills her, but what about her telling him what she wants?

    Other examples are, when a woman has been bad and says she wants to have a relationship with another man, you say "the existing relationship must be over so you should move on"
    If that were the other way round, you would say to the man "keep the existing relationship alive and try to work it out"

    Now, I know I don't know all of the details of these cases, but I think you should know that you appear always to be sympathetic to the woman and very clear and clinical to the man.

    I remember one classic case where this horrible woman was describing her man's genitals to all her friends at a party, whilst he was there.
    You told him to try to work out the marriage. My god, most men would never forgive a woman for that kind of insulting. Would any woman ever forgive a man -the answer is definitely no !

    There was a case last week where a wife had made it quite clear she didn't want sex again with her husband. You told him to "keep the good marriage alive". What about his sexual needs for the rest of his life?

    Why also is it that if a man has ED he has to "go to see his doctor", whilst if a woman is frigid (the female form of ED, by the way, why don't you ever use the word frigid for women?) she "has a problem with her hormones, and he should understand and not put pressure on her for sex, but be loving and give her cuddles"
    Why also is the pressure to complete good sex always on the man? He is supposed to be responsible for his erection, as well as getting her aroused as well. So he's responsible for getting both bodies ready!
    What is the woman responsible for?
    If the man has ED, you never blame the woman for not exciting him enough. It's always his fault.

    My views only on your columns.
    If this hasn't been brought to your attention before it's probably because most of the people that read your column are women, and they would hardly argue that you were being biased towards them, would they?
    I'm sure you help a lot of people, but as I say, you do appear biased.
    Try to keep a balance and be even handed please. Not all men are bad, and not all women are "victims"

    regards
    Thomas
  • Mes T
    Veteran Member
    • Oct 2009
    • 2678

    I don't read these kinds of columns because whenever I do happen upon one, the advice given (as well as the questions, really) seems so ridiculous, preposterous, just plain OUT THERE. Seems like that's been true in your experience, too.

    I think you're right, that most readers of those columns are women and don't care to notice whether there's bias or not - they just want someone to sympathize with THEIR problems.

    Comment

    • Guest

      thanks Mes T - was beginning to think it was just me. You're right, some of the questions answer themselves, like the "my boyfriend is always hitting me, shall I leave him, although I love him" - Yes love, it's bleeding obvious you should !!!

      Comment

      • miffed23
        Veteran Member
        • Mar 2008
        • 568

        The particular 'agony aunts' that you are referring to are there to entertain, hence the preposterous questions and comments that are made. It wouldn't surprise me if the questions were made up. On the rare occasion that I buy the Sun (horrendous paper IMO!) I will only ever read the agony aunt section if I need a laugh for the day. Yes, definitely biased answers, but then what would you expect in a paper that doesn't provide any intellectual information whatsoever

        Comment

        • Guest

          The Sun isn't that bad. The football is good and I like the way it supports the Coalition and doesn't degrade everything it is trying to do. But you're right (and it seems like you're a close neighbour of mine-hi !) miffed23, they are there to entertain. It's just that I thought they may take the opportunity at the same time to be responsible in their views/opinions/advice !

          Comment

          • jns
            Assistant Admin
            • Mar 2010
            • 8398

            Originally posted by Thomas Hepburn
            The Sun isn't that bad. The football is good and I like the way it supports the Coalition and doesn't degrade everything it is trying to do. But you're right (and it seems like you're a close neighbour of mine-hi !) miffed23, they are there to entertain. It's just that I thought they may take the opportunity at the same time to be responsible in their views/opinions/advice !
            Rags make their money from being irresponsible. Why would they be responsible in some of their sections? Only if it would make them money!
            I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience.
            ...
            Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?

            From a speech by Patrick Henry on March 23, 1775 at St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia

            Comment

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