A good article. And quite a few good comments. By the way, I define a ‘good article’ as one that stimulates an active dialogue. I think this fits the bill.

With that said though, please lose the stats, the numbers and the studies. Not permanently, you can keep them bookmarked for future inclusion in other commentary. But ideally, relegate them to a supporting role only.

I like studies. I like facts, too. I like skimming through the pages on ESPN, just to see who won, who lost and who hit a home run. It’s entertaining, what can I say. But I wouldn’t base an argument on any of them, let alone my life or my reputation. They are, by nature, a distillation of what was or may have been, generally put together by people I have never met. So I prefer direct observation, over decades instead.

Are women treated the same as men? Are women paid the same as men, for the same job? Do men get “hit on” as much as women, as seen through direct personal observation? Are women generally as critical of men, as men are critical of women? Do we (as men) actually believe that some job, role, political position, corporate environment is better suited to men? And is that because men have historically been responsible for the shaping of that environment, or because biologically, genetically or emotionally women just don’t do as well in these situations? In other words, what do you know to be true?

Personally, I do rail against the general concept of good men vs. bad men, not because I don’t believe that distinction can be made, but because it is too damn fallible. Too inclusive, too exclusive, too dependent upon the point trying to be made. Too much like stats, numbers and studies.

I like women and respect and trust women because that is the conclusion I have come to after 60 years of observing them is myriad situations. I have used absolutely every bit of information I could get “my hands” on to arrive at this point, because I felt like I had to. The stakes were too high to be half-assed about it. I also used the same standards for men as well and for many of the same reasons. I live and work with them every single day. Why not get to know them properly?

I do respect both sides of this debate and find neither, absolutely, positively, 100%, without a shadow of doubt, more right than the other. But … change is needed. The #MeToo movement is essential. Why wouldn’t it be? I don’t see why lending support to one side, means disrespecting the other. That isn’t logic at play, that’s politics as usual. The manipulation of information to bring about a desired result. Been there, done that. Believe it was called, The 60s.