The first time it really upset me was finding out that I have to go to the military for one year (or do social service), something women here can (of course) but do not have to do.

surely then the women should have to do the "Social service" that you refer to? Men already have shorter lifespans so it is great that the government rob you of a year. A bit like how men can't retire until 65 and women can retire at 60 in the UK even though men die earlier.

What am I missing?
What exactly is meant by "positive discrimination"?

For example, I used to work in New York City in the stage scenery business.
All the big places are "Union" shops, but because New York is (or was at the time) a "right to work state", they could hire me when they needed proved skills, rather than hire off the list at the union hall, where the dead weight was riding the pine.

Make no mistake, when it came time to brace a 30' ladder in the middle of freakin' nowhere, or quickly move around the several ton scenery at the opera house, those big galoots were the go-to guys.

In MY case, the first case of positive discrimination was when the shop foreman
made the over hire discrimination between a multi-skilled, and a non-skilled, fabricator of stage scenery.

Otherwise, my first positive case of undesirable discrimination was in Kindergarten. I wanted to simply play with the "slow" kids, but I had to
stay with the "advanced" group, learning letters and numbers, despite proved higher proficiency in A-Z and 1-100.
Pissed me off.

Due to years of repeated ignorance, laziness, and outright disingenuous moving of the goal posts, one has to be clear in NOT using "discrimination" when, say, one means
Chauvinism, bias, bigotry, elitism, or (new word) misandry.
The opposite is true as well.

Feel free to call me a word snob, nit picker, "fussy" or what-have-you, I defer my defense to ANY college level approved source. Let me point out that Wikipedia is NOT a source universally approved by ANYONE.

Quote from Feckless

The first time it really upset me was finding out that I have to go to the military for one year (or do social service), something women here can (of course) but do not have to do.

That sucks.

Quote from chris1970

surely then the women should have to do the "Social service" that you refer to? Men already have shorter lifespans so it is great that the government rob you of a year. A bit like how men can't retire until 65 and women can retire at 60 in the UK even though men die earlier.

True. It should be reversed. You will never hear a woman offer to work to retire earlier.

I mean women lose out. They spend their last years alone.

In 1998, I paid a visit to Aston University, Birmingham, and the Engineering Department, coincidentally enough (I wasn't to attend the university, but was in fact sitting a 'Mensa' test). On the floor where the Engineering classrooms etc were, there were only FEMALE toilets.

If that isn't political correctness gone mad, I don't know what is.....

Quote from dyslexic_banana

In 1998, I paid a visit to Aston University, Birmingham, and the Engineering Department, coincidentally enough (I wasn't to attend the university, but was in fact sitting a 'Mensa' test). On the floor where the Engineering classrooms etc were, there were only FEMALE toilets.

If that isn't political correctness gone mad, I don't know what is.....

"" On the floor where the Engineering classrooms etc were, there were only FEMALE toilets.""

the feminits hate it when men leave the seat up so this was a sterling opportunity for you to have left the seat down but pissed all over it

I suspect that every male's first experience of discrimination (there is no such thing as "positive" discrimination: just call a spade a spade) was too early for any of us to remember.

It would have started the day your mother first bought you a baby-size T-shirt or a bib with some wording on it.

Just go to any store that sells baby clothes, and you will see exactly what I mean. Rows upon rows of pretty clothes for girls bearing words like "princess" and "angel". And, further towards the back of the store, and occupying far less space, clothes for boys with words like "monster", "little devil" and "here comes trouble".

You see, the indoctrination starts very, very early. That's why so few people are even aware it is happening, or can begin to understand how deeply ingrained it is. It is just "normality".

Quote from paul parmenter

I suspect that every male's first experience of discrimination (there is no such thing as "positive" discrimination: just call a spade a spade) was too early for any of us to remember.

It would have started the day your mother first bought you a baby-size T-shirt or a bib with some wording on it.

Just go to any store that sells baby clothes, and you will see exactly what I mean. Rows upon rows of pretty clothes for girls bearing words like "princess" and "angel". And, further towards the back of the store, and occupying far less space, clothes for boys with words like "monster", "little devil" and "here comes trouble".

You see, the indoctrination starts very, very early. That's why so few people are even aware it is happening, or can begin to understand how deeply ingrained it is. It is just "normality".

I didn't get cool shirts. I've been discriminated against.

Good thing I tend to choose for blank shirts.

Quote from paul parmenter

Just go to any store that sells baby clothes, and you will see exactly what I mean. Rows upon rows of pretty clothes for girls bearing words like "princess" and "angel". And, further towards the back of the store, and occupying far less space, clothes for boys with words like "monster", "little devil" and "here comes trouble".

You see, the indoctrination starts very, very early. That's why so few people are even aware it is happening, or can begin to understand how deeply ingrained it is. It is just "normality".

With a son on the way, I have noticed the same thing, totally. What, to me, is quite revealing, is how parents label their sons and how they label their daughters; daughters are often called 'princess', whereas sons are often called 'soldier'. Now, riddle me his, folks: this said, which gender, from near-birth, is raised to be the most selfish, and which the most self-sacrificing? What does a soldier do? He bravely fights for justice, putting his life on the line in doing so. What does a princess do, meanwhile? She lives a life of handed-out-to-her luxury, waiting for her prince to come and 'rescue' her, and take her away to a life of even more luxury.

Let me ask again: which gender is raised to be more selfish?

I have been discriminated against lots of times.

My first discrimination was being too short. (inch and a half too short to join the army and the police force)

My second discrimination (angered me) was when I wasn't hired because I wasn't in a union. That was a big deal but I wasn't going to join just to get the job. One union guy became the prime minister of Australia. Bob Hawke.

I have also been passed over jobs because I wasn't a male. I even lost a job once for being female.

It seems times have changed real quick.

EDIT: I've also seen men being passed over jobs for not being women. And if the environment isn't right for males I am sure they would also be fired because of their gender. (customers matter more than employees)

DS, you mean what soldiers do now... :P They didn't always do that. But I agree with you.

Quote from musicman.2

I mean women lose out. They spend their last years alone.

A few years ago I went with a friend to visit his grandmother who was in an old people's home (or nursing home or whatever they call them) - in Wokingham, in Berkshire. When we got there I immediately had the feeling that it was a miserable place. His granny was sitting in a TV lounge - TV was on but nobody seemed to be watching it. All the people sitting around were females - no men at all as far as could see - some looking as if they hadn't a clue about anything at all - like zombies staring into space or just staring at you with blank expressions. I heard one of the women say "oh look - some men!" as my mate and I entered the room. Only two of them seemed to be talking with each other and even they looked as if they were having some kind of bitchy argument. It was all very depressing. When one of them got up on to her feet she just shuffled along out of the room with her stick.

While we were "chatting" with my mate's granny a nursing assistant and went over to one of the women and seemed to yell at her as she tried to get her to understand what she was saying to her.

On the way out, walking along a corridor, my mate and I saw women sitting in their rooms (doors were open) -not doing anything but just sitting there, on a chair, staring into space. I wondered if they had been drugged or something.

I told my mate that belonging to the gender which statistically dies earlier than the other really has its advantages!

Quote from shaazam

"" On the floor where the Engineering classrooms etc were, there were only FEMALE toilets.""

the feminits hate it when men leave the seat up so this was a sterling opportunity for you to have left the seat down but pissed all over it

That's funny because where I go to school the womens Restrooms are constantly messed up!
How pathetic do you have to be to miss toilet while sitting down?