Victoria Pendleton

I wouldn't fancy a bird if she had a beard, no matter how pretty she was

I wouldn't fancy a bird if she had a beard, no matter how pretty she was

I would.

Bearded tit:

You're a great tit Oliver

Can I be a blue tit instead?

Love tits.

what a bunch of wank-lads. i wonder if she'd be good fun to hang out with or whether she'd be really competitive and dull?

Emilia, please try to remember that us boys carry the burden of owning peni. it renders us completely idiotic if we let it. it's a constant battle. i apologise on behalf of mine and those of my fellow forumengers. We might be civilised but we have not yet found a way to overcome this biological fact that belongs back in the wild from whence we came. it skews the way we see women a bit sometimes. sorry.

I don't really have the energy to wade into this whole sorry debate, but I would like to point out that I'm not blaming men. A lot of the time I blame women. Most of the time I just blame people. In this particular case I'm blaming Victoria Pendleton. Realistically I don't think anyone should be blamed.

(But I am very suspicious of the I-can't-help-it-it's-my-penis argument.)

(But I am very suspicious of the I-can't-help-it-it's-my-penis argument.)

Rightly so. It's bollocks.

(Oh, and the plural of penis is 'penies'. God knows why I know that.)

(Oh, and the plural of penis is 'penies'. God knows why I know that.)

'Penises' or 'penes', actually.

'Penises' or 'penes', actually.

Oh arse, what a time for a typo! I meant 'penes', of course.

Rightly so. It's bollocks.

And strangely, when women come out with the 'sorry - it was PMT' argument, they're written off as unstable and irrational. Hmmm.

Edit: Or do you mean men are led by their bollocks, rather than their penes?

Or do you mean men are led by their bollocks, rather than their penes?

That would make more sense as that's where the testosterone is produced, right?

Oh arse, what a time for a typo! I meant 'penes', of course.

The intriguing thing about the typo was that you could have meant either possible plural form. ;)

And strangely, when women come out with the 'sorry - it was PMT' argument, they're written off as unstable and irrational. Hmmm.

Well, in either case the real explanation is obviously more complex than that.

Edit: Or do you mean men are led by their bollocks, rather than their penes?

I couldn't resist the joke. ;)

But yes, the argument of the form 'oooh, look at me, I'm so determined by external factors I can't help myself' is bollocks in this case. Yes, determination by penis/PMT/testosterone/oestrogen or whatever is an external factor here, as it mostly just veils a lack of proper self-reflection and a couple of other factors. But again, it's complex, and the fact that so many people choose the lazy way out is also important and must be acknowledged and explained.

I had a quick glans at it.. She was obviously caught in two minds..

Love tits.

Tits like coconuts

No, like small birds.

I was simply commenting on the dietary preferences of Paridae

Most of the time I just blame people.

Spot a diddly-ding-dong on.

Haven't read any posts after yours so this may get edited, but I'm tired of my actions being defined by my sex. Biologically I am male, but in gender terms 'masculinity' is a social construct, loaded with stereotypes.

People are the problem here...

yeah but deep voices, facial hair and muscle mass are not just social constructs, they are physiological characteristics with physiological causes: hormones. to say that these characteristics are a real part of what constitutes masculinity or femininity is unavoidable (within an overlapping continuum of course).

there is nothing political or socially constructed about the effects of testosterone on the human body. it's biology.

we could argue about social constructions of beauty and gender til the cows come home, but deep voices and facial hair are masculine qualities, caused by hormones more prevalent in males than females, and there's nothing political or social about it.

not that i particularly want to get into a pointless nature/nurture debate.

Somebody said TITS! I rushed right over!

*just to annoy tmy and get this back on fight fight fight track. :)

hippy shut up or i will be forced to choke you to death with your own carbon fibre scrotum.

(in the nicest possible way!)

Well yes, if we reduce humanity to our basest characteristics, then that's the case - there are certain biological characteristics that we can't deny are there - but we've evolved beyond being defined by these characteristics, therefore I don't think it's accurate anymore to suggest I might be a certain way because I have a cock and balls - there are too many other variables.

I've forgotten how this links into the Victoria Pendleton thing now... It's true though, that 'women' are as much to blame here as 'men', but it's only certain kinds of men and certain kinds of women - hence my belief that this isn't a biological issue but a social one.

Isn't it possible to admire Victoria for her skill, athleticism, winning ability etc and also for her looks?
I know I do.

I am a man and I'm not going to apologise for appreciating a beautiful woman. There are millions of years of evolution making it one of my primary functions as a male. And I am not going to deny or suppress what I am because I shouldn't have to. There's nothing wrong with it. I'm not drooling like a gibbon, but I'm not going to deny that I think they are very nice pictures and she looks lovely in them.

Of course women like to be appreciated for their acheivements. But hey, they also like to be appreciated for their beauty. Which is probably why Victoria chose to do the photoshoot, and why nobody has a right to criticise her for it. So what if it's retouched? Every glossy photo is - especially in FHM. And she would certainly have known that. Maybe she even demanded it?

I notice that there are an awful lot of men shouting the loudest against this. Bit strange, but fair enough: I know you've got to be a bit of a feminist these days if you want to get a shag.